45 ACP bullets

[josper]

i just started casting for my 45ACP and was wondering if I could use just range lead for my bullets. velocity is around 850fps and pressure is around 14,000psi I'm using unique 6.5gr. for a lyman 225gr rn I was also wondering what other shooters are having good luck with.

[lotech]

I have many .45 molds and have had all of them for a long time. As for accuracy, I haven't been able to beat the SAECO #069 (copy of the H&G #68) at about 200 grs. cast from about any alloy with a BHN between 10-15. I use 3.5 Bullseye for a target load of around 700 fps and 5 Bullseye for something stouter, around 850- 875 fps.

[ioon44]

I have been using range lead and COWW for years, it comes out to around 11BHN, and I use Hi-Tek coating with my hand cast 200 gr SWC H&G 68 type bullets loaded to 825 to 850 fps. Very accurate and no leading.

[metricmonkeywrench]

I have the Lyman 220g mould as well, for most of my range fodder I circle somewhere around the 10-15 BHN range as well with a somewhat similar load, my target velocity for the RN is around 900fps. No real issues when sized to .452.

[Ed_Shot]

The Lyman 452374 has been around for a very long time because its a winner but I'll give the nod to HG68 and it's clones for accuracy. I guessing your concern is leading. You don't say what lube you are using. I consider it important to size to .452 .... I've had a couple of 452374's that couldn't do that. My recommendation is to load up fire 10~20 rounds using your "mystery" BHN range lead and access your groups and the condition of your bore. Your weapon will tell you what it likes.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I use range lead for just about everything including 45 Auto. Powdercoat them and you'll be fine.

[ShooterAZ]

I use both range lead and alloy from isotope cores for my 38 Special and 45 Auto loads. If I have trouble with fill-out I will add a little bit of tin derived from 95/5 solder, usually don't need very much.

[Winger Ed.]

It'll work just fine, especially if there is some cast boolits in there.
If you don't get a good fill out, raise the temp a little.
If that doesn't work, throw in some wheel weights for the Tin in them.

If you don't powder coat, even the junkiest of lubes will work going that slow too.
I use the wife's discarded fu-fu candles and soften it some with high temp disc brake grease for .38 & .45 ACP.

[WRideout]

I have been using range scrap exclusively for my 45 ACP, with "some" tin added. I size to .452 with my homemade lube. The Lyman 452460 is the only 45 mold I own, and I will probably not ever need another.

Wayne

[Bigslug]

No reason a softish bullet like you describe would have trouble in the .45 ACP once it's chambered and ignited.

My only concerns would be (1.) if the mold is spec'd for something harder and the softer stuff casts too small a diameter, and (2.) a more aggressive meplat or SWC nose that gets deformed during the trip through the impacts and angles associated with the feeding operations. I tend to gravitate toward a more wheel-weight like alloy personally, but if those issues are non-issues, nothing else about the round would require a more costly "sexy metal".

Bullseye is my fuel of choice for .45ACP. Unique in my experience is just too slow burning to run clean in that round, though I do like it for light to mid-power loads in magnum revolvers.

[stubshaft]

I have shot thousands of the RCBS 200's and Lyman 185's in Bullseye and Bianchi competitions using WW lead and Lyman lube. The majority of them were ahead of Red dot powder.

[jaysouth]

i just started casting for my 45ACP and was wondering if I could use just range lead for my bullets. velocity is around 850fps and pressure is around 14,000psi I'm using unique 6.5gr. for a lyman 225gr rn I was also wondering what other shooters are having good luck with.

Are you lubing or powder coating? If you are powder coating, range scrap will work. I would back off to get the lightest load that will reliably cycle your gun. The paper won't know the difference between 800 and 850 fps. Do you have a faster powder to play with?

[BJung]

Casters recycle their range scrap differently. Some melt all the lead and mix the alloy together. I segregate my range scrap from jacketed bullets, large lead pieces, and small pieces remaining after I was out the debri and dirt. I melt them separately, let the ingots sit, and test them for hardness with pencils. The softest are used for 38 wadcutters and .45 acp bullets. My accuracy load using a Lee 45-225 RN is 5.0gr Bullseye with an OAL of 1.270".

[Alstep]

I'll go with the H&G 68 as well. Cast 50/50 WW/Pb, sized .452, lubed with 50/50 beeswax/alox, 4.0 gr Bullseye, taper crimp, 1.250 OAL. Accurate and reliable in all my 1911's.

