I think you are referring to Major George Nonte. I apologize for nitpicking. I have the impression that Nonte was famous in his day, but is largely forgotten now. Your ability to recall his recommendations for the Bulldog back when it was new speaks impressively of the depth of your knowledge.
Thanks for correcting the typo. My memory is not so great as I got the guy's name wrong.
Since my last post I have conducted some research on the use of 250 grain lead bullets in the 45 ACP. Finding pressure data was surprisingly difficult. My Lyman 48th does not have pressure data on the 45 LC or the 45 ACP and does not have velocity data for a 250/255 in the 45 ACP or 45 Auto Rim.
I had to get in my way back machine and look at my Sharpe "Complete Guide to Handloading". Mine is the third edition, second revision, copyright 1953.
My baseline load for the 45 ACP is a 230 FMJ with 5.0 grains Bullseye. That was the load used in the developemental 1910 cartridges, and is still an outstanding Bullseye Target load. No one shoots ball if they don't have to as the recoil is stout. The average target load is a 185 grain bullet just under 800 fps.
This is a good safe load in any 45 ACP. In Sharpe's book, he has pressure data for almost everything he lists. For a 230 grain MC (metal case) with 4.9 grains Bullseye, the CUP pressure is 15,000 and the velocity is 821 fps. For a 255 factory lead, 4.5 grs Bullseye, CUP is 15,000, and the velocity is 840 fps.
Sharpe is probably the data source I used in creating 250/255 gr loads in my Brazilian export S&W M1917
Brazilian export S&W M1917 45 ACP Revolver 5" barrel
250 LRN (.454)
4.5 grs Bullseye thrown, R-P AR cases, CCI300 primers
20-Jan-02 T = 44°F
Ave Vel = 754
Std Dev = 10
ES = 39.5
Low = 744
High = 783
N = 14
Mild recoil, aimpoint 5 OC, acceptable accuracy
Out of my five inch revolver the velocity is 750 fps, not 840 fps.
For the 45 LC, Sharpe shows for a 255 factory lead, a charge of 5.0 grains Bullseye gives a velocity of 785 fps, CUP 11,000. Six grains Bullseye gives 880 fps at 15,000 CUP. Unique is the much better choice for lower pressures as 7.0 grs Unique gives a velocity of 780 fps at 7000 cup. And the maximum charge of Unique is 8.9 grains at a velocity of 960 fps, CUP 15000.
If someone wanted to load 250's in their 45 ACP they could create reasonable loads in a Charter Arms Bulldog. The velocity would have to be in the range of 455 Webley loads, so maybe this would work in a self defense weapon. Someone would need to test to really have a good idea of penetration. I am certain that Charter Arms regulated the sights of their Bulldog for a 230 grain bullet and switching to a heavier bullet would move the point of impact radically. My 5 O'Clock hold is on a 12" gong target, so the point of aim , to get the thing to hit center at 25 yards, is radically different from that of a 230 grain bullet. At 25 yards I would have to aim at a human hip, or pant's pocket, to hit in the middle of the chest. That may or may not be an issue for a pocket pistol. At a local indoor range, as I moved my target out to 25 yards, the Range Master said, if "
they" are at 25 yards,
they are not a threat. Bad news for
they, if
they run into
me.
But, I am of the opinion that if you want to toss big bullets at a moderate velocities and low pressure the 45 LC is the better choice. In every data point I have found, you can push the larger bullet to the same velocity, with less pressure, in the 45 LC case. And that is the direction I want to go in a light frame pocket pistol.