45 ACP bullets

[thegatman]

I have some 45 colt bullets that are 250 grain but sized to .452. Would it be possible to use them in 45 ACP? I don't know of any recipes. I usually use Unique but have 2400 and H110 and Clays powders. Any help would be appreicated.

[bobthenailer]

yes they can be used .452 is the normal dia for 45 acp . there is loading data but im not sure where mine is at . they did use unique. ck loads for bowling pin shooting. if you dont find any send a pm and ill find it. bob

[Dale53]

I shoot a LOT of .45 ACP's. One thing you should be aware of. If you are using the heavy bullets in an auto, that can be VERY hard on them (think cracked slides and frames, as an example).

I shoot a 454424 NOE bullet (250 grs) in my .45 ACP revolvers (625's) without issue. I would NOT try to use them in my three 1911 platforms.

FWIW
Dale53

[35remington]

Be careful with this. If the bullet seats deeply in the case, pressures go up quite fast.

The downside is this extra seating depth must be dealt with, as well as the 10 percent extra weight. Powder charges must be reduced, and how much depends upon how deeply in the case it seats.

Of the powders you list, Unique is the only real candidate. Clays is too fast and doesn't have much "top end" while the other two are too slow. 296 is pretty much never used in the ACP.

2400, when it is used in the ACP at all, is usually with heavy bullets and revolvers. It really isn't suited to automatics compared to other powder selections, so Unique it is. I'd back the powder charge down to 5 grains to start, chronograph them, and then decide based on the velocity you obtain whether adding more powder is advisable or not.

Some may claim good results with 6 grain plus charges of Unique but this is really ill advised until something more is known about your bullet selection and how deeply it seats. I certainly wouldn't start shooting at that charge weight until you know for sure what velocity you're getting. At much over 800 fps with a 250 in an automatic you should be calling it quits.

[Shiloh]

Yes. There is load data out there for I believe a 260 gr boolit.
I'm not at home so I can't be certain.

Shiloh

[fredj338]

The older Speer manual has data for 260gr jacketed. You can use starting data there & work up. I have loaded some 250grLSWCHP in 45acp cases for use in my M635 w/ moon clips. For fun, I tried the loads in one of my 1911s, an fin, but I see little point. The vel are pretty low, about 800fps.

[cabezaverde]

If you tried, you could probably find some friendly local caster that could set you up with a bullet that would work better.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

For a few years I shot Lyman #452423, a 245 grain bullet in an AMT hardballer. I was very careful to reduce the load used that was listed for 230 grainers...for two reasons; it was slightly deeper seated---and that alone even so slight will raise the pressure, and secondly it was heavier---which will raise the pressure as well. I kept the velocity between 700-800 fps. The combination shot consistently higher than 230 grain bullets. The grouping was good, but always high....too high. I got impatient with that and tired of sighting low all the time. Even with the rear sight cranked way down to the max, it still shot too high. of course there was always the option of putting a much higher front sight on or filing down the notch in the rear sight, but I did not like the idea of altering the arrangement if I then wanted to go back to bullets in the weight ranges normally used with 45ACP. Heavier bullets work well in the ACP, but keep in mind the above considerations. LLS

[RKJ]

Here are some low velocity loads. I tried to just post the data but it was jumbled up too much.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/comment/reply/1666#comment-form

[462]

Years ago, Midway published a .45 ACP book -- LoadMAP (Maximum Average Pressure). It had 250 and 255 grain cast loads with a pressure cutoff of 21,000 psi. Powders listed were Bullseye, Herco, Red Dot, Unique, and 231. Might be available on ebay or Amazon.

[WHITETAIL]

I agree with Dale53.:lol: