.45 acp load direction part 2

[mikld]

I have used a lot of cast bullets for my revolvers (starting in 1970 with some generic 158 gr LRN). Over time I have found best overall cast bullet performance is when the bullets are sized to the same diameter as the cylinder throats. Also I like to know my guns and measure ("drop through", "light push through" and "tight" are not measurements and often no better than a WAG). I slug barrels and measure cylinder throats (but have slugged throats too), one main reason it to make sure throats are larger than groove diameter. I try to keep slugs for future info. When bullets are sized to the same diameter as the throats, I get no lead "spray" on the cylinder faces or frames. Bullets smaller than throats often lead the barrels and bullets larger are swaged to throat diameter as they are fired. This has worked for me with all my revolver reloading from extra light DEWC in 38 Special to my 44 Magnum "T-Rex Killers", 300 gr WFN over max loads of WC820.

 

[rockquarry]

I must be missing something here.
All the specs I can find show both the 45ACP and the 45 Colt as having a .452 diameter?
But you guys are talking about the 45 Colt bullets having diameters as big as .461 - which seems awfully big - too big to be sized down to the .452 spec, even if you wanted to.
I'm familiar with using lead a couple of thousandths oversized, but 9 thousandths seems like a lot to me, even if the throats are .455 or .456. Starting with a .461 bullet that's still 5 or 6 thousandths oversized, and sizing them down even that much seems like it would be pretty hard to push them through a .455 or .456 sizing die. Wouldn't it?

No, it's a cast bullet. I've never seen throats that were .461" or close to it, but .456" is common. I suppose if you loaded hot, it might make a difference, but there's little point in loading hot. I've fired many .456" bullets through a couple of 25-5s over a lot of years along with the same through a Winchester Trapper .45 Colt. Bullets were of moderate hardness (app. 12-14 BHN , wheelweight alloy) and were loaded moderately, often with 8.5 - 9grs. Unique.

I don't slug barrels and there's little point in doing if you have an adequate selection of bullet sizing dies.

 

[ReloadforFun]

The 45 Colt did use larger diameter bullets until fairly recently when they changed to the 45 Auto diameters. I don't recall the dates of the change. Best is to slug your bore and use the results to determine bullet diameter.

 

[rockquarry]

The 45 Colt did use larger diameter bullets until fairly recently when they changed to the 45 Auto diameters. I don't recall the dates of the change. Best is to slug your bore and use the results to determine bullet diameter.

Throat diameter is far more important than bore diameter unless you have an ancient revolver that might be way out of spec in both areas. It's unlikely the bore will be oversize if your gun is a recent one, made in the last sixty years or so. A .454" bullet should work well in anything recent, but there may be a few that might do better with a .452" bullet. I'd try both and compare accuracy. My S&W .45 Colt's did okay with a .454", but better with a .456". I think these S&W 25-5s are exceptions to the rule.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I had a Model 25 in 45 Colt.They were known for over large chamber mouths. Mine went .456. I found that jacketed bullets shot well, so that’s what I used in that gun.

You might ry some jacketed bullets, and see how it goes..

I had to go to .454" dia to get my 25-5 to group instead of pattern.