45 LC bullets for 45 ACP?

C

charleym3

New member
Has anyone tried that combination. I'm still playing with the 625. Oregon trail has 200 gr 45LC bullets (.452) 200 gr RNFP with a crimp groove. Calculator says that I only have to drive them at 625 FPS to make power factor in IDPA. I don't know if I can load them that light. Starting loads for VV340 is over 800.

Just wondering if anyone else had tried this.
 
I've seen it done. They clipload pretty well. They will even feed in some autos.

You need a faster burning powder than N340; something that will burn cleanly in those light loads and not leave unburnt powder to get under your extractor and bind up cylinder rotation. Muzzle up unloading can only shake out so much crud. Will N310? I dunno.

I am at present ringing the changes on powders to find something suitable for 230 RN at 600 fps. Which is more than needed for SSR/Minor power factor but about as slow as I care to go with steel targets in play. Next batch, Clays and Super Target.
 
I've been using the same 200 grain SWC style bullets for both .45 acp and .45 colt for years. Works great and keeps my bullet inventory simple.

BTW: I think 625 fps might be a little slow. The bullets probably won't obturate and could cause some leading. I'd probably try a load about 100 fps faster.


Good Luck...

Joe
 
200 g rn 45

Hey charleym3:

I have used the rn and swc bullets in our autos with some success over about 3.8 or 3.9 of N310. Nice, light, accurate load. Should work well in the revolver.

Cheers,

Norm
 
You all are great. Thanks a bunch. There seems to be very few people that are looking at the light end of the spectrum of reloading. I guess I've mellowed with age.
I guess the optimum is a very bulky high speed powder that doesn't need a lot of pressure to burn cleanly. For the revolver I want to see the bullets out as far as is reasonable. I'm planning on using the crimp groove for the revolver loads. I'm going to need a powder with enough bulk to fill at least 50% of the space inside the cartridge.
Keep the ideas coming.
 
"The bullets probably won't obturate and could cause some leading. I'd probably try a load about 100 fps faster. "

Time to expose some of my vast ignorance. What in the heck does "obturate" mean?
 
knzn - Think of obturation in bullets as being sort of like piston rings in an engine. The base of the lead bullet expands under the extreme pressure so that it fills any gaps at the edge and presses tightly to the lands and grooves. If the pressure is too low, obturation doesn't occur and the hot gases can blow by the bullet which is a major factor in leading in a barrel.
 
I have used the Colt 250 gr SWC in an auto pistol for years for bowling pins; I won't give the powder load. A solid hit does not knock down the pin, it simply removes it from the table. I have used both a GI 1911A1 and a Norinco for this, and have had no feeding problems.

Jim
 
In reguards to "obturate" does the same thing happen with jacketed bullets?
Click to expand...
Yes, but not quite to the same degree as with lead. However, the main thing is that with jacketed bullets under low pressure there won't be any ill effects like leading of the barrel.
 
WESHOOT,

Do you have a printable load for those 250 grainers in .45 ACP? Do you use regular brass?

I got bored one weekend and the girlfriend and I cast, lubed, and sized around 1,500 255 gr .452 RNFP bullets that I was going to use in the .45 Colt. It would be nice to get some double duty hog thumpers in .45 ACP out of that batch too.

I'm anticipating a disclaimer and a "Screw SAAMI.":D
 
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