I got a box of these to try in my 3" 625-3. I have been using MB 200gr SWC's for the 625 and my 1911's with 5.3 gr W231. It works well in all my 45's but thought the buttons might chamber better with moon clips. I know I could just get RN bullets but really like SWC's. Anybody use these 185 gr button bullets?

I thought I would try the new bullets with both W231 and Bullseye. Any other suggestions? Good loads? The look like nice bullets.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

The best way I have found to use those is to use a roll crimp(RCBS has a roll crimp die available if your dies are taper crimp only) and roll crimp the bullets at around O.A.L. of 1.165"...his bullets should be soft enough to roll crimp at any point you wish. When you use a roll crimp, you remove the sharp edge of the case mouth hanging up on the entrance to the chambers of your revolver. They load a lot faster that way. If you use a TCFP bullet like those made here, or a RN with a roll crimp, they load even faster.(Different O.A.L. though with the last two mentioned.)

Powder charge? What do you intend to do with those? How fast do you want to go? If you are going to shoot nothing but paper with those 185 grain .45 caliber bullets, you might want to try 4.4 to 5.0 grains of Bullseye. Slower burning powders will get you into .45 Colt territory if that is where you want or need to go.

I use MB 185 flat base with 4.3 BE powder in my 1911 it works but I get some leading was thinking about trying 4.4 or 4.5 gr BE to see if it would help and to use in my 625 when I get it back from S&W.

This is a great bullet. I bought a bunch of them about 3 months ago and they're almost gone. I use 4.5 grains Bullseye or 5.4 grains W231 in my 1911PD and a WW II 1911A1, both without any hangups (I do use modern mags in the GI gun).

I've used the same loads in Auto Rim cases in a 25-2 and 325PD with excellent results.

I've also used this bullet in .45 Colt with 7.1 grains W231 in a Colt New Service 1909. The old Colt saw action in the Phillipines and is still a great shooter.

HKSmith and all,

I use 5.4 grains of W231 with 200 grain SWC's so I won't even have to adjust my powder measure. I will load some up and try them on Sunday morning in my 625 and a full size Kimber 1911. I will see how the W231 goes first as it's my go to powder for 80% of my loading. I will experiment with Bullseye and other later. If the bullets show good results they may become a standard.

Thanks for the great information. I will let you guys know how it does.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

I use these in my 745 with 3.5 gr. of Bullseye. I don't know what the OAL is, but I seat them so that about .030 of the bullet shoulder is above the case mouth.

Jeff

I've got a box of those beauties waiting for my next reloading campaign.

But with lots of other styles of 185s, I like 4.0-4.6 Bullseye, or 5.0-5.6 Unique. Experiment!

Re crimp. I only use a roll crimp for real heavy loads with bullets that have a definite cannelure. These 185s should be seated so that about a thumbnail thickness of the lead base peeks out above the case mouth. Then use a very light taper crimp, just enough to remove the flare from the expander step. If you're having trouble inserting a full moon clip, perhaps your taper crimp should be a bit tighter. Measure near the case mouth. OD should be .470 or a few tenths less. Another alternative is chamfering the chamber mouths. This is an inexpensive job done by a gunsmith.

I have an original H&G Four Cavity mould for the H&G #130 bullet. I have shot tens of thousands of those in my 1911's as well as my 625's.

In a tuned target 1911 you can use 3.5-4.0 grs of Bullseye or equivalent. They can also be loaded full charge to run in excess of 900 fps with an appropriate charge of Unique (or equivalent).

When speed loading in full moon clips for the 625's and 25's, I prefer bullets better suited for quick loads. One bullet I have used with satisfaction is the Lee 230 TC (with conventional lube groove). It will shoot 1 1/4" at 25 yards, has a flat meplat for much better terminal performance than a round nose but feeds and loads just as well.

Just a thought or two...

Dale53

I loaded up a batch of the 185 grain button's last night using 5.4 grains of W231 and a light taper crimp. It's the same crimp that feeds in 4 different 1911's and 2 different S&W 3rd gen pistols. I loaded them with just a fingernails thickness of the bearing surface above the case rim. A full moon clip drops in the cylinder almost like they are 230 grain ball ammo. They line right up and drop in under there own weight.

I will let you guys know how they shoot out of my 3" 625 and a 1911. I will try them on Sunday morning. I may load a small batch with Bullseye before then as well.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

I got a box of those M button nose 185's last month. Did some internet recipe hunting and eventually settled on a OAL of 1.172 over a charge of 4.0 gr of Clays.
POI is 1.5" lower at 35' ( due to lighter weight than the 200grSWC) but they cycle fine in the 5, 1911's I tried. Havn't got to use them in my 625 yet.
Let us know what you come up with. Not allot of discussion on this particular bullet anywhere.

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Dave

Just got back from the range a couple of hours ago to try out the 185 grain buttons. These are my new favorite bullet for 45 ACP. This target is 18 rounds fired off hand at 15 yards. The first 5 shots made one hole less than an inch and then I got the one flyer. I fired some from a sand bag rest but shot up the targets targets and didn't save them. There was no leading at all. They worked just as well in a Kimber Stainless II and a Pro Crimson Carry II. These were loaded with 5.4 grains of W231 and Federal LP primers.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

I have a box of 185 grain 45 cal lead semi wadcutters, what is the correct load for using Bullseye powder?


Thanks

I have used those bullets in my Kimber Stainless Gold Match II for quite a while over 4.0 grains of Clays. They also shoot real well over 5.0 grains of TiteGroup but muzzle velocity and recoil are higher. Believe it or not, I think TiteGroup is cleaner in my .38 Super and .45ACP 1911s than Clays while in my .38/.357 loads for my S&W Model 66s and 686s, I find Clays to be cleaner. Weird how that works...

I am starting to use Precision Cast 185-grain LSWCs in my .45ACP loads. They shoot as well as the Missouri Buttons and are available to me locally but cost more than Buttons. I don't get any leading with either bullet.

Ed