Bullet diameter for 45LC

Aldadentist · February 6, 2011, 02:22 AM

Just purchased a Ruger Blackhawk in 45LC. I am wondering what bullet diameter, .451 or.452, I should buy to start reloading. I load a lot of 45ACP but these bullets do not have a crimp groove. I use .452 in lead and .451 in jacketed bullets for the 1911 but I am not sure if the dame criteria hols for the revolver in 45LC. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Stargazer · February 6, 2011, 06:07 AM

I just purchased a new 4" RedHawk. The cylinder chambers were a tight .451". So if I used a .452" bullet whether lead or copper, it was being swaged down to. 451" before it even hit the barrel. I sent it to Cylindersmith.com and he reamed them to .4525".

Since you already have 45 ACP bullets at .451" take one and see if it will drop through the front of the cylinder. I am sure it will but take note of the tightness. I could not even push a .452" bullet through mine to start with. Try the lead .452" bullets and see if they will slide through. This should tell you where you are at chamber diameter wise. Hope this helps some.

Slamfire · February 6, 2011, 07:31 AM

Don’t worry about the .001” difference between jacketed bullets. I have shot Sierra .4515” JHP’s in my 45 LC’s and they shot just fine.

In my opinion what is more important is bullet size and chamber mouth size. Lots of 45 LC’s have .456” sized chamber mouths and .452” barrels. It is very difficult to get any sort of decent accuracy in those revolvers with .452” bullets. Ruger revolvers are very good in that the 45LC’s have .452”ish chamber mouths and barrels.

As for lead, I am shooting .454” diameter lead in everything. I have older revolvers with the huge chamber mouths and modern with tighter mouths. These bullets shoot fine without any pressure problems in the modern pistols without any pressure issues. I could not tell any significant velocity differences across the screens.

You can of course shoot 230 JHP’s in the 45 LC but I only did that to shoot lead out. The 45 LC is at its best with 250 + grain weight bullets.

Code:

5" M25-7 	
			
255 LSWC (.452")  8.5 grain Unique lot UN331 WLP (nickle) primers
2-Sep-90	T ≈  92 ° F		
			 
Ave Vel =	859		
Std Dev =	56		
ES  =	172		
Low  =	780		
High  =	952		
N =	6		
			
			
255 LSWC (.454")  8.5 grain Unique lot UN331 WLP (nickle) primers
2-Sep-90	T ≈  92 ° F		 
			
Ave Vel =	867		
Std Dev =	61		
ES  =	161		
Low  =	791		
High  =	952		
N =	6

Code:

5 1/2" USFA Rodeo 			
					
255 LSWC (.454") 8.5 grs Unique  thrown, R-P cases, WLP primers	
12-May-02	T = 84°F				
					
Ave Vel =	844	 	 	 	
Std Dev =	33	 	 		
ES  =	117.8	 	 		
High  =	907.6		 		
Low  =	789.8		 		
Number Shots	12				
					
240 JHP Sierra (.4515") 8.5 grs Unique  thrown, R-P cases, CCI300 primers
12-May-02	T = 84°F				
					
Ave Vel =	848	 	 	 	
Std Dev =	54	 	 		
ES  =	146.4	 	 		
High  =	911.8		 		
Low  =	765.3		 		
Number Shots	6

February 6, 2011, 02:22 AM	#1
Aldadentist Member Join Date: February 18, 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 58	Bullet diameter for 45LC Just purchased a Ruger Blackhawk in 45LC. I am wondering what bullet diameter, .451 or.452, I should buy to start reloading. I load a lot of 45ACP but these bullets do not have a crimp groove. I use .452 in lead and .451 in jacketed bullets for the 1911 but I am not sure if the dame criteria hols for the revolver in 45LC. Any suggestions are appreciated.

February 6, 2011, 06:07 AM	#2
Stargazer Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 506	I just purchased a new 4" RedHawk. The cylinder chambers were a tight .451". So if I used a .452" bullet whether lead or copper, it was being swaged down to. 451" before it even hit the barrel. I sent it to Cylindersmith.com and he reamed them to .4525". Since you already have 45 ACP bullets at .451" take one and see if it will drop through the front of the cylinder. I am sure it will but take note of the tightness. I could not even push a .452" bullet through mine to start with. Try the lead .452" bullets and see if they will slide through. This should tell you where you are at chamber diameter wise. Hope this helps some. __________________ 5.56mm, reach out and touch something. .458 SOCOM,reach out and knock something down. M70 Web Page

February 6, 2011, 07:31 AM	#3
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	Don’t worry about the .001” difference between jacketed bullets. I have shot Sierra .4515” JHP’s in my 45 LC’s and they shot just fine. In my opinion what is more important is bullet size and chamber mouth size. Lots of 45 LC’s have .456” sized chamber mouths and .452” barrels. It is very difficult to get any sort of decent accuracy in those revolvers with .452” bullets. Ruger revolvers are very good in that the 45LC’s have .452”ish chamber mouths and barrels. As for lead, I am shooting .454” diameter lead in everything. I have older revolvers with the huge chamber mouths and modern with tighter mouths. These bullets shoot fine without any pressure problems in the modern pistols without any pressure issues. I could not tell any significant velocity differences across the screens. You can of course shoot 230 JHP’s in the 45 LC but I only did that to shoot lead out. The 45 LC is at its best with 250 + grain weight bullets. Code: 5" M25-7 255 LSWC (.452") 8.5 grain Unique lot UN331 WLP (nickle) primers 2-Sep-90 T ≈ 92 ° F Ave Vel = 859 Std Dev = 56 ES = 172 Low = 780 High = 952 N = 6 255 LSWC (.454") 8.5 grain Unique lot UN331 WLP (nickle) primers 2-Sep-90 T ≈ 92 ° F Ave Vel = 867 Std Dev = 61 ES = 161 Low = 791 High = 952 N = 6 Code: 5 1/2" USFA Rodeo 255 LSWC (.454") 8.5 grs Unique thrown, R-P cases, WLP primers 12-May-02 T = 84°F Ave Vel = 844 Std Dev = 33 ES = 117.8 High = 907.6 Low = 789.8 Number Shots 12 240 JHP Sierra (.4515") 8.5 grs Unique thrown, R-P cases, CCI300 primers 12-May-02 T = 84°F Ave Vel = 848 Std Dev = 54 ES = 146.4 High = 911.8 Low = 765.3 Number Shots 6 __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.