Anyone oversize their .45 ACPs?

[prickett]

When casting and loading 9mm's it sounds like the consensus is to oversize the boolit to .357 or .358 both to avoid leading and improve accuracy.

I've not seen anything about oversizing .45 ACP's (and, I don't see sizer dies for sizes other than .452). While leading isn't an issue with .45's like it is with 9mm's, I'm curious about the accuracy angle. Does anyone oversize their .45s? And, if so, how do you size them?

TIA

[Hardcast416taylor]

For the last 6 years I have been using a .454" sizer for my acp bullets as well as my Long Colt bullets. Since I am using mostly 50/50 alloy and not at break neck speeds I have no leading problems and my accuracy is as good or possibly better than when .452" was the sizer.Robert

[shooterg]

For my semi .45ACP guns, sizing over .452 usually means they won't chamber. My 1917 S&W however, will swallow anything.

[gray wolf]

My 45 ACP does very well with .4525--.453. I lapped my .452 die to open it up a bit.
I think if you slug your bore and go a thou. over you should be fine. HOWEVER there are cases when you may need a little bigger bullet. There are ways to open up a die or it can be done for you. I'm not sure if I would go after it for accuracy unless all else failed.
But I don't say that as a blanket statement, It would leave the door to wide open for criticism.

[Dale53]

For a definitive answer, you really need to try the loaded round in your barrel (using the barrel as a gauge).

A rule of thumb is to use the largest bullet that will allow the case to expand to release the bullet.

On the other hand, I have used .452" sized cast bullets in dozens of 1911's (match and issue both) with out issue.

I also use that same size in my 625's with excellent results.

Dale53

[jmsj]

prickett,
I've posted in the past about a Taurus 1911 that has an over sized chamber. I have not found a great load for it yet but bullets sized .454 fit and shoot better than .452.
I had to make a larger expander for my expander die. At .454 they feed and function fine but remember this gun has a larger than normal chamber
jmsj

[Blammer]

my 45acp will shoot and feed well either .454 or .452 easily.

[runfiverun]

they aren't oversizing the 9mm's they are making them correct size for thier bbl's.
much like the above posts about the "oversized" 45's.

[HangFireW8]

I had an oversized, oval bore barrel in my 1911. I tried sizing and carefully loading to .454 using the MiHec 45-200 mold boolits and 45 Colt die internals. I say carefully because it is very easy for the crimp stage to knock it back to .453 or .452", but if you don't at least close the belling, the cartridge will hang up instead of feed. (And if you don't bell, you can't see the boolit.)

The result fixed the leading issue, but had a failure to feed once every 3 magazines. It was always the same, did not quite go into battery.

I just bought myself a new Storm Lake barrel, and am putting the ACP die internals back into my dies.

My take on it, with careful loading and maybe some work on the gun, it can be done, but for me, it is easier to replace the barrel and load standard .45ACP, at least sized to .452".

Will it chamber and shoot safely and accurately without leading? Sure.

-HF

[turbo1889]

The most comparable combination with the 45-ACP that shares the same relationship comparisons as the 9mm vs. 38-spl/357-mag is the 45-Colt.

With the 9mm vs. 38-spl/357-mag the 9mm is the “loose goose” of the pairing and thus is the one that normally needs to be loaded with oversize pills to compensate for manufacturing defects which are prolific enough to be considered normal.

With the 45-ACP vs. 45-Colt the 45-Colt is the “loose goose” of the pairing and thus is the one that normally needs to be loaded with oversize pills to compensate for manufacturing defects which are prolific enough to be considered normal.

Occasionally, you will find an abnormal 9mm or 45-Colt that has been constructed within tolerances and isn’t normal that being defective from the factory having specifically the “loose goose” defect. You may, also, occasionally encounter a 38-spl/357-mag or 45-ACP which also is factory defective in “loose goose” form but they are the exception not the norm.

Thus why standard size pills only a thousandth or two of an inch over nominal bore diameter are usually quite adequate for 38-spl/357-mag or 45-ACP where as 9mm and 45-Colt boolits often need to be considerably oversize to provide proper fit and function.

[Bret4207]

Well, I don't shoot "pills" in my guns but RFR put it pretty well in post #8. What fits one gun may or may not (probably not) fit another with that boolit, that powder charge, etc.