which .45acp bullet do you prefer and why?

[krit29-2]

Hi Guys..
Picked up a new Sig Nitron carry.. it's not seeming to like my 185 grain semi-wadcutters..
So , I'm thinking going to a 230 grain cast bullet but which one ? mainly for plinking/target
But which style.. truncated cone 230 grain ( which I like ) or the stand by of 230 grain round nose ?
Which one do you like and why?

[williamwaco]

I like the 200 SWC.

There are several of them and I see very little difference between them.

I actually use the Lee because the mold is so cheap.

[Outpost75]

The H&G68 design. long-nosed 200 SWC feeds in most pistols which do so reliably with hardball. It is an accurate target bullet and is popular for IPSC and IDPA type shooting. A charge of 5 grains of Bullseye or the equivalent will give about 900 fps with recoil impulse similar to 230-grain hardball. While it would not be my first choice for defense, because there are better bullets out there today, the H&G68 at full velocity penetrates well and is more effective on large varmints and small game than FMJRN or LRN bullets. All the major mold makers produce their own "clones" of the H&G68, but I prefer the original H&G molds which are widely available if you look for them.

[ultramag]

I like the 200 SWC.

There are several of them and I see very little difference between them.

I actually use the Lee because the mold is so cheap.

I have nothing bad to say about the 6 cavity Lee H&G 68 copy either. Probably my favorite in .45 ACP with the TL452-230-TC being a close runner-up.

[Char-Gar]

I second the motion for the worthiness of Hensley and Gibbs 68. However, the Lyman 452460 is equally worthy. Being a little longer in the body and a little shorter in the nose with a few extra grains weight, it is preferred by some shooters. Back in the days when I shot Bulleye competition, both designs has a legion of fans. I won't go out on a limb and say one is better than the other. Either one should make you smile.

Bulleye would be my powder of choice as well in charge weights of 4.5 to 5 grains.

[44MAG#1]

Saeco 058 which is a 215 gr SWC with a large diameter meplat. Shoots well and the large meplat should do well as a self defense bullet.
\One of the largest meplat SWC bullets I know of.

[Love Life]

NOE H&G 34 clone. It is a 230 gr RN boolit. It's design allows it to be seated to correct depth unlike the Lee RN.

Not only that, but it flies true and hits stuff hard.

[Scharfschuetze]

I'm a fan of the 200 grain SWC in the 1911 too. My mold is an RCBS from the 70s and it shoots (COWW alloy) without malfunction even in my stock WWII (DCM sale when they sold 'em) 1911A1. Any of the manufactured 200 grain SWC boolits that I've bought also shoot reliably and they are quite effective on vermin and jackrabbits. I taper crimp the boolit and generally use BE powder behind it.

I like the 230 grain RN boolit (again RCBS) in my 1917 revolvers as it shoots to point of aim at 25 yards. I roll crimp for the revolver over the start of the ogive for an accurate and reliable load in either 45 AR cases or rimless cases using either the half of full moon clips.

[roysha]

My SIG P220 does not deal well with the SWC style. Far and away my favorite for the 45 ACP is the LEE 230 TC. Feeds flawlessly and shoots where the gun is pointed.

[NuJudge]

I would also vote for the 200 grain Lee Semi Wadcutter, at least in my 1990 vintage Series 80 Colt. The mold is cheap, as noted above. You can load it up or down. It shoots well in my Colt. The highest velocity I've gotten out of it, with good accuracy, was with 800X powder, which does not meter well.

[krit29-2]

Thank-you for the suggestions on the semi wadcutter. However the semi wadcutter fails to feed through my 220.
So went to the 1911 platform to keep with the .45..
Looking for the 230 grain bullet because it hits to the point of aim.

