45ACP LSWC

Bucksnort1 · February 1, 2021, 12:02 PM

I have 50 45ACP LSWC in 205 grains.

I find no recipes for 205 grains.

May I load them as 200 grain bullets?

GE-Minigun · February 1, 2021, 12:38 PM

I would...

**Unclenick** · February 1, 2021, 12:41 PM

Yes. An old rule of thumb with cast bullets is that any bullet within about 6-grains should be counted as the same thing (and that was for 38's, so I would expect the 45 to be proportionally bigger). Cast bullet alloys cast to different weights from the same mold, so it is common for them to be off by that much. As always, knock your maximum load's down 10% and work up when you change a component. This is not because of the lead bullet's weight but because some designs seat deeper than others, and seating deeper raises pressure.

Bucksnort1 · February 1, 2021, 03:11 PM

unclnick,

Some of the bullets weigh in at 200 grains.

**44 AMP** · February 1, 2021, 05:01 PM

Consider them 200gr bullets. Your gun won't know the difference, and your load data won't know the difference.

You're looking at approximately a 2-2.5% weight variance and while that's something to be concerned about in high power high pressure rounds, in the .45acp with lead bullets, and usual pistol ranges, I doubt you'd see any significant difference, and its likely you won't find any actual detectable difference, either.

though it does give you a "good excuse" for your flyers!

rc · February 2, 2021, 04:36 AM

One caveat.....

When you load a semi wadcutter, seat the bullet so the shoulder is just over flush from the case. If you seat deeply you will get malfunction problems as the round hangs up at the case lip, if you seat them out too far, chambering problems. That trick works in 9, 40 and 45 with SWC bullets. Lead bullets are best with moderate loads of fast powder like CLAYS, Bullseye or 231 but seating depth is the biggest trick with that type of bullet.

rc · February 2, 2021, 04:43 AM

Good Luck

pete2 · February 2, 2021, 01:39 PM

My Bullseye load is a 200 cast semi wadcutter with 4.2 of Bullseye and a Fed. primer. Shoots in my 5" guns with the standard recoil spring even tho it's a mild load. Very accurate.

rodfac · February 2, 2021, 09:30 PM

Quote:

When you load a semi wadcutter, seat the bullet so the shoulder is just over flush from the case. If you seat deeply you will get malfunction problems as the round hangs up at the case lip, if you seat them out too far, chambering problems. That trick works in 9, 40 and 45 with SWC bullets. Lead bullets are best with moderate loads of fast powder like CLAYS, Bullseye or 231 but seating depth is the biggest trick with that type of bullet.

Great advice, rc, and one that's not often seen in print. I leave about 1/32" of full diameter bullet body showing above the case mouth. A good "plunk" test will tell the conscientious reloader if his OAL is too long. In use, I think of that thin, almost nonexistent ring of lead as a shock absorber as the round is funneled into the chamber. Rod

mehavey · February 2, 2021, 10:05 PM

Seat as long an OAL as will "plunk" (within SAAMI specs)

This kicks the cartridge over horizontal as early as practical while transitioning out of the magazine.
YMMV, so check magazine/feed/function at whatever dimension works best for your setup.

.

rc · February 3, 2021, 04:30 PM

Yes, that's true and your picture showing head space in a barrel plunk test is great but magazine length and feeding will help determine what is best. My description of just over flush with a semi wadcutter seems to work 99% of the time in ANY gun you feed as an easy rule of thumb. One of the problems making a longer load that is on the ragged edge of reliability in one gun is that it may lead to failures in another gun due to variations in magazine length and chamber cut. I'm sure people could fine tune loads longer than above flush by a few thousandths for a particular gun but they risk creating a load that will not always be reliable in all guns if you feed more than one. I've seen similar problems with even winchester vs remington 115gr JHP. The more rounded remington bullet is more sensitive to length than the more pointy winchester design because it is full bullet diameter for more of the bullet length. While 9mm max length specifies 1.169, often factory loaded FMJ bullets and hollow points are seated to 1.20 to 1.135 for overall reliability. The 124gr Hornady xtp is also one that is full diameter for a long portion of the bullet body. If you load to max spec in any particular cartridge with any particular bullet, expect to run into issues with either magazine fit, headspace issues with the full diameter part of the bullet hitting the rifling before the chamber closes or feeding problems.

Better to copy a reloading manuals recipe for actual length for a tested round than use maximum length number for the cartridge.

mehavey · February 3, 2021, 05:24 PM

>
> "...YMMV, so check magazine/feed/function at whatever dimension works best for your setup."
>

gwpercle · February 4, 2021, 06:12 PM

Looking at the loaded round in post #10 ... I would seat the bullet deeper .
Old rule of thumb is to only have the the top band showing about the thickness of your thumb nail . That much top band showing could cause feeding and/or chambering problems in some guns .
Gary

Jim Watson · February 4, 2021, 06:24 PM

Some of us have differing thumbs.

I have seen head to shoulder dimensions given of 0.936" and a bit less.

