New to .45 Colt reloading - bullet choices?

[Lou_NC]

I'm an experienced reloader, but new to .45 Colt. I have a supply of various weight and profiles of .452 cast bullets on hand from my many years of .45 ACP reloading.

It seems that the 255 grain (and up) cast bullets seem to be something of a "standard" bullet for .45 Colt. However, I do see recipes on the powder mfr. websites for other bullets weights and profiles.

Is there anything about the 255gr bullets that make them superior to using my supplies of 200gr LSWC's and 230gr RN's, at least to get started in .45 Colt?

Thanks,
Lou

 

[gen3guy]

The 255 gr lead flat point is my fovorite for the .45 Colt. It just seems right to me. That bullet in front of 8 gr. of Unique is my go to load for everything. Love it! I have also loaded 200gr. LSWC bullets and they have been OK. 9 gr. of Unique for those. With jacketed bullets I try to stay in the 240 or 250 gr. range. I haven't had good accuracy results with lighter bullets.

 

[max]

I have loaded 200gr swc's for several years. I find it odd that they can be too long for some cylinders.

 

[colt_saa]

Is there anything about the 255gr bullets that make them superior to using my supplies of 200gr LSWC's and 230gr RN's, at least to get started in .45 Colt?

Thanks,
Lou

Tradition


However check your firearm. 45 LC firearms used to have a .454 bore. Recently manufactured firearms have a .452 bore. If you have the latter you will be fine as far as the firearm goes.

As to dies, You might need to turn the expander plug down a few thousandths to get good tension on the .452 projectiles.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO there really isn't anything special about the 250gr bullet over the 200gr or 230gr bullet except for the fact the .45 Colt can shoot them at acceptable velocities. (and of course nostalgia)

I like a 250gr LRN bullet for target work with the 45 Colt and for woods carry I like a 255gr SWC bullet. If you have a lot of bullets you use in your 45 Auto and want to use them in the 45 Colt, have at it except for the fact it's preferable to have a crimp groove in revolver bullets and the Semi-Auto bullets usually don't use a crimp groove.

 

[keithherrington]

I've experimented with a wide variety of bullets. At the very bottom of the success ladder is the 230 grain lead RN. Next step up from bottom are the 200 grain SWC. Near the top are the 240-255 grain Keith designed lead SWC and at the very top in my experience is the 255 grain RN flat point. I've also found two BIG variables: as previously mentioned, diameter; also a huge variable is quality. Laser Cast is by far my favorite. Others are good performers but Laser Cast is consistently first rate.

My go to load is the Laser Cast 255 grain LNFP over 8.5 grains of Unique. Out of a 4" barrel S&W Mountain Gun it clocks 945fps. A bit faster out of my 5" Classic 625. Deadly accurate in both.

Keith

 

[Bart45]

The original bullet for the 45Colt was like the Lyman 454190, a 250gr flat nose. I cast that for my Colt Single Action Army and it shoots very well.

 

[hotrod150]

Back in the day, I loaded 255 gr hardcast SWC's over 8.0 Unique and 200 gr hardcast SWC over 9.0 gr Unique.This for a Blackhawk & a model 25-5.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Experiment with different loads

To answer your question, I'd just suggest you just try some different loads with your supply of ACP bullets to see how they shoot in your gun. It's fun to try different combinations. (I've tried many combinations in my 45 Colt & Casull cases.) Maybe some will be better than others but that's to be expected. Maybe your needs aren't too critical & most will work fine. Experiment some & have fun doing it.

 

[arjay]

Any of those weights will work fine as long as the diameter fits your particular gun.Load some up and see how they group.

 

[Rickkster]

My 45 Colt revolvers all like 250 - 285 grain bullets over either Unique or HS-6. The 285 grain (with my alloy) RCBS-45-270-SAA is my favorite.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[Lou_NC]

To answer your question, I'd just suggest you just try some different loads with your supply of ACP bullets to see how they shoot in your gun. It's fun to try different combinations. (I've tried many combinations in my 45 Colt & Casull cases.) Maybe some will be better than others but that's to be expected. Maybe your needs aren't too critical & most will work fine. Experiment some & have fun doing it.