[Larry Gibson]

Gotta go with the 190 - 205 gr SWC for all of my 45 ACP loads with cast bullets. No real sense in throwing 225 - 230+ gr down range for the shooting I do with it. Even in my revolvers (Uberti "Evil Roy" SAA, M1917 with a M25 barrel on it), my 10" Contender barrel and the 16.5" barrel on my M98 rifle I still prefer the 190 - 205 gr SWCs for general use. Hunting with the revolvers, the Contender and the rifle call for the GC'd SWC 452490. I know it's sacrilegious here but for serious social work or hunting anything larger than coyote's with the 45 ACP in my semi-auto's I use 185 - 200 gr JHPs at +P.

Larry Gibson

[Artful]

Most used these days is 230 grain TC - NEI gang that duplicates shape & weight of 230 Hydroshock carry load

[44MAG#1]

Hasn't anyone even tried the Saeco 058 bullet? Montana bullet works offer them. also a pic of them too on their website.

[btroj]

200 swc. Accurate, easy to make em shoot, saves lead over a 230 gr bullet.

Is there a wrong answer?

[ultramag]

Thank-you for the suggestions on the semi wadcutter. However the semi wadcutter fails to feed through my 220.
So went to the 1911 platform to keep with the .45..
Looking for the 230 grain bullet because it hits to the point of aim.

In that case I like a 6 cavity Lee TL452-230-TC. You can really build up a pile of boolits quick with one and lube just as quick with 45-45-10. Shoots well across a half a dozen 1911's and in the 5.25 XDm and XDs 45. No leading, no function troubles once your OAL is established.

[Good Cheer]

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/SNARGLEFLERK/mysterymetal_zpsb27efe0f.jpg (http://s791.photobucket.com/user/SNARGLEFLERK/media/mysterymetal_zpsb27efe0f.jpg.html)

Well, I like this one because it's standard hardball weight, shoots good with my lube and it's here.

[krit29-2]

Just ordered the Lee tl245-230-tc going to give them a try.
However Good Cheer , that's a wicked looking HP.. what brand is it?

[357mags]

45acp was designed for 230gr RN, stick with it!

[NoZombies]

45acp was designed for 230gr RN, stick with it!

Actually, it was designed for 200 gn bullets, but the army wanted the heavier bullet.

[daniel lawecki]

200 Swc I shoot 230 Rn aswell but I"ll go thru 3 times as many swc per year. If you can why not buy both.

[2AMMD]

I have had real good performance from the Lee 230G tc also. No feed Problems at all. I do want to get a good HP like the one shown above by Good Cheer for the 1911 and a short (legal length) rifle I am planning.

[Outpost75]

Saeco 058 which is a 215 gr SWC with a large diameter meplat. Shoots well and the large meplat should do well as a self defense bullet.One of the largest meplat SWC bullets I know of.

I tried that bullet fairly extensively and while I agree that it is a great performer on game, I could never get the accuracy I could with the H&G68. The best 50-yard test groups I could manage were 3-4" for ten shot groups, fired from a Remington slave action with SAAMI-dimensioned test barrel, firing from.a return-tobattery rest. Best loads with H&G68 were almost exactly half that.

[9.3X62AL]

My SIG P220 does not deal well with the SWC style. Far and away my favorite for the 45 ACP is the LEE 230 TC. Feeds flawlessly and shoots where the gun is pointed.

^ THIS ^

My experience with the 200 grain SWCs in the P-220 is quite similar. You can "feel" the interrupted slide cycle when the bullet shoulder trips over something in the throat or chamber. Seating depth adjustments can ameliorate this, but not eliminate it. The Lee 230 TC (conventional lube groove) or the Lyman #452374 GI Ball duplicator run like water through every P-220 I've tried them in. Use Lyman's published OAL (1.26_") for the GI RN, seat the Lee TC with .020" of its front drive band exposed above the case mouth. My usual fuel is 5.0 grains of WW-231, and that isn't quite book max. The P-220's Commander-length barrel gives about 825 FPS so loaded.

[MtGun44]

GC on .45 ACP is like teats on a bull, pretty much a waste.

