Good Profile for .45 ACP

[RydForLyf]

I just purchased my first 1911 and am looking for insight/advice on what mold to buy for it. It is a Springfield Loaded if that makes any difference.

I would like to shoot something other than RN, but fear feeding problems for TC and SWC shapes. For testing, Lee 2 bangers would be my preference so I can move to a six banger when the profile proves out.

Thanks in advance,

Chuck

[RobS]

Welcome aboard!!!
You could also ask people here on the forum if you could buy some 50 or so boolits in a particular mold design to see if they work for you before you buy any mold at all. Many people here have no problems doing this and may not even charge you a thing except maybe shipping.

[Calamity Jake]

A lot of 1911 style 45s don't like SWC without some work on feed ramps and throating.
The TC design works pretty good from the get go, I would try it first.

Then again some will feed a SWC from the first try.

Post in the boolit exchange/want to buy for some samples of different nose profiles to try.

I can send three different SWCs and a RF, I have a RN mold put no boolits at this time.

[johnvid]

The H&G68 clone that is running in the group buy should work in your loaded Springfield. I have the MiHec 6 cavity aluminum version of this mould but I have not yet cast with it. I did load up this style bullet in some previous loads and it ran without a problem in my Springfield.

[HammerMTB]

I load the 230 gr Lee TC for my son's Springfield XD, and it works without a hiccup. Plain ACWW, lubed with LLA Tough to get much simpler than that.

[fredj338]

I have not seen a currently manuf 1911 NOT feed any of the 200grSWC designs. If you want a 100% reliable feeder that is NOT a RN, the 230grTC by Lee & others or the 200grTC by Magma are great choices.
200gr Magmahttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v703/fredj338/45200TCPB.jpg

[RydForLyf]

Thank you for the quick replies. I'll look into the exchange. That's a great idea.

Chuck

[Moonie]

I have the Lee 230 TC with normal grease grooves, it feeds perfectly in my 1911 and my sons 1911. I also have the Mihec 200gr HP mold, that mold has a perfect profile to feed in just about any 45, but it is a bit more than the lee molds.

[New Lead Man]

When I first started to shoot the Colt .45 ACP, I bought reloads with a round nose lead boolit. I'm guessing it was 235gr.

When I started reloading for the caliber, I used a H&G68 style from a supplier.

Now that I cast my own, I use the Miha H&G68 clone in an aluminum mold.

I have not had a boolit problem in feeding of the boolit in any of my .45's. They were all from improper reloading (shaved lead ) or from a new charge of powder.

[DeanWinchester]

Lyman 452374

I've been using it for many moons. It says 225g but mine drops 230g from straight wheel weights. It's hard to beat a 230g RN in a 45 acp after all, that's what it was originally designed for was a 230 RN FMJ. This is just cheaper and better!

http://www.lymanproducts.com/includes/img/lyman/bulletcasting/452374.jpg

[Cherokee]

230 TC design should work great if you don't want to use the round nose. I use the Lee conventional lube groove 452-230TC with great results, pushed along with 231 powder. A SWC should work in your SA a well, they usually shoot good and cut nice clean holes for target scoring. I use ACWW+2% tin for these.

[Char-Gar]

Modern 1911s with well throated barrels are not that picky about bullets. H & G 68, or Lyman 452460 should work well. These bullets are tried and true designs.

Before you pick a mold order some bullets from folks like Bullshop who make and sell fine quality hand cast bullets for a good price. I received to day from Bullshop some 200 grain HP bullets from a new Mihec mold. They will without a doubt feed and should prove to be very effective against a soft tissue target.

I think your fears about your new Springer will prove to be mostly unfounded.

[DeanWinchester]

I have one of Lee's TC molds in tumble lube version. It was my first mold. It fed well and I don't recall ever having one single failure. I just couldn't get any accuracy in my XD so I moved on.

[MtGun44]

All current production 1911s that I have seen are throated to take SWCs, this has been
std for decades. The gold standard is the H&G 68 design 200 SWC or clones, set at LOA of
1.250. Another excellent choice is the Lyman 452374 RN. Soft alloy is fine in the 1911s,
make sure you use a light - moderate taper crimp in a separate die. 4.8 TG or BE are highly
recommended.

Bill

[Volowner]

If you want to try something new, I've been using a mold from Accurate Molds (a new guy in the custom mold making market). I bought his 45-220A and have had great success. It's very accurate, has a nice big meplat for plenty of punch, and functions flawlessly. I'm also shooting a Springfield (long slide) 1911.

[6bg6ga]

I have a colt officers model in stainless that malfunctions about 50% of the time trying to feed the 452460 semi wad cutter. I absolutely love the load that I shoot but it becomes a pain and irritation to have to remove the ones that don't feed correctly. Maybe I ran into a bad unit. I purchased it new and had to replace all springs before it had 100 rounds thru it. It has been a lemon from day one. Now functioning correctly except for not liking the semi wad cutter it has turned out to be accurate and pleasing to shoot with new inners and a good trigger job. I am wondering if the form/fit of the ramp is up to factory specifications or not. The 452460 had no problem running thru my colt 70 series gold cup national match.

