.45 ACP LEAD BULLETS, which one?
- Thread starter magnumair
- Start date
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
best luck for me has been 200 gn semi wadcutters, they've fed in everything as long as you don't seat them too deep. Taper crimp die will be your friend no matter which bullet you choose. Had good luck with 185 grn as well. Nothing wrong with heavier bullets, i just find that the lighter ones are cheaper so i can shoot more for less. Point of impact may vary a bit with the 185's , so they're a better choice for pistols with adjustable sights.
I just use the 230gr round nose, and have never tried anything else. I bought one of the 6 gang Lee tumble lube molds last year, and those seem to be doing as well as the commercial cast ones that I was using before.
They don't make particularly clean holes, of course.
They don't make particularly clean holes, of course.
I've run both 200gn SWC and 230gn RN and both work just great.
One key though. You really, really, really want to seat and crimp in separate dies. Running a 3 die only set with the seating and crimping occurring in the same die is a road to disaster. It's extremely tough to avoid the casing crimping in and ploughing up a wall of lead in front of the lip. And when that happens many 1911's won't seat the round deeply enough as it'll headspace on the rim of lead instead of the case mouth lip. And when that happens the gun won't go fully into battery.
If you're stuck with a 3 die set and you're loading on a progressive then set the seating die to seat only and do not crimp at all. Then in a whole other separate operation put the seated rounds back into that station with the die re-adjusted to crimp only without any further seating.
By far the better way it to find and buy a taper style factory crimp die and use that either in a fourth position on the die plate or as a whole other separate operation.
If it turns out that your 1911 tends to shoot less accurately then you'll want to slug the bore and measure the slug taken. The readings may indicate that you need a slightly bigger cast bullet than what you're using.
One key though. You really, really, really want to seat and crimp in separate dies. Running a 3 die only set with the seating and crimping occurring in the same die is a road to disaster. It's extremely tough to avoid the casing crimping in and ploughing up a wall of lead in front of the lip. And when that happens many 1911's won't seat the round deeply enough as it'll headspace on the rim of lead instead of the case mouth lip. And when that happens the gun won't go fully into battery.
If you're stuck with a 3 die set and you're loading on a progressive then set the seating die to seat only and do not crimp at all. Then in a whole other separate operation put the seated rounds back into that station with the die re-adjusted to crimp only without any further seating.
By far the better way it to find and buy a taper style factory crimp die and use that either in a fourth position on the die plate or as a whole other separate operation.
If it turns out that your 1911 tends to shoot less accurately then you'll want to slug the bore and measure the slug taken. The readings may indicate that you need a slightly bigger cast bullet than what you're using.
I have tried several bullets in about 20 different 45s. The one that works best in most of them is the DRG 200gr SWC. Best load is 4.3gr TiteGroup.
I seat with one die and crimp with the Lee Factory Crimp die. I had a few issues before I got that die. I use it on all my pistol calibers now.
I seat with one die and crimp with the Lee Factory Crimp die. I had a few issues before I got that die. I use it on all my pistol calibers now.
Standard weight and shape was/still is 230 gr RN (round nose) . With just a little "tuning" and polishing of the feed ramp - the next most popular is the 200 gr SWC (semi-wad cutter). Correct seating depth is critical - check the COL (cartridge over-all length) as listed in your reloading manual for the weight and bullet shape being used. Incorrect COL with the SWC bullets is the MAJOR cause of "feeding problems"/jamming. Follow a good loading manual -( I favor the Speer hardcover) precisely and you won't have any serious problems.
One note of caution loading the .45! Since its a "relatively" large case using a "relatively" small amount of powder - using some reloading equipment without "due care and attention" it is "relatively" easy to mistakenly DOUBLE CHARGE the case without noticing the mistake. The consequences are NASTY!!! If there is ANY reason to even SUSPECT a double charge - put the "suspect rounds" aside and "knockout the bullets" with an RCBS "hammer" designed specifically for that purpose. The primed case and even powder and bullet can be re-used again.
