What’s everyone thought on the best 45acp bullet to cast.Dont even have a 1911 yet but I might as well get me some bullets made for when I get one!
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What’s everyone thought on the best 45acp bullet to cast.Dont even have a 1911 yet but I might as well get me some bullets made for when I get one!
There are a good many number of 45acp molds available. In my case I found out the hard way that the Springfield XD Mod2 has serious problems with a SWC profile. It all has to do with the ejecting round catching on the lip of the next following round. From what I have read is Springfield made a modification to the XDm slide and that remedied the problem. I also ran into this problem with my Tanfoglio Witness. It may be worth while to obtain the gun then try some precast 1st.
The old standby 230 grain round nose is never a bad choice. My favorite is any one of the Hensly & Gibbs #68 clones.
The Lyman 452374 or the RCBS equivalent would be my choice. RN bullets run without aggravation compared to the TC or SWC varieties. The lee TL452-230-2R does well too if money for a mould is tight.
I'm a very small sample size, but I have yet to see a 230 gr RN shoot great. That includes cast or the standard FMJ. They can be good for sure, but never past your usual 2-3" at 25 yards or so. They should feed good though.
If all you want is an accurate target bullet, then let me recommend the Arsenal 453-210 Grain TC – H&G 68 Bullet. Feeds like a dream too.
For a 1911 that's even a little tricked out, the 200 TC is hard to beat.
It is or was a big time favorite for competition shooters.
Depends on the task at hand for the gun. H&G 68 can cover most my needs if not all.
Personally, I prefer the 200 grain SWC style. In 230 grain, the truncated cone design feeds well and is a good choice.
When you do get a 1911, look in the barrel and if it has rifling running right down to the chamber mouth/headspace ledge, get the barrel throated then you can run whatever boolit you choose, seated out ever how long you want to seat it, as long as it will cycle through the magazine, and enjoy your newfound hobby!!
I have excellent results with the Lee 200 gr LSWC, sized to .451" and loaded over 5 gr of Bullseye.
I shoot a stock Auto Ordnance with GI sights.
I've run them all in my Colt Commander, had it throated so it'll handle the Lee RNFP...a notorious cast for the un-throated pistol but a cool looking and I'm sure hard hitting cast.
After all the various casts and then getting this un-throated Kimber, my all time favorite is the Lyman 452374 RN...it just runs and runs and runs.
DougGuy makes a good point. I had him throat the barrel in my 1911 and it feeds/chambers anything.
Unfortunately, I own a couple of 45ACP pistols that have hardened barrels, making having them throated problematic. I am getting away from the semi-wadcutter boolits for that reason. They feed fine but won't chamber consistently.
The Lee 452-200-rf serves well for these guns and still works well in the 1911. There may be some small difference in accuracy, but I can't tell the difference without using a solid rest.
My handheld group sizes have not changed any by using it. It is fast becoming my boolit of choice for 45ACP.
Throating salt bath hardened barrels no problem, it just costs more because carbide reamers are the only thing that will cut one and they are 3x and 4x the cost of a HSS reamer.
The ones I don't do, are the case hardened barrels. You can't "shave" case hard it just doesn't work that way.
H&G 68, hands down.
I cast with three Lee molds, 452-200 swc, 452-200 rf, and the 452-230TC. my Sig 1911 stainless target has been throated by Doug and all three feed great. I’m not good enough to tell the difference on the target so don’t really have a favorite. I tend to load the 230 and rf at hard ball velocities, and the swc at 750-800.
After my impulse purchase of a Star PD in 45 auto, I acquired a one cavity Lyman 452406 SWC 200 gr. Cast with range scrap sweetened with a little tin, it does not lead the barrel with target velocity loads, and is boringly accurate.
BTW: if and when you ever need boolits to experiment with, you can always work a trade with people on this forum. Every time I have posted about wanting to try a new boolit, members have sent me a box for free. I have also contributed when I can.
Wayne
The Lee clone of the HG 68 runs great in a 1911! I've been using up some old DuPont 700-X and then I will move on to WST.