Bill

[imashooter2]

I like the Lee 452-228-1R. Loads fast and smooth in moon clips for USPSA, and I can have a pile of them in short order using a 6 cavity mold.

[bob208]

I like and use the lee 452-228 -1r. works good in my semis.

now I have a rcbs 452 225 cav. mold it is a tapered flat point. I mite try it in the 1911.

[44MAG#1]

I tried that bullet fairly extensively and while I agree that it is a great performer on game, I could never get the accuracy I could with the H&G68. The best 50-yard test groups I could manage were 3-4" for ten shot groups, fired from a Remington slave action with SAAMI-dimensioned test barrel, firing from.a return-tobattery rest. Best loads with H&G68 were almost exactly half that.

While it is no secret that the H&G #68 is well known for its accuracy, if one cannot take a 3 or 4 inch load and fill the freeze with it out to 50 yards offhand than he probably needs to stay at home.
I am talking deer sized game. Now if one is going to shoot ground hogs, ground squirrels etc. than that is another situation.
There are those than can take a 3-4 inch load and out shoot someone else using a 1.5 to 2 inch load.
Just depends on the skill level of the shooter.
I've seen a person shoot at 12 yards that couldn't keep a cylinder full , or a magazine full, on a piece of 81/2X11 piece of paper offhand shooting fairly slow, but with his rifles at 100 yards off a bench cut the bullet holes.
Now if you are the type that can take advantage of the 1.5-2 incher and can keep them all in the 10 ring of a 50 yard slow fire target at 50 offhand I would say you "have arrived".
Now for the others that couldn't keep them on Elmers Keith's hat at fifty, no matter what the gun will do, I say practice, practice and more practice.
Now for a defense load for someone inclined to use a cast SWC, with the distances involved, it isn't going to make one whit of difference the accuracy of the gun as I have seen people miss a B27 target at not much more than 7 yards.
On the other hand I did double taps on 3 IDPA targets with a Ruger BH 45 Colt using a Simmons 2.5X7 scope set on 7 power using not a mild load in 6 seconds first try and shaved a second off of my time the second try looking through the scope not over the top and missed the center ring only once. This at 10 yards.
I probably couldn't have done any better with my 1911 using a H&G #68 with a super accurate load since I don't do that type of shooting with a revolver or semi-auto.
So what a gun will do indirectly indicates what the gun and shooter will do joined together.
Just saying this to keep people grounded.
I also know this is about a 45 ACP but feel the accuracy thing is just one part of the equation.

[BD]

H&G #68 or clone for targets and games. 230 gr BDacp for social work.
BD

[Snapping Twig]

Lee 230g TC for me.

Does everything I want it to do from target to SD to hunting.

Accurate and hard hitting.

Do I hunt with it? No, I have other more ideal calibers - but I could if it's what I brung and all I had.

[dragon813gt]

I only have two molds for my 45 and have only used one so my opinion is biased. It's a MP 452-200. It's a 215 grain solid and hits point of aim just fine. No feeding issues, after I worked out my crimping problem. The hollow point version drops at 200 grains. I also have a MP 45-225 which is a copy of a RCBS cowboy bullet. That one is a 225 grain solid and 200 grain hollowpoint. I heat cycled that mold today so after hunting season I will cast with it.

[waco]

I just started PC boolits. A week prior, I bought a Lee 6 cav. 228gr. 1R mold because of it's flat base. Wish I would have waited. The only thing keeping me from the 200SWC was that pesky BB. My 450 hates them.

[Adam10mm]

Lee 230gr TC with 6gr WSF. Feeds in everything at 1.185" OAL. Per pound lead is still cheaper than powder so heavier bullet is less powder.

[TCLouis]

Lee 195 SWC.

Currently i think it is 200 grainer.


I do NOT know squat about 1911s but that boolit has fed in every load I tried in two different guns, one a Fed Ord, a gun that supposed has feeding problems.

Couple of accurate loads in there too. Minute of clay target chips at 25 anyway.

