45 acp 200gr LSWC Bullseye Loads

boatbum101

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In 45acp a jacketed bullet will be the most accurate . Jacketed bullets of good quality will be extremely uniform in weight , which means they'll all fly the same . They're expensive & unless you're a military team member or well heeled , most shooters reserve them for slow fire @ 50yds .
Next up will be swaged lead . Again they're extremely uniform , shoulder are sharp & bases filled out also no voids . They will consistently outshoot commercial cast bullets for ever . Bullseye is about accuracy , has no power factor to be met & at 50yds bad loads are quickly sorted out .
Cast bullets can also be accurate if carefully cast . A nose pour mold will assure that bases are consistant , shoulders sharp & bullet weight will be uniform . Commercially cast are generally too hard , have bevel bases & lube used leaves much to be desired . A flat base will generally outshoot a bevel base , but requires careful loading technique .
The following loads are accurate & have been tested @ 50yds to be consistently so . By tested I mean literally thousands have been shot from match accurized 1911's in machine rests @ 50yds . Just because a load will perform @ a shorter distance does NOT guarantee it'll perform @ 50yds . Believe me 50yds separates the wheat from the chaff rapidly .
All loads were shot from 1911 wadguns built by Clark , David Sams , Dave Santurri , Dave Salyer , Ed Masaki & Bob Marvel . All were tested in a Ransom Rest . Range was 50yds . Majority of the barrels in these are Kart Super Match . Mixed cases , WLP or CCI primers , Star or Zero 200gr swaged lead bullets , taper crimped .469 @ case mouth .
3.8 to 4.2grs Bullseye
3.6 to 4.0 VV N310
4.6 to 5.0 W231
4.0 to 4.4grs WST
4.0 to 4.3grs Titegroup
3.8 to 4.2 Clays
4.0 to 4.2grs Solo 1000
4.0 to 4.2 AA #2
3.6 to 4.0 Nitro 100
3.8 to 4.1grs 700X
All were capable of excellent 50yd accuracy . Guns like people often have distinct preferences . Testing is the only way to determine what powder / bullet combination shoots best in a particular gun . Rules of thumb are : 1) Swaged bullets on the average will outshoot cast . 2) Velocity envelope for best accuracy was between 720 to 800fps . 3) Bullets similar in shape to the H&G 68 generally shot better than the shorter nosed type like the H&G 130 . 4) Flat or plain base bullets on the average out shot bevel based . 5) Plated bullets are only fit for casual plinking . H&G 78 shot better in revolvers . RCBS 201gr cast shot as good & better in some guns than the H&G 68 . 6) Faster powders shot better than slower in these type loads . 7) Mixed cases shot as well as same headstamp / make cases with lead target loads . 8) Fed 100 primers on the average shot better in revolvers & you had to increase powder charges also 9) Swaged lead generally shot better with lower charges , whereas cast shot better with loads on the higher end . I figured I'd share these in the spirit that it might save other shooters some time , money &/or aggravation . These test were conducted with Neil Kravitz of NSK Sales . He's a commercial loader catering to the match pistol crowd . If you don't reload Neil sells loaded ammo ( either new brass or used ) , bullets & a host of other ammo related items . I'll be posting other load info on testing done with jacketed & 38 special loads too .
 
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Thanks boatbum, I have 600 Hornady 200 gr swaged Swc', about 300 H&G 68's, and 3 lbs of WST
This all good info for me.:D:D
 
For all but the most competitive shooter, cast bullets will shoot MUCH better than the shooter can shoot. I have a 75 year old friend that can cut a 2" TO 3" hole at 20 yards wwith cast and anywhere from 3.6 to 4.0 Bullseye. This is with 200gr SWC. I myself do very well with the 3.6 Bullseye and the same 200 gr H&G SWC out of an unaltered (trigeer job only) Ruger SR1911.
 
Don't get me wrong . Cast can be quite accurate , but it takes careful attention to the details . Alloy used , mold used , lube used , segragate by weight , careful exam of bases . All in all very time consuming & you won't get bullets like that from a commercial caster , irregardless of what they say . 50yd accuracy is all about consistency & having an accurate gun . Take 100 of your cast , weigh them before lubing . Now take 100 swaged & weigh them . Now take 100 jacketed match bullets & weigh them . I believe you'll find my statements factual . Star was the first to market a swaged bullet capable of 50yd Bullseye accuracy & since their closing Zero is the best . John Farley ( 8 time Nat Champ Police Div ) , his son & grandson all shoot bullets they cast out of guns they build . Believe me they wouldn't get the results they do if not for careful attention to details . Most these days either don't have that kind of time or dedication . As far as better than most can shoot , you are correct Sir . Go to any range . How many do you see shooting a handgun @ 50 yds let alone 25yds ? My post was geared towards match shooters & folks interested in the best accuracy possible .
 
boatbum101 - I don't go through any of that extra nonsense, neither does my friend. He buys and shoots commercially cast bullets and I cast my own. Cast them, size 'em, and tumble lube them. That is it. If they come out of the mold around three thousanths or slightly less oversize they don't even get sized. Don't make this sound more complicated than it is. You'll only scare off some would be casters.
 
