Reloading 45acp using 200gr lead RNFP

[.38SuperMan]

I thought I might see if others are doing this.

Like many of us I shoot and reload a bunch of calibers. In an effort to consolidate supplies I decided to try something. I’ve been a 45acp fan and shot tens of thousands of rounds over many decades. In the last five years I’ve gotten into 45LC in both lever guns and revolvers. I find my lever guns like 250gr lead RNFP bullets and my revolver 200 lead RNFP. In my 1911’s and 625-2 I shoot 200gr lead SWC.

I’ve started to run out of places to keep components and got to thinking since my 200 gr swc’s and RNFP bullets are the same diameter and weight why not load the 200 RNFP bullets in 45acp and only have to keep one profile of bullet. Thinking about it many folks like 230gr RN bullets and they feed ok so why not give it a try. So I loaded up a box of 50 and headed to the range with several 1911’s.

I can’t say I was surprised that there were no issues at all and accuracy was just as good as with SWC’s. There were no feeding issues at all. I’m thinking when I run out of wadcutters I’m going to use up my 200gr RNFP and replace them with the same. Why keep two bullets of the same weight and diameter if they work equally as well.

I’m pretty much doing the same with primers. Over the primer shortage I’ve been forced to buy small pistol magnum primers and they’ve been just fine. I’ve even been forced to use small rifle primers with good results. I think in the future I’ll just buy small pistol magnum primers rather than keep two different kinds.

Anyone else doing this?

I guess next I need to slug my 9mm’s and see if I can use 125gr 38 cal lead bullets in them. I’m not sure a thousandths difference in 9 and 38 would make any difference given that barrels vary that much or more.

Your thoughts please?

 

[max503]

Handguns should be of a robust design. I don't like picky guns. My 1911's will shoot RN or SWC's. That's one of the nice things about the 1911.

I say go for it and just stock one size boolit.

 

[scattershot]

Those .45s seem like they work well for you, so keep on keepin’on. You may have a problem with .38 bullets in your 9mm, though. I would suggest trying 9mm in your .38. The 9mm case is tapered inside slightly, and you may not get the .358/.359 bullet seated properly. Jacketed bullets will probably work in your .38, but lead bullets may not grip the rifling sufficiently for best accuracy.

 

[venomballistics]

I have a bit of a preference toward a 200g projectile in 45 ACP.
You gain a little velocity, save a little lead, and the load seems adequate for most applications.
As for the 38/9 ... there are different geometric requirements between the two, though they may share enough overlap to get lucky.

 

[zeke]

yes, for over 20 years. A 200 lrnfp loaded with the cannelure outside the case mouth feeds like greased lightning in all my 45 acp semi's. The older magma molds dropped the dia down in front of the cannelure. Due to the minimal bearing surface of the 200 lrnfp, am using a Lee undersize die and careful which brass is used. To minimize setback.

The new coated versions work even better, and believe there may be some lrnfp's out without lube grooves.

Did for same reason, and use them in 45 acp, 45 AR and 45 LC. Most sights need adjusted in the 45 LC. Use hp-38 for the powder.

Also use 200 lrnfp's in the 44 specials.

200 lrnfp on left, 255 gn on right

The magma 255 lrnfp's have a full dia in front of the cannelure, and load them also. Extremely accurate, and bullets from a Lee mold have a wide meplat, although some pistols might have trouble feeding the wide meplat.

 

[arjay]

I’ve experimented some with 250 gr lrnfp in a few of my1911s. Once I eased up on the powder charge and shortened my initial oal they fed and shot fine. That’s a slow round with that bullet wt.

 

[zeke]

As for 38 special/9mm, used to load a longer nose 125 lrnfp in 38 special, that also worked in BHP. The dia was .357, which worked in the 38's and slightly larger bore of the BHP. As others mentioned, you may want to consider slugging your 9 mm bore, as they may vary a bit.

 

[zeke]

I’ve experimented some with 250 gr lrnfp in a few of my1911s. Once I eased up on the powder charge and shortened my initial oal they fed and shot fine. That’s a slow round with that bullet wt.

