What 45 acp bullets are you using
- Thread starter Mark G
- Start date
thump_rrr
Member
Zero Brand 230gr JHP.
I've had great success with them.
They expand reliably and retain pretty much all of their weight.
I've had great success with them.
They expand reliably and retain pretty much all of their weight.
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41 Mag
Member
The majority of my loads are my home cast and are using around 4.2-4.5grs of Bullseye under one of the following Hensley and Gibbs bullets,
in order 185gr - #130, 200gr - #68, and 215gr - #78,
I also shoot a lot of the MP-452-200,
I also pour a couple of different 220 and 230gr RN.
For the serious social stuff I have the Speer Gold Dots in 200 & 230gr, and the Federal HST in 230gr loaded to +P levels, and for FMJ's I usually use Berry or Hornady.
in order 185gr - #130, 200gr - #68, and 215gr - #78,
I also shoot a lot of the MP-452-200,
I also pour a couple of different 220 and 230gr RN.
For the serious social stuff I have the Speer Gold Dots in 200 & 230gr, and the Federal HST in 230gr loaded to +P levels, and for FMJ's I usually use Berry or Hornady.
41 Mag
Member
Well thank you, but to be honest, it probably has more to do with the mold than me, there are some great mold being made out there nowadays. I REALLY like the NOE and MP molds as they usually come with at least a couple of pin sets. So you get the choice of casting a solid, SM or LG HP all with one mold. Sometimes it might only be one size HP but it still makes the mold more versatile.
If you think hand loading is a rabbit hole, once you step through the casting mirror, it's all over with but the buyin
. I started off with a 6 cavity 195gr 41 and a 6 cavity 300gr 45. I still have them "somewhere" LOL but I have added quite a few since.These are .452's but for the 45C, but I have loaded that top one in a 45 ACP just to see how it shot.
There are a few in there with little irregularities, mostly from lube migrating from the sprue plate, but they are all plenty shootable. I just put those on the left end of the box and use them for target practice.
1KPerDay
Member
Those look good, particularly the wide cavity HPs. Have you tested any in gel or water or wet phone books or whatever?
Saluki91
Member
230 grain LRN and 200 grain LSWC from Brazos... Great bullets, great price, shipping times can be a crap shoot.
Reloading and Shooting Supplies
We are proud to launch the Brazos Bullet Company Winners Circle program, beginning with NRA Precision Pistol (Bullseye). This program is intended to directly reward people that shoot our bullets and win Bullseye matches on the Local, State, Regional and National levels, with the National...
www.brazosprecision.com
My favorite place to buy powder and primers is at a gun show. Usually there is some powder that is appropriate for bullseye - WST, Tigegroup, VV N310, W231.
To start reloading, I would look at a Rock Chucker or Hornady single stage. For progressive presses, I'd choose Hornady or Dillon. I have a Hornady LNL AP that I like a lot.
To start reloading, I would look at a Rock Chucker or Hornady single stage. For progressive presses, I'd choose Hornady or Dillon. I have a Hornady LNL AP that I like a lot.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
I use mainly 230gr jacketed JHPs, with a little but of experience with 185s and 200s. I think I'm going to just stick with 230gr from now on. I have a fair amount of Winchester 230gr jhps and they seem pretty decent quality wise to me. I haven't used plated (at least not on purpose) 45 cal bullets but dad has some 9mm berry's that seemed to work OK so maybe I should try some of their 45s...
We have suppressors so we don't use lead bullets in 9 or 45 or any rifle rounds.
We have suppressors so we don't use lead bullets in 9 or 45 or any rifle rounds.
41 Mag
Member
Thanks, and yes I did some pretty extensive testing using some of the baby powder like sand we have in the country. The stuff is sandy loam but it is so fine that water will bead up on it when initially poured on top. I filled up 6 gallon buckets, and put a half to a full bottle of water on top and put the lid on. Let it peculate in the sun for a day or so and it would be completely soaked through out kinda like a terrarium. It made for easy to use and repeatable media. I set them up out at 25, 50, and 75yds with a chrono 10' in front of my rest, and another one in front of the buckets. This allowed me to get "impact" velocities to go with the load velocity and try and figure out how to blend the alloy for best performance. It took a bit of fiddling around with blends to accomplish a repeatable alloy but I feel it was worth it, and I learned a LOT in the process.
This is a comparison of some 45acp ammo. The jacketed are factory loads using the top recommended SD loads, and the cast on the right is similar to the one posted above, a 260'ish grain deep HP. Cast HP's If you follow that down there is also a link to the initial test I did with the 45 ACP's which should have these pic's but I removed them from the host site.
CQB45ACP
Member
Too pretty to shoot.The majority of my loads are my home cast and are using around 4.2-4.5grs of Bullseye under one of the following Hensley and Gibbs bullets,
in order 185gr - #130, 200gr - #68, and 215gr - #78,
I also shoot a lot of the MP-452-200,
I also pour a couple of different 220 and 230gr RN.
For the serious social stuff I have the Speer Gold Dots in 200 & 230gr, and the Federal HST in 230gr loaded to +P levels, and for FMJ's I usually use Berry or Hornady.
Catpop
Member
I used to shoot 230 FMJ, then plated, then 230 cast Oregon Trail and MBC, then a friend introduced me to 200 LSWCs.
I’ve never looked back to 230 since!
Some say I’m frugal trying to spread the lead a little farther, others say I’m just downright TIGHT!
Even been thinking of trying 185, just haven’t done it yet.
I’m mostly a BE fan, but also use others such as HP38, Unique, RD and even Nitro 100.
The 1911 is 45 my pistol of choice. It reminds me of the tractor feed computer printer.
Long live the 1911 and 45 acp!
I’ve never looked back to 230 since!
Some say I’m frugal trying to spread the lead a little farther, others say I’m just downright TIGHT!
Even been thinking of trying 185, just haven’t done it yet.
I’m mostly a BE fan, but also use others such as HP38, Unique, RD and even Nitro 100.
The 1911 is 45 my pistol of choice. It reminds me of the tractor feed computer printer.
Long live the 1911 and 45 acp!
The last time i used Win 230 fmj's, i measured the dia. If memory serves, the dia was about .450. This small of a dia took some adjustment of the case neck tension to get closer to the desired results. Am not concerned about the weight variation. Now am using up a reserve of ACME coated 200 gn lrnfp. Also still have regular 230 lrn/200 lrnfp to use up, but save them for outside. For jacketed am using mostly Hdy 230 xtp. Have a load mostly done for Missouri's 215 coated wfn, but needs testing in the pistols.
thump_rrr
Member
A little bit of this.
This is the 230gr Zero Brand JHP holding all its weight.
You can't ask for more than that.
A little bit of that.
This is the 230gr Zero Brand JHP holding all its weight.
You can't ask for more than that.
A little bit of that.
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lightman
Member
I shoot mostly an H&G 68 that I cast from wheelweights using an original H&G mold. I also have a H&G 130 but I seldom use it. For defense I use a 200 grain Speer JHP. All of these are seated over a charge of Winchester 231.
thump_rrr
Member
I have a Magma 452-200 HG-68 coming for my Master Caster.
I should have it in a couple of weeks.
I've been using Berry's 185 gr hollow base round nose for the last 10+ years with good results. I usually buy from the Berry's web site or from Midway when free shipping is offered.
King Medallion
Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2021
- Messages
- 349
Berry's 230 FMJ
thump_rrr
Member
I have a Magma 452-200 HG-68 on the way for my Master Caster.
Hopefully it will be here in the next 2 weeks.
