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Thread: Why are there no hollow base swaged wadcutters for 45?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master Clark's Avatar
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    Why are there no hollow base swaged wadcutters for 45?

    My brother called and is getting great groups with his Python and my handloads: 148 gr hollow base wad cutters with 2.9 gr Bullseye, and the bullet seated down into the case.
    He also got great groups with my Colt New Army 32-20 Speer 98 gr HBWC 2.7 gr Bullseye, 1.36".

    So he wants to buy an adjustable sight 45 long Colt revolver and do it again.

    I can't find him any 0.452" swaged hollow body wad cutters.

    Do they exist?

    If not, why not?

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master


    Nueces's Avatar
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    I've never seen any such. I think the only 45 round regularly used in paper target competition was the ACP, in either the 1911 or the various target revolvers. None were ever loaded with HBWCs, so no commercial quantities have been offered. The standard bullet was a 200 grain SWC, unless it was a hardball match.

    MiHec and/or NOE have recently offered solid and hollow base wad cutter moulds.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    Bullseye target shooting is all about accuracy and low recoil. People gave up on shooting .45 revolvers for target use in the 1950s once they figured out how to accurize the M1911 to outshoot them. The fellows who shoot a .45 for the center-fire stages use mostly accurized M1911 type pistols which give their best with 180-200 grain SWC bullets which feed well. HBWC bullets weren't loaded for the .45 ACP because they weren't needed. Their purpose is mainly to take up the excess free air space when light charges of smokeless powder are used in larger volume cases like the .38 Special, which were originally designed for black powder.
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  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    This is close!



    RCBS 455-250-RN-HB

    https://www.midwayusa.com/product/19...se-hollow-base


    Cuts awfully nice holes in paper


  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    Not hollow based but 250 grs .452" wadcutters:

    http://www.mattsbullets.com/index.ph...roducts_id=317

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    If you want true wadcutters then get someone to mill/turn @ 1/8" from the top of the RCBS mould.





    Does'nt get more wadcutter than that!

  7. #7
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    they are out there as you can see.
    but the 45 hasn't traditionally been a target cartridge.
    the 44 special/Russian dominated that arena for years.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master bedbugbilly's Avatar
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    I bought box of 500 .452 wadcutters but they aren't HB - no idea of the mold but I did want to try some WC from the Cattleman 45 Colt that I have. Looks like the photos pretty much show what you might be looking for - I haven't had the time to try the solid base WC I have but I wouldn't mind trying some of the HB as well.

    Would Accurate or NOE be able to make up a HB mold? I didn't check but I believe that Al at NOE makes a 45 WC mold but don't know if it is a nose or a base pour design. If it was a nose pour, a mill and a lathe would easily do the base plug for the HB.

  9. #9
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    youd have to send an Accurate off to Erick Ohlen to get the base work done.
    but I'm sure Tom would cut a nose pour mold.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master Forrest r's Avatar
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    Mihec sold hbwc molds for the 45cal's.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    I also have the Mihec 41cal hbwc mold, but I hardly use it.

    More hollow base bullets that I use/shoot for the 45cal's.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    The hb swc (lower left) was actually designed for the 1917 45acp pistols. They had such huge differences in cylinders & bbl's, they ranged from .451" to .457". Cramer put out a hb mold that casts a .454" 175gr bullet. These things flat out shoot, the cramer mold.
    [IMG][/IMG]

    There's lots of hb molds out there for the 45cal's, you just have to look around.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master Jack Stanley's Avatar
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    17nut , Those are some very handsome bullets you got there .

    Jack
    Buy it cheap and stack it deep , you may need it !

    Black Rifles Matter

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    If two bullets of the same weight have the same external nose shape they will have the same internal powder capacity whether flatbase, bevel base. or hollow base. HB have an advantage by providing longer bore contact and a more weight forward balance when used with very light or low velocity loads. If a bullet's velocity is halved its rate of spin will be also.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check