[Forrest r]

I've used nothing but range scrap to cast bullets with since the 80's. It's typically 8/9bhn and has been fantastic for all my casting/lead bullet needs for the pistols and revolvers. Used to buy the old nra 50/50 lube by the case along with making my own lubes. I changed over to powder coating simply because the firearms stay cleaner with extended range sessions. Along with not getting the carbon ring buildup in the revolver cylinders that I'd get from traditional lubes.

Another vote for the h&g 68 or any of it's clones. I actually prefer 200gr or lighter bullets in the 1911/45acp platform.

[Willie T]

If the fit is good your range scrap will probably work just fine without leading. If you don’t get nice tight corners on your boollits or it casts a little small add a little bit of tin.
I cast 45 acp with 50% soft lead and 50% clip on wheel weights for a little more forgiving alloy. A Lee six cavity 230 grain round nose tumble lube bullet sized to .452 and W-231 is my most accurate 45 acp load.

[wv109323]

If your range lead is purely from jacketed bullets it is nearly plain lead with no tin. If it is from previous cast bullets then it already has some tin in it.
You will need to cast and load a few to try. Look for complete fill out of the mold. Then as already stated , look at the boolit nose for deformation after it has been chambered in the pistol.
You should get 750 to 800 fps with pure lead. 850 fps may be a stretch for pure lead. With a little tin you should be able to get 850 easily.
Size to .452 and taper crimp to .470".
Make sure your neck expander is sizing the brass large enough, so that your boolit is not sized down during seating. Some die manufacturers dimension their dies for jacketed bullets.

[tazman]

I use range scrap. I have several different nose shapes and weights. They all work fine in my pistols with one exception. That exception is and older Springfield XD(not the XDM). In that one I need to use either round nose, conical, or RNFP. Anything with a semiwadcutter type shoulder will hang up due to the feeding design..
I lube with NRA 50-50. No problems with leading. Powder coating or Hitek will also work fine.
If I suspect that my alloy is getting too soft, I will put and ingot of linotype in the pot to "sweeten" the mix. SInce I water quench from the mold, I get a little harder boolit than some do.
As you may deduct, I am not too concerned about my alloy or hardness being perfectly consistent for my handguns. The loads I use shoot better than I do and I have no issues with leading. I know they shoot better than I do because I have seen good shooters shoot my weapons with my ammunition and they perform well in the good shooters hands. Any issues with accuracy fall on my shoulders, not the ammo or the firearm. I am not a good enough handgun shooter to benefit from perfect match ammo.

[Rich/WIS]

Have used range lead for years in my 45 ACP with no issues. Bullet is the LEE copy of the H&G 68 that I milled down to remove the bevel base and runs about 190 grs with the range lead. Sized in a Lyman .451 die that actually sizes to .4517 and lubed with either the old NRA 50/50 or XLOX 2500 has never leaded. My load is very mild, 3.1 grs of Bullseye, in a tuned pistol, is accurate and pleasant to shoot.

[Green Frog]

Years ago one of the NRA books on reloading for the 45 had a line that said if you had a Lyman mould in 452460 it would do everything you need from a cast bullet. I’ve never seen this disproven. Lyman #2, range scrap (sweetened with a little tin if needed), or COWWs with 1-2% tin all work well at normal target velocities up to the hottest you’re likely to shoot in your 1911 based gun.

Froggie

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Range scrap can vary. I use the range scrap I harvest for 38 spl and 45acp, as it's fairly soft. Once in a while I get a batch of range scrap that is harder, almost like COWW...then I use that for everything I use COWW for, like 357 and 41m and standard cast velocity Rifle rounds.

[rintinglen]

I have been using range lead and COWW for years, it comes out to around 11BHN, and I use Hi-Tek coating with my hand cast 200 gr SWC H&G 68 type bullets loaded to 825 to 850 fps. Very accurate and no leading.

My experience as well, save that I tumble lube with either BLL or 45/45/10.

[Baltimoreed]

Wheel weights and range lead is all I’ve ever used for my casting. I use it in .45 cas and ipsc loads. When I cast HB 265 gr boolits for my Webleys I add some pure lead to soften them up a little.

[sledgehammer001]

I shoot the Lyman 452374 cast of WW, sized to 0.452", lubed with 45-45-10, over 540 powder. They run about 850-875 fps, no leading, accurate.

[mdi]

It'll work just fine, especially if there is some cast boolits in there.
If you don't get a good fill out, raise the temp a little.
If that doesn't work, throw in some wheel weights for the Tin in them.

If you don't powder coat, even the junkiest of lubes will work going that slow too.
I use the wife's discarded fu-fu candles and soften it some with high temp disc brake grease for .38 & .45 ACP.

