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45 ACP bullets
- Thread starter cervri
- Start date
madmo44mag
New member
Rainier LeadSafe Bullets are a good value IMHO.
I load the 230g RN FMJ
Never like HP in a auto loader.
I load the 230g RN FMJ
Never like HP in a auto loader.
Ditto that the general quality of name brand plated bullets. There was a time when some were nothing more than thin plating on standard cast bullets that didn't really prevent core exposure for indoor ranges. I don't know if anyone is still doing that, but all those mentioned by CTSixshot are fine. You may also want to look at powder coated bullets if you are just trying to prevent leading.
I never buy a lot of any bullet without first getting a sample quantity of 100 to make sure they feed OK. If 100 don't cause a problem, I go to 500 and make sure no issues show up with an of them. After that, large bulk purchases are OK.
If you don't see small quantities offered, contact the supplier with a request to buy a smaller quantity and they often will comply or direct you to a vendor that splits out their product into smaller quantities.
I never buy a lot of any bullet without first getting a sample quantity of 100 to make sure they feed OK. If 100 don't cause a problem, I go to 500 and make sure no issues show up with an of them. After that, large bulk purchases are OK.
If you don't see small quantities offered, contact the supplier with a request to buy a smaller quantity and they often will comply or direct you to a vendor that splits out their product into smaller quantities.
I recently did what Unclenick recommends, that is, buying a small lot of 100 to try out a new bullet before going all in.
I tried 100 powder coated 45 acp 230 grain RN. They all fed well and shot well. There was, however, more smoke generated with the powder coated as compared to plated bullets.
Per 1,000, there was only an $8 difference between the powder coated and plated. So, based on my experience with the small lot of powder coated, I think I'll just stick with the plated.
I tried 100 powder coated 45 acp 230 grain RN. They all fed well and shot well. There was, however, more smoke generated with the powder coated as compared to plated bullets.
Per 1,000, there was only an $8 difference between the powder coated and plated. So, based on my experience with the small lot of powder coated, I think I'll just stick with the plated.
Hammerhead
New member
Used a lot of Rainier 200 grain SWCs, very good quality.
I have had good luck with Rainier and Berries plated bullets and got very good value, and also Missouri Bullet Co coated bullets. Although I don't use them, I think the 185 gr bullet designs (jacketed or plated) have excellent accuracy potential in .45 ACP, perhaps even better than other weights, with good velocity and lighter recoil too.
I use lots of Rainier 185-gr FP bullets, and they're the most accurate shooting bullets in any of my .45s, including S&W 625, Glock 21, and even a vintage S&W 4506 from the olden days.
I don't know why, but loaded with 6.0gr of W-231 and a CCI-LPP, they're universally accurate in any .45 that I tried.
They're also the most "beat up" looking bullets that I've ever used, so I suppose that very soft quality of these Rainier bullets contributes to unexpected accuracy in my guns.
I don't know why, but loaded with 6.0gr of W-231 and a CCI-LPP, they're universally accurate in any .45 that I tried.
They're also the most "beat up" looking bullets that I've ever used, so I suppose that very soft quality of these Rainier bullets contributes to unexpected accuracy in my guns.
I found that when I fired them, they all reached the target. Groups, just like almost all plated bullets I have ever tried, weren't very small.
So,
>As long as your firearm digests it, use it.
Accuracy is no longer an issue? I really don't like wasting money on components for 5-12" groups that I get with plated bullets at 25 yards (I test some when someone convinces me that they really have improved and, so far, they haven't).
I see these for $105/1000, or 10.5 cents/bullet. They are NOT going to expand and are made, I guess, for accuracy—which I dispute, in my guns any way—but the price is good. If you paid this or less, you did OK. Bullets have really been going up in cost in the last few months.
Personally, for .45 Auto, I really like Zero 45 185gn L-SWCHP. They currently run about $46/500 (a bit over 9 cents/bullet) at Powder Valley (and $96.65/1000 (9.7 cents/bullet) for orders of 2000 or more from Roze Dist.) and are super accurate. They are used regularly for Bullseye competition, so accuracy is not in question.
If lead prices are that close to plated, I am sure that plated prices will be going up soon. Jacketed 185gn JHPs are already running 12+ cents/bullet
So,
>As long as your firearm digests it, use it.
Accuracy is no longer an issue? I really don't like wasting money on components for 5-12" groups that I get with plated bullets at 25 yards (I test some when someone convinces me that they really have improved and, so far, they haven't).
I see these for $105/1000, or 10.5 cents/bullet. They are NOT going to expand and are made, I guess, for accuracy—which I dispute, in my guns any way—but the price is good. If you paid this or less, you did OK. Bullets have really been going up in cost in the last few months.
Personally, for .45 Auto, I really like Zero 45 185gn L-SWCHP. They currently run about $46/500 (a bit over 9 cents/bullet) at Powder Valley (and $96.65/1000 (9.7 cents/bullet) for orders of 2000 or more from Roze Dist.) and are super accurate. They are used regularly for Bullseye competition, so accuracy is not in question.
If lead prices are that close to plated, I am sure that plated prices will be going up soon. Jacketed 185gn JHPs are already running 12+ cents/bullet
I've been using a lot of the Rainier HP lately both in 45 ( 200gr ) and 9mm ( 147gr ) . Couple things to look out for if you care . They tend to have inconsistent lengths but diameter is good . Also they can have inconsistent weights by as much as 5+ grains . They seem to shoot good regardless .
One other thing is depending on the caliber you may not get expansion . I emailed Rainier about this and asked what velocity I needed for the specific bullets I use . Short answer was pretty much any normal velocity in 45 will expand well do to the large HP cavity . On the other hand they said there 9mm bullets need to hit 1200fps to have reliable expansion do to there relatively small HP cavity . That sucked to here because I had already bought 1500 9mm 147gr HP . I concluded for 9mm and Rainier HP you are stuck with 115gr bullets if expansion is important to you .
I'll be buying another couple thousand this weekend .
One other thing is depending on the caliber you may not get expansion . I emailed Rainier about this and asked what velocity I needed for the specific bullets I use . Short answer was pretty much any normal velocity in 45 will expand well do to the large HP cavity . On the other hand they said there 9mm bullets need to hit 1200fps to have reliable expansion do to there relatively small HP cavity . That sucked to here because I had already bought 1500 9mm 147gr HP . I concluded for 9mm and Rainier HP you are stuck with 115gr bullets if expansion is important to you .
I'll be buying another couple thousand this weekend .