45 ACP recommended brass and bullets

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flexible

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Hi everyone, flexible here. Years ago i loaded up a LOT of 45 ACP and I'm ready to start a new run. I was using Winchester and Federal brass (which is now worn out) and Laser Cast/Oregon Trail 180/185 SWC hard cast bullets.
I definately need new brass and have been looking at Starline, I'm also looking for advice on bullets.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
thanks
flexible
 
You might be the 1st person I've ever heard of that managed to wear out .45ACP brass...

Starline certainly makes good brass but I've been very satisfied over the years with whatever "once fired" brass I've been able to get my hands on.

I cast my own bullets so I can't help with your bullet question but I'm sure someone will be along shortly with some suggestions.
 
I mainly use Acme Bullets 185gr swc. It's a coated bullet without a lube groove. Works well in my 1911's. My order usually arrives in three days.

I'll second the Starline brass. 45acp is currently on backorder and is .23 cents per if you order 500 pieces, or .20 cents per if you order 1K.

chris
 
I run mostly plated bullets from Berry's or X-Treme. I buy fired brass from someone like Diamond K Brass. Usually try to wait for sales, free shipping, etc. if possible.
 
The cast and lubed market is shrinking a little as more big suppliers turn to coating lead - and churning out bevel based bullets made of very high tin alloys. If accuracy is your goal avoid bevel base SWC and stick with flat base with less than 5% tin. A too hard bullet won’t shoot as accurately. For quality I like GT Bullets. But they’re running about five months behind filling orders right now.
Or, if you’re like me and feel lucky to hit the barn door from inside the stall get the 200gr SWC plated copper from Xtreme.
www.xtremebullets.com

45- 200 SWC

45- 200 SWC
www.xtremebullets.com
The website cost is a shade over what you can find on special if you hunt around. It’s a good bullet, as is their 185gr FP, but not “match grade.”
 
Didn’t know reloading was permitted in NJ nor shooting except in Newark or Camden.

If I had no other brass, had to buy brand new, and could recover all of it at the range, Starline would be a top choice. But I do, don’t, and can’t, so it’s not. Instead, beyond the fine folks here on THR, I’ve bought from these folks a few times https://blueridgebrass.com/

You said what bullets you did use, but not what you will now use. If it’s still cast, don’t know. Otherwise I‘ll second the Berry’s & Extreme bullet suggestion.
 
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flexible said:
Hi everyone, flexible here. Years ago i loaded up a LOT of 45 ACP and I'm ready to start a new run.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure what “LOT” means, but sounds like you’re not shooting enough! :)
I’ve been content with once fired brass for .45. Starline would be great if that’s what you want. We shoot a lot of coated lead from either Blue Bullets or Bayou. RMR has .45’s that we’ve shot and they work fine.
If you order another SWC just be aware not all SWC profiles are the same.
 
Y-T71 said:
You might be the 1st person I've ever heard of that managed to wear out .45ACP brass...

Starline certainly makes good brass but I've been very satisfied over the years with whatever "once fired" brass I've been able to get my hands on.

I cast my own bullets so I can't help with your bullet question but I'm sure someone will be along shortly with some suggestions.
Click to expand...
Good morning! Your fav mold is what? Mine is Lee TC TL 230. Use them for auto and colt. Home made with old stick on weights and Roto metals nuggets of tin. 20 to 1 Clean barrels including one rifle. Oh so cheep. What ever for brass.
 
flexible said:
LOL on the wearing out statement. I could probably keep reloading but it's been decades so why push it.
Click to expand...

I've never seen a 45acp brass wear out. I've seen the head stamps worn off from repeated reloads and firing but never worn out. I'm still using brass with head stamps from the 40's. Brass mfg many decades ago is better than what's being made now. Now mfg cut any and all corners they can to save $0.0000001 .

Starline makes good brass, no problem there. Not sure it's better than 20+ yr old brass though.

As far as bullets I use mainly MBC 185gr or 200gr LSWC (BE #1 & #2). These are cheap plinking/practice ammo. The 45acp is a low pressure round youn really want a low BH (11 or less) bullet. HyTec coating or lubed your choice. These are beveled bases though so unless your shooting BE competition then you want a flat base from Zero.
 
I've found that .45acp is very forgiving when it comes to type of brass and projectiles. Even using a painter's cloth/tarp to try and catch my brass from my 1911s, I still loose my brass long before it wears out, regardless of brand(even the cheap stuff), so I usually just buy what's on sale or what I can get a good price on. Secret is not to over bell them when flaring. Bullets depend on how they shoot from my guns. That seems to be more dependent on cost. Better bullets tend to shoot better.....period.
 
flexible said:
I was using Winchester and Federal brass (which is now worn out)
Click to expand...

