I have two boxes of 500 rds. each of cast 250 gr. round nose flat point lead bullets. Both boxes are marked 0.452" dia. They were cast by two different companies, both of whom are no longer in business.

I have loaded about 100 rounds from each box using either 7.0 gr. Bullseye or 6.8 gr. Green Dot. Both of the loads were accurate and pleasant to shoot, fed and ejected easily from an Old Vaquero and a Winchester Mod. 94. Neither load showed any signs of elevated pressure.

The chambers of the Vaquero measure 0.452- 0.452+ in. using a Starrett (sp?) Small Hole Gauge and a Starrett Dial Caliper.

Last week I was bored and measured the diameters of the .45 Colt cast bullets. They measured between 0.455" and 0.458". I was surprised and measured a larger sample with the same result. I measured all of my other bullets, both jacked and cast, but they were of the diameters noted on the box. I checked the calipers with a standard and they were within cailbration. Used a second dial caliper, a Mitutoyo, with the same results.

I don't have a bullet sizing die and I don't think that saving 1000 .45 bullets would justify its purchase.

What is your experience with shooting oversize cast lead bullets? My loads were admitedly mild do you think that it is safe to continue shooting these bullets with similar mild loads? Do you know of anyone who would run these through a bullet sizer?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Kindest regards,

Bill

Being a relatively low pressure load I'd run them out the barrel if they didn't lead up.

__________________
S&W Accumulator

Trade or sell them to someone here who owns an early 25-5 !

Jerry

__________________
.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

That is a good idea.

How do you load your cases? Are you using a Lee Factory Crimp Die? If you are loading on a Dillon Square Deal B, you may be getting the same affect as the LFCD. What it will do is "swage" the bullet down to the right size as it makes the case the right size. Bad if you have oversize throats, good in a situation like yours.

Either way, use them as alloy to start casting yourself or shoot them in mild loads and don't look back. How long will 1000 bullets last you?

For most, they would be passing them on to their prodigy before getting them gone!

I shoot that size bullet in my model 25's all the time. If you don't want them send me a pm and we will work out a deal.

__________________
SWCA #2421

I have a 25-5 with large throats and would also be interested in purchasing some or all. PM me.

LTC

Thank you all for your input. I think that I will continue to load them as before. I never intended to load hotter than mild loads for these two guns and only use them for punching paper,

Again thank you for your inputs.

Kindest regards,

Bill

Bill, that's us, kindest somethings! haha