45acp platforms for cast boolits

[rbstern]

Because I was struggling with leading issues in 9mm, I moved to 45acp for my cast boolit semi-auto shooting. I started with an Armscor made, compact 1911, and found I liked a lot of things about that gun, but never really got physically comfortable with it. Sold it off, and I find myself needing a 45acp shooter for cast boolits. Prefer revolvers, and might consider dropping the (considerable amount of) coin for a 45acp SA/DA revolver. I also really like the EAA Witness series.

Wondering what platforms you guys prefer for 45acp and cast boolits?

[putteral]

My Sig P220 loves cast boolits!

[docone31]

What platforms?
.45ACP
My 1911 loves the .45ACP round.
With casting, I use the Lee 200gn RF. Not even a burp. I pan lube so no leading.

[Guesser]

I use 1911A1 types, short and long. I use a Colt New Service from 1942 and a Ruger NMBH convertible. All are disgustingly easy to load for using Lyman 452460 and 452374.

[MtGun44]

Std full sized 1911 like a Springfield, Kimber or one of the other 20 or so brands out there
now should be real fine with .45ACP. If you can afford it the Dan Wesson 1911s are really
top quality, but they don't make very many and the are sometimes hard to find besides
the cost issue. Not a huge fan of the Taurus 1911, but it is not junk, just kind marginal
small parts. Frame, barrel and slide seem to be every bit as good as any others.

If you want to do the revolver route the S&W 25-2 is a good piece of equipment, not
cheap tho. The Ruger BH converible works well in .45ACP, too. Many report it being
a touch more accurate than the .45 LC cylinder. Two calibers for one low price.

Bill

[Edubya]

Because I was struggling with leading issues in 9mm, I moved to 45acp for my cast boolit semi-auto shooting. I started with an Armscor made, compact 1911, and found I liked a lot of things about that gun, but never really got physically comfortable with it. Sold it off, and I find myself needing a 45acp shooter for cast boolits. Prefer revolvers, and might consider dropping the (considerable amount of) coin for a 45acp SA/DA revolver. I also really like the EAA Witness series.

Wondering what platforms you guys prefer for 45acp and cast boolits?

The .45ACPis a totally different animal from the 9mm. You are working with a much larger base and much lower psi. Regardless of the caliber, I have found that a boolit .003 than groove size and a good lube will resolve many headaches and lead cleaning. I did go with a Bar Sto barrel for my 9mm which slugged just about .001 smaller than my stock barrel to learn this. Have fun with all of 'em and don't give up on the 9mm.
EW

[another gsxr 1k]

I use a stainless Colt 1991a1 and an Armscor (High Standard) compact 1911, both are box stock.. Both work like a champ for me shooting cast so far. I'm still using up my Missouri bullet cast stuff so I haven't tried my WW Lee 228s yet.
There are differences between the full size and the compact Gov't models. The most noticeable for me is that the compact does have a bit more muzzle flip than the full size. For me the full size tends to recoil almost straight back with very little flip. Granted I'm not shooting max loads either, mine are pretty much dead center middle of the road loads, 4.7g HP-38, CCI Primers and a 230g cast ball.

You should try a full size 1911 platform if you get the chance, I'd be inclined to say that you'd like it.

[goste]

I shoot .45 in two 1911's both made in 1918, a series 70 Gov. model, a series 70 combat commander, a FA Ingram, a Enfield mkVI, and a Eaa wonder finish .45. I shoot the Lee TL230, in all of them. The Witness will shoot circles around the Colts.

You can't go wrong with an Eaa witness, although their customer service REALLY, REALLY bites...........................

[chris in va]

My Sig 220 eats them like candy. LLA and a TL 230gr RN boolit. Almost zero leading.

And ditto about going .003 over on 9mm. Took me months of hair pulling and gnashing of teeth before a kind soul pointed that out to me.

[les265]

My 45acp. autoloaders are a Springfield TRP 1911 and a FN FNP-45. The Springfield is a great gun and meets all of my needs in a 1911. the FN is a very cool gun with extremely minimal felt recoil and it is extremely accurate; plus it holds 15 +1. I am searching for one 230 grain lead bullet that both guns like in another configuration other than round nose. My latest experiment is with a LBT LFN bullet.

For revolvers, I have an old model Ruger Blackhawk with a 45acp cylinder, but I usually use the 45 Colt cylinder in it.

