joethereloader
New Member
I want to try heavy loads in my 45 Acp I can't make up my mind on which mold maker
heavy loads for a 45 acp which molds , Arsenal, Accurate, Lee, or NOE.
- Thread starter joethereloader
- Start date
Could you elaborate on "heavy loads?" What you expect out of it - what you intend to us it on/for, and what type of pistol?
If you're looking for a "heavy" BULLET, within the traditional range of weights for the cartridge, I've always been quite fond of the LEE 230 grain truncated cone with micro-grooves, tumble-lubed. Straight wheel-weights, air-cooled. It's alwasy performed well for me in terms of accuracy, no leading and easy-casting. This is with medium-fast powders, up to their maximums, but I never considered them "heavy" unless compared to the lighter 200 grain SWCs. Charge and pressure-wise, I've not gone beyond "book," and have never tried a bullet heavier than 230 grains in the 45 ACP.
If you're looking for a "heavy" BULLET, within the traditional range of weights for the cartridge, I've always been quite fond of the LEE 230 grain truncated cone with micro-grooves, tumble-lubed. Straight wheel-weights, air-cooled. It's alwasy performed well for me in terms of accuracy, no leading and easy-casting. This is with medium-fast powders, up to their maximums, but I never considered them "heavy" unless compared to the lighter 200 grain SWCs. Charge and pressure-wise, I've not gone beyond "book," and have never tried a bullet heavier than 230 grains in the 45 ACP.
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
I am thoroughly impressed with the 45 ACP's 230 grain JHP bullet in the W-W White Box loading. They clock 875-900 FPS from my Gold Cup, and have been decisive in exchanges of finality that I investigated in a past life. 5.5 grains of WW-231 under the Lee 230 TC or Lyman #452374 duplicates the WWB closely for practice. This is my most-used 45 ACP load, and I run it in a Colt Series 80 GCNM, a Sig-Sauer P-220, and clipped in my S&W 625 x 4".
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
More information please.
Heavy bullet?
High pressure/velocity?
both?
What type of gun?
WHY ????????
JonB
Halcyon member
I used the Lee 452-255-RF in some revolver loads. I wouldn't hesitate using it in a semi-auto, after you confirm it'll cycle in your gun. The Lee manual has some data.
leeprecision.com
Lee Precision, Inc.. 6 Cavity 452-255-rf
Lee 6 cavity block produces a .452 diameter 255 grain round nose bullet suitable for cartridges like 45 ACP, 45 Colt etc.
joethereloader
New Member
sig p220 maybe h k tack with a jarvis barrel 260 to 270 grain cast bullet
joethereloader
New Member
sig p220 hk tactical
Ian
Notorious member
I went down this road many years ago and developed some data. The most valid data point I can share is that there is no free lunch and I found no realistic gains for all the trade-offs of changing the balance of an automatic pistol.
As others have said, the Lee 230-grain TC microband bullet is excellent and almost impossible to beat. In fact, the 230-grain loading is on the heavy side as the .45 ACP was more or less intended for 200-grain bullets from the outset.
As others have said, the Lee 230-grain TC microband bullet is excellent and almost impossible to beat. In fact, the 230-grain loading is on the heavy side as the .45 ACP was more or less intended for 200-grain bullets from the outset.
I've played with bullets up to 300 grains in the 45 acp; best "heavier-than-normal" bullets in my 1911 were the Keith-designed 452423 (for the 45 AR) and 454424 (for the 45 Colt). They worked fine in my pistol, but wouldn't feed in a friend's 220. Best (increased weight) load we found for his pistol used a 240 grain truncated-cone bullet. And don't play with 45 Super loads in the 220. DAMHIKT.
We played with different loads in the 1911 and the 220 for a couple years. We both had the impression that the Sig 220 was a fine pistol but had narrower design parameters in most ways when it came to ammunition. It was just "pickier" about what he fed it. That's not a bad thing, it was designed as a service pistol to use particular loads, and within the parameters of the loads, is a fantastic pistol. (The 1911 was actually designed with tighter parameters, but has had 100 years of people tinkering with it to let it function with almost any ammo.)
We played with different loads in the 1911 and the 220 for a couple years. We both had the impression that the Sig 220 was a fine pistol but had narrower design parameters in most ways when it came to ammunition. It was just "pickier" about what he fed it. That's not a bad thing, it was designed as a service pistol to use particular loads, and within the parameters of the loads, is a fantastic pistol. (The 1911 was actually designed with tighter parameters, but has had 100 years of people tinkering with it to let it function with almost any ammo.)
