FMJ .45 colt bullets

[Maht_g]

The article I read years ago that started this project for me said the guy was getting full penetration on 12” dia trees with this load. He also told of a 130lb boar shot in the *** while running straight away. Bullet traveled the length of the hog, exited the upper back between the shoulders, then re-entered the back of the head and exited the face. From memory range was about 70 yards. Check your background when you shoot these.


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Using what bullet?

Edit: reread your first post, 300gr jsp

[ruggyh]

The 225 or 250 Barnes will have no issues on pigs

The 240 XTP MAGS will also be just fine on pigs

I am curious about your feeding issue with your gun
What bullets cycle well in it?

As a side note the last pig (170 lbs) my wife took was finished with a 225 Barnes and it passed through both shoulders and was not recovered at 1300 fps.

Pig are not bullet proof - use a hunting bullet,

Any of the recommended bullets in this thread (including those Sierra's) will be sufficient if shoot placement is good.

be safe
Ruggy

[wbunning]

I am curious about your feeding issue with your gun
What bullets cycle well in it?

Ruggy

[Maht_g]

This, just limited on length. Heavy bullets get to be too long

[Maht_g]

Ordering a box of Barnes xpb 225 and Speer 300 jsp to start. I’ll play with those and see what goes... wanted a box of Speer 260gr jhp too but they are backordered. Next time

[Whiterabbit]

31 cents a pop.

These are 20 cents a pop

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2046398440/hunters-supply-hard-cast-bullets-45-caliber-452-diameter-275-grain-lead-flat-nose

They will hold up. As will 300 grain hardcast shot with a ruger-only load of H110.

The 250 is even more budget friendly at 18-16 cents a pop

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2046894387/hunters-supply-hard-cast-bullets-45-caliber-452-diameter-250-grain-lead-flat-nose

[Maht_g]

31 cents a pop.

These are 20 cents a pop

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2046398440/hunters-supply-hard-cast-bullets-45-caliber-452-diameter-275-grain-lead-flat-nose

They will hold up. As will 300 grain hardcast shot with a ruger-only load of H110.

The 250 is even more budget friendly at 18-16 cents a pop

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/20...lead-flat-nose

[JagerDog]

If you want to put something down, those are xlnt choices IMHO.

I run the 260 gr in my SAAMI pressure rounds (Circuit Judge not rated for +P). It wouldn't be used for hunting except in a pinch/survival thing.

[Carcassonne]

Are you looking for 0.454" or 0.451" bullets?

Any bullet for 45ACP is 0.451" diameter.

At one time Hornady had 0.454" bullets, but I don't see them on their website anymore.

You could try to resize a 0.458" bullet down to 0.454".

https://leeprecision.com/new-lube-size-kit-.454.html

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/45-cal-458-250-gr-monoflex#!/

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[Carcassonne]

... Are hardcast appreciably better than plated for withstanding velocity?

I do not know your definition of the word "appreciably."

Plated bullets are usually made from soft 6-8 BHN lead. Hardcast is usually 12+ BHN. Once the thin copper plating is worn off, the soft lead core of the plated bullet will (most likely) shear and cause poor accuracy/precision.

A hardcast bullet would most likely work better for you, especially if it has a copper gas check.



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[Maht_g]

Are you looking for 0.454" or 0.451" bullets?

Any bullet for 45ACP is 0.451" diameter.

At one time Hornady had 0.454" bullets, but I don't see them on their website anymore.

You could try to resize a 0.458" bullet down to 0.454".

https://leeprecision.com/new-lube-size-kit-.454.html

https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/45-cal-458-250-gr-monoflex#!/

All the jacketed and solid copper 45colt projectiles I’ve seen are .451”... I’m thinking the 45acp heads without canellure won’t crimp enough to hold properly in the tubular magazine. I’ve only seen a couple lead bullets that were .454”, most have been .452”.

10-4 on the hardcast, may look into them if I can’t get what I want from the bullets I ordered

[Whiterabbit]

You will get what you want from the bullets you ordered. But at 30 cents a pop for the cheap ones, it's an expensive prospect. Much less the barnes, for which you have no choice unless you are on private land or out of state.

I don't know about appreciably, but I cast hardcast in 250, 300, and 440-ish grains, as well as buy hardcast in 300 grains, and I shoot them in Ruger-only 45 colts as well as 460 S&W which has a pressure ceiling over double the Ruger-only 45 colt.

They shoot just fine.

If your bullet has plenty of bearing surface, and those bullets I linked to have plenty of bearing surface, you will be able to push them with well over 20 grains of H110 in a 45 colt and not strip them out on your rifling. I shoot the 300 grain bullets with 23 grains of H110 in a 45 colt case. Recoil is frisky.

If you only plan to try hardcast if the barnes and speer don't work, you can disregard hardcast entirely. The jacketed and solid copper bullets will work just fine too. They are just more expensive. If that's not a factor, then it's all good. shoot your jacketed and be merry.

I would not worry about the distinction between .451, .452, and .454 for now. If it chambers, it shoots.

[Carcassonne]

I used non-canular bullets in my 454 Cassul revolver and did not have a problem as long as I used a heavy roll crimp. I do not know how they would work in a tube magazine.



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[Whiterabbit]

ditto here, I shoot in 45 colt with H110 and 460 S&W and don't crimp at all. Just enough taper to get the bell out, and they do not jump crimp. I didn't mention it because I also don't know how they would work in a tube magazine.

But I know how I would figure it out.

I'd make a dummy round with my chosen bullet and go shooting with my regular stuff. It would get cycled through 5-6 magazines full of recoil, and if I could not measure setback with calipers, or measured absolute minimal setback, I'd figure GTG.

I'ts exactly what I did when I stopped crimping with 460 S&W, and after my bullet did not measurably move after two cylinderfuls of hot rounds, I figured crimp was not needed for that bullet choice. (I have tested it with some light soft-cast and locked up my gun once....that bullet clearly needed to be crimped....)

[Maht_g]

You will get what you want from the bullets you ordered. But at 30 cents a pop for the cheap ones, it's an expensive prospect. Much less the barnes, for which you have no choice unless you are on private land or out of state.



I don't know about appreciably, but I cast hardcast in 250, 300, and 440-ish grains, as well as buy hardcast in 300 grains, and I shoot them in Ruger-only 45 colts as well as 460 S&W which has a pressure ceiling over double the Ruger-only 45 colt.

They shoot just fine.

If your bullet has plenty of bearing surface, and those bullets I linked to have plenty of bearing surface, you will be able to push them with well over 20 grains of H110 in a 45 colt and not strip them out on your rifling. I shoot the 300 grain bullets with 23 grains of H110 in a 45 colt case. Recoil is frisky.

If you only plan to try hardcast if the barnes and speer don't work, you can disregard hardcast entirely. The jacketed and solid copper bullets will work just fine too. They are just more expensive. If that's not a factor, then it's all good. shoot your jacketed and be merry.

I would not worry about the distinction between .451, .452, and .454 for now. If it chambers, it shoots.

I know they are a bit pricey, but once I get the load developed I doubt I’ll be shooting very many of them. A box of 50 bullets would likely last me many years for hunting purposes. Maybe I’ll get some hardcast for +p plinking to keep things interesting

My dad has a ton of 45acp bullets, I was reluctant to try them because all the colt bullets I saw had the canellure so figured it was necessary for the roll crimp. Damn, live and learn, could’ve used his stock and saved some money!