I see the testing was done in a 1911. What about FWC bullets? Have these been tested? I would think in a revolver they would be more accurate.
 
tomf52 ,
It wasn't my intention to scare anyone off . I think perhaps you mistook what I said . I as talking about 50yd accuracy , not 20yds that you said you & friend shoot . At 25yds out of a decent pistol one could shoot commercial cast & bullets with incomplete bases etc . & still clean a target . Unless for match bullets I too shoot as cast , tumble lube w/ 45-45-10 . So we're not that far apart . Next time y'all go shooting put the targets out @ 50yds . I honestly believe you'll see my point rather you agree or not .
tlay ,
Since most of Neil's customers are competition shooters we used 1911 wadguns . Revolvers on the line these days are actually quite rare . FWC more accurate in a revolver , yes I'd think so too .
 
Thank you for your posts boatbum101, they are very well thought out, written and extremely informative. It's good to see posters with the "attention to detail" posting on this website.

Most american shooters are more about the blam & bling than quality. The europeans will put a $1000 scope on a $500 rifle & the americans will put $100 scope on a $1000 rifle. Everyone complains about no 22lr ammo but for some odd reason wal-mart is always out of the dirt clod busting blammo ammo @ 10 paces but there has never been a shortage of mid to high grade match ammo.

Casting is an art unto itself & in the last 5 years there's been the birth of several custom mold makers. Good molds are extremely hard to get & the quality of the old cramer molds (same from cavity to cavity in multiple cavity molds) has not been matched until recently.

I bought a mold off of a custom mold maker a couple of years ago & was surprised by it's quality/consistency. I do the same thing when I get a new mold, weight 100 random bullets & mic the extreme highs/lows weight wise. With a 4 cavity mold (h&g #68 clone/actually #69, no bb) the solid nosed bullets extreme (high/low) was 1.1gr and the hp (small hp designed for target work putting the weight futher back on the drive bands) was 1.6gr. They all mic'd the same size, the difference in weight came from the base of the bullet/sprue cut.



Another quality cast bullet that I'm looking forward to trying when the weather gets better, a 175gr hollow base swc for the 45acp. Pictured as cast without the noses cleaned up.



The beauty of a nose cast bullet is that the weight of the bullets are easily altered/uniformed without effecting the base of the bullet.

These bullets were cast from a cramer mold from the 30's.



Casting hb bullets takes cast bullets to the next level & allows the user/shooter the ability to use different alloy/lubes/weights/sizes. Another custom mold, a 148gr hbwc that's extremely uniform from cavity to cavity (1.4gr).



With casting bullets it's garbage in garbage out, quality or custom molds are the only way to go. My latest find, a cramer 158gr bullet for the 38spl/357 (they called the hunter design) that casts a 150gr hp (small hp pins for penetration) that is .360" in diameter with 20 to 1 10bhn alloy.



Bumboat101 expect to get your brain picked about presses, dies, settings, equipment, techniques, etc. I'm glad to see you have taken reloading to the next level & have the ability to help reloaders that are anywhere from plinkers/novices/beginners/knowledgeable/experts.

forrest r
 
Forrest R ,
Thanks . You said it better than I could . The older mould make better bullets . Newer Lyman moulds are no where near what the older Ideal / Lymans were . Cramer as said makes fine bullets too . I too agree a custom mould is the way to go .
 
The information in the OP certainly seems to match what I have come to believe over the years.
I currently shoot only flat base bullets I have cast and lube/sized myself.
 
The errors are my fault!

In 45acp a ... cast bullets can also be accurate if carefully cast . By tested I mean literally thousands have been shot from match accurized 1911's in machine rests @ 50yds . Just because a load will perform @ a shorter distance does NOT guarantee it'll perform @ 50yds . Believe me 50yds separates the wheat from the chaff rapidly .

All loads were shot from 1911 wadguns built by ...Dave Salyer .... All were tested in a Ransom Rest . Range was 50yds .

4.0 to 4.2 AA #2 MODIFIED COPY /
I shoot AA#2 at 4.2 grains with a Lyman "H&G 68 clone" modified to flat base bullet with 185 grain weight. I have a Colt Series 70 Gold Cup accurized by Dave.

I guess I have no excuses for center fire or 45 courses of fire. I shot a M41 S&W in rimfire. The good news is that I have plent of practice ammo to get ready for Camp Perry.

Dave shoots in Columbia, SC the third Saturday beginning Feb 15. :) :D
 
Thank you for the information. Just starting to load 45acp again. Trying to work up a few loads with different bullets. This will help me out!
 
Engineer1911 ,
Dave has built 4 guns for me . 3 wad & 1 ball . My 1960 vintage Colt NM the original barrel's about shot out . I'm going to send it to him for a new Kart Super Match sometime this year .
 
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