45 ACP Cast bullets

As stated I have not shot cast in Semi-autos though it was all I shot when I was shooting revolvers.

As I have not and do not shoot cast I have not slugged either barrel to determine size though I know that normally a .001/.002" oversize is used with cast bullets. And with some 9mm barrels people are going as high as .358/.359"

With the Witness barrel with a .452" plated bullet if they are not sized and crimped perfectly I have all sorts of feed and cycling problems. So I couldn't begin to imagine and oversized cast lead bullet trying to be but in this gun. On the other hand the XD is much looser and I don't think there would be a problem. So for now I am sticking with plated.
 
Talk about needing different size bullets for 2 different guns. I recently picked up a S&W Model 25-2 in .45 ACP, and these revolvers are noted for their "generous" chambers, as in .455". So, I ordered another H&G 68 mould in .455" to match the .452" one I already had for my Colt Gold Cup.

Don
 
The lee factory crimp die is nice to have and some times a must have all of my 45acp
9mm and 40 s&w go through one .
It is like it makes all cartridges the same .
 
Right you are regarding the H&G 68. I tried, but he's dead set for a round nose.
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USSR, Yep...LOL...thought I'd give it a 2nd try. A young friend of my son has a Colt ?Pony? ?Defender? in .45 that feeds them just fine.

And...when I run out of my own home cast 68's, I've ordered the equivalent from Missouri Bullet Co. that shot as well as my own. I size my own 68's to 0.452+ as my H&I die is a bit generous. For .45 Colt I size to 0.454" with good results and minimal leading.

Just wondering, what vintage is your Smith M25. I had one in .45 Colt bought new, back in the late 80's that had cylinder throats that were 0.457 or more & with a groove dia. of 0.452" and the factory said that was within spec's. Groups from 25 yds, rested, ran 4-5"!! Nowadays, I understand Smith's tolerances are closer to 0.452, but I've avoided used early vintage M25's in .45 Colt since I got rid of that early one.

Conversely, my M25-2 (1955 Target) in .45 ACP, is an early pinned and recessed one, that has 0.452-0.453" throats & superb accuracy. I use the same loads for it as I do in my 1911's in ACP or AR brass. Your thoughts?

Best regards, Rod
 
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5.5 grains unique under 230 lrn is a favorite load, very accurate and mild. A consideration when moving down to 200 grains in lrn is case neck tension, as there can be considerably less bullet to case interference fit. A lot depends on case/bullet combination you are using, and col can also be a concern for feeding. Not much of a concern with the standard 200 lswc being discussed above, which maximizes the interference fit and was designed to duplicate the 230 grain feeding points.

If you wish to get away from the "smoke" of shooting lubed lead bullets, may consider the new coated ones. A lot cleaner to shoot, and to clean up after. While not an exspurt in these coated bullets, the ones I tried were an additional .001 in in diam over the stated dia. This can actually help with some chambers in revolvers, but am guessing every brand be different.
 
Rod,

Mine was made in 1975.

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Throats are about .455", same as my 1980 built 25-5. Got a 2nd mould that casts .455" bullets on the way from Europe as we speak.

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Designed for the Webley revolvers and known as "The Manstopper", it is basically a hollow base wadcutter with a crimp groove. With the Model 25's, you never know what you're going to get throat-wise. I have one 25-5 with .455" throats, while another one has perfect .452" throats. Just one more advantage to casting and sizing your own.

Don
 
After all the helpful advice , I going to stick with the plated & FMJ's . What was the reason you all shoot the soft stuff ?
 
After all the helpful advice , I going to stick with the plated & FMJ's . What was the reason you all shoot the soft stuff ?
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Chris,

Economy and accuracy. First, just because it's a lead bullet doesn't mean it's soft. Most of the commercial cast bullets have a BHN of about 12 which is not soft. Second, plated bullets are not noted for their accuracy. Check out the Bullseye shooters, and none of them shoot plated bullets; it's either lead or jacketed. Also, none of them are shooting round nose bullets. Basically, if you want an accurate bullet in .45 ACP, you will go with a SWC, either lead or jacketed, with lead being the economical choice. Right, Rod?

Don
 
if you want an accurate bullet in .45 ACP, you will go with a SWC, either lead or jacketed, with lead being the economical choice. Right, Rod?
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Yep.

