guninhand
07-10-2006, 05:38 PM
My best accuracy in .45 Colt to date has come from using gas checked pure lead bullets. These were shot in a 1892 Winchester Mikoru 24inch barrel. The first picture, left target, shows results, 1.5 inch group from 7 shots at 50 yds using the Saeco 945 FK5 Keith style bullet, 261 grains, sized .452 with Hornady gas checks over 15.5 gr. 2400 using a cotton fluff wad over the powder. Speed around 1100 fps, bullets seated to the crimp groove in new Winchester cases, Winchester primers, slight roll crimp from Redding profile crimp die. Though new, cases had to be run through a full length sizing die first. Case mouths were flared with Lyman 45AP. Saeco soft green lube was used.
Only the open sights were used.
Right target, 1st picture, shows same gun and load at 100 yds. 7 inch vertical dispersion but only 1.5 inch horizontal dispersion. All 14 shots involved were fired rapidly from a bench rest.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/421062.JPG (http://www.hunt101.com/?p=421062&c=500&z=1)
2nd picture, left target shows results from same gun and load at 100ys fired when cold, 3 inch group with 5 shots. Right targets shows 50 yds results using a different mould, the RCBS 45-300-FN, with Hornady gas check, 328 grains actual bullet weight, same powder that went 1192fps. 6 rounds went into 2.25 inches and 3 more flyers are on the bottom of the target.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/421065.JPG (http://www.hunt101.com/?p=421065&c=500&z=1)
Prior to this, the best accuracy was from the Lee 452-255-RF over 6.7 grains of Red Dot giving 2.25 inch groups at 50 yds using HT wheelweights.
The RCBS bullet had to be sized down to .452 from .457. In all cases Lube grooves were filled before sizing to prevent collaspe. Should have but didn't fill in crimp groove while I was at it. It is a lot more trouble to get good bullets with pure lead and I cast with a hot mold and wet rag cooled sprue plate for best results.
Only by using pure lead was I able to get the Hornady gas checks on the Saeco bullet, and then not always. WW alloys with HGC splayed to get them to fit gave very bad results despite several enlargement methods.
The point of this post being that while a lot more trouble to mess with, you might get best accuracy with a gas checked bullet made of pure lead, and such a bullet should be perfect for hunting.
Only the open sights were used.
Right target, 1st picture, shows same gun and load at 100 yds. 7 inch vertical dispersion but only 1.5 inch horizontal dispersion. All 14 shots involved were fired rapidly from a bench rest.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/421062.JPG (http://www.hunt101.com/?p=421062&c=500&z=1)
2nd picture, left target shows results from same gun and load at 100ys fired when cold, 3 inch group with 5 shots. Right targets shows 50 yds results using a different mould, the RCBS 45-300-FN, with Hornady gas check, 328 grains actual bullet weight, same powder that went 1192fps. 6 rounds went into 2.25 inches and 3 more flyers are on the bottom of the target.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/421065.JPG (http://www.hunt101.com/?p=421065&c=500&z=1)
Prior to this, the best accuracy was from the Lee 452-255-RF over 6.7 grains of Red Dot giving 2.25 inch groups at 50 yds using HT wheelweights.
The RCBS bullet had to be sized down to .452 from .457. In all cases Lube grooves were filled before sizing to prevent collaspe. Should have but didn't fill in crimp groove while I was at it. It is a lot more trouble to get good bullets with pure lead and I cast with a hot mold and wet rag cooled sprue plate for best results.
Only by using pure lead was I able to get the Hornady gas checks on the Saeco bullet, and then not always. WW alloys with HGC splayed to get them to fit gave very bad results despite several enlargement methods.
The point of this post being that while a lot more trouble to mess with, you might get best accuracy with a gas checked bullet made of pure lead, and such a bullet should be perfect for hunting.