45 Colt plated hollow point bullets.

[andyo5]

Hi, all. My 45 Colt guns shoot Hornaday 250g XTP bullets better than anything else. I shoot a 7.5" Ruger Bisley in silhouette matches and do rather well with it. But XTP bullets are expensive. I'd prefer to avoid lead bullets, and would prefer copper plated bullets. But the only bullets I can find in .452" diameter that are plated are truncated cone style, and I don't get very good results with them.
Does anybody know of a .452" diameter plated hollow point bullet suitable for 45 Colt use? I'd prefer 250g but 200g could work also.

Thanks!

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Xtreme makes a 230gr plated hollow-point (P-HP) bullet that mics at .4526". Obviously it's intended for 45ACP & therefore doesn't have a cannelure, but I use it mostly in my M325/625's, as well as my M25-13 45 Colt.

They have a concave base & are double plated & rated at 1500fps. I use a taper crimp on them. If I'm trying to avoid jump crimp in a lightweight revolver I seat them deep, to the ogive, & reduce the charge accordingly.

They've been real good bullets but Xtreme's quality (appearance/finish) seemed to have slipped a bit last time I ordered from them. Shipping is free from them.

.

.

 

[fredj338]

I would want a crimp groove or cannelure in any revo bullet running at decent vel. Imo, you will never match the axxuracy of the xtp with any plated bullet.

 

[reddog81]

Rainer has some 230 grain hollow points in .45 caliber. MidwayUSA has them.

Any of the HP plated bullets are shaped like a truncated cone style bullet. I don't think the difference in accuracy between TC and HP bullets is due to the style of bullet. It's more likely due to one or more factors such as the exact diameter, uniformity of plating, uniformity of bullets, etc.

I'd try some powder coated or Hi-Tek coated bullets before trying one of the limited selections of hollow point plated 45 caliber options.

 

[andyo5]

Rainer has some 230 grain hollow points in .45 caliber. MidwayUSA has them.

Any of the HP plated bullets are shaped like a truncated cone style bullet. I don't think the difference in accuracy between TC and HP bullets is due to the style of bullet. It's more likely due to one or more factors such as the exact diameter, uniformity of plating, uniformity of bullets, etc.

I'd try some powder coated or Hi-Tek coated bullets before trying one of the limited selections of hollow point plated 45 caliber options.

I have a few hundred of the Ranier truncated cone bullets. I have shot them in various guns with various loads including 8.5/9.0 g of Unique, 12.8g of Blue Dot, and 20.5g of H110. My best results were with Blue Dot, and the accuracy was just OK but nothing to compare with my XTP loads.
I do have some coated 200g SWC bullets I can try. But I find they are not truly lead free, although they keep the smoke down.

 

[Nevada Ed]

As mentioned, most plated bullets do not come with a "Can" and
are smooth walled and if by chance there is a cannelure, it is so
slight, that it really useless.

I will add that my 9mm Gold Dot's call for/work at a OAL of 1.12"
in my pistols, in order to work. 1.08 and 1.135" will cause problems.
The Berry THP needs 1.13" for Alliant bulky powders to get max fps
while ball powders can work at a short OAL of 1.075"
Alliant maxed out at 1.13" at 1212fps and BE-86 did 1220 at a OAL of 1.075"
Minimum fps in a 5" barrel was at 1030fps +/- with Green Dot or Unique powder.

With the 45..........
Plated might work but I would try the ball type powders due to
the depth that the bullet might be seated at.
Even though I did have three loads with good accuracy at full strength
many more did as well or better with the shorter OAL and medium
to light target loads in the 130 power factor area.

I am trying the hp plated, just because it is lower in price than the Quality
made Hornady bullet, that works great in my 38 and 357.
So far I have three loads that will work for me, in a plated Berry bullet.

Have you tried the Speer TMJ?

Good shooting.

 

[andyo5]

With the 45..........
Plated might work but I would try the ball type powders due to
the depth that the bullet might be seated at.
Even though I did have three loads with good accuracy at full strength
many more did as well or better with the shorter OAL and medium
to light target loads in the 130 power factor area.

Good shooting.

Ed, It looks like you are talking about 45 ACP. I am talking about 45 Colt. There is plenty of room in the case. No need to be concerned about OAL.