A choice between two lead bullets

[pastime]

I am in the process of getting set up to reload 45 ACP. It will be the first time I have reloaded this particular caliber. I have narrowed it down to these two types of bullets (230 gr LRN BB .452 ) and (230 gr LTC BB .452 ). Any opinions on which one would be the best for ease of use and accuracy for target practice/plinking? I will be firing them through a Ruger SR45. I would think the LRN would be best for target/plinking but the LTC could be also used for SD and I believe I read where they are actually more accurate. One other question. What is the advantage or disadvantage of a (BB) beveled bottom bullet?

 

[Minesweeper3433]

No experience with the beveled bottom bullet but I had slightly better accuracy with the LTC bullets myself. I have a ramped receiver and feeding was good.

 

[pastime]

Thanks

 

[stool]

bb aids in feeding the bullet into the case, the drawback is you no longer have bullet dia as you exit the muzzle.

having said all that if you are shooting your handgun and handgun ranges..it should not be a big deal.

ask ruger or read your book on feeding of bullet shape/type.

i owned a 45acp once which clearly stated not set up to feed semi-wadcutters....

i shoot lead rn for practice and local matches, like xtp's and golden sabres for defense.

 

[bheadboy]

I have fired over 20,000 rounds of 45 acp mostly cast.

the 200gr Keith style is far superior to those you offer. Lyman, and other offer molds and the are all worth the cost, size 452. load to 875-900fps per your pistols preference.

you can also purchased case of this design from suppliers.

bob

 

[pastime]

Feeding issues was one of my concerns with the LTC. From the research I have done it seems just like everything else the consensus for or against the LTC is about 50/50. I am dropping a good amount of cash this month just to get started so the cost of the bullets factor in. Down the road I will look for a better quality. Right now I just want to get acquainted with the process and make a few bullets. I am going to research the 200gr Keith style bullet. Thanks.

 

[TIMO]

I agree with the others. I shoot mainly 200 gr semi wadcutters, but have shot a good number of the RN & LTC all in 1911's. Not having a Ruger SR45, one can only try each type to see what will feed and if they meet your accuracy requirements. Cartridge overall length is also a factor to ensure they feed well. For ease of loading the bevel base bullets are nice. Currently I cast my 200 swc and they are flat base. I got the mold in a trade and they have served well. There are a lot of makers of commercial cast bullets. I have always had good luck with Magnus cast bullets and Winchester 231 has worked well for me.
TIMO

 

[jonbearman]

The truncated cone bullets dont feed so well for my gun which was altered expressly to use them and the smith wouldnt honor the work so I am stuck with LSW or round nose.I to use 231 powder with excellent results.Getting the crimp right on the edge for semi wadcutters is paramount to smooth feeding along with the correct recoil spring as well.

 

[stool]

when colt made THE 45( as in 1911) it was fed 230 round nose in fmj and lead bullets.......

everyone one else has tried and tried and tried.....go with what works


and similar profiled hollow points...xtp's , golden saber's ,silver tip's

why mess with perfection....

lol

 

[pastime]

Thanks to all who have posted so far. I believe I am going to start with these (230 gr LRN BB .452 ). They are 16 BHN. I read last night " don't use 'hard cast' for 45. It likes soft bullets". I do a lot of research before trying out something new. Back in the old days I would hit the library now days of course, I look it up on the net. Anyway, any opinions on that statement? I have not read anything else alluding to that fact but in my quest for answers I have learned a bit about casting boolits. Also I am still open for info on my original post. Thanks again.

 

[stool]

nothing wrong with hard...
cast is three simple steps...
correct dia for YOUR bore...slightly over YOUR bore....
enough lube to make it to the end of the bbl....too much is a mess, too little leading at the muzzle.
hard enough for the velocity....since 45 acp is typically slow it is not always an issue, i shoot a lot of soft lead mixed 50/50 with ww for 45acp.

 

[2506]

The 200 gr SWC is usually called an H&G style. They are accurate correctly sized for your bore. The first 45 ACP I ever had was an old Colt WWII bring back 1911A1. It was in ruff shape with a bore that looked like an old cabin chimney. I got a new GI barrel and did a little polishing of the feed ramp so it fed the Lyman mold # 452460 SWC 200 gr bullet. I borrowed the mold and cast out of wheel weights the bullet dropped average 210 grs . I worked up a MAX load of 7 grs Unique that should have done between 900 and 1000 fps and was really accurate in that old war horse. I was newly married and poooooooor as Jobs turkey and it took everything I could do to keep a roof over our head. If I did not shoot, catch or grow it we did not eat. I was in northeast NC and game was plentiful. It was MUCH cheaper to load my own 45s and use it to kill deer to eat than it was to use a 12 ga buckshot load. With this old 45 Colt I killed a bunch of deer. I would limit my shots to inside 50 yards and it would drill a 45 cal hole through both lungs and exit. It really let the air out of a deer. They did not go far. Wow that was 34 years ago, how time flies.

