45 acp molds

[Boolit_Head]

I got to thinking about this during my last casting session. Why do they commonly put a crimp groove on a bullet meant for 45 acp? Would the taper crimp not be better off without it?

[RobS]

Some bullets are capable of being used for revolver and acp work. Common 45 acp boolits don't have a crimp groove though. Think about the classics such as the Lyman 452374, Lyman 45 Devastator HP, Lyman 452460, H&G #68 etc. Dedicated 45 auto designs do not have a crimp grooves. Lee has their H&G #68 clone, the Lee 230 TC molds, the Lee RN 230 grain molds all do not have crimp grooves either.

Although I designed myself a 235 grain boolit that I can use for both lighter 45 Colt work and can dual up as my heavier 45 ACP boolit. This one has a crimp groove for the 45 Colt roll crimp and I seat below the crimp groove for the 45 ACP taper crimp.

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-235R-D.png

[GoodOlBoy]

Yep exactly. And alot of molds that work for 45acp and are in it's normal grain weight range but DO have crimp grooves were actually designed to lean towards the 45 schofield, but can be used either/or.

GoodOlBoy

[runfiverun]

they are great in the auto-rim cases too.

[GoodOlBoy]

Yep, and 45 Win Mag.

GoodOlBoy

[243winxb]

Crimp groove, i dont see any? http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/CastBullets_20090207_005.jpg :veryconfu Must be my eyes.

[georgerkahn]

I have a carbine which shoots .45acp; I suspect, too, for the submachine guns in this caliber, too, a crimp would be a necessity. I have none of these, but it'd be my "guess d'jour".
BEST
georgerkahn

[DrCaveman]

RobS

I like that boolit shape. Im contemplating a mould purchase for exactly the same use, "light" 45 colt work and heavy 45 acp work. Thinking of going hollow-point (with interchangable pins) for some more options, could probably range from about 210-220 grains hp to 235-240 solid, with speeds ranging from 800-900 in the acp and 850-1000 in the 45 colt saa. Any suggestions (maybe mihec or noe) welcome

To OP, i havent seen that most common 45 acp moulds have a crimp groove. In fact that was a bit troubling for me when i started loading acp rounds, i had no idea where to seat them. Research and experience since then have solved that problem...screw the crimp groove location, load it where it works, adjust powder charge from there

[Cadillo]

Crimp groove, i dont see any? http://i338.photobucket.com/albums/n420/joe1944usa/CastBullets_20090207_005.jpg :veryconfu Must be my eyes.


Wow. That 452460 is quite different from the ones from my mould. Mine sure is a good shooting bullet though, in both autos and acp revolvers too.

[RobS]

RobS

I like that boolit shape. Im contemplating a mould purchase for exactly the same use, "light" 45 colt work and heavy 45 acp work. Thinking of going hollow-point (with interchangable pins) for some more options, could probably range from about 210-220 grains hp to 235-240 solid, with speeds ranging from 800-900 in the acp and 850-1000 in the 45 colt saa. Any suggestions (maybe mihec or noe) welcome



I don't know of anyone making my 45-235R in a HP but there was the RCBS cowboy 225 grain mold done by MiHec.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?151445-MiHec-2-or-4-cavity-brass-45-RCBS-Cramer-HP

There is also this one which is similar over at NOE http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=41&products_id=1035

These two both have larger meplats though but many have no problems running them through their 45 Autos.

[JD74]

heres a 452-200-rfn from lee that has the crimp groove just got to brake it in last night
http://i59.tinypic.com/mt4kfa.jpg

[Blackwater]

Revolvers depend on a crimp to keep the bullets from being pulled out forward from the brass due to inertia wanting the bullet to remain still in space while recoil drives the gun backwards, thereby effectively wanting to pull the bullet out of the case. In autos, it's the reverse. The bullets want to be driven deeper into the case by being fed up and into the barrel. When the bullet hits the feed ramp, it's effect is to drive the bullet down deeper into the case. They take a taper crimp to prevent this. In .45 ACP, the case headspaces on the case mouth, so as long as your die doesn't squeeze the case mouth down too much, thereby turning the case mouth down enough that there's nothing sticking out to headspace on, you're good to go. Just make sure that there's about half the thickness of the brass sticking up above the bearing surface of the bullet so it headspaces properly.

