M&P 45 Wadcutter Feeding

[croz2173]

Hello all,

I recently decided to purchase an M&P full size .45 auto. Love the gun, zero issues. Thus far my reloads have been 5.6 grains of Unique with Hornady's 230 grain FMJ-RN. These have fed wonderfully, as I expected.

I would like to try some semi-wadcutters, but as I am fairly new to the world of semi-auto pistols and reloading, and I wanted to get some opinions. Has anyone had any problems with feeding these in m&p's? I'm specifically thinking of Hornady's FMJ Combat target, and their lead version.

As far as lead goes, is it worth the cost savings or would I be better off sticking with FMJ, I really don't want to deal with leading issues in the barrel.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SMSgt]

Leading in the .45 ACP highly unlikely due to low velocity. If you are in doubt, go with the new coated bullets. They'll still be cheaper than FMJs.

As far as SWCs in the M&P, I can't help. I tried them in my Glock 30 and it choked badly on them. I went with LRNs and all is well.

 

[manyguns]

I have thousand of lead 200 gr. SWCs fired in my full size M&P. Nary a glitch. They also make a great hunting round near 1000 fps. Just follow the manual on OAL. and it should be fine.

 

[croz2173]

Thanks manyguns, I'll probably give both the leads and the FMJs a try in small quantities. Unfortunately as far as hunting goes, semi-auto pistols are illegal here in PA.

 

[Magload]

I been having problems trying to feed my Remington 1911 R1 SWC. I am using Berry's 200gr Plated and 200gr Blue Bullet. It is just a matter of getting the COL worked out as the last ones fed better with only a few FTF as they hung up on he feed ramp. I may try a 230gr if I keep having problems. They are grouping good and tomorrow I am going to run them across the new chrono.

 

[Calliope]

I'm specifically thinking of Hornady's FMJ Combat target, and their lead version.

Good luck finding the Hornady FMJ-CT. They're my favorite bullet, but I haven't seen them for sale in a couple years. I've been substituting Rainier 200 grain plated SWCs and SNS casting powder coated SWCs (no lube groove).
The Hornady lead SWCs are very soft and may not be super accurate in some guns (soft bullets sometimes don't grab onto shallow rifling) YMMV.

 

[scattershot]

My favorite load is the 200 grain SWC over 4.0 Red Dot. I have used both cast and plated bullets, and have come to prefer the Xtreme platd 200 SWC for ease of cleanup as much as anything. My M&P 45 c gobbles these like candy. Never a problem.

 

[retired2006]

My M&P 45 F/S feeds 200gr SWC's just fine. I use 5.0 hrs HP38 with a Missouri Bullet Co cast bullet # IDP 1, very good accuracy !

 

[tommy F]

I have shoot hard cast 200 SWC in just about every 45 except a MP. They feed like FMJs.

 

[Rule3]

It is all about the COL for feeding or not. A very small difference will make or break it. With the common #68 mold profile 1.250- 1.260 is a good place to start. Pretty much just leave a fraction of the driving band ( width of thumbnail or so) showing above the case mouth, Taper "crimp" just enough to remove the flair.

Only load a few to try until you find the "magic" length for your bullet and barrel.

 

[rwsmith]

My 3rd gen

I don't know about the M&Ps but my 3rd gen eats SWCs and anything else.

On the other hand my cheapo Kel Tec is very picky and doesn't like SWCs I'm going to load some to max COAL and see it that works any better. If not....meh.

SWCs have gotten to be my general purpose bullet. They can cut a nice hole in a target and also the blunt nose performs well on 'living things'. Better range than a full WC. The coated are the cat's meow and the cost/value is great.

 

[federali]

Less Than Perfect Experience

My S&W M&P had a bit of trouble feeding SWCs from a full magazine. After the first two or three rounds, things were fine. As I'm not a competition shooter, I generally avoid SWCs. I was using up a box of bullets given to me.

I've also experienced leading using Missouri Bullet 200 grain RNFPs over 4.5 grains of Bullseye. Once my supply of lead bullets is exhausted, I plan to shoot coated or plated bullets only.

 

[Magload]

Just when I was reaching a COL that would feed every time they would hang up on the front of the ejection port if I had to eject a non fired round. I backed them off a little and they are doing fine now. I like the Blue Bullets in SWC better then the plated.

 

[RegisG]

SWC do not work in my M&P 9 or Shield9

I had hundreds of SWC loaded from some years ago. Jammed hard in my Shield. So, removed the barrels of both 9mm's and dropped in several loaded SWC's. Every one hung on the ridge of the bullet and was at least several thousands from fully seating in the barrel.

You should check that first BEFORE shooting any.

Regis

 

[fredj338]

I love he 200gr swc but it doesn't feed well in everything. I don't have an m&p, but they won't feed 100% in my xd or my friends g30. Regardless of what some will say about oal or crimp, some gun designs won't hande the sharp shoulder of the swc.
Lead bullets are certainly cheaper, just as accurate, but for he smoke & & sludge left after 500-600rd, no reason to shoot anything else on a 45 for practice.
Btw, don't worry about leading. Choose a 0.452" bullet, you will likely never have an issue. IMO, softer bullets will be less likely to show any leading vs very hard cast, especially if the bullet is slightly undersized for the throats in some guns.

 

[M29since14]

I would test the .452"-diameter idea before buying a bunch of them. The M&P45s I have seen have pretty tight chambers and with some makes of brass (viz.: anything other than Remington) .452" bullets may cause trouble.

I don't have any experience with the Hornady bullet mentioned by the OP but the H&G #68 cast design works very well in my M&P45. Leading should not be an issue with either .451" or .452" bullets. If you are getting leading problems with .451" bullets in your .45 something else is wrong - likely a bad barrel. In my experience, leading problems in .45 target loads are almost non-existent, but once in a while a poorly made barrel will accumulate some lead just beyond the leade. The rest of the barrel is usually not a problem.

Carefully controlling seating depth is a big deal in my M&P45 too. #68s at 1.250" shoot great and function great. Drag the OAL out to 1.270" and you've got real problems.

 

[Skeet 028]

Heck the lead SWCs shoot great out of every 45 auto I have..but they are all 1911s. First one I tried 'em in was the Wilson Combat. Got the COL set right and they shoot out of ANYTHING with that COL. Load them over 5.2 gr Win 230 or 231. The 230 right now cause I got 11 lbs for a dollar a pound. Cheap shooting. The SWCs I use are the H&G 68 bullet.

 

[novalty]

The only guns that I've personally seen have issues feeding 200gr SWC's were both EAA witnesses: one full-size model and the other their Match model. The issue must be with the leading edge of the SWC, as the Match liked the 200gr RFN that I cast.

 

[Rule3]

Nice^^^^

I prefer the 200 gr RFN over any SWC just for the ease of loading and shooting. It still makes a nice hole in paper.
Can use them in 45 Colt also.