CW308: If you buy in bulk, Missouri Bullet Co.'s 200 gr LSWC in .45 is a great choice...they're sized 0.452+, and will produce match grade accuracy at target velocities. And BTW, no matter what brand you choose, if you have leading issues, try swirl lubing with Lee Liquid Alox, very lightly applied and that should help. It's easy, quick, and it works. I do it any time I buy commercially produced lead alloy bullets. Best Regards, Rod
 
USSR, good, hell GREAT, lookin' piece you've got there...a virtual duplicate of mine. Mine's got a post front sight...I'd carry it more here on the farm with a Baughman ramp, but that straight up post tears up my holsters. I've checked my throats and they're very close to 0.452-3".

I don't shoot it often enough, but it's as accurate as can be with any good load. I do admit, I like it better with Auto-Rim brass rather than the ACP stuff...easier to eject and none of that finger nail picking them out BS...Same loads for either type checked with a chrono show similar velocities.

Let us all know how that bullet works out...hollow base as I see it...tough to cast well maybe, or maybe not...

Off haying now...gotta get it in before the TRW's move in this pm. Be safe, one and all.

Rod
 
Years back I did have a S&W auto that only shot 38 wadcutterd . Very nice pistol sold it to a friend , wadcutters punch nice round holes . I'm still on the fence on giving the cast lead bullets a try for my 1911 3" it's a Colt New Agent , enjoy the heck out of shooting it . Have tried hollow points ,with no problems . I don't mind cleaning the pistol , mostly after 50 rounds not a problem . Just talking myself into giving the " soft stuff " only kidding I know it's not that soft . Come to think of it I also shot lead in my S&W mod. 29 44Mag. 8 3/8" barrel . What the heck , I'm gonna order some. Thanks Everyone for all your time & help.

Chris
 
rodfac, alot of good info here regarding the 200gr lswc. Question; those 200gr lswc's from Missouri Bullets; which one is closest to the H&G #68? Plain lead or coated? Or does it matter? Thank you. Strictly for punching paper. Gun is a SA1911-A1 mil-spec. Again, thanks.
 
, I want to see the differences if there is any.
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Primarily cost. I cast my own. I have access to free lead alloy. I buy primers and powder in bulk. I have about a gaxillion cases ....some of which have been reloaded more than 20X.
That all means that I can load a box of target grade .45s for about $3.
 
As to the OAL to use with the H&G #68, or one of its clones, I find that leaving just the barest lip of full dia. lead showing at the mouth of the case helps with any feeding issues. This seems to cushion the round as it feeds, both on the ramp and the chamber, and less than 1/16" does the trick. A plunk test on your barrel will show you if you have too much lead exposed.

Powder charges vary, but my standard load is with Win 231 at 5.0 - 5.2 grains with Win Sm Pistol Primers. As always, work up to this load, though it is mild, after consulting a good manual and considering the condition of your gun and all pressure implicatons.

For any and all of us who shoot lead alloy, and apologies to those who all ready know this trick, I use Chore Boy copper cleaning pads for lead removal. Just a couple passes with a small amount wrapped around a bore brush does the trick. Get the all-copper ones, not the steel with copper plating variety, to save wear and tear on your barrel...available on line, and rarely at Dollar Stores.

These work better than the famous Lewis Lead Remover, in use for decades among target shooters.

RifleTom, Don (USSR) has given you a good link to Missouri Bullet's site....good people there...and in answer to your coated or not question...I get the plain variety...and find that I can go more than 100 rounds without cleaning the barrel. Again, as I previously recommended, Lee Liquid Alox, used with their swirl lubing method, is a quick and effective antidote to minor leading at target velocities with any commercially cast bullet using their proprietary overly-hard lube.

Best Regards, Rod
 
Many thanks to rodfac and USSR for all the advice on the 200gr lswc's. I've been loading 230gr plated RN and 230gr LRN for years. I now have a new load to try. Sometimes change is good. Thanks.
 
D

The classic Bullseye target load for match shooting is a 200 grain LSWC atop 4.0 grains of Bullseye powder.
I have gone to 178s and 4.2 which work as well in my gun.
 
Another fan of 5.0 hp under 200 lswc, but am using lp primers :) Am shooting more 200 lrnfp's these days, but they can be little more touchy to reload.
 
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