.450 hallow base in a 45LC?

[NVScouter]

OK since my Midsouth order is still on backorder I paid way too much localy for a LEE 450-292-M bullet mould. It casts a 292gr hallow base Minie ball bullet made for a 45CAL blackpowder.

Can I use the hallow base in my 45LC loads and if so how fast do you think I can push them in my Blackhawk? I think these would be great 1000fps plinkers.

[NVScouter]

Nobody huh? Well tomorrow I'll try some at around 600-800FPS and see how they shoot. If they do OK I may cast soem harder ones and push them faster since these are pure lead for my blackpowder.

[S.R.Custom]

Considering the .45 Colt was originally a black powder cartridge, I would think the old, classic loadings would be outstanding.

[Jim]

Awhile back, I asked about using hollow based minnie balls in a .45-70. I was told that there was a good chance that I'd shoot the head off the bullet leaving the skirt hung up in the barrel, a potentially dangerous situation. I understand that the pressures in a .45-70 would far exceed that developed in a revolver, but I thought I'd mention it.

[S.R.Custom]

With modern, ruger #1 type loadings, yes. But if you keep pressures to what the bullet was originally designed for, it's a non-issue.

[dmftoy1]

I don't know if it applies to .45 LC but I'm shooting 405 grain HB bullets out of a lee mold in my 45/70 very successfully around 1300-1400fps. (Carnuba Red Lube)

[NVScouter]

Well the 292gr bullets over 8gr of Universal performed very well. They shot around 800fps and 4" at 100yards. I even got to recover one after it went through one of my "Targets". I had an old Defibrillator to get rid of and the cast soft lead bullet passed through and was flung another 100feet. The end weight was 207gr of bullet. the lost weight was sheered diagonaly off the front from passing through the defib.

i only loaded 5 so my testing was limited. I'm going to harden the alloy a bit and give it another go soon at around 1000fps, then I'll report back in.

[NVScouter]

While we are on the subject of the Lee 292 Minie ball. What am I doing wrong with the casting process? My the mine looks good except some frosting on the LEE style grease grooves (small and numerous bands set close together).

I'm playing with pot and mould temp but to get complete uniform Boolits I get the frosting, but only on the grease grooves.

[Boz330]

I tried that boolit in a 45LC rifle and had absolutely no luck with it. It is pretty small and an unfired slug would freefall down the barrel. If you got it to shoot for you, great. Every gun has it's own likes and dislikes.

Bob

[NVScouter]

did you try it hard or soft?

[Boz330]

To be honest it has been so long ago that I don't remember what the alloy was. I was looking for a heavy deer load so the alloy was probably around 20-1 lead tin. But it might have been WWs which tests out about the same on a Cabin Tree tester for me. It was so bad that I didn't even shoot all of the ones I had loaded up.
I would think that a fast powder would flare that skirt better though. If you get it to hard the skirt may not seal.
As far as the frosted lube grooves, that is usually associated with more heat. There might be a little more heat concentrated there because of the shallow and thin bumps. Not enough heat sink is what I'm trying to say, so it stays a little hotter, just a guess. If you aren't doing it you might add a little tin to the mix. That will help fill out at lower temps.

Bob