45 Colt/45ACP

Folks that have one of these would.

https://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/specSheets/0446.html

I don't because I don't like a crimp groove in my 45 ACP bullets and won't load the 45 Colt without a crimp groove. I also like a 250/255gr bullet for the 45 Colt and a 230gr bullet for the 45 Auto but I could work with that if it weren't for the crimp grooves.

Yup - the difference is between jacketed & lead.
The jacketed bullet will be .001" different than lead.

I used .452" 200 gr swc for both (sometimes)
Sometimes I use 230 gr for acp.

I like a difference just to keep the shooting interesting.

I have used 255grn coated in my Nineteen Eleven to very slow and very accurate success.
I don't have a revolver to try it the other way with.

Many AK users state fine accuracy with .308 bullets even though the proper bullet should be .311.

With a soft Auto bullet it may work well in the revolver.

ontarget said:

Does anyone use the same bullets in 45 Colt and 45 ACP reloads? I see I'm my manuals that there is a .001" difference in the groove diameter of the two.
Just curious as I like to keep my inventory as simple as possible to help avoid mistakes.

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I never loaded anything heavier than a 230 gr bullet in my 1911's because the recoil is too hard on the gun. I had a Colt 1911 peen its frame out within 3000 rounds, the pistol was defective from the factory, but that made an impression that I do not want to over accelerate the side. The 45 LC is at its best with a 250/255 grain bullet, that is a good combination of speed, recoil, accuracy. That bullet is too heavy for a M1911, but its your gun.

I have fired lots of 230 FMJ's in my 45 LC, point of impact was radically different, can't say whether the difference between a 0.452" and 0.451" bullet made any difference on paper. What did make a huge difference was the size of the chamber mouths in the 45 LC. Third Generation Colt SAA revolvers have reported 0.458" chamber mouths and nothing but hollow base bullets are going to shoot acceptably in something that out of whack.* I had a S&W M25-2 with 0.455" chamber mouths and it would not group 0.452" bullets less than four inches at 25 yards. Might have been six inches, but the group was large and the barrel leaded. I found 0.454" diameter bullets and the pistol shot well. But in 1989 I found this S&W had 0.452" chamber mouths and made a trade with the LGS for this:







This was the first year S&W reduced their 45LC chamber mouths from 0.455" to 0.452" and it made one heck of a difference in accuracy with 0.452" bullets. Experimenting with my lot of 0.454" bullets, I could not tell a difference in accuracy in this pistol, and others, firing 0.454" bullets down a revolver with a 0.452" chamber mouths, so I continue to buy the larger diameter bullets. I also have a few Colt New Service and one five screw S&W 45 Auto Rim.

*It was not until this year that the in print crowd reported that third Generation Colts had 0.458" diameter chamber mouths. For decades these characters published charts showing chamber mouth sizes for Colt SAA's dating back to the 1890's if not earlier. But they always avoided mentioning that current production Colt SAA's had serious mismatch issues between the common cast bullets (0.452"), 0.458" Colt chamber mouths and factory barrel diameters. Without a doubt it was because they are afraid that anything that might be construed as negative would affect advertising revenue from Colt, so they deliberately ignored the problem. Omissions in the press indicate a problem, you must never assume that if they don't address it, that somehow the world will fit into your optimistic assumptions. Based on the lack of data on new Colts I decide to call USFA and ask them about their chamber dimensions. I heard all the good words I needed to buy a USFA Rodeo and it is an accurate pistol with either 0.452" bullets or 0.454" bullets.

Yes am regularly using 200 lrnfp in 45 acp, 45 LC and 45 AR. With the standard Magma mold design, you can seat them ahead of , or behind the crimp groove. Very accurate loads can be made with 255 lrnfp in 45 acp loaded fairly mildly. Jacketed bullets designed for 45 acp can be loaded in 45 LC by using 45 acp die to neck size the 45 LC case, Accuracy depends on your individual gun's specs.

For target loads, the 200 grain SWC is excellent for both.

I load for both with 200gr. lead RNFP bullets sized .452.
Lafitte

http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=220&category=5&secondary=13

Same bullet is 45 Colt of 45 ACP

I've used ACP bullets in LC plinker loads, but since LC bullets usually start at 250 or so, I don't put those in ACP loads. The .001" diameter difference has never been a problem.

ontarget said:

So what would be the chamber mouth size I should be looking for in a 45 Colt Uberti SAA?

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.452"

murf

p.s. have to edit: with the stipulation that your barrel groove diameter is .452" or less. bullet dia. must always be equal to, or more than barrel groove diameter.

I tried unsuccessfully using a 200 grain semi wad cutter made for the ACP in the 45Colt. With no crimping groove, performance was erratic with a lot of unburned powder. Gave up and attributed it to the45Colts large case size. Now I just stick to bullets with a crimping groove and Trail Boss or 3F black powder. I also don’t shoot anything in either caliber that isn’t self cast lead.

I tend to run 250-255 grain flat point lead in .45 Colt and my favorite in .45 ACP is a commercial cast 225 grain flat point, both .452". All the .45C bullets sport crimp grooves, the .45 ACP bullets do not.

But you should be able to find something out there that would serve double duty if that's what you're looking for. The offerings these days both commercially and in mold designs are pretty plentiful.

Rule3 said:

http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=220&category=5&secondary=13

Same bullet is 45 Colt of 45 ACP

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That is the bullet that I use but I get the lubed ones, not the coated ones shown. I seat the .45acp flush with the forward edge of the front driving band and the .45 Colt just a bit deeper and crimped above the front band. Either the lubed or coated ones should work just fine. Incidentally, I have annealed my .45Colt cases in order to eliminate blowby.

Lafitte

What about the 240gr Hornady XTPMag? Or Speer 250 Deep Curl?

I use this in 450 Bushmaster, it would work well in the ol' Colt and, if used gently, can work in Fourth Five Auto. Niether of the new kids care of there is a groove, so long as the case mouth doesn't stop over it.

I have no doubts of Slamfires findings. But I personally don't mind the difference. A 230 at 890 or a 250 Speer at 800. (values estimated, I load warmer...)

To use only one bullet and know not to hot rod it and use it for everything and every gun...
I think ultimate longevity is not a concern.
Sometimes it's the challenge, self impose or not.

Yes. It's fine. Best bullet to share is a lee 230gr TC tumble lube bullet

I use 230 gr RNL and 185 plated FP bullets more suited for .45 ACP in .45 Colt loads over Unique every once in a while.

The RNL bullets load really easy in the old style Vaquero, much smoother through the loading gate than a SWC. They shoot pretty well from the old Vaquero and from the .454SRH and the Rossi 1892 clone as well.

Stay safe.

Montana Gold 200 grainers work superbly in both out of my guns.

I've used the same 200 grain bullet in both for many years.

jmorris said:

Folks that have one of these would.

https://ruger.com/products/newModelBlackhawkConvertible/specSheets/0446.html

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That brought a sad old memory back.......the 7 1/2" model was my first pistol, first year after I got married. Loved that pistol.....but it was stolen out of my house....even tho hidden well. A nephew for drug money......He stole my Gold Cup too, but his Dad found that one in his drawer and I got it back.....but not the Ruger.....little turd. Guess what I did then? Bought a safe. doh. At least the kid cleaned up....