Good luck - NO! Come to think of it - luck has nothing to do with it! Precision loading brings better results than luck. But for sure it will be fun once you get "the hang if it".
tp
One note of caution loading the .45! Since its a "relatively" large case using a "relatively" small amount of powder - using some reloading equipment without "due care and attention" it is "relatively" easy to mistakenly DOUBLE CHARGE the case without noticing the mistake. The consequences are NASTY!!! If there is ANY reason to even SUSPECT a double charge - put the "suspect rounds" aside and "knockout the bullets" with an RCBS "hammer" designed specifically for that purpose. The primed case and even powder and bullet can be re-used again.
Good luck - NO! Come to think of it - luck has nothing to do with it! Precision loading brings better results than luck. But for sure it will be fun once you get "the hang if it".
tp
I have tried the 200 grain SWC (.452") cast bullets and didn't have much luck getting them to feed properly, I would like to get them working because the clean holes they make are easier to see at 25+ meters. In the mean time I am using a 230 grain RN which are very reliable in all my guns,they also work great for .45 Colt.
Yes, I'd forgotten about those. I loaded up some Bullet Barn 200 RNFP's to see if they worked vs buying the more expensive 230's. The resulting rounds came up quite short. I worried that they would be too short to strip and hinge up into the chamber but the gun didn't care. They cycled through and shot just fine.
Between these and the SWC the weight and price was the same but the SWC's punch a cleaner hole in the target. But if one comes across some cheap cast RNFP's at a gun show I would not hesitate to buy them.
I used 175 gr SWC bullets almost exclusively. This was my well tuned 1911 with drifted rails, compressed slide, custom barrel bushing etc, the usual. I didn't want to beat the sheat out of it with hot loaded 230 grainers. 175 grainers with small charge of Unique cycled in mine flawlessly. I was getting bullets from Bullet Barn, I must say great bullets, very consistent and VERY little leading.
200 gr semi wad cutter over 4.2 gr of clays works great in all my .45's, nice controllable, accurate load.
I have reloaded about 5000-6000 and they feed flawlessly in my Colt 1911, Kimber 1911, Sig 1911 and M&P 45.
I have reloaded about 5000-6000 and they feed flawlessly in my Colt 1911, Kimber 1911, Sig 1911 and M&P 45.
Cocked&Locked
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- S. Ontario
probably seating them too deep. Or still have some belling in the case mouth. Either will make them feed like crap. Once you find the sweet spot, and taper crimp as BCrider suggests above they'll feed like a dream. I've had good luck with the DRG 200 swc. The wolf work well too, and smoke less, but don't shoot quite as accurate, and lead a bit if you try to push them too hard. They seem to be a few points too hard for my liking.
I like them with either bullseye or unique.
I`ve used Bullet barns 230gr round nose for about 8 years in a Norinco1911 and now in a Springfield Armory (Brazilian Imbel factory) 1911 GI, and they shoot and feed quite well. load is Bullseye 4.7gr at about 800+ fps
200 and 175 SWC's usually need a recoil spring change and the feed ramp extended to get 'em to feed properly. A 230 RN with Bullseye(4.5 in my Colt) always feeds. So do 230 grain FP's. Most new 45's already have the extended feed ramp. Isn't a big deal to do if your's isn't though.
22lr, if you want to feed 230's and not beat it up out of your 175 grain shooter, you'll need a different spring too.
22lr, if you want to feed 230's and not beat it up out of your 175 grain shooter, you'll need a different spring too.
carsmovies
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Mississauga, Ontario
None. Use a plated bullet.
Ok, this begs the question: were are you guys buying the projectiles? I'm entertaining the idea of a .45 (already have 2 9mm 1911), but it would need to be a reasonable cost to shoot. I see Wolf has good price on lead bullets, but shipping to BC might be expensive...
