[shu]

B'lieve I've asked this before, but never did get an answer.

Full wad cutters are a popular load for the 38spl. Seating deeper in the case (flush with the case mouth) they have the happy result of reducing case volume behind the bullet.

As to punching holes in paper, I find full wadcutters make nice clean holes. (At least in 38spl. Never been able to try them in 45colt.) Semi-wadcutters (38spl, 45colt, 45acp) are no better than round nose or any other, leaving jagged and ripped edges.

45colt, like 38spl, is a cartridge from the black powder days, with case volume inconveniently large for smokeless powder. Muzzle velocity of 800fps for target loads are about the same - with 148gr bullet for 38spl and maybe 250gr bullet for 45colt.

Why are there not more bullet offerings of 45colt wad cutters?

Is there something about the surface/volume ratio that makes a 45colt full wadcutter cause more leading or higher pressures? something about the geometry that makes the bullet more likely to tumble in 45colt than 38spl?

38spl wadcutters are reported to be 'good for small game out to 50 yards'. (Don't know from personal experience. I'm a paper puncher not a hunter.) Maybe 45colt would leave nothing salvageable from a rabbit. Maybe the CAS folks want a lighter bullet than 255gr (to keep the cost down) and at that weight a bullet with some kind of snout is needed for stability...

Don't know, but I keep wondering.. There must be some reason there are not more 45 colt full wadcutters out there.

[Walkalong]

You could load the Penn bullets (http://www.pennbullets.com/45/45-caliber.html) 225 wadcutter, or try their 270 Grain Thunderhead. They are offered in .452 & .454. I am the same way. I think full wadcutters should be available in ALL calibers. (Hint Hint bullet companys)

[Stinger]

I'd give them a try, but I have a different experience with the SWC's than you. They leave holes much more uniform than RN or HP's. I'd say the hole is just as good as a WC.

[highlander 5]

if you cast your own bullets Saeco has a 225 gr wadcutter mould and a 255 gr that can be special ordered. I own the 255 gr block and they are accurate out of my 45 Colt revolvers and cast big enough to use in my 45/70 for light loads

[ADKWOODSMAN]

For lite plinking, paper punching, small game, sinply turn the bullets over and shoot flat end first. When I was trying to fill space for
SASS shoots, I simply loaded them backward! I'm assuming your firing them in a revolver. Saves buying a new mold.
RDH

[Bezoar]

actually they developed Trailboss for this purpose, of making a powder that fills alot more of the case to deal with this issue.

[Bluehawk]

I use 252 grain semi-wadcutters from a Lee mold and they cut nice round holes in paper from my .45 Colt Ruger Vaquero-Bisley...no need for full wadcutters as far as I'm concerned.

[mballai]

I've always been happy with a 45 Colt SWC. One of the most pleasant loads to shoot bar none and scary accurate too.

[pinkymingeo]

I just got some 250gr lwc's from montanabulletworks.com. Haven't tried them yet, but they look good. I'm going to use them for self-defense loads, not paper punching. I'm trying some 250WFNs, too. The bullets are very similar. Not much to choose between them.

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Bezor
Yes on the trail boss--also Schofield cases. With one new shellholder and a set of spacers from redding I didn't even have to purchase new dies.
RDH

[Bad Flynch]

Wadcutters should be nice in the .45 Colt now that we have bulkier powders and some powders that are not so position sensitive. Full wadcutters, in years past, were quite popular in the .44 Special and were often shot in the S&W M24 for target work.

The .45 Colt revolver has never had the reputation for being as accurate as a really good .44 Special revolver. Part of that may be the revolvers so chambered and part of it due to the rather cavernous case capacity of the .45 Colt.

Try them, properly sized for the throats and with a soft lube, in a modern .45 Colt. Best powders may be Unique, TrailBoss, or TiteGroup.

[JoeHatley]

Semi-wadcutters (38spl, 45colt, 45acp) are no better than round nose or any other, leaving jagged and ripped edges.

????????? I've had pretty good luck using SWC bullets in my S&W 25-5 .45 Colt
http://www.iowatelecom.net/~hatley/25_5_6_sf.jpg

Full wadcutters may cut a bit cleaner hold, but I don't think the difference would be much.

Joe

[ChuckS1]

Joe,what's the load recipe that shot that group? Really nice...

[JoeHatley]

200 grain Cast or Plated SWC
7.2 grains Bullseye
Star-Line brass
Federal 150 primer

Does right at 900 fps in a 6" barrel.

Joe