Who casts HP 255gr #454424 (45 Colt)?

[JohndeFresno]

Hi, all -

Does anybody cast and sell the Keith style 255 gr. SWC hollowpoint? I have searched the sites of several commercial casters, and have found none with the HP version of the 255 Lyman#454424 (Keith SWC) boolit.

My goal is to shoot this projectile with around 18.5 gr. of AA-9 18.5 for an estimated 900-950 fps in a 4 5/8" Super Blackhawk.

I definitely want the hollowpoint version, not the modified (filled in) round.

Thank you in advance for leads - another handloader is also interested!

[GLL]

John:

How many are you wanting? What alloy? Will you be doing your own lubing and sizing?

Jerry

[JohndeFresno]

Jerry,

I am not set up to cast or size. I have Lee Liquid Alox and could use that, if necessary. I am hoping for some pre-lubed pills, sized .452, at around BHN 11 or 12 - soft enough to expand at around 950 fps. That would mean something like clip-on wheelweight type alloy, or a commonly accepted alloy of around 95% lead, 4.5% antimony, .4% tin and .1% arsenic.

I understand that alloys will cause the lead to slowly harden, whereas water quenching or air quenching will allow the lead to slowly soften. If given the choice, I would prefer the alloys; but anything with BHN 12 and some lube is probably ideal.

If I am off-base, from your casting experience, and need something like BHN 16 or 18 to project the bullet to mid-900 fps velocities, I'm open to suggestion. Most of my pistol experience at 1k velocities is with hard cast or jacketed projectiles.

My Super Blackhawk has its cylinder throats reamed uniformly to .4525" by Glen Castro (Cylindersmith.com), so .452 sizing is most likely the correct one.

Another person is also interested. He shoots a lot of .45 rounds but does not cast, and his former supplier of HP Colt .45 255 rounds has gone out of business.

As for me, I'd like to order 100, try some, and the order another 500.

My goal for these bullets: Plinking, small game such as deer and varmints, and defense (if necessary) against two-legged campsite varmints.

[DLCTEX]

You do not need hard boolits at 1000 fps or less. You do need the boolit to fit the gun well. If your barrel has a groove dia of less than .452 you should be ok with 452 boolits.

[beagle]

The 452424HP makes a great carry load for a .45 Colt. I tested a bunch in my Blackhawk convertible a while back in both the .45 Colt and .45 ACP cylinders.

I found that it was not as accurate at 100 yard plinking as other bullets were. Up to about 70 yards it did great. I know most folks want a handgun load for shorter ranges and this design worked well for that.

After reading Elmer's works over the years, I'm convinced that he missed the boat on that one and found that a 452490HP with the GC shank removed worked much better for me. Hard to find and get but that was my experiences./beagle

[JohndeFresno]

Some other .452 lead loads have seemed reasonably accurate; but I guess it's time to slug the bore to make sure.

Yes, my iron-sighted handgun loads, matched up with my bespectacled peepers and 4 5/8' barrel, are intended for targets less than 100 yards. Thanks for the input, gentlemen.