Magnus 250 lrnfp, 1.246 col, 5.0 unique = 740 fps from 5 in.
Magnus 250 lrnfp, 1.171 col, 5.0 unique = 760 fps from 5 in

Using the Lee mold 255 gn lrnfp at a shorter length and adding a little more unique gets me up to around 840 fps. This in specially troated barrel and 18 lb recoil spring.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

.451 or .452 RNFP in ACP I use 5.5 grains of WW231. Same bullet in 45 Colt I use 6.7 of WW231. If you like heavier bullet weight in 45 Colt I used .451 or .452 RNFP 220, 230 and 240 grain bullets with that same 6.7 WW231. My Marlin 1894 24" Cowboy Special and two Rossi 92's 20" Carbines All liked all 4bullet weights. My two PAIRS of Vaquero revolvers also liked all 4 bullet weights. So I settled on 200 gr RNFP bullet for all my 45 pistol caliber needs. This includes, 6 in the 1911 family, 3 in the Sig 220 family and 2 S&W Revolvers along with the Marlin Camp 45. When I buy 45 projectiles I buy 5000 or 10000 at a time.

My 38 Special Snubbies like 146 grain or heavier. My 4- and 6-inch revolvers and Lever Action 92 like 124 grain RNFP With these I can use the same bullet in my 9mm, 38 Special and target velocity 357's for logistics. My stash of 146 and 158 RN's and SWC's has been dedicated to 38 S&W, and the 357 Sig gets plated bullets only. I cast my own 124 RN and buy the others.

In 44 I use the same 240 grain SWC bullet in Special and Magnum. I've been buying these.

I've kept the logistics to the bare minimum! (WW231 powder is everything, but several powders would do just as well!)

Ivan

 

[Greyman50]

IMHO bullet weight in38 Spl. V 9 mm may be your problem. I have cast 100Os of KT 151 grn For 38 Spl and 357 Mag. A weight bullet in .358 close to “ normal “ 9 mm could be sized down for 9 mm but theres OA length issues maybe? Forget what weight the RCBS mold I had back in 70s for 9 mm but was around 125 grn??? Cast and shot 1000s of them in BHP back then.
For 45 ACP use the 201 grn KT RCBS mold for many many uears with no problems. Acquired a 200?+ grn RN mold but do not use it much. Have a 250 grn. KT for 45 Colt when I load for it.
Know what you mean about “ to many”.

 

[zeke]

38 CAL. 125GR. RNFP

Meister 38 caliber long nose 125 grain rnfp

 

[WR Moore]

You might look at the Berry 200 gr. target hollow point. Won't expand on anything short of a steel plate or brick wall, but feeds and accurate. 5.8 WW 231 works well up to 230 gr.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Your 200gr Lead RNFPs will probably be a bit of a challenge in 9mm...?

Cheers!

 

[.38SuperMan]

Your 200gr Lead RNFPs will probably be a bit of a challenge in 9mm...?

Cheers!

You just have to use a bigger hammer to seat the bullet

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

You just have to use a bigger hammer to seat the bullet

This must be that “resizing” thing I keep hearing about…

 

[Nightowl]

I have standardized on the 200 grain LRNFP from Missouri Bullet for my .45 Colt and .45 AR rounds. It shoots well in my 25-7 and 625 and is a bit easier on the wallet. I have not loaded .45 ACP in a number of years, but it should work as I used 200 grain bullets for my target loads back then.

 

[glenwolde]

I've shot both .358 and .357 diameter lead bullets in my Springfield 1911. There wasn't really an issue but the .358's did "feel" tight when I was shooting them. By that I mean noticeably more recoil. It made me a little uncomfortable. I can't justify that with any evidence, just a hair-on-the-back-of-the-neck hunch.

I shot some .357 diameter 150gr SWC's intended for revolvers ("Keith Style") through it. They shot really well and fed fine. But my 1911 has a ramped barrel. You can always size your bullets down with one of the Lee push through sizer dies which are quite inexpensive.