Practice Bullets for "Fast" 45 Caliber Rifles?

[wasa]

I own a bunch of rifles in 45 Colt as well as one in 450 Bushmaster and one in 454 Casull. I have contacted Campro twice to ask what the maximum velocity of their 0.008" plated 0.452" bullets is but so far no reply. I note that Berry's Bullets states that the maximum velocity of their 0.452" bullets is 1250 ft/s and I believe their plating is 0.006" thick.

Random Internet people say that I shouldn't use hard cast past 1400 ft/s or so. Are powder coated bullets available? My LGS doesn't have any and they don't know of any in SSW Ontario.

So, ideas on what I can shoot in the 1500 - 2200 ft/s range for practice with my rifles? 45 Colt +P loads (Hornady XTP) are around 1500 ft/s and over 2000 ft/s with the 450 Bushmaster.

I have hunting bullets from Hornady, Winchester, and Sierra that in theory can handle the over 2,000 ft/s velocities but would prefer something cheap for clanging steel or putting holes in pieces of paper at 100 yards.

Thanks!

 

[4fifty8]

CamPro 0.452" dia. 250gr single loaded in my Henry lever rifle shoot fine @ ~1300 fps mv. https://campro.ca/product-catalog/?weight=250.0&type=FCP&diameter=0.452|11.48

Don't know if these are safe to stack in the tube magazine so won't try that.

 

[m777]

When I was looking at Frontier plated bullets a few yrs ago, I came across a blurb that their plating was almost as thick as jacket. But I couldn't find that bit of info when I went back to look some time later. Frontier said they didn't publish load data because what was available of powder in Europe, wasn't the same as South America or North America. So this bit may not be of any help anyway. But it's been a few yrs since I looked at these.
Higginsons had some heavier ones last time I looked.

Clint

 

[BLCB]

A proper jacket is .016" or more. The "extra-thick" plating on Campro and others is only .008". 50% is not "almost as thick". If you have a loading program or enough information to guess/extrapolate then using expected pressure is more useful than the mostly arbitrary velocity limits picked by every plated bullet maker out there.

 

[homer76]

I would start low and work my way up in increments. I don't think you are going to get pistol bullets to match your hunting bullet velocities.

 

[m777]

There's a link/quote from a Frontier employee in a thread from 2010 saying to load to FMJ. But do what works for you.

 

[boxhitch]

 

[wallz]

I run some frontier 300 gr bullets in my 450BM going just under 2300 fps for range fun. Never had a problem with them so far. Almost starting my 2nd box of them. I want to say they are 250 count boxes.

 

[4fifty8]

CamPro data for their 8 thou plated 0.458 .45-70 405gr lists up to estimated ~1700 fps mv: https://campro.ca/load-data/458-405gr-fcp-rnfp-10/

I load these in my 1:20 twist .45-70 Traditions Outfitter G2 - and ONLY my particular G2 - safely to 1950 fps mv with ok accuracy. NOT a recommendation.

 

[wasa]

Thanks to all. I have run Campro 250gr bullets up to 1500 ft/s and, to date, no issues. Definitely concerned about 2000 ft/s though. Hornady of course says to use their XTP-MAG bullets. I emailed Speer and was told that their 45 caliber bullets can handle the +2000 ft/s velocity, but they don't recommend them at that speed for deer. Haven't found cheap Speer bullets yet.

So, currently using Campro's for 1500 ft/s or less, and 240 gr Hornady XTP-MAG (bought a box of 100) for full load rounds.

Cheers!