I agree and BTDT for a few years. The 225 gr. Lyman feeds well in all my 45 ACP guns and is pretty accurate too. I have used my "Speed Green" and maybe a half dozen other lubes, including 45-45-10 on range lead with very little (no) leading...

[44Blam]

I am shooting the NOE 454-237-RN-AC on top of logshot and it was one of the easiest new boolit/load combo I've put together.
I've got a Sig 1911 and I put the boolit where I thought it should go and it chambered just fine - then my load dev brought me up to about 880 fps. That particular load had an ES of like 12 fps over the 5 rounds I tested with the chrony.

[charlie b]

Never used range scrap before, always COWW for pistols or Lyman #2 for rifles.

The Lee 200SWC is my favorite bullet for the .45. The 230TC wasn't bad either, I just like SWC's in pistols. Why Lee? Cause they were cheap and they worked for me. I powder coat everything these days.

[PhatForrest]

Lee 200 swc runs great in my 1911. For general 45'ing, the 230s will feed and cycle in Sigs too, which the 200 won't.

[josper]

one of my shooting buddies gave me some of those H&G 68's to try they were loaded with 3.5 grs of bullseye .they won't cycle my RIA 1911. I have ordered a mold from Accurate molds a clone of that #68 . when I get it I will try the 5gr of Bullseye and see how that goes.

[pworley1]

As most others have said. They should work just fine as long as they are the correct size.

[lotech]

one of my shooting buddies gave me some of those H&G 68's to try they were loaded with 3.5 grs of bullseye .they won't cycle my RIA 1911. I have ordered a mold from Accurate molds a clone of that #68 . when I get it I will try the 5gr of Bullseye and see how that goes.

I'm not familiar with an RIA 1911, but all my Colts do well with that 3.5 Bullseye load and a SAECO #069 (H&G #68 copy). I use the standard recoil spring, not a light one. Load is very accurate and if you'll adjust it slightly, 3.6, 3.7, or maybe 3.8 grs., one of those should work fine. 5 grs. Bullseye behind the same bullet is an excellent load, chronographing about 850-875 fps Not quite as accurate as the target load, but pretty close and 200 fps faster. Good luck

[PULSARNC]

wheelweight range scrap ,whatever i have on hand and powder coated. All my molds are Lee . I have both the 228 grain round nose and a 2oo grain flat nose. Both work well in my Taurus 1911 and before that in my Norinco

[243winxb]

Always add - 2" of Rotometals bar goes in my Lee 10 lb pot with scrap or WW. Casting Lyman 200 gr lswc BB. 3.8 Bullseye.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?media/45acp.900/full https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?media/casting-bullets-for-over-50-years.3532/full

[Martin Luber]

What???? No wadcutters?

[Larry Gibson]

As mentioned, the alloy composition of "range lead" can vary greatly. Try it with a casting alloy temp of 715 - 725 degrees. If fill out is good, then it's fine. If fill out isn't as it should be, then add about 2% tin in the form of pure tin, tin/lead solder or pewter.

Adding COWWs will not add enough tin as they run .5% or less tin. Adding linotype can add tin but also a lot more antimony. If your range lead has a lot of hard cast commercial bullet alloy in it, then it is already antimony rich. Adding more will only exacerbate the imbalance of antimony to tin.

I've used a lot of "range lead" alloy over the years taken from numerous different ranges. I always just add 2% tin to any range lead and have always cast excellent bullets with that alloy, especially for use in pistol/handgun cartridges.

[lotech]

As mentioned, the alloy composition of "range lead" can vary greatly. Try it with a casting alloy temp of 715 - 725 degrees. If fill out is good, then it's fine. If fill out isn't as it should be, then add about 2% tin in the form of pure tin, tin/lead solder or pewter.

Adding COWWs will not add enough tin as they run .5% or less tin. Adding linotype can add tin but also a lot more antimony. If your range lead has a lot of hard cast commercial bullet alloy in it, then it is already antimony rich. Adding more will only exacerbate the imbalance of antimony to tin.

I've used a lot of "range lead" alloy over the years taken from numerous different ranges. I always just add 2% tin to any range lead and have always cast excellent bullets with that alloy, especially for use in pistol/handgun cartridges.

I've found most of the range lead from one gun club pistol range I've picked up in the last few years, a mixture of cast and jacketed handgun bullets, though about 90% cast, has pretty consistently averaged 14 BHN. I haven't added tin for several years.

[Larry Gibson]

I've found most of the range lead from one gun club pistol range I've picked up in the last few years, a mixture of cast and jacketed handgun bullets, though about 90% cast, has pretty consistently averaged 14 BHN. I haven't added tin for several years.

