Best mold and what BHN for hollow point 45ACP?

[Stopsign32v]

Was wanting to reload for some self defense loads but wondering what is the best molds you guys can think of for 45acp CCW? Also what BHN do you guys run for good expansion?

[ABJ]

At 45 ACP speeds I would think 20:1 would be the hardest I would want. Much of it depends on what weight you want to run and do you want max expansion and no exit or some expansion with an exit. Hollow points is the one part of this hobby that has to be tailored to the specific boolit/velocity/size of cavity/terminal results wanted etc...

You mention COWW, That alloy would need a wide and deep HP and will most likely shed the petals depending on the target medium.

If it were me I would want a 230ish with a wide opening, tapered pin to about half the depth of the nose cast of 20:1. That would minimize a high velocity bullet existing and striking an unintended citizen.

Tony

[OS OK]

ABJ nailed it.

But the cavity you actually have to use & the speed you want to send it & the Pb mix you use are all variables until you experiment some. Then the media you use to catch and examine your cast is another variable.
This is a deep rabbit'hole...

https://i.imgur.com/06AecPl.jpg

I spent an entire summer just experimenting with .45ACP HP pistol cast. It was a blast and I learned a bunch. I used all sorts of HP cavities, even used a few of my own design and had Eric at Hollow Point Moulds modify a mould for me to cast 3, 4 & 5 sided HP's in RN & SWC.

https://i.imgur.com/fdD78en.jpg

A three sided HP 'Tricorne', I tried to get maximum penetration with.

https://i.imgur.com/48VV2kj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZykPq7B.jpg

A common 'Penta', 5 sided, easy to work with...

https://i.imgur.com/rtFkWLc.jpg

The 4 sided I call the 'Quad'...a little tougher to open but not by much...

https://i.imgur.com/pkIOlNp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hTHYLuh.jpg

All the fails are in the videos too...if the HP lost weight, it was considered a 'FAIL' and I kept at it till I got a win, then moved to another cavity.
I did my best to keep track of everything but it was a solo-effort, I had to do the experimenting...casting, loading and the editing too. After a summer full of it I didn't get to the gel block, maybe (just maybe I'll do the gel testing this summer, not sure)...I'm burned out on making videos at the moment.
That's why I spent over a year doing just .22lr BR for a change-up.

Here's my video channel if your interested...be forewarned, I'm long winded, nothing is presented in 5 minute short clips...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi5mfCQYNW1hfrgepvqCDsg/videos

https://i.imgur.com/MR9bJWG.jpg

I think most folks get a HP mould and give up right off the bat because they get fragmented results and they use COWW's. It's a little more involved.
The best advice I can give'Ya is this...
"Just do it, get the feet wet and keep rolling till you get what you want. Post a thread of your first try and keep it documented, updated with your trials. Nowhere else on the web will you find more experienced casters than right here. Hints-n-Tips and good advice will come like a river to you."

good luck...charlie

[fredj338]

The BHN isnt what you are looking for but alloy composition & HP design. For lower vel LHP, around 900fps, 25-1 works with most HP designs. I have a Lyman Dev mold that makes nice bullet. A bit slow but for making hunting or SD bullets, I dont need that many. Its HP is pretty large/deep, so I like 20-1, lead/tin.