Bullet weight??? Reloading the 1911 in 45acp.

[1911crazy]

I figured i'd ask this here about whats your favorite bullet weight for reloading the 45acp/1911.  I'm looking for a few ideas too.  Is there something heavier than 230grs thats accurate in the 1911 maybe for a hunting side arm.  A heavier bullet for the upclose protection.  The 1911 has been my choice at night when i'm using the outdoor plumbing in the wilds.  What about the lead cast larger bullets, is there any you guys like?

The other bullet i'm looking for is something that will feed in any 1911/45acp.  I know it has to be round nose ball ammo similair to surplus or wolf ammo.  This is a tough one because i may end up reloading the 230gr jacketed round nose, the industry standard for the 45acp/1911.  I see they offer lighter bullets in the round nose too.

I would like to load some plinkin ammo too.  I see the 155gr swc lead,  the 200gr swc lead and the flat nose 230gr lead.  Ok whats your favorite on these?  I want some cheap bullets for shooting targets at 25yds.  I don't like to shoot jacketed hollow points at paper targets its a waste of good bullets.

[tomray]

1911crazy,

I've been shooting the 200 Gr SWC H&G style #68 bullet for 25+ years. I use it for target, plinking, and sometimes as a carry round in the woods, as I load so much of them. I load to about 950 FPS, and have no complaints.
I will tell you up front, Not all 1911's want to feed this bullet , so you may need to do some throating and polishing in your gun.
Performancewise, on small critters like woodchucks, skunks and a Coyote, I have no reason to complain...Although, this combo is a little too much for Squirrels.....

For a defense carry round, I like the 230Gr Hollow point or the Hyra-shock, in factory loads..........These feed reliably in almost any 1911.

Tom

[Mikey]

Crazy:  I have one powder charge for 3 different weight 45 acp bullets that in the weight range of 230-240 gns:  two fmj slugs, anybody's round nose fmj or fmj/fp, and the Mag-Tech 230 gn fmj-swc; and in cast, the 238 gn Lyman 452423 slug.  This cast slug is a Elmer Keith design for the 45 Auto Rim and it works just fine in the 45 acp.  I load either of those 3 slugs over 6.7 of Unique for a average 875-890'/sec depending on the manual I am using.  If I want to use either of the semi-wadcutter designs in a hunting mode I will bump up the charge to move them out to around 950.  Both slugs are very accurate and neither of the swc designs deform when shot into cut chunks of tree trunk.  

You may have to adjust your seating a tiny bit to get the cast swc to properly cycle in your action but after that you are golden.  You can purchase the cast slug from either Colorado Cast Bullets or Mt. Baldy Cast Bullets.  I have used the Mt. Baldy slugs before and they are very good.  HTH.

[buck460XVR]

I want some cheap bullets for shooting targets at 25yds.  I don't like to shoot jacketed hollow points at paper targets its a waste of good bullets.

For plinkin', my 5'' Colt Government likes the Berry's plated 200 gr. RSFP loaded over 6.7 grs. of Unique. Accurate, they feed well, and are a cheap alternative to jacketed if you don't cast your own. I'd check your local game laws before using hardball for hunting. In many areas, it's illegal to use non-expanding bullets on game animals.

[1911crazy]

I was also thinking of using larger weight cast RN bullets for protection in the wilds too.  I haven't ventured higher than 230gr so far in the 1911.  I see there are 260gr bullets for the 1911???

My thought are;  I have a mountainlion thats between 180lbs to 200lbs at my camp.  I've seen it upclose at times now.  I normally carry a 357mg or a 44mg most of the time on hikes.  On tv in canada a true life story was a hunter was attacked by a mountainlion and another hunter came to the rescue and shot it 3 or 4 times with a rifle before it let go.  I'm figuring my 1911 with larger heavier cast bullets would give me an edge against one or protecting my family against one.  I keep an sks with a 30rd mag at my camp but i can't go into the wilds with it on hikes.

I have about 3,000rds of 45acp brass ready to load and i would like to load a few different loads. I have them decapped, polished and the primer pockets clean so there ready to prime.

After 4 years of sitting idle at the new place my reloading bench is up and running ammo now.  I'll post pics of my setup soon.

[Mnswede]

Hornady 185gr and 230gr XTP's with Titegroup powder for defense rounds.  Use 200gr SWC with Titegroup powder for practice rounds.

[Mikey]

Mountain Lion, Puma or Cougar may be large cats but they are thin skinned predators and a 45 auto will clean their clocks.  Either of the two 45 swc slugs I mentioned at anywhere from 850-950 will get them down.  Mountain Lions have been taken with a 22 magnum.  A 45 will knock one right off its perch and they will usually ball up and roll around when they hit the ground and succumb to the wound fairly quickly.

Most large cats, even when hungry, usually avoid humans, especially those who make noise and kick dirt into their faces with a bullet or two......at least that has been my experience with cats that size. 

[Savage]

I have loaded the 255gr .45 Colt LSWC bullets from "Tennessee Valley Bullets" with good results. No feeding problems in any of my 1911s. I couldn't find load data for that bullet weight in .45acp, so I developed a couple of loads using Unique and Red Dot. The bullet I load most in acp, is the 200 gr LSWC from "Missouri Bullet Co" over a charge of Bullseye or Promo powder. I rarely load round nose bullets in anything. I still have a few thousand of the old "Valliant" 230gr LRN bullets I'll load sooner or later. The only reason I have those is they were purchased in volume through my club at a very reasonable price. Haven't shot any critters with any of the above, but I have every confidence they would work as well as any on anything I might encounter.
Savage

[jimone]

My Kimber likes the Lee TL452-230-TC as cast from wheel weights (no sizing) with 2 coats of tumble lube and a modest charge of HP38 (same as Winchester 231). wide meplat bullets kill great and penetrate in a straight line. With a dipper and an old cast iron pot you could try this for under $25 and upgrade to a 6 cavity mold and a bottom pour furnace for $100 if you like it. 

[1911crazy]

I found most of the loading specs in the LEE reloading book it has most of every spec on each caliber and bullet weight.  I ordered some 255grn rnfp cast and some 225grn swc to try and i'll get the others too.  I just may end up bullet casting in the end too.   I think the leadcast would also give a good bullet expansion too.

[Basicguy]

My most accurate load is using 200g RNFP hard cast. They have a crimp groove making me think they were made for the Colt 45. I charge them with a healthy dose of Winchester 231. They give me a 45 caliber hole on paper and a nice "thunk" on my gong.

I read that the 45ACP was designed for the 200 grain but for some reason the military brass decided that they wanted 230 grain.

[shot1]

I use to kill deer with a 1911A1 Colt with the #68 style 200 gr cast SWC and 7 grs of Unique. This will do about 1000 fps. Out to 50 to 60 yards it will drill a hole through a deer broadside and cut a 45 cal hole.
Be careful using heavy bullets, those over 230 grs in a 1911 and experimenting with unknown powder amounts. You can ring a barrel chamber quickly and the slam bang of much more violent working of the gun can do frame damage. The 45 ACP was designed to do it's thing with 230 grs and lighter bullets. On thin skin things 250 lbs or so you will have no problem putting them in the off position even with the old 230 FMJ if you put it on the off switch. Put the bullet where it is supposed to go and it will do the job.