That's a good alloy to begin with:guntootsmiley:

[pcmacd]

All the old timers I knew (who were about the age I am now) used straight up range salvage or wheel weights to make H&G 68 or 130 45 acp bullets. Straight range salvage will tarnish, but who cares? Wheel weights will, but take longer.

I used to have an excellent source for foundry type which is 15% lead and 23% antimony - Arthur Greene in Beverly Hills, and, while he is long gone, I still have over 100# left. I usually add 2% lead which includes 3% antimony via foundry type to my range salvage. The bullets flow nicely, are a bit harder, and do not tarnish, at least not over ten years.

~~~~~
Years ago when I was learning to program Visual Basic I wrote a program, "ALLOY" that will compute proportions of alloying metals in a lead mix, using equations I learned from Arthur Greene. It works rather well.

308472

Find it here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B5alty0jL7pIZExpT1M4bi05ZDg?resourcekey=0-oiRD-gPForSRsa7QhtcsPA&usp=share_link

Share the link, give away copies, but you may not sell it.

...

[GooseGestapo]

Re: range scrap...
It shot good once! It’ll shoot good again!

My favorite source of tin/antimony is 95/5 lead free solder.

I use mostly WW, but I’m starting to run low. 2-5gal buckets full. When that’s gone, I’ll get lead from RMR. His price includes shipping on a 64lb flat rate box. I still have a 5-gal bucket of Linotype too! By past consumption, a life time supply...

[BJung]

I separate my range scrap. Jacketed core lead is used for my target loads. The softest of random lead is used for my 45-230RN and hardest of random lead cast for 40S&W. Anything in between I cast using 9-122 TC bullets with. Then there are the lead flakes with a lot of slag. I give that to my brother to make fishing sinkers. My 45-230 RN Lee is loaded with 5.0gr BE with an OAL = 1.270" which just barely fits in the magazine.

[fredj338]

Range lead of 8-9bhn is pretty much all I shoot in my 45acp. Especially if PC, just no reason to add anything else.

[fredj338]

Yeah 3.5gr of BE would require a recoil spring change & even then, might not cycle well. Something closer to 4gr as starting should run.

[truckjohn]

Before you go too far down the cast boolit path in your 1911, buy a few cast boolits and test them out in your pistol. Many love cast but some don't.

My 1911 leads like crazy no matter what boolit or load is used. I probably need to take it to a smith who understands setting up 1911's for cast. It's a shame, as I've got several 45 acp molds including a genuine H&G #68.

[brewer12345]

I cast the lee copy of the HG68 as well as the 230TC. I powder coat. I will use scrap lead with a bit of pewter added for tin, COWW, or whatever for these bullets. The alloy doesn't seem to make much difference, so one of these molds is what I keep handy when I just want to empty the pot. Unless I am running pure or something extremely hard, it makes good 45 bullets. Antimony and tin cost money, no point in wasting it on a cartridge where it doesn't matter.
.

[41mag]

For target I like the HG-68 or clone. I use 4.2gr of Bullseye and it usually shoots great. My alloy runs around a 9 - 10bhn.

Like mentioned though, if your going to go the cast route it might do you well to try different profiles. Mine also really like the MP 452-200 HP using the same alloy.https://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=71050&d=1369010474

[Rapier]

The H&G 200 has been the gold standsrd for decades in most IDPA, IPSP, 2400 Beye plate matches, etc. With a 45 ACP W 252 AA(WST), 231, Unique, #5, #7 @8-850.I shot four 1911s a Para Ord LDA and a Smith 25-2 shot the H &G 200 cast in them all.

[Kosh75287]

I feel that I would be remiss to not recommend the SAECO #58 215 gr. LSWC for general purpose use in .45 ACP. It may not feed quite as well as the H&G #68 clones, but a little polishing and attention of c.o.a.l. fixes this. Its ~9mm diameter meplat and .452" shoulder cut nice clean holes (in everything), and the projectile can be safely driven to 950+ f/s in .45 ACP. This projectile deserves more appreciation than it usually gets. It deserves better.

[dearslayer]

For target I like the HG-68 or clone. I use 4.2gr of Bullseye and it usually shoots great. My alloy runs around a 9 - 10bhn.

Like mentioned though, if your going to go the cast route it might do you well to try different profiles. Mine also really like the MP 452-200 HP using the same alloy.https://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=71050&d=1369010474

I just recently received the same MP 452-200 HP mold. Love the way these molds cast. What powder are you using( 4.2 of Bulleye?? ). I tried Win231 and loaded 15 rounds each of 4.8,5.0,5.2, and 5.4 and it seems 5.0 gave me the best group. I also powder coat for my SR1911 .45acp.