This is what I'll probably end up doing, as you point out, experimenting is half the fun of reloading, and hopefully I'll learn something in the process!

Thanks to everyone who replied to my questions, I appreciate the input and advice.

Lou

 

[jtcarm]

Good point about the bore. If it's recent mfr., you're probably in good shape, but: on Rugers, I've found chamber throats too tight for good cast bullet accuracy. Cast bullets like to be funneled down, the chamber throats should be slightly larger than the forcing code, which should be larger than the bore. Bullets should just about fill the chamber throats. The throats can be opened up if too tight. Check out LBTs web site on how to, or Smiling Larry (aka MidwayUSA) probably has a reamer to do it.

Cast bullets seem right for the .45 Colt round (all revolvers, IMO), but I've found the varying throat/bore dimensions make it difficult.

Oh, LBT is Lead Bullet Technology. I don't know if they have instructions on the site. I got them on paper many years ago when I bought a mold.

 

[dickttx]

I like the 250gn RNFP too. They just look mean!! The 200gn RNFP does OK too, just shoot a little lower.
IIRC the "later 45 Colts" that are 452 started when production started up again after WWII.
Having the cylinder reamed on my Blackhawk increased accuracy substantially. I sent it to a guy on the Ruger Forum and it was back in less than a couple of weeks. I think he charged $35.

 

[David Sinko]

A 255 gr. cast bullet at 1000 FPS is pretty much the standard that does EVERYTHING so well that you really don't need another load. I know I have killed more critters with the Lee 255 gr. RF and 8.8 grs. of 231 than any other load and any other cartridge. It was also an excellent match and carry load for me at one time. The lighter bullets leave excessive case capacity and can be very dirty with some powders. I always found the lack of crimping groove with the lighter bullets to be very annoying. But if you have the right components that make for cheap shooting with the lighter bullets then go for it.

Dave Sinko

 

[BearBio]

I load everything from 200 gr to 325 gr. Except for watching the really hot loads, I don't find much of a difference. My CAS load is a 200 gr over 5 gr of Titegroup.

 

[Lou_NC]

Having the cylinder reamed on my Blackhawk increased accuracy substantially. I sent it to a guy on the Ruger Forum and it was back in less than a couple of weeks. I think he charged $35.

This is interesting.........I've read about "oversize" cylinder mouths being a problem with S&W model 25-5's. I believe they can be as large as .0458" in some cases.

Just wondering what size you ended up with for your Ruger cylinder, and what size it was to start?

Thanks,
Lou

 

[hotrod150]

....or Smiling Larry (aka MidwayUSA) probably has a reamer to do it....

Good one! But if I had never watched a Midway USA "how-to" video, I wouldn't know what you were talking about.
Not meant to bad-mouth Smiling Larry either-- his outfit sells good stuff at fair prices with prompt service and I like their free youtube video's too.

 

[USSR]

This is interesting.........I've read about "oversize" cylinder mouths being a problem with S&W model 25-5's. I believe they can be as large as .0458" in some cases.

Lou,

Much has been made of the S&W 25-5 throats being large, but only in extreme cases (which are not all that prevalent) are they a problem. Mine measure .4545", and I size my bullets to .455" and have zero problems. While it is all well and good to play around with the light .45 ACP bullets, you will want to quickly switch to the more "manly" 250+gr bullets as quick as possible.

Don

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My 45 Colt revolvers all like 250 - 285 grain bullets over either Unique or HS-6. The 285 grain (with my alloy) RCBS-45-270-SAA is my favorite.

Cheers,

Rick

I used to load all my 45 Colt Ammo with W231 and it was good accurate ammo but you know how it is when you reload, you are always trying something different. I gave Universal, Trail Boss, AA#5 and HS-6 a try about a year ago. I found the 45 Colt round isn't very picky about which powder you use and all were good loads BUT, the HS-6 loads were more accurate than the others and shot very clean. Now I use nothing but HS-6 for my 45 Colt ammo with a 250/255gr bullet and a Winchester LPP.