0.451 in a 45 long colt?

from the Hip · November 9, 2007, 11:34 PM

Gentelmen,
Has anyone used the 230gr 0.451 dia bullets in the 45 colt or in the 454 casull? I have inherited a 5gal bucket, but I dont shoot the 45 acp. Accuracy? ... Swedging?... or do i just melt them down?

.45 COLT · November 10, 2007, 12:39 AM

I've used the SPEER 230 grain Gold Dot & the HORNADY 230 grain XTP in the .45 Colt. Taper crimp or LEE Factory Crimp die, either one works. No Ruger-Only loads, those bullets aren't built for those velocities.

DC

Scorch · November 10, 2007, 12:56 AM

They should work just fine, but they don't have a crimp groove. Like 45 Colt said, taper crimp.

**Unclenick** · November 10, 2007, 12:59 AM

Only two possible problems:

The least of these would be if your .45 LC was old and had the pre-change .454 bore diameter? That can cause accuracy loss and leave more powder fouling. Modern .45 LC are all .451 to simplify bullet selection.

The other is that if your 230 grain bullets have no cannelure, crimping for the revolver will be made more difficult. Failure to put a good roll crimp in a revolver round allows bullets to back out under recoil. The cylinder acts like an inertial bullet puller collet, and the recoil like the hammer blow. As a result, the bullets can start sticking out of the chambers and prevent the cylinder from turning. If the bullets have no cannelure, shoot them only as lighter loads and use a Lee Factory Crimp die on them.

from the Hip · November 11, 2007, 11:19 AM

thanks Gentelmen,

popbang · November 13, 2007, 08:22 PM

I load 230 grain FMJ, HP, Gold Dots, round nose lead, and even 225 grain truicated cone bullets in 45 Clot frequently. I do use a mild charge of 9.0 grains of Universal or Unique under them. Not hot by any means but not a mouse fart load either. I have never had a bullet pull. With good neck tension and firm taper crimp you won't have any problems.

shu · November 15, 2007, 10:13 PM

Yes, most 45colt seating/crimp dies will likely have a roll crimp. Lee FCD would be a good solution for a taper crimp, but I am making do with the 45acp die for seating and crimp when using non-grooved bullets in 45colt.

**44 AMP** · November 18, 2007, 02:23 AM

Have a .454 groove diameter. Post WWII guns generally have a .451 groove diameter, and will be fine with .45ACP bullets. Note the Ruger Blackhawk convertable in .45Colt/.45ACP. One barrel handles both quite well.

A crimp will be needed, but a roll crimp is not. Taper crimp will work well enough for any reasonable loads. Using the ACP bullets in the heaviest .45 Colt loads is not reasonable, and ought not to be done, but loads under 1000fps will be fine, and a taper crimp should suffice. A little expirimentation will show if your crimp is enough. One simple way is to put a witness mark on a round (magic marker on bullet and case), and fire five rounds. Then look at the 6th round (the marked one), and if there has been no bullet movement, you have enough crimp. If the bullet has moved forward any, you need more crimp.

November 9, 2007, 11:34 PM	#1
from the Hip Member Join Date: May 28, 2006 Posts: 33	0.451 in a 45 long colt? Gentelmen, Has anyone used the 230gr 0.451 dia bullets in the 45 colt or in the 454 casull? I have inherited a 5gal bucket, but I dont shoot the 45 acp. Accuracy? ... Swedging?... or do i just melt them down?

November 10, 2007, 12:56 AM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	They should work just fine, but they don't have a crimp groove. Like 45 Colt said, taper crimp. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

November 10, 2007, 12:59 AM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Only two possible problems: The least of these would be if your .45 LC was old and had the pre-change .454 bore diameter? That can cause accuracy loss and leave more powder fouling. Modern .45 LC are all .451 to simplify bullet selection. The other is that if your 230 grain bullets have no cannelure, crimping for the revolver will be made more difficult. Failure to put a good roll crimp in a revolver round allows bullets to back out under recoil. The cylinder acts like an inertial bullet puller collet, and the recoil like the hammer blow. As a result, the bullets can start sticking out of the chambers and prevent the cylinder from turning. If the bullets have no cannelure, shoot them only as lighter loads and use a Lee Factory Crimp die on them. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 15, 2007, 10:13 PM	#7
shu Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2000 Location: lower rio grande valley, texas Posts: 216	Yes, most 45colt seating/crimp dies will likely have a roll crimp. Lee FCD would be a good solution for a taper crimp, but I am making do with the 45acp die for seating and crimp when using non-grooved bullets in 45colt. __________________ If you would have Liberty you must accept that individual security is not the responsiblity of government. You must. - XAVIER ONASIS

November 18, 2007, 02:23 AM	#8
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,818	Pre-WWII guns in .45 Colt... Have a .454 groove diameter. Post WWII guns generally have a .451 groove diameter, and will be fine with .45ACP bullets. Note the Ruger Blackhawk convertable in .45Colt/.45ACP. One barrel handles both quite well. A crimp will be needed, but a roll crimp is not. Taper crimp will work well enough for any reasonable loads. Using the ACP bullets in the heaviest .45 Colt loads is not reasonable, and ought not to be done, but loads under 1000fps will be fine, and a taper crimp should suffice. A little expirimentation will show if your crimp is enough. One simple way is to put a witness mark on a round (magic marker on bullet and case), and fire five rounds. Then look at the 6th round (the marked one), and if there has been no bullet movement, you have enough crimp. If the bullet has moved forward any, you need more crimp. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

November 10, 2007, 12:39 AM	#2
.45 COLT Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 308	I've used the SPEER 230 grain Gold Dot & the HORNADY 230 grain XTP in the .45 Colt. Taper crimp or LEE Factory Crimp die, either one works. No Ruger-Only loads, those bullets aren't built for those velocities. DC

November 11, 2007, 11:19 AM	#5
from the Hip Member Join Date: May 28, 2006 Posts: 33	thanks Gentelmen,

November 13, 2007, 08:22 PM	#6
popbang Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2001 Location: out yonder Posts: 148	I load 230 grain FMJ, HP, Gold Dots, round nose lead, and even 225 grain truicated cone bullets in 45 Clot frequently. I do use a mild charge of 9.0 grains of Universal or Unique under them. Not hot by any means but not a mouse fart load either. I have never had a bullet pull. With good neck tension and firm taper crimp you won't have any problems.