[Curlymaple42]

Yup, my P220 runs them like a champ too!!

[theperfessor]

rbstern -

It sound to me like you need a Ruger, a Smith & Wesson, a good 1911 model, a ....

[Bkid]

Kimber makes a good 1911 and Dan Wesson`s are also good for 1911 platforms. I have a Sig P220 and it like the cast boolits I make also. I use 200 grain SWC TL Lee mold.

[mike in co]

everyone should own atleast one 1911 basic gun...cause its the way the world is.

para ord came out with a us made 1911 for under 600. basic gi with modern machine tolerances. love mine.
throat is short and reguires a short oal or a reduced dia nose. lee's tl 230 rn bb fits the bill and is lube and sized in my star.

[rbstern]

rbstern -

It sound to me like you need a Ruger, a Smith & Wesson, a good 1911 model, a ....


Is there anyone on these boards who doesn't? :)


Fellas, appreciate all these helpful comments. Some of you are tempting me to revisit 9mm...argh! Didn't want to go there!

The reason I mentioned EAA Witness in my list is because the 9mm steel Witness I had was the most accurate semi-auto handgun I've ever shot, along the lines of goste's experience with his. It would even put cheap Russian ammo into very small groups.

Anybody use the Lee 358-125RNFP in 9mm? That's my goto mold these days for 38 special, and I always thought it would make a fine 9mm boolit.

[Doby45]

Rock Island Tactical loves some 200gr SWC

[cajun shooter]

Don't know why the answers would cause you to go back to the 9mm. It is very inferior to the 45 ACP in all departments. Have you ever watched a Bullseye match at Camp Perry where the winner was using any 9mm made? What I have seen posted is some good choices in 45 auto's. They are different in price and handling. I have owned most all brands of 45 and my favorites are the Sig, Colt, Kimber and S&W's. YMMV

[Char-Gar]

Right now in 45 ACP I have;

2 NOrinco 1911A1s autopistols
Colt Govt Model autopistol
Smith 1955 Target Model (DA sixgun)
2 Smith 1938 Brazilian DA sixguns
Smith 625 DA sixgun
Colt 1917 DA sixgun
Sig P220 autopistol
Ruger BH 45 Colt/45ACP SA sixgun

All shoot cast bullet just fine! Leading is not a 9mm vs. 45 ACP issue. Either will lead with the wrong loads. Either won't lead with the right loads. Of course individual barrels do differ in terms of internal roughness that has a big effect on how cast bullet shoot. But that can be cured in just about any pistol. I also have several 9mm pistol and have no leading issues with any of them.

All bullet fired in autopistols are sized .452. Bullets fired in the sixguns are sized .454.

[LowPE]

What role do you want the gun to fill? There are so many 45's out there....hard to recommend anything without knowing the application.

Shooting cast is so generic...I shoot cast for self defense, games, practice, target, training, etc.

[rbstern]

Don't know why the answers would cause you to go back to the 9mm. It is very inferior to the 45 ACP in all departments. Have you ever watched a Bullseye match at Camp Perry where the winner was using any 9mm made?

Cajun, appreciate your comments.

I'm not worried about having a combat sidearm or winning a bullseye match. This is about fun plinking of cast lead for me. If I had succeeded at casting in 9mm a couple of years ago, I probably wouldn't be loading and shooting 45acp. I'm mostly into revolvers and 38/357, but I sometimes like shooting a centerfire semi-auto for change of pace at the range. Either of the two calibers is satisfying.

The nice thing about reloading 9mm is the ease of acculumating suitable brass, and the low cost of 9mm FMJ ammo if I feel like shooting factory stuff. 45acp brass is hard to come by. When the grass at my gun club swallows some of my spent 45acp casings, I regret it. 9mm, on the other hand, I always wind up with a ton of brass.

[sundog]

One of the neatest cartridges ever invented is 45 Auto Rim. Any 45 ACP revolter what can shoot the AR cartridge is a winner in my book. Of course, one or two 1911s hangin' around never hurt a thing...

[Guesser]

I agree on the Auto Rim case, it is easier to work in my New Service. Clips are a pain, I just carry a brass rod and punch out my ACP cases when ever I use them in the Colt.

[casterofboolits]

Unless they have made major changes in the 45 Witness, I would not recommend them.

I have experience with six of them, mine and friends, and none of them would function reliably.[smilie=b: We Tested them with different boolits (round nose and SWC) various seating depths, etc.