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
joethe reloader - I agree with Ian, There's not much to be gained by going with a "heavy for caliber" bullet.
You will trade mass for velocity and end up with a very slow projectile. In addition, the 45 ACP operates at relatively low pressures, so there's not a lot of extra pressure to play with as the bullet weights go up.
I also concur that the 45 ACP was originally designed around a roughly 200 grain bullet (and that bullet weight still shines in that cartridge). The 230 grain bullet is well proven in the 45 ACP but is probably pretty close to the upper limit of bullet weight for that cartridge.
462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
I'm sure my .45 ACP high speed, and heavy-for-caliber, load developments weren't as detailed as Ian's and Jim's, but I did quite a bit with a 200-grain SWC and Lee's 255-grain RF. Yes, the Randall could send a 200-grainer downrange at 1000-plus fps, and yes, the 255-grainer fed and functioned perfectly, however, the requirement for heavier-rated recoil springs was more than a subtle hint that the the SWC's speed was too high and the 255-grainer was too heavy for the gun's design and longevity . So, I now load Lyman's 452374 and 452460 at sedate, accurate, but lethal speeds, and both the gun and I more enjoy the shooting.
462 has a good point about the springs! I routinely ran 28# recoil springs (and replaced them every 1k rounds or so); I think stock is somewhere around 20#.
For a while I ran heavy loads with a frame buffer on the stock recoil spring guide. I had to rebuild the gun due to damage to the locking lugs on the barrel and slide. My rebuild included fitting a new slide, a match barrel and bushing, installing a Dwyer Group Gripper (and a custom-length Dwyer link), fitting a new barrel pin, and installing an extra power firing pin spring. After that there were only a couple factory loads it would run with.
For a while I ran heavy loads with a frame buffer on the stock recoil spring guide. I had to rebuild the gun due to damage to the locking lugs on the barrel and slide. My rebuild included fitting a new slide, a match barrel and bushing, installing a Dwyer Group Gripper (and a custom-length Dwyer link), fitting a new barrel pin, and installing an extra power firing pin spring. After that there were only a couple factory loads it would run with.
So essentially a new gun?
358156 hp
At large, whereabouts unknown.
You're in LBT territory with these bullet weights. Veral at Lead Bullet Technologies specializes in cast bullet designs heavy for caliber with as much of the bullet weight as possible in the nose, maximizing case room for powder. This would likely require an LFT (Long Flat Nose) design, and you'll have to work up your own loads for this project. Veral doesn't offer any data whatsoever since much of what he does is custom work to the buyers specifications. According to his website he draws the line at 260 grains for this combination. Expect to answer specific questions about what you're doing, how you're doing it, and about your goals. Once he receives payment he will cut the mould according to the information you give him. Be prepared, he can be a mite cranky at times, but he's one of the best men I've dealt with for custom work. No, he doesn't accept credit cards. https://lbtmolds.com/OurMolds/tabid/5807/Default.aspx#auto
This is what they look like, my mould is a 230 grain LFN, cut to my bore dimensions as determined by slugging the barrel, and according to the alloy I specified.
joethereloader
New Member
thank you all for answering
fiver
Well-Known Member
that LEE Jon mentioned would be my first step.
a 2 cavity 30 dollar mold to play with is easy to get started with.
4 grs. of Unique is a low enough starting point to stay out of trouble.
i'd do 4-5 then make a step and so on.
i used to sell thousands of the 452664 [similar to the LEE 255] to the bowling pin guys.
a 2 cavity 30 dollar mold to play with is easy to get started with.
4 grs. of Unique is a low enough starting point to stay out of trouble.
i'd do 4-5 then make a step and so on.
i used to sell thousands of the 452664 [similar to the LEE 255] to the bowling pin guys.
358156 hp
At large, whereabouts unknown.
As an aside, I ran Lyman 452490 in a 1911 for quite a while. This is a 250 gr. RNFP designed for 45 Colt. In fact it is Lymans 45 Colt design for those who want to use an original style bullet in their single-actions. My Colts also digest the 452423 Keith design mentioned above without drama, but at the end I went with the LBT design above, a 4 cavity MP 452374 HP, various H&G 68s (my current one is from SAECO), and I sold the rest of them off. All the 250 gr loads did for me was recoil slightly heavier and leave bowling pins spinning on the table. I checked Accurates site, and they list a number of potential choices as well.