.45 Cal. leadsaver

[Ben]

I've been shooting the Lee 160 gr. RN in my Smith Model 625, .45 ACP / Auto Rim
It doesn't look like it would shoot well.
Well, guess what ? ? ? It is a nail driver at 25 yards.
I don't shoot much handgun past 25 yards, so I don't know what happens past 25 yards ? ?

Did I say that I'm saving a lot of lead ? ?
Might not function in a 1911, but then again, that isn't what I've been shooting the bullet in.

Ben

 

[Spindrift]

Those look kind of cute!
Man, those sprute cuts are perfectly timed. A master at work!

 

[Ben]

Thanks for the " benefit of the doubt ", but I don't really feel like I'm even close to being much of a master of anything.

Ben

 

[glassparman]

Nice. All this time I thought I should only shoot 230 gr.

See, I'm learning something else from you Ben!

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have that mold too its a cutie!! I have some loaded but haven't shot them.

CW

 

[CZ93X62]

Hmmmm. I think the lightest bullet I've ever tried in a 45 handgun is 185 grains.

My first thought when I saw the castings photos was '45/70 Collar Button'.

 

[Ben]

Nice. All this time I thought I should only shoot 230 gr.

See, I'm learning something else from you Ben!

Great !

 

[fiver]

it'll function in a 1911.
you just gotta put a lot of unique under it.

it also shoots well in the 45 colt, i use the 165gr. version [pre-LEE] in my lever rifles to head shoot grouse when i'm deer hunting.

 

[oscarflytyer]

that thing is so small, it almost can't be a 45! lol. Bet its a great plinker.

 

[fiver]

hard to hold onto when sizing or loading that's for sure.

 

[Missionary]

Getting real close to a plain Round Ball with that one.

 

[L Ross]

Pretty sure there is a Master Caster mould around here for a 160 gr. .45 for the faux cowboy shooters that was a popular seller for the former owner. Poot, ting, poot, ting.

 

[Bret4207]

I got a GB Lyman 45-70 "Collar Button" mould sometime back, something along the same idea as far as lead saving. Lent it to friend and member Chris but haven't heard if he cast any up for his grandsons to shoot up!

 

[Intel6]

I have that mould also with the same thought of using less lead. I loaded up some of these and some 155 SWC's for my .45 ACP/AR revolvers. Other than shooting to a different point of impact, both my 3" & 5" 625's shot them very well. I loaded up some more of the RN's for the revolvers and saved the SWC's for the semi autos.

 

[Ben]

Yes, a practical design.
With my adjustable sights on my Model 625, if a sight adjustment
is required, it is easy done.

Ben

 

[todd]

nice!!

 

[fiver]

they load/shoot nice for that revolver.
i use the 624 as the house gun with 225gr flat points, but it does super nice on the range with the 165.
i initially started using it for the kids, but i found it was waay too much fun to knock down the 6" plates with.

 

[CZ93X62]

The .451 RBs I used in .44 cap & Ball revolvers weighs 140 grains, so those aren't much heavier than a RB.

 

[hornetguy]

Nice. All this time I thought I should only shoot 230 gr.

See, I'm learning something else from you Ben!

I read someplace recently that the .45 ACP was designed to shoot a 200 gr round nose, but they changed it up to 230 gr for some reason.... I know that a lot of folks shoot 185 gr SWC's in them.....

 

[BudHyett]

I read someplace recently that the .45 ACP was designed to shoot a 200 gr round nose, but they changed it up to 230 gr for some reason..

The Army was looking for sufficient penetration to kill the horse from underneath an attacking Indian. The black powder .45 Colt load could do this. There is mention of this in one of Elmer Keith's books or Hatcher's Notebook. Before WWII, the black powder .45 Colt was the highest energy load on the market.