bullets for 45 colt and 45 acp

Prof Young · October 15, 2012, 06:19 PM

Shooters:
Am now loading my own 45 colt, and been shooting 200 grain harden lead or jackets bullets. (The jacketed group much better.) Anyway, was bullet shoping and ran across some 45 cal bullets designated for ACP. Didn't think about it at the time, so I didn't read the specs . . . what's the difference? (And no, of course I didn't buy them for my 45 colt.)
Live well, be safe
Prof Young

Hammerhead · October 15, 2012, 07:38 PM

I use .45 acp bullets almost exclusively in .45 Colt carbine.

Some .45 Colt revo's might prefer .454" lead, most auto bullets will be .452".
Otherwise it's all about fit in your particular gun and matching the hardness to your pressure levels.

dacaur · October 15, 2012, 07:48 PM

The .45 acp will lack the crimp groove of the .45 colt bullets.

.45acp is .451", 45 colt is .452" close enough to be interchangeable, (it could also be .454", depending on who you ask, I have also heard to use .454" if using lead and .452" if using jacketed). But any modern gun should be .452", from what I hear.

dickttx · October 15, 2012, 08:16 PM

Lead bullets for both should be .452. Jacketed bullets for both should by .451.
45 ACP lead bullets may or may not have a crimp groove.
You would probably get better results in both by using a softer lead bullet, rather than a harder.

Edward429451 · October 16, 2012, 02:19 AM

45 ACP lead bullets are fine for 45 Colt light plinking loads. .452.

Hammerhead · October 16, 2012, 04:40 PM

.45 acp bullets can be crimped over the shoulder on SWC's or on the ogive with LRNs. The deeper seating helps reduce wasted space in the case. The data will usually give a specific OAL for pistol bullets.

Wyoredman · October 19, 2012, 01:46 PM

Good info here. thanks.

smee78 · October 21, 2012, 05:33 PM

I load lead 452 45acp bullets for my plinking rounds, my 45LC does not know the difference.

zxcvbob · October 21, 2012, 05:51 PM

The Lee 230 grain tumble-lube truncated cone bullet is supposed to be a full-weight .45 ACP bullet, but it also works great in .45 Colt. Just crimp into the top groove.

October 15, 2012, 06:19 PM	#1
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2007 Posts: 485	bullets for 45 colt and 45 acp Shooters: Am now loading my own 45 colt, and been shooting 200 grain harden lead or jackets bullets. (The jacketed group much better.) Anyway, was bullet shoping and ran across some 45 cal bullets designated for ACP. Didn't think about it at the time, so I didn't read the specs . . . what's the difference? (And no, of course I didn't buy them for my 45 colt.) Live well, be safe Prof Young

October 15, 2012, 08:16 PM	#4
dickttx Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2011 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 419	Lead bullets for both should be .452. Jacketed bullets for both should by .451. 45 ACP lead bullets may or may not have a crimp groove. You would probably get better results in both by using a softer lead bullet, rather than a harder. __________________ Education teaches you the rules, experience teaches you the exceptions (Plagiarized from Claude Clay)

October 16, 2012, 02:19 AM	#5
Edward429451 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,457	45 ACP lead bullets are fine for 45 Colt light plinking loads. .452. __________________ "Always place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark" Lazarus Long "Understand that the enemy is not the enemy in his own eyes ;this may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate, and quickly." Lazarus Long

October 16, 2012, 04:40 PM	#6
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,181	.45 acp bullets can be crimped over the shoulder on SWC's or on the ogive with LRNs. The deeper seating helps reduce wasted space in the case. The data will usually give a specific OAL for pistol bullets. Last edited by Hammerhead; October 16, 2012 at 04:48 PM.

October 19, 2012, 01:46 PM	#7
Wyoredman Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 987	Good info here. thanks. __________________ Go Pokes! Go Rams!

October 15, 2012, 07:38 PM	#2
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,181	I use .45 acp bullets almost exclusively in .45 Colt carbine. Some .45 Colt revo's might prefer .454" lead, most auto bullets will be .452". Otherwise it's all about fit in your particular gun and matching the hardness to your pressure levels.

October 15, 2012, 07:48 PM	#3
dacaur Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Posts: 732	The .45 acp will lack the crimp groove of the .45 colt bullets. .45acp is .451", 45 colt is .452" close enough to be interchangeable, (it could also be .454", depending on who you ask, I have also heard to use .454" if using lead and .452" if using jacketed). But any modern gun should be .452", from what I hear.

October 21, 2012, 05:33 PM	#8
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 643	I load lead 452 45acp bullets for my plinking rounds, my 45LC does not know the difference. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

October 21, 2012, 05:51 PM	#9
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 3,654	The Lee 230 grain tumble-lube truncated cone bullet is supposed to be a full-weight .45 ACP bullet, but it also works great in .45 Colt. Just crimp into the top groove. __________________ "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun"