I was always under the impression that BB sourced their cast bullets from Rimrock, Rimrock’s catalog however only shows a 250 grain RNFP while BB’s .45 acp Outdoorsman load uses a 255. Can anyone point me towards the likely source of BB’s bullet in this instance.
Duplication of Buffalo Bore .45acp Outdoorsman
- Thread starter erickg
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Rimrock does list a 255 grain SWC cast bullet for .45 Colt. It's sized .452, so could certainly be used for .45 ACP or Autorim. I don't know if this is the bullet that BB uses. Also, loading data may be hard to come by.
I saw the bullet you’re mentioning, but it’s not THE bullet. Whatever BB is using has to come from somewhere, I’m just curious and wanted to dupe theirs exactly.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
The difference in casting alloys would make up the difference in final weight!
Ivan
Ivan
Sorry, just trying to track with what you’re saying here? Are you suggesting that the bullet BB is using is in fact the Rimrock bullet and that BB is just listing it as 255 grains as opposed to the 250 Rimrock calls it, just choosing to error to the heavier side of what you’re describing or what I call the cast bullet margin of error?
Ok, mystery solved for anyone that cares. Went straight to the source (Rimrock), Rimrock confirmed that the bullet Buffalo Bore is using is in fact, theirs. Buffalo Bore just chooses to call it a 255 grain because it technically drops at 253.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
This is what seems to be happening here.
However, when you use different alloys, you can change the weight (softer usually is heavier) and the as cast diameter (different alloys have different diameters, Wheel Weights are usually .0005 bigger than the actual mold!).
The casting section in Lyman #46 and Cast Bullet Handbook have charts that compare the differences with Lead, Lyman #2, Wheel Weights, & Linotype. Handy to know stuff when trying to match a oversized cylinder throat. Also over the last Century+ Ideal/Lyman made different as cast molds of the exact same design! Some use the same mold number others don't. So buying a hundred year old 45 Colt bullet mold may be over sized for a modern revolver, or you can get away with a newish mold for a 455 British cartridge. Bullet casting can be "Only a Science" or with a little alchemy it can become a "Dark Art!"
Ivan
Check out Silhouette for 250 grain RNFP loads. Per the Hogdon website 6.6 grains is standard pressure max and 6.9 grains is +P max. I’ve loaded the standard pressure with Acme 250 grain coated RNFP. Here’s my results:
250gr Acme RNFP
6.6gr Silhouette, 1.20” COAL, Win LP
5” 1911: 845fps
Use at your own risk of course. Hogdon lists the +P load at 950-ish fps so that should get you to about the Buffalo Bore numbers.
The standard pressure shoots very well and for me, is good enough.
250gr Acme RNFP
6.6gr Silhouette, 1.20” COAL, Win LP
5” 1911: 845fps
Use at your own risk of course. Hogdon lists the +P load at 950-ish fps so that should get you to about the Buffalo Bore numbers.
The standard pressure shoots very well and for me, is good enough.
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Yet some will obsess over 2 grains difference, when it makes no difference.
Unless those grains are in the same batch.
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I've tried the popular .45 Colt bullet (cast from Lyman design #454424) in .45 Auto Rim brass for use in my 625 revolver with 5" barrel. Bullet weighs anywhere from 250 - 260 grains depending on the alloy mix.
This can be an accurate bullet but recoil can be pretty heavy with loads in the 900 fps range. Not "full power .44 Magnum heavy", but uncomfortable if shooting very many rounds in one trip to the range.
This can be an accurate bullet but recoil can be pretty heavy with loads in the 900 fps range. Not "full power .44 Magnum heavy", but uncomfortable if shooting very many rounds in one trip to the range.