Don't get the wrong idea, I am a fan of the Witness and have four of them in 9mm/41AE, 40 S&W, 38 Super std model and 38 Super Compition. All of these pistols run great and are accurate. I even had one of the limited run 41AE IPSC models which ran fine, but threw brass up to 40 feet away!

[rbstern]

Unless they have made major changes in the 45 Witness, I would not recommend them.

I have experience with six of them, mine and friends, and none of them would function reliably.[smilie=b: We Tested them with different boolits (round nose and SWC) various seating depths, etc.

Don't get the wrong idea, I am a fan of the Witness and have four of them in 9mm/41AE, 40 S&W, 38 Super std model and 38 Super Compition. All of these pistols run great and are accurate. I even had one of the limited run 41AE IPSC models which ran fine, but threw brass up to 40 feet away!

First I've ever heard of that. My 9mm managed a 100% reliability record with a lot of rounds down the tube, including a lot of experimental loads.

Were these all steel/fullsize? Compact models? Poly? Different assortments?

Thanks for the feedback.

[OBXPilgrim]

625, 625, 625







625!

[DollarBill]

I use the Lee tumble lube bullet for all my 9mm plinking loads. Brass or Nickel cases CCI primers 5.3 grains of unique and the Lee Bullet. I seat them even with the top of the lube rings, and then use the crimp die as Lee says to use it. Just turning it three quarters of a turn after it touches the bullets.

I have never had a FTF and we're talking thousands of rounds. A Beretta 92 FS Inox with 15 round magazines (5) and it shoots them till I get tired. Sorry to hijack the 45 ACP thread. It was not my intention. Only to share my info.

Best to all. I really like this forum. I have learned much from all of you. Thanks
$Bill

[Edubya]

Cajun, appreciate your comments.

I'm not worried about having a combat sidearm or winning a bullseye match. This is about fun plinking of cast lead for me. If I had succeeded at casting in 9mm a couple of years ago, I probably wouldn't be loading and shooting 45acp. I'm mostly into revolvers and 38/357, but I sometimes like shooting a centerfire semi-auto for change of pace at the range. Either of the two calibers is satisfying.

The nice thing about reloading 9mm is the ease of acculumating suitable brass, and the low cost of 9mm FMJ ammo if I feel like shooting factory stuff. 45acp brass is hard to come by. When the grass at my gun club swallows some of my spent 45acp casings, I regret it. 9mm, on the other hand, I always wind up with a ton of brass.

rb, if you can get a Bar Sto barrel for your 9mm (about $200) and size your .38/.357 boolits to .357, you'll have the ideal plinker and might even join the competition ranks with it. i have the XD-9 5" and have the Bar Sto barrel with a Powder River trigger job and shoot the heck out of lead .357 boolits. I have the Hihec 9mm 125 mould through the group buy and it has become my favorite mould , as the boolit does extremely well. How about 1165 FPS with 4gr BE and expands to ,470"!
My standard issue barrel can't accept that speed without leading. I had heard that the Bar Sto did better with lead, so I accepted that was a better way since I do like the light weight and function of the gun.

EW

[Dale53]

I have shot well over 100,000 cast bullet .45 ACP's in several different platforms:

Here is a Colt 1911 - I have put 100,000 rounds of full house cast bullet .45 ACP's through this one in IPSC guise, then converted it to Bullseye mode:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/4DalesPistolsRevolversSelects-3326.jpg

Here is one of my two favorite platforms these days - both are 625's - this one is a 625-8 Jerry Michilec Special and 625's are shooting machines:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/SW625-8JMSpecial-3349.jpg

If you prefer single actions, then you absolutely cannot beat a tuned SS Ruger Bisley .45 Colt/.45 ACP Convertible - seen here wearing it's .45 ACP cylinder:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/DalesPistolsRevolvers4Selects-0385.jpg

When it comes to a Concealed Carry Platform, it is hard to beat the Kimber CDP II Ultra in .45 ACP:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/DalesPistolsRevolvers5Selects-0210.jpg

I shoot a lot of .45 Auto Rims in my revolvers but ACP's work just as well with the full moon clips (steel from Ranch Products and Poly clips by RIMZ).

Dale53

[Bret4207]

I really like my Smiff 1917. It's old, and kind loose and not always the best at what it does, but neith and am I, so we're a matched set.