Actually, the .45 is pretty tolerant of this - surprisingly so, actually - but you never know when one of your loads might be called upon to save your life, so it pays to pay attention to these details. They CAN matter sigificantly.

[DHC]

Wow. That 452460 is quite different from the ones from my mould. Mine sure is a good shooting bullet though, in both autos and acp revolvers too.

Here is what my Lyman iron mold casts as a 452460:

125029

Pretty similar to the one above.

FWIW

[Scharfschuetze]

It's interesting to note how many of us use a boolit designed for one style of handgun in a totally different one. It all seems to work though if care is given to overall length, diameter and what not.

By the way, to the comment about cast boolits in SMGs: I've loaded a bunch for MP 40s through Thompsons and Grease Guns and a good taper crimp keeps it all together without any issues.

My favorite 45 Colt boolit in a Peacemaker is the 225 grain RCBS RN design for the 45 ACP. I seat it in the big colt case with the start of the ojive just under the case's lip and then apply a light roll crimp. It works a treat and makes for a good and accurate load in Peacemakers.

Conversely, here are some 200 grain RNFP boolits designed for the 45 Colt loaded for the 45 ACP. I just loaded these up last night and I'll see how well they shoot later today.

[Cadillo]

Here is what my Lyman iron mold casts as a 452460:

125029

Pretty similar to the one above.

FWIW

Interesting. I don't have a viable digital camera to post a photo, but can tell you that the front of my bullet is not ogival as depicted in the above photos, but rather has a straight edge along the tapering point, which then ends in the flattened nose. The length of my bullet appears at least to be a mite shorter than that design. That could be just an illusion though. I'm sure that both designs work equally well.

[9.3X62AL]

Some more of that Lyman Duesenberg Effect at work (again)--"No two alike". My own example of the #452460 has a slightly shorter and more acutely tapered nose portion, and lands at 197 grains when poured in 92/6/2. Seated at Lyman's spec OAL, these feed in every 45 ACP bottom-feeder I've owned over the past dozen-plus years. Not the only Lyman design with poetic morphology, not by a darn sight.

[DonMountain]

Here is what my Lyman iron mold casts as a 452460:

125029

Pretty similar to the one above.

FWIW

I have been looking at this mold for use in my 1917 S&W military revolver. I am using 45 ACP cases with the star clips but have considered buying the flanged cases for the revolver. I have shot similar boolits like the 452460 I bought from Hornady. And they shoot pretty well in the revolver. So, does anybody have experience with these boolits in a revolver and how do they shoot? Is the mold worth having? I see them for sale quite often on eBay.

[JohnH]

I have been looking at this mold for use in my 1917 S&W military revolver. I am using 45 ACP cases with the star clips but have considered buying the flanged cases for the revolver. I have shot similar boolits like the 452460 I bought from Hornady. And they shoot pretty well in the revolver. So, does anybody have experience with these boolits in a revolver and how do they shoot? Is the mold worth having? I see them for sale quite often on eBay.

I shoot that boolit in a 45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk from both Colt and Schofield cases with excellent results. These days my eyes are the limiting factor to what I can do with a revolter.

[Artful]

Wow. That 452460 is quite different from the ones from my mould. Mine sure is a good shooting bullet though, in both autos and acp revolvers too.
Looks about like mine
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/FAL/Boolit/Ideal452460U1cav_zpsf32d352f.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rowdyfisk/media/FAL/Boolit/Ideal452460U1cav_zpsf32d352f.jpg.html)

[mac266]

Here is what my Lyman iron mold casts as a 452460:

125029

Pretty similar to the one above.

FWIW

I use the 452460 in my .45 Colts (3 revolvers and a lever action), as well as in my .45 ACP. It works great for both.