The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 11, 2018, 11:45 AM   #1
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
45 ACP Cast bullets

I shoot FMJ & Plated bullets in 230 gr RN , was thinking of giving cast 230 gr. RN a try . What's your thoughts .
cw308 is offline  
Old June 11, 2018, 11:55 AM   #2
USSR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2017
Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY
Posts: 1,442
200gr H&G #68 clone.

Don
__________________
NRA Life Member
NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
USSR is offline  
Old June 11, 2018, 12:25 PM   #3
T. O'Heir
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 12,453
Been shooting cast 230 RN's and FP's with 4.5 grains of Bullseye for eons. Your existing plated load should be fine with a 230 grain cast bullet though.
__________________
Spelling and grammar count!
T. O'Heir is offline  
Old June 11, 2018, 12:35 PM   #4
Nathan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 1, 2001
Posts: 6,264
I really liked the cast 230 RN when I shot them, but the lube is a pain in the butt.
Nathan is offline  
Old June 11, 2018, 01:42 PM   #5
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
Stateline bullets is the company I was looking at . The lube is a pain , how so , never shot them should I stick with plated for just practise . Or is it a mess reloading on the press .
cw308 is offline  
Old June 11, 2018, 01:54 PM   #6
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
USSR & T. O'Heir would stay with the round nose 230 , I'm shooting with a Colt 1911 3" I hear they can be finicky with HP & FP bullets. Where are you getting your bullets . I was looking at Stateline bullets.
cw308 is offline  
Old June 11, 2018, 05:01 PM   #7
USSR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2017
Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY
Posts: 1,442
Here is Stateline's H&G #68 clone:https://statelinebullets.com/shop/ca...45-200-gr-swc/. I cast my own.

Don
__________________
NRA Life Member
NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
USSR is offline  
Old June 11, 2018, 08:22 PM   #8
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
USSR
Casting your own do you have to worry about lead poisoning ? I only shoot roundnose bullets in my pistol. Why does lube have to be used ?
cw308 is offline  
Old June 11, 2018, 09:49 PM   #9
kmw1954
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 11, 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,524
Or look at these the NLG models do not have a lube groove and are Hi-Tek coated so no lube is used.
http://www.acmebullet.com/bullets-re...P-Lead-Bullets
kmw1954 is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 06:25 AM   #10
USSR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2017
Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY
Posts: 1,442
Quote:
USSR
Casting your own do you have to worry about lead poisoning ? I only shoot roundnose bullets in my pistol. Why does lube have to be used ?
No. At casting temperatures lead remains in a liquid state and does not vaporize. The only way you can get lead poisoning is by ingesting it, so you never eat or drink while casting. I have had my lead level checked on several occasions, and no problems. Lube on lead bullets serves a couple of purposes. First it aids in providing a seal so that the hot, pressurized gas behind the bullet can't escape around the side of the bullet. And secondly, it leaves behind a little lube to aid the next bullet coming down the barrel. I use BAC lube made by White Label Lube. Good stuff and very affordable.

Don
__________________
NRA Life Member
NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
USSR is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 07:38 AM   #11
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
kmw1954
Thank You. , I'm going to give the acme 200 gr.RN a try.

Chris
cw308 is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 07:53 AM   #12
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
USSR
Thank You for clearing that up . I'm going the easy route an order some amce bullets in 200gr RN . Only shoot jacketed bullets , I want to see the differences if there is any.

Chris
cw308 is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 10:17 AM   #13
pete2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 15, 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,566
I've shot a bunch of Dardas' 200 RN cast bullets, in revolver and 1911. They work great. I also shot 1000 Rucker 225 TC, they were very accurate but at least one of my 1911 guns didn't feed them well. You may find the cast bullets to be more accurate than plated bullets. For bullseye I used a 200 SWC by Rucker or KEAD. The cast bullet is a lot dirtier than plated but I clean my guns every 200 or 300 rounds so it isn't a problem.
pete2 is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 04:28 PM   #14
cw308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 2, 2010
Location: Plainview , Long Island NY
Posts: 3,863
I give my guns a good cleaning every time I shoot then . 1911's the firing pin & extractor tunnels everytime also. Never shot cast before wanted to see why alot are . Going to start with 200gr. RN .452
cw308 is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 04:45 PM   #15
USSR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2017
Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY
Posts: 1,442
Quote:
Never shot cast before wanted to see why alot are
Maybe because we can shoot our reloads for less than the cost of .22 rimfire?

Don
__________________
NRA Life Member
NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
USSR is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 04:58 PM   #16
kmw1954
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 11, 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,524
cw308 I have yet to load cast or coated lead in any of my Autoloaders and for a couple of reasons. The first being that I follow the subject over at Cast Boolits.com and see and read the number of difficulties people run into to get them to shoot reliably in the 9mm and all the extra steps many need to take in order to shoot them w/o leading their barrels or accuracy suffering. If you would like to see what I mean then go spend some time at that site reading.

Next reason would be that I have one 45acp pistol that also has a very tight chamber and I experience problems with that one and standard sized bullets so if I had to go to oversized bullets I would be fighting the same issue again. SO then I have to ask the question, is it worth having to load 2 separate rounds of 45acp? One for each gun?

Lastly I seem to be able to find plated bullets on sale enough that if I wait for the sales I can buy plated for less than buying cast bullets. Then I eliminate all the issues associated with loading cast in the semi-autos.

