45. Long colt 45 ACP, 9 mm bullet head lead question.

[kawsam62s]

Couple of questions please the bullet on the left is a 45 colt. The one on the right is 45 ACP they are both 200 grain lead bullets can the 45 ACP bullet be safely loaded into the 45 long colt and ran through a revolver and a lever action gun without any consequences second question does anyone know if they make a 9 mm 115 grain lead round nose, bullet for target shooting? Thanks for the help!
Oops, sorry just the lead bullet swapping between cases both Bullets measure .452 diameter.

 

[MikeT124]

Need a little definition here. When you say "bullet" are you talking about the projectile (the bullet) or are you talking about the cartridge (loaded case with the bullet attached)? If your talking about the cartridge then the answer is no you cannot (should not) attempt to fire a 45ACP cartridge in a 45 Colt revolver. If you are actually talking about the bullet and thinking about removing it from the 45ACP case and installing it into a 45 Colt case, you can do that however be aware that typically lead bullets for the 45 Colt are .452" diameter and lead bullets for 45ACP are typically .451" diameter, the bullet may not seat really well in the 45 Colt case and may not seal well in the barrel of the 45 Colt, but I guess you could actually fire it, if loaded carefully.

As for your second question, there most 200 to 300 people making lead bullets for sale, I'm sure that by doing some looking around you should be able to find someone making a 115 gr 9mm lead bullet for sale. Our local gun stores here in AZ sell numerous different brands of lead bullets. Sorry I've never looked for 9mm bullets, don't like 9mm don't own a 9mm so no need.

Mike

 

[SSL]

First - Google "9mm 115 grain round nose cast bullets" and a number of cast bullet suppliers pop up. Some are lubed and some are coated. Take your pick.

Second - Assuming you are asking about the actual projectile itself and not the entire cartridge, bullets for .45 ACP should work in the .45 Colts if dimensions are correct and the (generally) smaller .45 ACP (.451-.452") is properly gripped by the .45 Colt case's slightly larger dimensions (.452 - .454" depending on firearm).

 

[SecondsCount]

To add on to what SSL said, I have loaded 200 SWC bullets meant for 45ACP (.452) into 45 Colt cases. Accuracy was very good.

When using Starline brass, which is a little thicker, I had no issues. I remember trying some Winchester brass and it would not grip the bullet. If I remember correctly, this was 25 years ago, I adjusted the expander die up so it just kissed the top of the case mouth.

 

[SeabeeKen]

No such thing as a 45 long colt, Just 45 Colt

 

[kenhwind]

I've found that the LSWC will not feed in the Winchester 1892, or Browning B92, one a 45 Colt the other a 44 Mag. The 44 Mag were flat point bullets that I had loaded for a Ruger Super Blackhawk that we no longer have. The lever action seems to need the traditional RNFP

 

[Doug Casner]

I always figured a .452 wouldnt shoot very accurate in a .454. Doug

 

[divingin]

Any bullet shape can be used for target shooting. Wadcutters were designed to punch clean, easy-to-score holes in paper. Semi-wadcutters were designed to do the same, but feed better into cylinders and semi-auto chambers. Roundnose were for ease in feeding, but leave a small-for-caliber hole in paper, so extrapolation is needed for scoring. They all go through paper though, if you place the shot right; or ring steel, or hit whatever you shoot at at your range.

Since you're asking about lead bullets, the answer to the question of interchangeability is likely yes. How they'll shoot though, depends on the firearms in question.

45ACP generally uses .451" lead bullets. I've known people that use up to .453" in their 45's (work loads up if you do this.) Lead will swage back down fairly easily, so oversize bullets are not a hard no-go (make sure you know what you're doing while trying this. It can be catastrophic if you don't.)

Conversely, if you can get an undersize bullet to seal well in a larger bore (i.e. using a .451" bullet in a .452" 45 Colt barrel) it should work fine. With luck, the bullet base will obturate a bit to engage the rifling, fill the barrel, and seal combustion gases. Worst case would likely be that it doesn't seal, and you'll get poor accuracy and leading.

 

[M-61]

No such thing as a 45 long colt, Just 45 Colt

Yup.
The use of the proper name starts with that and continues thru bullets, cases, primers etc.
Since this has become more accepted one has to first determine what the person is really talking about. Guys yelling down the line “what head space are you using” was one of the worst (best) examples of confusing an issue but sure sounds smart saying it.