.45 acp

hnusz · March 4, 2014, 09:22 PM

if I use a .451 fmj in my .45 can I use a .451 lrn in the same gun or do I need to slug the barrel. if so how do I do that. I am new to reloading thanks for the help

rodfac · March 4, 2014, 09:30 PM

Jacketed bullets in .45 ACP with a .451" dia. should work just fine. If you're buying cast lead round nose types, or truncated wadcutters, for that matter, I'd go with .452"....you'll see less leading with the bigger diameter lead alloy. If you do encounter leading, try a thorough cleaning with some sort of copper removing cleaner....Hoppe's works but something stronger is faster. Lead alloy bullets don't always do well when shot in a copper fouled barrel. Also, don't be afraid of the 200 gr TWC's. I've yet to find a 1911 that won't feed them, and they're generally more accurate in my guns than the round nose types.

Slugging a barrel is not difficult. First clean it thoroughly, then apply a light coat of gun oil. Use a smooth brass or steel rod to drive a pure lead round ball or hollow fishing weight down the bore. It's best to do this from the breach end, but for revolvers, that's obviously impossible. Catch the engraved slug on a piece of towelling, then measure with a micrometer. Calipers do not have the accuracy necessary. Be careful not to run the driving rod against the muzzle crown as you finish up. Damage here will destroy the accuracy of your gun. Lead alloy bullets, ideally, should be 0.001" to 0.002" larger than your groove diameter for best accuracy and to reduce or eliminate leading.

Lastly, I've found that swirl lubing commercially cast bullets often stops leading in the barrel. It's done with Lee Liquid Alox in a cottage cheese tub or butter tub. You dump your bullets into the tub, then squirt a very small (a dollop the size of a quarter is plenty) amount on them, then swirl them until evenly coated. All told it's a 30 second operation. Warming the LLA squeeze bottle under a hot tap will make it spread easier.

HTH's Rod

totalloser · March 4, 2014, 11:05 PM

+1

.452" is a go-to for diameter with lead bullets. Larger may cause chambering issues, smaller likely will have leading issues. Most of the time .452" will be perfect.

Nick_C_S · March 5, 2014, 01:26 AM

Offhand, I don't recall ever seeing a .451 lead 45 ACP bullet - I think they're all pretty much .452.

Hornady used to make a jacketed 230g FMJ flat point that was .452. That's just the one I recall. There may have been others.

Nick_C_S · March 5, 2014, 01:35 AM

As an aside note: One of the best things about 45 ACP (and there are a lot of good things about it) is that it takes well to lead slugs. It behaves very well with lead.

Hunter Customs · March 5, 2014, 08:35 AM

I've shot a lot of cast bullets in 45ACP, everything from 155 gr SWC to 250 gr RNFP all were sized .452.

My favorite hunting load in 45ACP is a 250 gr RNFP running in the neighborhood of 885fps.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com

WESHOOT2 · March 5, 2014, 10:47 AM

I have one barrel that prefers .451" lead bullets (yes they make them

) and one barrel that prefers .452" lead bullets.
Both barrels like my .4535" lead bullets.
Both barrels outshoot my ability to differentiate when shooting jacketed bullets from .4505" up to .452".

March 4, 2014, 09:22 PM	#1
hnusz Member Join Date: March 1, 2013 Location: kansas Posts: 66	.45 acp if I use a .451 fmj in my .45 can I use a .451 lrn in the same gun or do I need to slug the barrel. if so how do I do that. I am new to reloading thanks for the help

March 4, 2014, 09:30 PM	#2
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Jacketed bullets in .45 ACP with a .451" dia. should work just fine. If you're buying cast lead round nose types, or truncated wadcutters, for that matter, I'd go with .452"....you'll see less leading with the bigger diameter lead alloy. If you do encounter leading, try a thorough cleaning with some sort of copper removing cleaner....Hoppe's works but something stronger is faster. Lead alloy bullets don't always do well when shot in a copper fouled barrel. Also, don't be afraid of the 200 gr TWC's. I've yet to find a 1911 that won't feed them, and they're generally more accurate in my guns than the round nose types. Slugging a barrel is not difficult. First clean it thoroughly, then apply a light coat of gun oil. Use a smooth brass or steel rod to drive a pure lead round ball or hollow fishing weight down the bore. It's best to do this from the breach end, but for revolvers, that's obviously impossible. Catch the engraved slug on a piece of towelling, then measure with a micrometer. Calipers do not have the accuracy necessary. Be careful not to run the driving rod against the muzzle crown as you finish up. Damage here will destroy the accuracy of your gun. Lead alloy bullets, ideally, should be 0.001" to 0.002" larger than your groove diameter for best accuracy and to reduce or eliminate leading. Lastly, I've found that swirl lubing commercially cast bullets often stops leading in the barrel. It's done with Lee Liquid Alox in a cottage cheese tub or butter tub. You dump your bullets into the tub, then squirt a very small (a dollop the size of a quarter is plenty) amount on them, then swirl them until evenly coated. All told it's a 30 second operation. Warming the LLA squeeze bottle under a hot tap will make it spread easier. HTH's 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; March 4, 2014 at 09:39 PM.

March 4, 2014, 11:05 PM	#3
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	+1 .452" is a go-to for diameter with lead bullets. Larger may cause chambering issues, smaller likely will have leading issues. Most of the time .452" will be perfect. __________________ You only truly believe in freedom if you believe in the freedom of those you disagree.

March 5, 2014, 01:26 AM	#4
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,522	Offhand, I don't recall ever seeing a .451 lead 45 ACP bullet - I think they're all pretty much .452. Hornady used to make a jacketed 230g FMJ flat point that was .452. That's just the one I recall. There may have been others. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

March 5, 2014, 01:35 AM	#5
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,522	As an aside note: One of the best things about 45 ACP (and there are a lot of good things about it) is that it takes well to lead slugs. It behaves very well with lead. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

March 5, 2014, 08:35 AM	#6
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	I've shot a lot of cast bullets in 45ACP, everything from 155 gr SWC to 250 gr RNFP all were sized .452. My favorite hunting load in 45ACP is a 250 gr RNFP running in the neighborhood of 885fps. Best Regards Bob Hunter www.huntercustoms.com

March 5, 2014, 10:47 AM	#7
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	How do they shoot? I have one barrel that prefers .451" lead bullets (yes they make them ) and one barrel that prefers .452" lead bullets. Both barrels like my .4535" lead bullets. Both barrels outshoot my ability to differentiate when shooting jacketed bullets from .4505" up to .452". __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

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