.45acp bullets in .45colt/.454casull?

IM_Lugger

IM_Lugger

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Can I use .451" .45acp bulllets in .45colt/454? I know .454 uses .452" bullets so the difference is pretty small - 1/100" I don't see why it wouldn't work!

I've heard you can use lead bullets for both calibers, but what about copper plated/FMJ? If not, will it just not as accurate or is there another reason not to?
 
You will note that most bullets, cast or j-word, that are meant for the .45 Auto do not have a proper crimping groove for use in a recoiling revolver, if they do...bullets have to be seated so deep that they would be inaccurate. The lighter bullets used in the .45 Auto would also impact at a very dif. height then what the gun/sights are set up for. In some cases the revolver sights do not have enough travel to regulate the light bullets. This is even more of a problem if you do not have adjustable sights as most Cowboy .45s do.
 
I reload for 45ACP but do not have a 45 revolver. So I am not an expert.

But I have read that that the size of front of the cylinder chambers are a big factor in the 45 colt revolver. At least as far as accuracy goes. I remember reading of some of the best accuracy being with .454 bullets ( Depending upon the gun ).

I agree about the lack of a crimping groove. Good point.
 
I would be using it in .454 revolver with adj sights....

I forgot about the about the crimp grouve, but as for bullet waights I'm sure there are .45 cowboy with only 200gr bullets...

btw I have loaded .44mag with bullets that did have the grove but had to loaded longer to meet the min OAL for a load. so the case never reached the grove. only problem was velocity was about 300fps less than expected (1100fps vs ~1400fps).
 
For 'light' bullets in light loads, any ACP bullet will work cast or jacketed. You can use the ACP taper crimp die to get a nice hold on the bullet.

Run them to high recoil and without a crimping groove, you may get bullet set back.

Jerry
 
I use a 200 gr cast SWC (H$G 68 style -designed for ACP) in some of my .45 Colt loads. I just roll crimp over the front driving band. My loads are at the lighter end of the spectrum (850 fps). I am shooting these out Ruger Blackhawks (5.5" blued and 7.5 stainless) and have had no issues with bullet movement under recoil, the sights have no issues with adjustment range and the accuracy is great (1 1/2" for 10 rounds at 20 yards).
 
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The sights may have no adjustment issues, but if you have adjustable sights your gun is not legal for the main class in cowboy action shooting. There are alot of .45 Colts out there now that are copies of the SAA and have no adjustable sights, in my case, the lighter bullets(200gr.) shot over 2' low at 25 yds.
 
45 acp

I use 45 ACP in my Ruger Blackhawk all the time, from target loads, all the way up to what might be considered a magnum load. As to the bullets not having a cannelure, I have found no issues with the bullets backing out under recoil. I just seat them down to where the bullet diameter is just starting to decrease, and then use a light crimp. Most Ruger barrels these days slug out to .451, so no accuracy problems either. The Ruger throats are .451 these days too, so it all matches. I just bought 4 boxes of Sierra 300 grain bullets for the 45 Colt, they measure at .451 too.
Leo
 
I use 45 ACP in my Ruger Blackhawk all the time, from target loads, all the way up to what might be considered a magnum load. As to the bullets not having a cannelure, I have found no issues with the bullets backing out under recoil.
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Ditto. My usual .45 Colt load consists of a 200 gr cast semi-wadcutter (for .45 ACP) with 22.7 gr of WW-296.
 
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