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  #1  
Old 04-09-2011, 09:32 PM
McShooty McShooty is offline
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Default Loading the .45 Auto Rim

From time to time there have been questions about suitable loads for the .45 AR. In going through some stacks I came across an article, "Handloading the .45 Auto Rim" by Brian Pearce in Handloader magazine, August/September, 2008 (Issue No.254). He tried a lot of loads in 1917s, a 25, and a couple 625s. Some of his main points were:

1. Factory .45 AR was loaded to lower pressures than
.45 ACP. The AR cases and any revolvers chambered
for .45 ACP should be safe to 23,000 psi, however.

2. Chamber mouths vary considerably in diameter. Guns
with .451 or .452" mouths work best. (As we would
expect.)

3. Swaged lead bullets skid and lead the bore. Jacketed
and hard cast lead pills (16+ BHN) shoot more
accurately.

4. Brian favors heavier bullets (250-280 grs) because
he likes to hunt and thinks they are more accurate.

He lists a lot of loads, many of them fairly conservative, using fast to medium powder. One of his hotter ones, 8.0 grains of Power Pistol, pushed Hornady 230-gr XTPs to 985 fps (4" barrel). Another warm one, 11.0 grains of 2400, pushed RCBS cast 280 grainers at 851 fps (6.5" bbl). In general, loads equivalent to factory .45 Colt rounds were easily obtained with a number of powders. Not many details concerning group sizes were given.
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Old 04-10-2011, 04:09 PM
Texas Roots Texas Roots is offline
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I agree. The .45 AR in the Model 25, 625, etc. is a hoot to load for. I like the heavier bullets too, especially the 245 grain SWC and the 255 grain SWC over 6.6 grains of Unique. Very accurate in my M25-2, 6 1/2" barrel and gives about 960 f.p.s. Extraction and ejection are no problem; no cratered primers and cases fall out of the chambers.
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Old 04-10-2011, 09:27 PM
Wayne Dobbs Wayne Dobbs is offline
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I shoot something pretty close, Texas Roots. Mine is 6.5 grains of Unique with a 255 Keith SWC in Starline brass (the only brass to use IMO). I shoot it from my 625 Mountain Gun and it kills the heck out of Texas deer. I don't know how far it penetrates because it shoots completely through from any angle and creates a dead deer within 25-30 yards every time I've used it.
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Old 04-11-2011, 12:31 AM
Texas Roots Texas Roots is offline
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Wayne, wow, I had no idea that load would be good for deer. That's good to know; I might try it myself. I had planned to go up to 7.0 grains of Unique and chrono it to see the increase in velocity, but now, doesn't seem like any benefit in doing so.

I have been using Rem. AR brass but it seems way too thin. I have some Starline brass on order from Midway, probably have to wait a long time to get it.
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Old 04-11-2011, 01:15 AM
Dale53 Dale53 is offline
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I have chrongraphed a NOE cast clone of the Lyman 454424 (250 grs in my alloy) at 900+ fps ahead of 7.0 grs of Unique in Starline Auto Rim cases. This was in my 5" 625-6 Model of 1989.

My most shot loads are the Mihec moulded H&G #68 200 gr SWC at target velocities.

It is almost uncanny how these revolvers (both of mine have .4525" cylinder throats) shoot with almost anything I put in them.

They have not seen anything but cast bullets since I got them (the 4" JM Special was bought new and the 5" Model of 1989, while used, appeared to have never been shot).

NOE 250 gr Keith (Lyman 454424):



625-6 Model of 1989:



625's FOREVER!

Dale53
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Old 04-11-2011, 01:17 PM
Jellybean Jellybean is offline
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Quote:
Swaged lead bullets skid and lead the bore.
Does anyone but me find this sort of...stupid?
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Old 04-11-2011, 03:33 PM
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VonFatman VonFatman is offline
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McShooty,
That was a good article...I always like to see "updates" on calibers I reload...my favorite magazine..."Handloader"

Dale53,
LOVE that picture....care to send me a full-size pic? ( letsgoshootinATgmail.com )I'd love to use it as my desk-top!

By the way...nice looking bullets too! I'd love to try out some of those in my 625s. I need to find a vendor...I do not cast my own (yet).

Any recommendations on where I might find some 1/2 as nice as the ones you made?



Bob
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Old 04-12-2011, 01:29 AM
TheTinMan TheTinMan is offline
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Bob - would the 250gr RNFP for Long Colt on this page be close enough?
Oregon Trail laser cast
You can buy them direct or from Midway, et al.

I'm working up a load using the 200gr RNFP and Win 231 right now. These seem like nice, consistent bullets. I'm interested in any other opinions though...
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Old 04-12-2011, 10:52 PM
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VonFatman VonFatman is offline
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Might be! Thanks Mr TinMan

Bob
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Old 06-02-2011, 09:02 PM
johncantiusgarand johncantiusgarand is offline
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"Swaged lead bullets skid and lead the bore.

Does anyone but me find this sort of...stupid?"

I'm guessing that's because the average swaged lead bullets are much softer due to the raw material needing to be soft enough to squish into the shape of a bullet. One can get some surprisingly hard bullets when casting.
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Old 06-02-2011, 09:50 PM
Jellybean Jellybean is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johncantiusgarand View Post
"Swaged lead bullets skid and lead the bore.

Does anyone but me find this sort of...stupid?"

I'm guessing that's because the average swaged lead bullets are much softer due to the raw material needing to be soft enough to squish into the shape of a bullet. One can get some surprisingly hard bullets when casting.
After reading that a few times I think he might have been trying to say that the swaged bullets strip the lead off in the lands if pushed too fast.
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colt, hornady, model 25, model 625, mountain gun, rcbs, starline

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