My kids really like my BH 45ACP.

[Cherokee]

My 45 ACP guns are 1911's, 5" and 7". Also a Star PD. Old school stuff like me. I have these in 38 Super and 9mm as well, which are also accurate. The Ruger SA 45 Colt/45 ACP guns do have some use but the ACP cylinder is tight throated so the bullet ogive must start at the end of the case, any exposed full diameter part of the bullet will usually prevent full seating of the round, and you can not use 45 AR. The S&W 25 is supposed to be a great revolver for 45 ACP but the one I tired back in the 70's did not shoot as well as my 1911's.

[Dale53]

Cherokee;
You are correct about the tight throats on the Ruger Convertible .45 Colt/.45 ACP. However, it took no longer than ten minutes to ream the cylinder throats (using a "made for the job" Manson piloted reamer kit). I did three revolvers (mine and two friends) and we are ALL extremely happy with the results.

Upon reflection, I am almost glad that they had tight throats. After I finished, I had a revolver with CUSTOM dimensions and truly a shooting machine!

I believe that is kind of what they mean when they say "When you get a lemon, make lemonade out of it!" At any rate, you don't see a frown on my face, you see a smile!!:mrgreen:

Just a thought or two...

Dale53

[pakmc]

I was using the Lee 230 gr mold for my CZ 97B and they were very very accurate in that pistol(In fact, a man watched me shoot it and wanted one of the 97's for himself.)
But I started using the same bullet in a heritage Smith and WEsson and you would not believe the accuraty. (does 5/8 inch group at 10 yards mean anything??) that's keeping five shots inside a 1 inch square. Now I'm using the Lee 200gr. in both guns and they are quite accurate.(And less recoil) . I love .45 acp bullets (ok, the one's I pour.) I'm now looking for a regular model 25 something (smith and wesson) .45 LC. I' trade a new in the box AR-15 (Smith and wesson) for a nice one with a 5 or 6 inch barrel
Pat

[pakmc]

I was using the Lee 230 gr mold for my CZ 97B and they were very very accurate in that pistol(In fact, a man watched me shoot it and wanted one of the 97's for himself.)
But I started using the same bullet in a heritage Smith and WEsson and you would not believe the accuraty. (does 5/8 inch group at 10 yards mean anything??) that's keeping five shots inside a 1 inch square. Now I'm using the Lee 200gr. in both guns and they are quite accurate.(And less recoil) . I love .45 acp bullets (ok, the one's I pour.) I'm now looking for a regular model 25 something in .45 LC. I' trade a new in the box AR-15 (Smith and wesson) for a nice one with a 5 or 6 inch barrel
Pat

[StrawHat]

For the 45 ACP, the platforms I use are mostly S&W revolvers. I have these two, a M25-2 with a 6 1/2" barrel and a M28-2 with a 4" barrel (this one I reworked to 45 ACP back in the early 80s).

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=907026
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc194/StrawHat/IMGP1409.jpg

I have only shot cast in the 25-2 and it likes the GB 454423 (235 grain Keith SWC), and the SAECO 453 (235 grain wadcutter bullet).

I have also used the Lee 452-252 in them and look forward to trying the GB 454190 (262 grain RNFP).

I use either the ACP brass or Auto Rim brass depending on what recipe I am making. With the ACP brass I have always used the moon clips from Ranch Products and am quite happy with them.

I have never been tempted to try one of the various 1911 pattern pistols but did briefly own a S&W 645.

[Dale53]

You WILL want effective cartridges in your .45 ACP revolver. Here, loaded in .45 Auto Rim brass, is the NOE 454424 cast bullet ahead of a load of Unique for 900+ fps:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/4DalesPistolsRevolversSelects-3336.jpg

Here, you will see the great MiHec 200 gr Hollow Point (from the brass two cavity Cramer style mould) loaded ahead of a charge of Unique that pushes this VERY effective bullet to 1000+ fps:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj80/Dale53/4DalesPistolsRevolversSelects-3332.jpg

Dale53

[Doby45]

That MiHec Cramer is one of if not the sexiest 45 bullets around.. I will get that mold for SURE.

[fredj338]

I agree, lead is about all I run in my 1911s. If yo ujust don't care for the 1911, quit odd I admit, then maybe a striker fired gun? My XD loves lead bullets, as long as it's LRN or LTC or LRNFP. In a rev, the M25 or M625 pretty much rules the roost.