Define 'wore out.' Like many of the others, I'm still using brass from when I started handloading, over 30 years ago. The only reason I would retire brass is loose primer pockets, or the brass starts splitting. FWIW, I'm still running a pile of Federal, Remington, and Winchester brass from the '90's, but have had to retire my Starline brass from the same era... because of case splits.

My favorite method of getting new .45 brass is to buy a case of factory ammo. I get to shoot 1000 rounds without denting my primer stash, it saves me a few hours at the bench, and I get nice brass with a known history as a result.

As far as bullets... I've started loading plated bullets quite a bit. Shooting indoors, I'm tired of huffing that noxious cloud of vaporized lead hanging in the booth... and plated bullets are nearly as cheap and accurate as plain cast bullets, but I will admit, if you are going for absolute accuracy, a square-base cast SWC is pretty hard to beat.
 
I won't add anything on brass, other than I would look at a few forums and buy used range brass. Roze distributing also sells used 45 brass at times - I bought a bag of 500 awhile back and it was all good.
On bullets, I have migrated to buying 230gr FMJ in bulk and just loading to around 800-850fps. The recoil is pretty light and they shoot well, with no FTF. I have used Armscor from Wideners and Zero from Roze distributing.
 
flexible said:
Hi everyone, flexible here. Years ago i loaded up a LOT of 45 ACP and I'm ready to start a new run. I was using Winchester and Federal brass (which is now worn out) and Laser Cast/Oregon Trail 180/185 SWC hard cast bullets.
I definately need new brass and have been looking at Starline, I'm also looking for advice on bullets.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
thanks
flexible
Click to expand...
How many loads?
45acp appears to last around 30 reloadings.
Now if they have been crushed, badly dented, cracked or have rim damage then yes they're worn out.
 
Charlie98 said:
Also... just a word on .45 brass... new or used. There is such a thing as small primer .45 brass.... so if you are stocked for LPP's, be careful what you buy, make sure it's LPP brass.
Click to expand...
Good point. I'm favoring small primer 45 brass lately. Small pistol primers are easy to find and 10% to 20% cheaper than large pistol assuming I find them.
 
N555 said:
Good point. I'm favoring small primer 45 brass lately. Small pistol primers are easy to find and 10% to 20% cheaper than large pistol assuming I find them.
Click to expand...
I got some to use a small primer overstock. 45 auto powders aren't hard to ignite.
 
flexible said:
Hi everyone, flexible here. Years ago i loaded up a LOT of 45 ACP and I'm ready to start a new run. I was using Winchester and Federal brass (which is now worn out) and Laser Cast/Oregon Trail 180/185 SWC hard cast bullets.
I definately need new brass and have been looking at Starline, I'm also looking for advice on bullets.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
thanks
flexible
Click to expand...

Last time I bought brass it was Starline, that was quite a few years ago and was happy with it. But as others have stated, 45 ACP is pretty flexible (see what I did there ;)) and most any brass of any age is going to work just fine.

Only way I've ever worn out ACP brass was by over-working the case mouth (causing splits) with to much flare. Would suggest looking at your process there...

For bullets, consider the coated bullets from Missouri Bullet Company. Read up on their hardness ratings and order what is right for your pressures. Hard cast may not be right for your loads... The coated bullets leave your hands a bit cleaner too.
 
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GeoDudeFlorida said:
Everyone please STOP trying to convince the OP to use brass he considers worn out - and START trying to convince him to send it to me. :)

It will make a great Pay-It-Forward for Christmas.

As for new brass, Starline, definitely.
Click to expand...
Yes, ship all that nasty old worn out brass to GeoDude. 'Tis the season and I have it through a confidential source that he treats his brass with considerable TLC. The ancient brass will go to a good home...
 
I pick up a lot of brass at matches and my preferred SPP brass is Blazer, while my LPP brass is Starline (for moon clip revolvers; where i get all my brass back). If I'm going to a "Lost Brass" match, I'll usually load up W-W or PMC I keep on hand. I often trade other head stamp LPP cases for SPP cases

I've recently gone with polymer coated 200gr SWC from Brazos Bullets. They sell their bullets by the pound, quality has been good, and coating is uniform. I'm waiting patiently for RMR to start production of their in-house .452" jacketed bullets
 
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Show Me said:
Good morning! Your fav mold is what? Mine is Lee TC TL 230. Use them for auto and colt. Home made with old stick on weights and Roto metals nuggets of tin. 20 to 1 Clean barrels including one rifle. Oh so cheep. What ever for brass.
Click to expand...
Good afternoon (just got the time to check back here)

I also use Lee's TC TL 230.

I use old lead water pipe/stick-on WW mixed 50/50 with clip on WW.

Got a 6 cavity and it sure makes piles of boolets (and drains my 20 lb pot in record time too!)

I powder coat them, size to .452", stick em in ancient brass over some 231 or Unique and enjoy life :cool:
 
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