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Cast bullets for 45 ACP
I'm going to cast for my 45 ACP. The question i have , should i go with gas checks on a 230 RN?
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06-27-2009 07:47 AM
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Gas checks aren't really needed for .45 ACP. The velocities aren't high enough to cause leading problems in most .45s unless you are using very soft bullets. I've fired tens of thousands of cast bullets through various .45s with no leading problems -- all were plain base bullets.
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I havn't ordered the mould yet from LBT . That's why i asked. I'm tired of looking for (OUT OF STOCK )
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Agree NO GC and...OTHER FACTORS more important
without much doubt, for ACCURACY, the 200 grain Semi Wadcutter is the no-brainer of all time in a .45ACP. This assumes your pistol will FEED them (most will do so fine). An easy test to ensure that ANYTHING (reasonable) will feed in a 1911 is to load up four or five FIRED/EMPTY cases in the magazine and then cycle the slide. If they feed and eject, things are probably good.
The 230 grain round-nose lead bullet can be very accurate of course (certainly tends to be more accurate than FMJ RN), but the 230 grain RN bullet itself is an effort to get as big a bullet as reasonably possible for "knock down" power in conformity with the Hague Convention.
I honetsly don't even think you would have much need for gas checks even in a .45 "Super."
Don't forget to get some decent lube (like LBT) and you will never have to worry about leading anyway. http://www.lbtmoulds.com/lube.shtml
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Thank You to AKA Hugh Uno For This Useful Post:
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Seating depth is important with the 200gr SWC. Sometimes my Colt Series 80 likes them, sometimes it does not.
I'm going to try round nose bullets again. I'm having jamming trouble with the SWC bullets now. I've never been able to get the accuracy out of RN that I have with SWC bullets.
CDD
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seating depth is important
Originally Posted by
NuJudge
Seating depth is important with the 200gr SWC. Sometimes my Colt Series 80 likes them, sometimes it does not.
I'm going to try round nose bullets again. I'm having jamming trouble with the SWC bullets now. I've never been able to get the accuracy out of that I have with SWC bullets. the amoumy opf
CDD
I think one of the secrets is that you leave a small amount of lead from the "wadcutter" part sticking above the case mouth. this helps feeding by allowing the bullet to "ride" the lead part into the chamber. Putting the wadcutter part AT or BELOW the case mouth is not helpful. The seating depth in the picture is actually TOO deep in my opinion, but some folks seat even deeper thinking it helps feeding.
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Amen. If you don't leave a bit of the semi-wadcutter shoulder above the case mouth, the case mouth will tend to scrape on the ramp and foul things up.
Personally, I like the Lee 230 grain tumble lube in .45 ACP. I cast from wheel weights and lube with liquid Alox. Keep your bullet seater clean, though -- the tumble lube can build up on the seater stem.
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RN Cast bullet choices 45ACP
First of all..good advice above on leaving a bit of shoulder with semi-wads in the 45ACP. On the selection of a RN; I have been using two of them. The first is the RCBS 225 grain with two wide bands and the second is the H&G #34. They are virtually identical. Those wide bands afford a greater degree of bearing surface and as such provide a greater amount of longitudinal guidance while going down the bore. Both bullets are accurate...moreso than the Lyman 452374 which has no (such) band in front of the grease groove. Both of Lee's RN's...the TL and the regular RN appear to have sufficient support in this regard. Saeco's #456 & 457 also are in this category and should perform well. WW metal is sufficient for these bullets as it is neither too hard nor soft. Gas checks are not necessary in 45ACP loads which, if used for target shooting usually run anywhere from 750-900fps. The semi wad designs that have been developed for 45ACP over the years are so well done that excellent accuracy with bullets weighing 185-200 grains is readily attainable with moderate loadings such as the classic 3.5 grains of Bullseye. I took the advice of Mr. C.E. Harris in one of his articles for the NRA loading book and used 4.0 grains of BE as it handles the wind better at 50 yards. For the round noses I found that 4.0-4.1 grains of Red Dot or 4.0 grains again of BE gave the best grouping in my autos and revolvers. Good shooting. JC
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Very interesting thread!!
I'm not a "Pistol Guy" but I do have a 100 Bullet Box of "Speer" .45 - 200Gr. SWC" Cat. No. 452-200-SWC. The old red & yellow box; prelubed by Speer.
I do have a friend that loads .45 ACP but has never used 'Cast Bullets". I did catch the comment about leaving abit of the bullet shoulder above the case lip.
I only have the 100 bullets so feed issues are not a huge problem. Any other suggestions.
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Originally Posted by
Gary Kaney
The question i have , should i go with gas checks on a 230 RN?
In a word, no.
I've never used gas checks in 25 years of reloading 230 grain Lead Round Nose .45's.
I have an eight cavity Hensley & Gibbs #34 Bevel Base mould that spits out bullets as fast as I can cast. For years I tossed the tops of the primer boxes in an old 20mm ammo can as a way to keep count. When I cleaned out that can in 2007 prior to a house move, I counted over 75,000 Large Pistol primers that I've loaded over the years for my 1911's.
Nary a gascheck.