My old rule of thumb was to seat a SWC to headspace with the shoulder against the lands, plunking with head flush with the barrel hood, as shown in an Unclenick diagram.
That worked for me when I just had one .45 but nowadays I am phasing over to roundnose.

mehavey · February 4, 2021, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Looking at the loaded round in post #10 ... I would seat the bullet deeper .
Old rule of thumb is to only have the the top band showing about the thickness
of your thumb nail . That much top band showing could cause feeding and/or
chambering problems in some guns .

Absolutely. That's why you "plunk" test when loading for particular guns.
And min headspace for "all" rifles.

But when loading for those particular weapons....

As before:
>
> "...YMMV, so check magazine/feed/function at whatever dimension works best for your setup."
>

February 1, 2021, 12:41 PM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,743	Yes. An old rule of thumb with cast bullets is that any bullet within about 6-grains should be counted as the same thing (and that was for 38's, so I would expect the 45 to be proportionally bigger). Cast bullet alloys cast to different weights from the same mold, so it is common for them to be off by that much. As always, knock your maximum load's down 10% and work up when you change a component. This is not because of the lead bullet's weight but because some designs seat deeper than others, and seating deeper raises pressure. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 1, 2021, 05:01 PM	#5
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,487	Consider them 200gr bullets. Your gun won't know the difference, and your load data won't know the difference. You're looking at approximately a 2-2.5% weight variance and while that's something to be concerned about in high power high pressure rounds, in the .45acp with lead bullets, and usual pistol ranges, I doubt you'd see any significant difference, and its likely you won't find any actual detectable difference, either. though it does give you a "good excuse" for your flyers! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

February 1, 2021, 12:02 PM	#1
Bucksnort1 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2013 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 1,130	45ACP LSWC I have 50 45ACP LSWC in 205 grains. I find no recipes for 205 grains. May I load them as 200 grain bullets?

February 1, 2021, 12:38 PM	#2
GE-Minigun Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2008 Posts: 240	I would...

February 1, 2021, 03:11 PM	#4
Bucksnort1 Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2013 Location: Littleton, Colorado Posts: 1,130	unclnick, Some of the bullets weigh in at 200 grains.

February 2, 2021, 04:36 AM	#6
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,930	One caveat..... When you load a semi wadcutter, seat the bullet so the shoulder is just over flush from the case. If you seat deeply you will get malfunction problems as the round hangs up at the case lip, if you seat them out too far, chambering problems. That trick works in 9, 40 and 45 with SWC bullets. Lead bullets are best with moderate loads of fast powder like CLAYS, Bullseye or 231 but seating depth is the biggest trick with that type of bullet.

February 2, 2021, 04:43 AM	#7
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,930	Good Luck

February 2, 2021, 01:39 PM	#8
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,610	My Bullseye load is a 200 cast semi wadcutter with 4.2 of Bullseye and a Fed. primer. Shoots in my 5" guns with the standard recoil spring even tho it's a mild load. Very accurate.

February 2, 2021, 10:05 PM	#10
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 7,210	Seat as long an OAL as will "plunk" (within SAAMI specs) This kicks the cartridge over horizontal as early as practical while transitioning out of the magazine. YMMV, so check magazine/feed/function at whatever dimension works best for your setup. . Last edited by mehavey; February 2, 2021 at 10:31 PM.

February 3, 2021, 04:30 PM	#11
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,930	Yes, that's true and your picture showing head space in a barrel plunk test is great but magazine length and feeding will help determine what is best. My description of just over flush with a semi wadcutter seems to work 99% of the time in ANY gun you feed as an easy rule of thumb. One of the problems making a longer load that is on the ragged edge of reliability in one gun is that it may lead to failures in another gun due to variations in magazine length and chamber cut. I'm sure people could fine tune loads longer than above flush by a few thousandths for a particular gun but they risk creating a load that will not always be reliable in all guns if you feed more than one. I've seen similar problems with even winchester vs remington 115gr JHP. The more rounded remington bullet is more sensitive to length than the more pointy winchester design because it is full bullet diameter for more of the bullet length. While 9mm max length specifies 1.169, often factory loaded FMJ bullets and hollow points are seated to 1.20 to 1.135 for overall reliability. The 124gr Hornady xtp is also one that is full diameter for a long portion of the bullet body. If you load to max spec in any particular cartridge with any particular bullet, expect to run into issues with either magazine fit, headspace issues with the full diameter part of the bullet hitting the rifling before the chamber closes or feeding problems. Better to copy a reloading manuals recipe for actual length for a tested round than use maximum length number for the cartridge.

February 3, 2021, 05:24 PM	#12
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 7,210	> > "...YMMV, so check magazine/feed/function at whatever dimension works best for your setup." >

February 4, 2021, 06:12 PM	#13
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,915	Looking at the loaded round in post #10 ... I would seat the bullet deeper . Old rule of thumb is to only have the the top band showing about the thickness of your thumb nail . That much top band showing could cause feeding and/or chambering problems in some guns . Gary

February 4, 2021, 06:24 PM	#14
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,186	Some of us have differing thumbs. I have seen head to shoulder dimensions given of 0.936" and a bit less. My old rule of thumb was to seat a SWC to headspace with the shoulder against the lands, plunking with head flush with the barrel hood, as shown in an Unclenick diagram. That worked for me when I just had one .45 but nowadays I am phasing over to roundnose.