[markinalpine]

Both MY 1911A1 milspec pistols work well with the Lee 230 TC, COAL 1.20", and the Lee 200 RNFP, COAL 1.19". YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) :Fire:
Good luck,
and Merry Christmas,
Mark [smilie=s:

EDIT: I pretty much solved feeding problems by investing in quality magazines from Chip McCormick and Ed Brown.

[mpmarty]

I also have settled on the 230gr TC from LEE. Feeds and functions fine in my two 1911s and my XD-45. Mine is the tumble lube design and I use LLA/JPW mix with no leading and good accuracy over five grains of Red Dot or HP38. I quit using the H&G 68 semi wad cutter as it won't work in the XD and I don't want to have to cast and load more than one boolit per cartridge.

[fredj338]

Lyman 452374

I've been using it for many moons. It says 225g but mine drops 230g from straight wheel weights. It's hard to beat a 230g RN in a 45 acp after all, that's what it was originally designed for was a 230 RN FMJ. This is just cheaper and better!

http://www.lymanproducts.com/includes/img/lyman/bulletcasting/452374.jpg

Actually, the original 45acp design was a 200grRN bullet, but you are correct, the finished design wt & profile was a 230grRN. The OP wanted something other than though.

[skeet1]

I shoot the Lyman 452460 and it shoots great. Very accurate,

Skeet1

[Rusty Shackleford]

I like Lee's 200gr. tumble lube SWC. OAL 1.19 " over 4.5gr of Bullseye.

[RydForLyf]

Tons of great advice here. Thanks to everyone.

[bobthenailer]

i also have a springfield loaded ! excellent gun ! my gun feeds 99.9% with the following bullets saeco #062/ 170 swc, #068/ 200 swc, #058/ 215 swc and a rcbs 45/230 rn.

[mroliver77]

If you want to tumble lube the Lee 200swc is a great bullet. I had it in Tl and conventional lube configurations. It fed great and shot well. Left nice holes in paper. Their 200gr TC shoots good and the 200RF shoots and feeds good as well. I shoot a 1991 Colt Commander and Springfield 1911 on an Essex frame. Both guns feed most any boolit that sanely will fit in an 45 acp case.
Jay

[Hopalong]

I shoot two different SA 1911s, and they are both OK with SWC and TC bullets. But there are some reloading issues: with SWCs, you'll have to be sure that they are seated properly. This means that there is just a very short length of the shoulder showing ahead of the brass; there just ain't much of a leade in the .45 ACP chamber. Lee's 230 grain TC is a bit more forgiving because the shoulder of the bullet is radiused a bit. Also, be sure that the round is taper crimped. They should work out well. Good luck!

[williamwaco]

I have heard for years that 1911s will not handle SWCs without modification.

I have owned and / or loaded for at least two dozen of them from WW2 surplus to brand new Kimbers and Springfields. Not one of them has ever failed to feed a 200 gr SWC reliably. I use the Lee 200 SWC with the single lube grove. This bullet ( or clones of it ) is the only cast bullet I have ever used in the 1911 and I have found it to be every bit as reliable as most factory loads.

That said, I have also never found a 185 grain cast SWC that would feed in anything.

[Iron Mike Golf]

I have run thousands of H&G #68-ish and Lyman 452460 in my Colt Series 80 without malfunction. No special effort required.

[garym1a2]

Lee 200 swc with a single big lube groove. That and 4.2 grains of Bullseye is hard to beat for accuracy in my Kimber 1911.
Just wish it did not have a beval base.

[williamwaco]

Lee 200 swc with a single big lube groove. That and 4.2 grains of Bullseye is hard to beat for accuracy in my Kimber 1911.
Just wish it did not have a beval base.

DITTO!

That is exactly the load I use. I occasionally use Accurate No.2 instead of BullsEye, same load.

[MikeS]

I too also use 4.2gr but I use Trail Boss or 700X. I like using TB as it really fills the case!

[Bardo]

I have the same gun and shoot the Lee 230gr TC with traditional lube groove 6 cavity- it very accurate and reliable. I also have the 200 gr SWC and 230 RN in tumble lube 6 cavities but I don't care for tumble lube so I don't use them. I also have the Lyman 452374 (230 RN) but don't shoot it much because it is a 2 cavity. But I was thinking of getting the lee 200gr SWC with traditional lube groove to help stretch my lead a little. Hope that helps.

[Centaur 1]

I too also use 4.2gr but I use Trail Boss or 700X. I like using TB as it really fills the case!

I don't own a .45 yet, but buying a 1911 is on my short list of guns that I NEED. I have to ask you Mike, are you shooting the Trail Boss loads in an auto or a revolver? The reason I ask is because I tried TB in my 9mm Glock, just to see if it would work. The recoil seemed about the same as my light loads using Unique, but the slide wouldn't budge.