I have recently acquired a Chiappa rifle in 45 Colt. I am an experienced bullet caster but have noticed that most of the Lee molds for 45 colt drop bullets at .452" which is the exact size of the bore. I was thinking cast bullets for 45 colt should be .454". Has anybody fired the .452" bullets in a rifle? Any issues with leading as they seem a bit undersized? Thanks.
Cast bullets in 45 Colt Rifle
- Thread starter Goodwin81
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
You could try "beagling" a mould, or use powder coat to build up diameter?? I do not have one of those rifles, so I never tried.
I currently cast Lee .452 - 255gr powder coated in my Henry X in .45 Colt. I fire them as cast and have gotten excellent results in both light and +P loads.
Current.45 Colt loads typically use .452 bullets, not .454 (this has been the case since around 1930) so no problems whatsoever using .452 bullets. This cartridge is very forgiving when developing loads. I've used several bullet/powder combinations and they have all been excellent, especially with this bullet.
Current.45 Colt loads typically use .452 bullets, not .454 (this has been the case since around 1930) so no problems whatsoever using .452 bullets. This cartridge is very forgiving when developing loads. I've used several bullet/powder combinations and they have all been excellent, especially with this bullet.
Lee specs call for their moulds to throw a bullet 1/2 thou under or 2 & 1/2 thou over stated diameter. IIRC.
Their moulds usually throw bullets on the larger size, so I doubt you have any issues.
In the very old loading manuals, Lyman's mantra was to have an oversize bullet that you could resize to the best diameter for your rifle..
I once had an RCBS 9 mm mould that threw .361 bullets and after powder coating, were impossible to size back to a proper diameter, especially with the alloy I was using.
Their moulds usually throw bullets on the larger size, so I doubt you have any issues.
In the very old loading manuals, Lyman's mantra was to have an oversize bullet that you could resize to the best diameter for your rifle..
I once had an RCBS 9 mm mould that threw .361 bullets and after powder coating, were impossible to size back to a proper diameter, especially with the alloy I was using.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
My 38-55 mold throws .378-.3785 and I want my powder coated slugs to be at .379 but with just one coating of PC they end up .381 or so.....so I dry size them naked to .377 first before coating. after coating these come out of the oven at .380-.3805 and size to .379 quite nicely....size your mold drops a bit undersized first.
Both Goodwin & Scout are right to a point. Scout your .452 slugs after PC are now .454 or larger if not sized after coating so the reality is that you are using .454 slugs.
Goodwin if you have a modern bore that slugs .452 then you can use .452 slugs till the cows come home if you stay under comon cast bullet velocities ( I have shot thousands of .452 cast at Cowboy pressures and never had to clean lead once) but if you are shooting high pressure rounds OR using an old .454 bore then I would sure recommend slugs bumped up to .456 with P C.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
Maybe need to clarify words used - a "bore" diameter is/was the size of hole drilled / reamed though, before rifling was made. Typically, want the bullets related to "groove" diameter, which you determine usually by slugging the barrel's "bore" - to get the groove diameter. Not unusual for grooves to be cut .004" deeper than the "bore", so can see groove diameters .008" or more larger than "bore diameter". So far as I know, "bore" diameter - top of land to top of land - is found by sliding ground steel pin gauges down the barrel. That Veral Smith guy and others made big deal that they thought cast bullets should fit the chamber's throat diameter - which sometimes is larger than groove diameter, and very much is larger than bore diameter.
hatman1793
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
45Colt & 45acp bore diameters were harmonised to .451 some time ago. So some revolver makers offer their revolvers to fire both calibers. .452 bullets will work in both calibers allowing enormous variety.
Just imagine, 185 grain JHP’s driven to 1300 fps in a 45Colt case, while 45acp autos using 255-275-300 grain bullets.
Just imagine, 185 grain JHP’s driven to 1300 fps in a 45Colt case, while 45acp autos using 255-275-300 grain bullets.
I use the 255gr Lee mold and size to .452" I find the lee molds quite rough and they often don't drop well out of the box. I typically lap the cavities as well as polishing the funnels in the sprue cutter. I end up with a slightly larger dropped bullet. Out of the box it was dropping pretty much right on .452
I have to cast relatively slow or the mold will over heat, with such a big bullet in a small aluminum block.
I've always considered Lee molds as a relatively cheap "kit" in a box but with a little work they make decent bullets.
I have to cast relatively slow or the mold will over heat, with such a big bullet in a small aluminum block.
I've always considered Lee molds as a relatively cheap "kit" in a box but with a little work they make decent bullets.
452 bullets should work. Normally what I size mine to. Only time I size to 0.454 is for my 455 Webley. Goodwin if your mould doesn’t work out I have some 0.454 you can try. Lyman moulds 250 and 255 gr. RCBS mould 250 gr also.
