ACP bullets in 45 Colt

[ralph7]

I have more of the plated 230 grain bullets for the ACP than the crimping groove swc that are proper for the 45 Colt.
Has anyone any experience using these with a light crimp and keeping velocities under 900 fps in a 45 Colt chambered gun?
I realize the crimp can't distort the bullet and my main question is without a crimping groove, can I keep the bullet from moving under recoil?

 

[Mike in Reedley]

I have, by using a taper crimp die. They worked fine, but probably won’t shoot to point of aim with fixed sights.

 

[Rpg]

Try using a taper crimp. You don’t need a crimp groove.

I routinely use a taper crimp on my 45acp hand loads. My 45acp loads are fairly stout and I’ve never needed a crimp other than the taper crimp.

 

[TheTinMan]

Try using a taper crimp. You don’t need a crimp groove.

I routinely use a taper crimp on my 45acp hand loads. My 45acp loads are fairly stout and I’ve never needed a crimp other than the taper crimp.

I’m fairly certain that I’ve shot lots of target load 200 grain plated bullet, 45 ACP cartridges out of revolvers without giving it a second thought. 850 fps +/- IIRC. Always taper crimped.

 

[ralph7]

I can use my extra acp crimp die to do a taper, and yes, they will probably hit a bit low.
Thanks!

 

[DWalt]

All I use for loading .45 Colt are 250 grain .452 lead SWC bullets. I do not worry about crimping them. Normally with 6 grains of Bullseye or similar such as Hodgdon Clays.

 

[GypsmJim]

I first started loading .45 ACP using 230 RN lead boolits with a crimping groove. I cast them myself. They worked very well.

A few years later I started loading .45 Colt. Since I already had a huge supply of 230s I used them in the Colt as well. My Colt bullet seating die does a roll crimp, so crimping in the crimping groove worked out well.

I have done this for about 40 years. It wasn't until I bought a 25-5 with big throats that I bought a new mold and started casting 255s at 0.454.

In times that I had nothing but plated 230s with no crimping groove, I used them anyway, with the same light roll crimp. Mining my own personal outdoor target showed that these bullets were not damaged at all.

My loading manuals list data for .45 Colt with 230's. It even lists round nose lead. I guess it must be ok.

 

[growr]

Many of my SASS shooters are using a lead 230 Round Nose for a 1911 in the .45 Colt rifle and hand guns because of how well they cycle in a lever gun.

Can't say with jacketed bullets, would probably be the same.

Randy