This is still not to say that I will not at some time give cast a try for the 380acp and maybe also the 45acp.
kmw1954 is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 05:21 PM   #17
USSR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2017
Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY
Posts: 1,442
Quote:
I have one 45acp pistol that also has a very tight chamber and I experience problems with that one and standard sized bullets so if I had to go to oversized bullets I would be fighting the same issue again. SO then I have to ask the question, is it worth having to load 2 separate rounds of 45acp? One for each gun?
kmw1954,

What would be the proper size bullets for your 2 .45 ACP's?

Don
__________________
NRA Life Member
NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
USSR is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 05:24 PM   #18
5whiskey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 23, 2005
Location: US
Posts: 3,640
.45acp is an excellent cast bullet caliber. I personally have found you can use jacketed data just about interchangeably (work your way from starting loads, obviously). I don't cast personally... I just order 230 gn LRN from Dardas cast. Reloads are about .15 cents per round. Bullet lube is a PITA... a 1911 needs a wipe down after about 200 rounds to keep running.
__________________
Support the NRA-ILA Auction, ends 03/09/2018

https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=593946
5whiskey is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 07:23 PM   #19
rodfac
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 22, 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 3,618
200gr H&G #68 clone backed by a charge weight of 231 or WST that gives ~800 fps...accurate in any .45 1911 I've ever shot. The H&G 68 was originally designed to feed as well as 230 FMJ in standard chambered 1911's. In that regard, it's as reliable as my loads with the FMJ load, and probably a better defensive round if you care to use it as such. YMMV, Rod
__________________
Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.
rodfac is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 08:01 PM   #20
USSR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2017
Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY
Posts: 1,442
Rod,

Right you are regarding the H&G 68. I tried, but he's dead set for a round nose.

Don
__________________
NRA Life Member
NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
USSR is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 08:07 PM   #21
kmw1954
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 11, 2016
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,524
As stated I have not shot cast in Semi-autos though it was all I shot when I was shooting revolvers.

As I have not and do not shoot cast I have not slugged either barrel to determine size though I know that normally a .001/.002" oversize is used with cast bullets. And with some 9mm barrels people are going as high as .358/.359"

With the Witness barrel with a .452" plated bullet if they are not sized and crimped perfectly I have all sorts of feed and cycling problems. So I couldn't begin to imagine and oversized cast lead bullet trying to be but in this gun. On the other hand the XD is much looser and I don't think there would be a problem. So for now I am sticking with plated.
kmw1954 is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 08:23 PM   #22
USSR
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 14, 2017
Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY
Posts: 1,442
Talk about needing different size bullets for 2 different guns. I recently picked up a S&W Model 25-2 in .45 ACP, and these revolvers are noted for their "generous" chambers, as in .455". So, I ordered another H&G 68 mould in .455" to match the .452" one I already had for my Colt Gold Cup.

Don
__________________
NRA Life Member
NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
USSR is offline  
Old June 12, 2018, 08:34 PM   #23
Bimus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 15, 2018
Location: Farmington NM
Posts: 122
The lee factory crimp die is nice to have and some times a must have all of my 45acp
9mm and 40 s&w go through one .
It is like it makes all cartridges the same .
Bimus is offline  
Old June 13, 2018, 06:38 AM   #24
rodfac
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 22, 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 3,618
Quote:
Right you are regarding the H&G 68. I tried, but he's dead set for a round nose.
USSR, Yep...LOL...thought I'd give it a 2nd try. A young friend of my son has a Colt ?Pony? ?Defender? in .45 that feeds them just fine.

And...when I run out of my own home cast 68's, I've ordered the equivalent from Missouri Bullet Co. that shot as well as my own. I size my own 68's to 0.452+ as my H&I die is a bit generous. For .45 Colt I size to 0.454" with good results and minimal leading.

Just wondering, what vintage is your Smith M25. I had one in .45 Colt bought new, back in the late 80's that had cylinder throats that were 0.457 or more & with a groove dia. of 0.452" and the factory said that was within spec's. Groups from 25 yds, rested, ran 4-5"!! Nowadays, I understand Smith's tolerances are closer to 0.452, but I've avoided used early vintage M25's in .45 Colt since I got rid of that early one.

Conversely, my M25-2 (1955 Target) in .45 ACP, is an early pinned and recessed one, that has 0.452-0.453" throats & superb accuracy. I use the same loads for it as I do in my 1911's in ACP or AR brass. Your thoughts?

Best regards, Rod
__________________
Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

Last edited by rodfac; June 13, 2018 at 07:02 AM.
rodfac is offline  
Old June 13, 2018, 07:13 AM   #25
zeke
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 17, 1999
Location: NW Wi
Posts: 1,664
5.5 grains unique under 230 lrn is a favorite load, very accurate and mild. A consideration when moving down to 200 grains in lrn is case neck tension, as there can be considerably less bullet to case interference fit. A lot depends on case/bullet combination you are using, and col can also be a concern for feeding. Not much of a concern with the standard 200 lswc being discussed above, which maximizes the interference fit and was designed to duplicate the 230 grain feeding points.

If you wish to get away from the "smoke" of shooting lubed lead bullets, may consider the new coated ones. A lot cleaner to shoot, and to clean up after. While not an exspurt in these coated bullets, the ones I tried were an additional .001 in in diam over the stated dia. This can actually help with some chambers in revolvers, but am guessing every brand be different.
zeke is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:31 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07039 seconds with 8 queries