Most accurate bullet for 45 acp?

chris in va · January 13, 2016, 10:38 PM

I've put nothing but my own lead bullets through my 97b and now that CGW did this for me...

...I want to realize it's full accuracy potential using JHP or whatever has been the most accurate in your match gun. I currently have Universal powder but open to suggestions.

Jim243 · January 14, 2016, 01:27 AM

Speer Gold Dots

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/683...int-box-of-100

Remington Golden Sabers

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/160...d-hollow-point

At 30 cents a pop per bullet, not exactly pinking ammo.

As to powder, Win-231 if you can find it.

Stay safe.
Jim

Nice CZ by the way, I am still waiting for one.

Clark · January 14, 2016, 02:40 AM

4-3-2004 I took a $50 Turkish Mauser, Leupold scope boosted to 40X, with a 26" $100 Shilen 45acp bullet barrel that I chambered with a .469" reamer and a 45acp throater [brass springs back to .469" coming out of a .467" Lee carbide die].
I had mixed once fired 45acp brass loaded to 460 Rowland levels with AA#5 and 230 gr FMJ Montana Gold bullets. I had throated for a 1.275" OAL.

I rapid fired 20 shots at 100 meters and got a 4" group.

I think I could better if I tried again.

Slamfire · January 14, 2016, 07:37 AM

I notice the Bullseye shooters use a lot of 185 gr LSWC's in their 45 ACP's. This is an accurate bullet, ultra low recoil at their powder charges, and cheap.

I have no doubt that jacketed hollow point bullets are more accurate on the average than cast bullets due to very even weight distributions. The cores are swaged under pressure and are very symmetrical. I have seen Bullseye shooters using match ammunition, both 230 FMJ's and hollow points, though I can't remember which hollow points they were. Federal Gold Medal match is an outstanding factory load in the 45 ACP.

I am of the opinion that all of my handgun ammunition shoots inside my hold, and I would not really see any improvement in accuracy with jacketed, though it is probably there.

springer99 · January 14, 2016, 08:13 AM

In our club, the most often used cast bullet is a 200gr. LSWC design. Cast about 8-10brinnel hardness and sized .452.

If you want to squeeze the most accuracy out of a match 1911 with jacketed bullets, you can't go wrong with Hornady XTP or HAP 200gr. IMHO, about the best there is out there today in jacketed.

T. O'Heir · January 14, 2016, 01:57 PM

Please reduce the size of your pictures.
There is no one bullet brand or type or weight that is the most accurate. Far too many variables involved. My Colt likes cast 230 RN's or FP's with Bullseye though. Your pistol may prefer something else. One thing is fairly universal though. Shooting jacketed bullets all the time gets expensive in a hurry.

pctechdude · January 14, 2016, 02:07 PM

Zero 185gr jhp 5.5gr win 231 seated to 1.200"

Mike / Tx · January 14, 2016, 06:26 PM

The two most accurate ut of my Colt 1911 are the H&G #68 200gr SWC Plain Base, or the H&G #78 215gr SWC Plain Base.

Either one over 4 to 5grs of Bullseye will shoot far tighter than I can hold them. The last outing with the #68 over 4grs resulted in a couple of really ragged 10 hot groups.

I also shoot a lot of the H&G #130 185gr SWC Plain Base as well. It shoots just as good and sometimes better than the others.

I have some jacketed loads, but I don't shoot them as often since they are a bit more expensive than the cast I pour myself. I found the molds here and there some on Ebay and some from individuals. All of them are 4 cavity and have had many years of seasoning on them, but they sure throw out great bullets. I almost always use an alloy with a BHN of around 8-9 with these. There simply isn't a need for harder alloy. All get sized to .452", and are either lubed with the Alox blend of 45/45/10, Carnuba Red or powder coated, depending on what mood I am in at the time.

Hammerhead · January 15, 2016, 05:53 AM

If your CZ doesn't feed SWCs, try a target hollow point like the Magnus or Nosler 185 JHP. They have a good rep on the Bullseye forum.

If it does feed SWCs, try the Hornady swaged SWC.

January 14, 2016, 01:27 AM	#2
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Speer Gold Dots http://www.midwayusa.com/product/683...int-box-of-100 Remington Golden Sabers http://www.midwayusa.com/product/160...d-hollow-point At 30 cents a pop per bullet, not exactly pinking ammo. As to powder, Win-231 if you can find it. Stay safe. Jim Nice CZ by the way, I am still waiting for one. __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum Last edited by Jim243; January 14, 2016 at 01:34 AM.

January 14, 2016, 02:40 AM	#3
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	4-3-2004 I took a $50 Turkish Mauser, Leupold scope boosted to 40X, with a 26" $100 Shilen 45acp bullet barrel that I chambered with a .469" reamer and a 45acp throater [brass springs back to .469" coming out of a .467" Lee carbide die]. I had mixed once fired 45acp brass loaded to 460 Rowland levels with AA#5 and 230 gr FMJ Montana Gold bullets. I had throated for a 1.275" OAL. I rapid fired 20 shots at 100 meters and got a 4" group. I think I could better if I tried again. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

January 14, 2016, 07:37 AM	#4
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	I notice the Bullseye shooters use a lot of 185 gr LSWC's in their 45 ACP's. This is an accurate bullet, ultra low recoil at their powder charges, and cheap. I have no doubt that jacketed hollow point bullets are more accurate on the average than cast bullets due to very even weight distributions. The cores are swaged under pressure and are very symmetrical. I have seen Bullseye shooters using match ammunition, both 230 FMJ's and hollow points, though I can't remember which hollow points they were. Federal Gold Medal match is an outstanding factory load in the 45 ACP. I am of the opinion that all of my handgun ammunition shoots inside my hold, and I would not really see any improvement in accuracy with jacketed, though it is probably there. __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

January 14, 2016, 06:26 PM	#8
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 2,101	The two most accurate ut of my Colt 1911 are the H&G #68 200gr SWC Plain Base, or the H&G #78 215gr SWC Plain Base. Either one over 4 to 5grs of Bullseye will shoot far tighter than I can hold them. The last outing with the #68 over 4grs resulted in a couple of really ragged 10 hot groups. I also shoot a lot of the H&G #130 185gr SWC Plain Base as well. It shoots just as good and sometimes better than the others. I have some jacketed loads, but I don't shoot them as often since they are a bit more expensive than the cast I pour myself. I found the molds here and there some on Ebay and some from individuals. All of them are 4 cavity and have had many years of seasoning on them, but they sure throw out great bullets. I almost always use an alloy with a BHN of around 8-9 with these. There simply isn't a need for harder alloy. All get sized to .452", and are either lubed with the Alox blend of 45/45/10, Carnuba Red or powder coated, depending on what mood I am in at the time. __________________ LAter, Mike / TX

January 13, 2016, 10:38 PM	#1
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Most accurate bullet for 45 acp? I've put nothing but my own lead bullets through my 97b and now that CGW did this for me... ...I want to realize it's full accuracy potential using JHP or whatever has been the most accurate in your match gun. I currently have Universal powder but open to suggestions.

January 14, 2016, 08:13 AM	#5
springer99 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2008 Posts: 355	In our club, the most often used cast bullet is a 200gr. LSWC design. Cast about 8-10brinnel hardness and sized .452. If you want to squeeze the most accuracy out of a match 1911 with jacketed bullets, you can't go wrong with Hornady XTP or HAP 200gr. IMHO, about the best there is out there today in jacketed.

January 14, 2016, 01:57 PM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Please reduce the size of your pictures. There is no one bullet brand or type or weight that is the most accurate. Far too many variables involved. My Colt likes cast 230 RN's or FP's with Bullseye though. Your pistol may prefer something else. One thing is fairly universal though. Shooting jacketed bullets all the time gets expensive in a hurry. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 14, 2016, 02:07 PM	#7
pctechdude Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2013 Posts: 159	Zero 185gr jhp 5.5gr win 231 seated to 1.200"

January 15, 2016, 05:53 AM	#9
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	If your CZ doesn't feed SWCs, try a target hollow point like the Magnus or Nosler 185 JHP. They have a good rep on the Bullseye forum. If it does feed SWCs, try the Hornady swaged SWC.