Author Topic: FA97 .45 Colt bullet selection (Read 2273 times)

Humbo · « **on:** May 30, 2009, 05:23:18 AM »

While I'm waiting for my FA97 .45 Colt, I was thinking I should get me some new molds to play with. I've read about the limited selection of boolits due to the COL of the 97, but how long nose will it actually handle? I want Veral at LBT to cut me a couple of 4-cavity molds, in the 250-300 grain range. Someone mentioned that the 260 gr LFN was an excellent choice, I think I will go for that one. Does anyone have any other good suggestions as well?
Thanks guys!

fowler · « **Reply #1 on:** May 30, 2009, 06:02:34 AM »

If you tell Veral the gun you have he will cut the molds accordingly. You get basically maxed out at 1.600" OAL for the the 45 colt in the FA97. The WFN fits the easiest but while some guns seem to shoot them very well at shorter ranges they tend to destabilize at longer ranges worse than LFN or Keiths do. The LFN tends to, in my experience, shoot through more guns well than any other designs, I have found very few guns that don't like properly cast LFN bullets.

If the 1.600" OAL will leave enough lenght for a LFN bullet you are set, if not have him cut you of of his Keith bullets for the 260gr weight, should be a great match. I would also suggest having a 300gr bullet that has a different nose to it so you know what bullet is in your cases when you grab them. If they have the same nose profile then you may grab the loads without knowing it. It has been a trick that has worked well for me through a lot of different 45 molds and loads..

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2009, 12:29:47 PM »

See Bob Baker's comments in this thread and it should answer your question also.

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,172800.0.html

fowler · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2009, 01:11:59 PM »

Bill that response from Bob was to the .357 in a 83 not a 97 and the 83 cylinder is longer than the 97 by a fair bit....

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2009, 04:47:54 PM »

Same process. Measure cylinder and use that in the computation.

Humbo · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2009, 06:53:05 AM »

Thanks for the replies.
But I don't have the gun yet, so don't really know how long the cylinder is. I guess it should be possible to find the exact measurements somewhere on the net, I'll look around.

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2009, 09:59:13 AM »

I don't have time to look for it right now but I think we've discussed it on this forum at least a half dozen times. I know I've measured and posted it at least twice myself.

c.r. · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2009, 10:40:09 AM »

Humbo,
Take a look at this link:
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,163835.0.html
I believe this might be the answer you're looking for.

If in doubt give Freedom Arms a call.............. I've read that FA states max oal of 1.610

hope that helps
c.r.

Humbo · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2009, 12:01:42 PM »

c.r, that helped a lot. It looks like that was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again everyone.

Bob Baker · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2009, 04:46:42 PM »

The M97 max. cartridge length is 1.6 OAL so take the 1.6 minus the case length to get the max. allowable nose length. This will allow for some bullet pull.

I'm in Raton NM for the next week. Will be shooting a variety of guns including the single shot. Last Thursday we finished up a couple new barrels for the single shot so we could try them out here at the Whittington Center.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #10 on:** June 01, 2009, 12:37:00 AM »

we shot mark cassuls 97 at one of the linebaugh seminars with my loads using a 300 rcbs 300 swcgc. that bullet fit the gun. It was right to the end of the cylinder but with a good crimp gave no problems. that bullet is my favorite 45 heavy anyway. It is accurate in about any gun ive shot it in and is a good flyer at long range.

Humbo · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2009, 06:15:14 AM »

I have the RCBS 300 gr SWCGC mold, then I have a reference of what the 97 will handle. I measured the nose of that boolit to be .35, maybe I should order my molds with just a tad shorter nose so I won't have any surprises. My new unfired Starline .45 Colt brass measured 1.275, and with a .35 nose length, I will be pushing it. Can't wait to give it a try though.

Humbo · « **Reply #12 on:** June 02, 2009, 12:19:09 PM »

It just came to mind, I didn't mention what sights I wanted when ordering the 97. I sure hope the standard comes with adjustable sights?

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #13 on:** June 09, 2009, 12:19:48 PM »

It does.

Humbo · « **Reply #14 on:** June 09, 2009, 12:28:14 PM »

That was a relief. I also found a mold in a drawer that looks perfect for the FA97. It's a custom SWC mold from SAECO, 265 grs. Nose length is just a tad shorter than on the RCBS 300 SWCGC. Can't wait to get my hands on my new gun.

calibros · « **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2009, 09:57:08 PM »

Quote from: Humbo on May 30, 2009, 05:23:18 AM

While I'm waiting for my FA97 .45 Colt, I was thinking I should get me some new molds to play with. I've read about the limited selection of boolits due to the COL of the 97, but how long nose will it actually handle? I want Veral at LBT to cut me a couple of 4-cavity molds, in the 250-300 grain range. Someone mentioned that the 260 gr LFN was an excellent choice, I think I will go for that one. Does anyone have any other good suggestions as well?
Thanks guys!

Hi

Why not take a look at a mould from Lyman? The 325gr gas check mould from lyman works perfect in my Mod 97 and it fit`s nicly in the short FA 97 cylinder. (two crimpgroves)
At 1100-1200 fps it is a nice hunting gun for almost everything...

Best regards Cali..

Humbo · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2009, 11:42:30 PM »

Cali, hi and thank you for the reply. I had big hopes for the Lyman 452490 in my .454 Casull, and also realised it should be a great boolit for the .45 as well. But my mold would just not cast round boolits, they were.452 on one side, as small as .447 on the other. I'm waiting for a replacement from Lyman, hopefully they'll send me a new one that is cut to specs. What powder do you use? N110 should do the trick?

calibros · « **Reply #17 on:** June 23, 2009, 04:12:23 AM »

Quote from: Humbo on June 21, 2009, 11:42:30 PM

Cali, hi and thank you for the reply. I had big hopes for the Lyman 452490 in my .454 Casull, and also realised it should be a great boolit for the .45 as well. But my mold would just not cast round boolits, they were.452 on one side, as small as .447 on the other. I'm waiting for a replacement from Lyman, hopefully they'll send me a new one that is cut to specs. What powder do you use? N110 should do the trick?

Yep for a scandinavian Vihtavuori is the easiest powder to get and N110 is nice for most mag loads. 17gr behind the 325 LY in the 97 ( 1100fps) and 21gr behind a modified 420gr lyman 458" mould taken down to 378gr in the m83 .454 (1350fps)

Humbo · « **Reply #18 on:** June 24, 2009, 09:45:05 AM »

Well fellow Freedom Arms enthusiasts, I just brought home my new baby. And what a beauty she is. It's the first time ever actually seeing and handling a 97, and I must say I really like it. Perfectly balanced, small and handy and with plenty of power in the .45 Colt. Man, this is going to be a fun gun to shoot. And I'm just overly happy I decided to go with the .45 Colt over the .41 magnum, I have plenty of molds from 255 grains to 325 grains that fit this gun beautifully. No problems with a tight loading gate, trigger pull is crisp (honed to about 3 lbs) and it looks to have plenty of strength to handle high performance Colt+P loads. Only drawback is, I want another one right away in .357 magnum.

Sverre A. · « **Reply #19 on:** June 24, 2009, 11:36:17 AM »

Lyman 325 gr/H110-20 gr. = 1050 fps in my Bisley 5,5 ", and I guess that you will get 50-100 fps more in a FA

Humbo · « **Reply #20 on:** June 24, 2009, 12:14:41 PM »

Sverre, when getting my 325 mold back from Lyman I'll check it out. Where did you get your hands on H110? Staffans?

Sverre A. · « **Reply #21 on:** June 25, 2009, 12:47:02 PM »

Yes - in connection with some hunting

Humbo · « **Reply #22 on:** June 26, 2009, 12:31:31 PM »

Which holster do you 97 owners use? Are there any from Galco that will fit? I really like their Phoenix cross draw holsters.

MarkH · « **Reply #23 on:** June 27, 2009, 12:36:28 PM »

For that gun, I am using the Texas High Ride from Ted Blocker.

Humbo · « **Reply #24 on:** June 27, 2009, 01:09:08 PM »

Thanks for the tip Mark, I will check out the holsters from Ted Blocker right away.

paul105 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 27, 2009, 03:58:16 PM »

Mark,

Is this the holster?

Thanks,

Paul

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #26 on:** June 28, 2009, 02:30:26 AM »

I'm not Mark, 'cause he's only half my age, and I'm only half his height, but yes, that's it.

paul105 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 28, 2009, 04:12:40 PM »

Thanks Ken,

Paul

MarkH · « **Reply #28 on:** June 28, 2009, 04:30:47 PM »

That's it ... a good rig for a 5-1/2" or 7-1/2" gun.

paul105 · « **Reply #29 on:** June 28, 2009, 04:55:17 PM »

Mark, thanks.

Paul