45 LC casting

J

JasonYuke

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I should know this but i want to make sure!
.452 Diameter, looking at some molds, to start casting for my cowboy guns, is this the same diameter as teh 45 acp.?

The reason I ask, will one mold due for both? I looked at the lee web site and I alway though you needed 2 different molds. But its showinmg molds for 45 acp & LC together?

Am I confused LOL well yes of course, but could one of you fellows set me staright

Regards

Jason
 
Bore size for 45 LC (45 Colt for those anal about these things) is typically 0.452" and 45 ACP is typically 0.451". That means that molds for 45 LC will work for 45 ACP, but not typically the other way around. I like to go at least 0.453" in my 45 LC, but the throat will determine how big you can go.
 
Well I am not that anal, and my shooting will not suffer over .01 of an inch I just do not want to load for teh long colt anyway so as long as it goes down the pipe i dont care.
I just figured a 200gr in .452 round nose would do for both, so I guess it will unless i miss-understood
 
210 said:
More than likely the 200 grain will shoot high in your guns.If you want to I can give you some to try. Ray.
Click to expand...

It makes no sense intuitively, but I find that in my handguns, the lighter the bullet, the lower it shoots.
 
I have used a LEE 185 gr SWC in both .45 ACP and .45 Colt with reasonable results. It shoots fine in my 1911 and both of my Ruger Blackhawks, but due to the nose profile it is a little "clunky" feeding in my Rossi 1892.
 
My favourite for 45 LC in both my Ruger Blackhawk and Puma 92 is the Lee 452-228-1R. Mine drops at 0.453" and I use it unsized. Feeds very well in the Puma and shoots to the sights in the Ruger. Haven't used it in my 1911, but I bet it would feed very nicely (was made for 45 ACP).
 
I've had better luck with a 200swc cast in the .45 Auto and a 250gr. keith type swc or heavier bullet in the .45 Colt....one reason is the same as above, my .45 Colt shoots way low with a 200gr. bullet, also the .45 Auto does not use a roll crimp and those 200gr.lswc bullets do not have provision for one. The .45 Colt needs a good roll crimp and the 250grainers meant for it have a proper crimping groove.
 
Yes I to prefer heavier bullets in .45 Colt too. A couple years ago I made a 3 cavity mold that was supposed to drop 250 gr RNFP's but the end product produces 270 gr bullets, oops. Regardless, they shoot very well in everything I've tried them in.
 
Depending on your loads and chamber sizes, you might even want to look at going .454 with the 45LC. I've had a couple of Uberti clones of Winchester toggle-link rifles, and the chambers have been very generous. The 45LC at CAS velocities (I'm not even talking 'gamer' loads here, just typical 750-800fps) has a propensity to really soot up cases. Going to the bigger diameter bullet has helped this. RCBS makes a .454 expander plug that you can order from them if you choose to go this route.
 
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