[Good Cheer]

Yes, of course. But I happen to have an ample supply of ancient Ideal .45 gas checks as well as the old mold to use them on. So me using the gas checks is like the impoverished, non-slave-owning southern soldier answering the union officer as to why he fought against them; because they're here.


GC on .45 ACP is like teats on a bull, pretty much a waste.

Bill

[Good Cheer]

Just ordered the Lee tl245-230-tc going to give them a try.
However Good Cheer , that's a wicked looking HP.. what brand is it?

Hey Krit.
It's the Ideal / Lyman 452484. Way back when, Lyman would sell off out of spec blocks that had the cherry go a little deeper into the blocks than was correct for the advertised weight. Got those blocks about maybe 1982 (?) and the boolits came out 248-250 grains with wheel weights. Ended up getting the blocks hollow pointed to lighten it up.

That expanded slug was molded out of some mealy mystery metal and fired into a family size kitty litter bucket full of water. When the side of the mushroom broke off the slug turned and hit the bottom of the bucket, hence the flat spot that can be seen on the break line.

[oscarflytyer]

The H&G68 design. long-nosed 200 SWC feeds in most pistols which do so reliably with hardball. It is an accurate target bullet and is popular for IPSC and IDPA type shooting. A charge of 5 grains of Bullseye or the equivalent will give about 900 fps with recoil impulse similar to 230-grain hardball. While it would not be my first choice for defense, because there are better bullets out there today, the H&G68 at full velocity penetrates well and is more effective on large varmints and small game than FMJRN or LRN bullets. All the major mold makers produce their own "clones" of the H&G68, but I prefer the original H&G molds which are widely available if you look for them.

WOW! I had to look twice to make sure I didn't write this! My sentiments exactly. Only thing I can't speak to is the original H&G molds, never had one... Mine is a Mihec mold. Bullet is awesome and has feed in every 1911 and 45 auto I have shot it in, mine and others. It shoots equally well in my 1911s as it does in my XDs. And ditto on the 5 gr Bullseye load. What I started with and never changed.

[PS Paul]

Man, looks like me and Al are the only ones who like the 4532374? Surprised a little at that. Got a 68 clone, but I shoot the 452374 a little more often, for some reason.

[MtGun44]

Good reason to consume existing stocks of GCs and you had the mold.
Still a bit jarring to see a GC on a .45 ACP boolit. I wonder how it would
work sans the GC?

Bill

[9.3X62AL]

PS Paul--

A lot of shooters conclude that the old GI RN bullet lacks a bit of something for armed encounters. Much of this is backwash from The Magic Bullet Bunch, whose pistols can only tolerate the Most Modern And Technologically-Advanced Bullet available. My eyes glaze over. The Lyman #452374s do a fine job of duplicating my street loads' velocity and trajectory for practice, and I dare say that if one or two of those loads were to be used as felon repellent that their effects would not do the recipient a lot of good. These RN boolits feed in just about any 45 ACP pistol without fuss and bother. I got the Lyman OAL incorrect above--"book" OAL is 1.272". Sorry about that.

[Grandpas50AE]

The 452374 is a great mold, I wore one out several years ago.

[bobthenailer]

IMO the H&G 68 or a copy of it avaliable from several makers would be my bullet of choice! its accurate and feeds from well from about every 45 acp chambered gun ive seen it used in as well as two sa tompsons rifles. although i have moulds for Saecos # 068 200 gr swc, # 062 170gr swc , #058 215gr swc & rcbs 230 rn the 068 gets used more than all the other combined.

[grampa243]

My Glock loves the Lee 452-230-TC. feeded as good or better the ball ammo.. lube with ben's red. and have a very happy gun. :)

[Good Cheer]

Good reason to consume existing stocks of GCs and you had the mold.
Still a bit jarring to see a GC on a .45 ACP boolit. I wonder how it would
work sans the GC?

Bill

I'll probably never know until it's paper patched in the New Englander with the fast twist .458 bore diameter!:idea: