My 45 LC barrel slugs to .453

[TippyRacer]

Just thought I would put that out there, doing an archive search lots of people ask what to use but usually not a lot of real answers.  And the couple answers that I've found usually say theirs measures to .452.

I was surprised by this so I slugged it twice, got .453 both times.  And I verified my nice Mitutoyo digital with a bunch of different pin guages I have for measuring cylinder throats, it read correctly from .357 to .452, so my calipers seem to be accurate.

Have to say I am a wee bit disappointed, that's a bit on the outer acceptability of generous.  Oh well, guess it's old style .454 lead boolits for me 

[quickdtoo]

.453" is within SAAMI specs, nominal is .450", tolerance is +/- .004", each time a rifling broach is sharpened it cuts a slightly smaller bore, so they start with maximum tolerance to get the most life out of tooling. Mine is .4525" at the muzzle, larger bore diameters at the muzzle are common because H&R(Marlin) barrels aren't stress relieved and are turned after they're rifled, the muzzle end of the barrel being turned smaller in diameter ends up with a slightly larger bore than at the chamber end, ~.0005", the big bores show it the most.

Tim

http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Drawings/Pistol/45%20Colt.pdf

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,118245.msg1098387522.html#msg1098387522

[rdlange]

I whacked an egg sinker down mine, and it showed .453 also.  I got some .454 lead bullets and a mold that casts .454-5 is on the way.  Planned to shoot lead anyway.  Considering gas checks for hotter loads.

[TippyRacer]

Thanks Tim, I know that it is technically "within spec" but was certainly hoping for a might bit tighter.

larger bore diameters at the muzzle are common because H&R(Marlin) barrels aren't stress relieved and are turned after they're rifled, the muzzle end of the barrel being turned smaller in diameter ends up with a slightly larger bore than at the chamber end, ~.0005", the big bores show it the most.

That would make item # 47,132,955 that I didn't know about Handi's, and you do!

Oh and the lands measured to .447 on mine, so the rifling is a skinny .003.  That jibes with your old linked post too.

[TippyRacer]

Considering gas checks for hotter loads.

I can't on any planet envision shooting anything faster than 1400-1500 fps out of mine, so no need for the extrordinary expense and hassle of gas checks here.  Basic 6/2 alloy with a good fit will do me fine.
Been poking around for some commercial cast today, too bad Missouri Bullets doesn't have a .454 sizer (I asked, .452 only), and Penn by default only offers his soft cast alloy.  You can custom order his 45 LC .454 in the harder alloy but that adds a lot of time to what is usually a slow order process anyways.
Looks like Dardas has what I need at a competitive price.

[gcrank1]

I wouldnt be surprised to find that the Lee 45LC moulds throw an 'as cast ' dia. of .453-.454, then just pan lube and load.

[Doublebass73]

0.4525" here.

[quickdtoo]

Mine shoots jacketed 250gr Speers and Hornady SSTs ~2" @ 100yds, at a little over 1900fps using Hodgdon Lil'gun +P data, so I wouldn't give up on jacketed bullets, for cast I'd load the biggest bullet you can chamber, whatever will fit in unsized fired brass should shoot great. 

Tim

[tomf52]

+1 on what gcrank1 said. I own a number of Lee molds and every one of them casts .001" to .002" over advertised size with wheel weights.