 

[coford]

I have owned and shot .45's for the past 30+ years and tried all the bullets talked about here. The 230 round nose feed the best but don't leave the cleanest holes in a paper target. The 230 truncated cone bullets usually shoot better (more accurately) than the round nose but don't feed in every gun. The 200 grain H&G semi wad cutter usually shoots very accurately, punches a clean hole in paper targets, and costs about 10% less to cast. Back when I was shooting IPSC I would shoot between 12,000 and 15,000 rounds a year and most of those were the lead 200 grain semi wad cutters shot in practice. I shot a jacketed truncated cone in competition. I would recommend the 200 grain semi wad cutter because of it's accuracy, economy, and they kick a little less. I used about 4.8 grains of WST with the 200 and made major power factor with it. You might get lucky and your gun might feed all three OK - some do - most won't without work. Before you spend the money to buy a bunch of bullets or a mold I would recommend you try a few of each and see what you and your pistol likes the best. Oh by the way - the bevel base bullets load a little nicer in a progressive but I always thought they leaded just a little more than a flat base and I think the flat base shot a tiny bit more accurately - but it might have been my imagination. Your mileage may vary.

 

[pastime]

Lots of food for thought. Good thing is, I comprehend all of it. I could not say that a short while ago... ... Thanks!

 

[pastime]

I ended up purchasing the (230 gr LRN BB .452 ). I also ordered a press and dies. I purchased powder and primers last month. I figured I would get the stuff that was harder to come buy first. I hope to be making bullets next week some time. Thank you kindly to all who posted here. It was a big help.

 

[stool]

lets change the terminology before you go to far....
unless you are casting bullets, or filling copper jackets with lead, you are not MAKING bullets.
you are loading ammo, producing rounds( of ammo) making ammunition....
ammo goes in the gun, bullets come out the bbl.

I hope to be making bullets next week some time.

 

[MQ1]

Pastime,

If you have not already spent time on the Cast Boolit website, you'll find them a significant resource for casting. Just Google Cast Boolit.

MQ1

 

[Steve Ladino]

You are getting ready to learn a lot about bullet casting. I recommend you brush up on the art of casting bullets and that will help you produce accurate bullets and bullets that are going to feed in your Ruger which i believe is a clone of the Colt 1911 and very good i would assume too. Either of the bullets you choose are very accurate. For the Leg matches at C. Perry we shoot the 230 grn. FMJ (flat base) and the H&G 160 style ( all lead 200 grain) for the Center fire stage and the 45 stage of the Nat. Matches. For accuracy purposes I recommend that you weigh all bullets for 50 yd. shooting and use a taper crimp on the case mouth. In addition I would recommend a quality replacement magazine with a rounded follower for enhanced feeding reliability. A long long time standard powder for the 45 is Bullseye which has become less powerful over the years where 3.5 grains was good now 4.4 grains for the 200 grain all lead or 230 grain lead is about right. Once you get the magazine release point ( which is pretty much already established on a quality replacement magazine ) and the OAL of the loaded round right You might smooth any sharp edges of the chamber mouth and polish the extractor hook where the case rim rides up in as the round chambers. And like others have said there really is no need for the 16 lb. factory recoil spring when shooting mid range loads, for the wad guns with red dots on the slide we use a 10 lb. recoil spring and the above powder charges.

 

[Steve Ladino]

As though i have not said enough already but there are a couple more significant aids i want to mention to you.
Make sure the primers are fully seated in their pockets. It isn't a bad idea to clean the pockets now and then as we do for our rifle cases. Also wipe off any bullet lube from the case body and any excess lube from the bullet nose. You need to use a stiff arm hold on the gun for it to cycle properly too. Softer lead for light loads and harder lead for hotter loads, it has to do with bullet base obturation.

 

[pastime]

lets change the terminology before you go to far....
unless you are casting bullets, or filling copper jackets with lead, you are not MAKING bullets.
you are loading ammo, producing rounds( of ammo) making ammunition....
ammo goes in the gun, bullets come out the bbl.

That's what I want to hear when I make a mistake. A prompt correction. Thanks.

Pastime,

If you have not already spent time on the Cast Boolit website, you'll find them a significant resource for casting. Just Google Cast Boolit.

MQ1

I joined today. Thanks

Thank you spladi. The information is well spoken and well taken. I have files where I am saving all these tidbits of info so to all who have offered info your time has not been wasted.