Ruger New Model BlackHawk 45acp/45LC Convertable Question.

[Terry37932]

This is going to sound very rookie but here goes. I have a Ruger New Model BlackHawk 45acp/45LC Convertable with a 5 1/2 barrel. I was given a large can of LRN bullets, they were cast using a Lee TL452-230-2R Mold, they weigh in anywhere between 234gr and 241grs, I was told that this is not uncommon with Lead Cast bullets using lead from various sources. I lubed them using LLA and sized a bunch to .452 and relubed.

I have both the Lyman 49th Edition and Lee Second Edition Reloading Handbooks to get my loading data from as well as the knowledgable folks here.

My question is; can I use the same bullets for 45LC as well as 45acp? I plan on using either Bullseye or IMR-700X, and perhaps LongShot if I can get my hands on it. The Lyman book shows 45acp as .452 and 45LC as .456, Lee shows 45acp as .452, and 45LC as .454, but the pistol will shoot both depending on which cylinder I use.

I just don't want any rookie mishaps, Thanks.

[nagantguy]

It won't hurt anything, the gun will tell you what it likes but the price is right on those cast boolits so shoot them up. My be a little small fer the LC or may be a little tight with the acp, maybe the barrel will like or hate .452 out of either cylinder. Onlyone way to tell for sure, shootem up. May want to slug the bore first or you could load a few using good data like you said you had an shootem.

[Outpost75]

The cylinder throats on the NM Blackhawks run small. I shoot .452 bulletsin both ACP and LC cylinders, using 230-grain bullets with 4.5 grains of Bullseye in ACP brass and 6.5 grains in LC brass. Keeps lifw simple. Enjoyv your Ruger.

[Terry37932]

6.6 grains (Lee .7cc scoop) of Bullseye, COL of 1.600 worked flawlessly! Just have to work on my crimping skills a bit.
Thanks Guys!

[Moonie]

I answered this exact question in another section of the forum...

[454PB]

You're seeing the only real downside to using a boolit designed for .45 ACP.......lack of a crimping groove.

It's not a problem as long as velocity is held down to prevent boolit movement in recoil.

My experience with that boolit design is that it needs to be seated deeply to fit the chamber of my P-90 .45 ACP. If I use them in .45 Colt (I too have a convertible Blackhawk), I can apply a healthy taper crimp because of the deep seating and avoid boolit movement.

That being said, it's probably a better idea to use them for .45ACP and another design for .45 Colt.

[silverado]

You're seeing the only real downside to using a boolit designed for .45 ACP.......lack of a crimping groove.

It's not a problem as long as velocity is held down to prevent boolit movement in recoil.

My experience with that boolit design is that it needs to be seated deeply to fit the chamber of my P-90 .45 ACP. If I use them in .45 Colt (I too have a convertible Blackhawk), I can apply a healthy taper crimp because of the deep seating and avoid boolit movement.

That being said, it's probably a better idea to use them for .45ACP and another design for .45 Colt.

I have used the lee 356-120 tc powder coated and the lube groove for crimping. Worked fine in my smith 637. If op wants to get into pc ing his boolits that is. I would imagine the same idea would work with tl alox.
Nevermind.... I'm a dummy, didn't see he has tl boolits....

[sandman228]

I also own a 45 convertible Blackhawk with 4 5/8 barrel . I already cast 452 230 lrn ,452 230 tc,and 452 200 swc all out of lee tumble lube molds. I attempted to cast 452 252 swc bullets to load for 45 lc but after being sent 2 defective molds I just gave up on that 1 . I haven't tried the 230 lrn in 45 lc yet but I have loaded and shot a couple hundred 45 tc bullets it don't seem to like them so much . the best load ive found for this gun so far is the 200 gr swc in 45 lc case with 8 gr of imr 4756. I tried to shoot some of the 45 acp ammo I have already loaded for my 1911 in the acp cylinder but the stick out to far for the cylinder to spin without binding . I dunno if its an oal or crimp issue ,ive gotta play around with it a little more .

[MT Gianni]

Sandman, that is not uncommon for the blackhawk to have a shorter, tighter chamber than most 1911's. Seating deeper and marking the brass or primer is the best solution.

[DougGuy]

I also own a 45 convertible Blackhawk with 4 5/8 barrel . I tried to shoot some of the 45 acp ammo I have already loaded for my 1911 in the acp cylinder but the stick out to far for the cylinder to spin without binding . I dunno if its an oal or crimp issue ,ive gotta play around with it a little more .

They stick out the back and won't chamber fully? The cylinder throat is likely .4505" and the .452" boolit won't go into the throat. If it was .4525" on both cylinders, all of your .452" boolits will work and it will shoot a lot better if the cylinder throats are corrected.