Suggestions for a good cast bullet for 45 ACP

Ian

Notorious member
It's a "First World problem", for certain. Not the end of the world, and entirely correctable. I have no experience with TG or LS powders, Bullseye is entertainment enough of that sort.

SO true, Allen. But hey, it's all a matter of perspective isn't it? People like us do our part to make this country "first world", and are thus entitled to expect the benefits. I've been meaning to buy a stick of clear polycarbonate tubing and make a new Uniflow hopper how that I have a lathe, just haven't followed through yet. First world problems, first world solutions.
 
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Ole_270

Well-Known Member
I don't ahve the experience of the other guys here since I only load for one 45, Sig Stainless Target, and only a couple years at that. I use two molds, a Lee #68 clone, and a Lee 200 gr RF. My barrel has been throated by Doug Guy to allow seating the RF out to decent lengths. I've only had a couple misfeeds in the two years, both caused by not removing quite enough of the case bell and allowing the mouth of the case to hang up when feeding. With my limited eyesight and shooting ability with a handgun, I really can't tell much difference in accuracy between the bullets. I'm trending on liking the RF a little better, but that may have more to do with that one being a 6 cavity mold that really turns out a pile of bullets with little effort.
For powder, I've tried several, but tend to stick to HP-38/W231 with Universal on backup if I run out. I keep quite a bit of Universal on hand for 16 ga. and light 38-55 use.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Too little TC has cause tons more problems than too much TC. Yet, somehow "too much taper crimp" seems
to be a common worry.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Speer #11 has 473AA data for a few handgun calibers, 38 SPL and 45 ACP and a few others I think.

Yes Sir, have it and used the data for both cartridges to good effect. A work associate had a nearly full half-keg of the stuff and traded me all but two pounds for working up some .45 ACP loads for him because he couldn't locate any data. I threw in a few hundred cast bullets with two labeled bottles of the powder show my gratitude, loaded 1200 .38s with powder-coated Lee 125s (473AA doesn't bother plastic) for myself, and still have about 11 pounds left.
 

Intel6

Active Member
Yep, I was a big 452AA fan back then and used it frequently. Still use lots of WST for both cast bullet handgun loads and shot shells. Funny how every so often someone will pop up with a can of 452AA or 473AA and cant find data. I have posted scanned pages of #11 more than once.
 
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358156 hp

At large, whereabouts unknown.
It's kind of funny that you mention this. I was gifted a lb of 473AA recently by a friend. I haven't gotten around to deciding what to use it for.
 

Ian

Notorious member
It's kind of funny that you mention this. I was gifted a lb of 473AA recently by a friend. I haven't gotten around to deciding what to use it for.

A pound will go a long way. Light .38 and .45 loads do well with the stuff, nothing special but it goes bang and is pretty clean.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
452AA was a screwy powder. Years ago, I did the chrono testing for our IPSC club.
That powder would go slower when it was hot, and faster when it got cold. Guys who had
worked up a load in the summer had primers showing serious overpressure in the winter.
I personally never used it, but did chrono some of other's ammo and found some in the summer
that was too slow....had been worked up in the winter, too slow in the summer. Reverse issue, too,
as I said.

Hard to know how this might actually happen, but the data was clear. I always assumed that
this was why it was discontinued.

I have not the slightest clue whether 473AA has anything at all do do with 452AA beyond the
names being vaguely similar, could be entirely different powder technologies. Not trying
to imply anything about other powders.

And this commentary is only related to use in .45 ACP. I have no idea what it may do in shotshells
or in other handgun cartridges.

Bill
 
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Ian

Notorious member
Yes, that's why I wouldn't go much past a middle-range load in metallic cases, no idea what the stuff will do in hot or cold temperatures. Actually, it does fine in hot weather, but I never tested them after sitting in the sun for a while.
 

Pistolero

Well-Known Member
Maybe too much nitroglycerine in that 452AA, 'getting back to it's roots' or something.
Seemed pretty odd to me, and why I never tried it.

Bill
 

Brother_Love

Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the suggestions. I borrowed a Lee 200 gr TL from a friend and cast up a 100 or so. Loaded them over 4 gr of BE. I used a 8” steel at 20 yds and got 55 out of 60 hits. I will check it on paper this week. I also have a Lyman copy of the H&G 68 on the way too. So far, I’m a happy camper.
Thanks again!
 

Alstep

Member
H&G 68 clone and 4.0 gr Bullseye is a nice mild load that doesn't beat you or your gun up, is accurate and reliable in all my 1911's (Kimber, Colts, & GI). Cast in RCBS & Accurate molds with 50/50 Pb/ww, size .452, NRA lube, taper crimp .470, 1.250 COAL. You & your gun will be happy.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
You guys and Bullseye. I want to avoid bringing home more powder.
Stop leading me down the wrong path....
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
I like BE but I only have about a pound of it. Redot on the other hand I have around nine pounds. It works well for me. I know Brad is a fan of Redot as well.