.45 acp cast bullet loads

hunter7198

Newbie to loading cast bullets for .45 acp, could use a few safe favorite loads for 200gr and 240gr SWC.

k_townman

I load a 230 grain RN cast bullet in my 45 Auto. I use 5.7 grains of W231. Does good for me.

cpermd

200gr swc w 5.2gr of 231 is my nice plinking load.

CP

Odawgp

3.8 or 4.0 grs of Clays is my typical BE load
3.6 & 4.4 being the low and high for Clays powder while using a 200gr lswc bullet

perry shooter

Hello I normally don't give powder and charge amounts on the internet BUT I can recommend a fey things when it comes to 200 grain lead loads . If these bullets are the H&G 68 style bullet I think you will find that they shoot the smallest groups at about 800 FPS + or - 30 FPS I have done extensive testing with many pistols on ransom rest . Also to achieve 100 % function you need to remove Barrel or Barrels if you have more then one pistol and check that the loaded round fully chambers from it's own weight and the OAL is so that the base of the shell is just about .010inside flush to the end of the barrel hood. One other thing use a TAPER CRIMP and have the very end of the case mouth .001-.002 smaller then the case 1/4 inch below the case mouth . This will normally be.469 + or - the taper crip will not deform the front driving band and you DO NOT NEED TO TRIM cases unlike a roll crimp. I have been loading 5000-7500 rounds of 200 grain 68BB bulletes each year for the last 35+ years. Cheers Karl. Camp Perry 1972-2005

Edit Hello hunter there are a number of reasons I like Bevel Base bullets I found in extensive ransom rest testing that the base is by far the most important part of a cast bullet if you deform the base trying to seat the bullet group size goes to He**. you can deform the nose with very little affect to group size. When using a high production loader Like a STAR you cant really see if the bullet is sitting straight in the case mouth a B.B. will load much better and give much better groups . Now if you use a single station press and are really really careful and the case mouth has a big bell then you can get great groups with straight base bullets but it does not work this way in a progressive press. You DON'T even want to think about gas checks more trouble then is worth . a proper sized bullet .0005-.001 larger then bore size and proper lube "soft" will seal the bore and will not give leading. "PRAISE THE HARD-BALL GUN"

hunter7198

Good stuff guys, thanks. I always verify recipes with published data before I use 'em. Been reloading since '74, primarily rifle and rimmed pistol with jacketed bullets. Perry shooter mentions BB68, assume it refers to a bevel base bullet to reduce deformation without belling the case mouth? Also, is there any merit to gas checks? Used to use 'em with .357 cast bullets to reduce leading. Thanks for suffering the normal Newb questions...

swagg68

From your experience Perry Shooter, what type nosed bullet would give you decent accuracy, i.e. semi wadcutter, round nose, etc. I see your point with the bevel base bullet.

I am preparing to buy a mold, but have no idea which one to choose, so many to choose from. All I know is a 200g to 230 grain bullet seems to be good weight. I am always interested in accuracy, but could sacrifice that for a more affordable bullet or easier setup to reload if that makes any sense.

243winxb

The Lyman 200gr. Bevel Base #452630 with 3.8 gr of Bullseye has been my most accurate loading of the 4 bullets i have cast over 30 years. Perry Shooter is right, the BB does make a difference.

screwobama

I use a 185 grain SWC with 4.5 grains of powder.

partisan

Gas checks are really only necessary on the hotter rounds (.357 mag, .44mag, etc.) I don't use them on my cast .45 acp rounds. I learned the HARD way to use them on my .44 mag cast bullets!!

perry shooter

Hello swagg 68 I prefer the long nose H&G style 68 bullet it has one grease groove and a fairly long bearing surface to make for a very good grouping bullet . I don't like the short nose like most 185 grain bullets have as I personally think they can give feeding problems. My favorite bullet is the Lyman 45266 long discontinued it has a very long body 2 grease grooves but weigh 215 grain.The 452630 is the best of current Lyman designs IMHO. You have to find out by testing what velocity each bullet likes in your gun I have charted many different powders and the best groups with any given bullet in any given pistol is within 15 FPS no matter what brand of powder you use. . I want ammo to group in the X ring at 50 yards 1.5 inches This takes a very good pistol and very good ammo. most anything will shoot at 25 yards but group size of great ammo is 3 times the size at 50 Yd's then at 25 yd's I have seen poor ammo group 8 times as large at fifty then 25 Yards . You can find H&G moulds on the evil web site and I suggest 4 cavity if you can take the cost . The Quality control of H&G is much better in 4 cavity blocks they will all weigh the same on some other brands one cavity may be as much as 5 grains heavier then another[:(!][xx(][:(]. Cheers Karl.

swagg68

Great pics, 243winxb. A picture says a lot. Perry Shooter thanks for the advice. Now its time to start shopping for a good deal.

countyman

I agree with "screwobama"