45 Colt Cast Bullet Sizing Advice Needed

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R

rWt

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Ok, I now have a USFA Rodeo to go with a S&W 25-5-so, 2 standard pressure handguns.

I've found Winchester WLP primers (2,000), so I am good to go there for a while. I am lined up to get Starline brass soon.

Now, for bullets

I'm planning to place an order for cast bullets with Montana Bullet Works. My USFA has cylinder throat dimensions of .452 and my local gunsmith says my S&W is at .450. Dave Jennings (http://www.montanabulletworks.com/home.html) can make the bullets I want (255 gr-270 saa) from .451-.454. He needs to know the diameter I want. Where diameter should I start with?

I'll check other threads for powder advice. But, don't hesitate to offer it you you want.

Thanks
 
If you have slugged your barrel and it is .452", I would not go with any cast bullet smaller in diameter. You would need a sized bullet of at least .452 to seal your barrel to prevent gas leakage and leading.
 
Ream your Smith to match your USFA

Cylinder Smith

Size the bullets to match your throats. Hopefully your groove diameter is .451 on your barrels, which would make .4515 or .452 throats perfect for it. Size to .452 or .4525.

If your barrels are .452, get both cylinders reamed to .453. Size to .453 or .4535
 
Where diameter should I start with?
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The standard bullet diameter is .452" for lead. Try some and see how accuracy is. Making adjustment to your firearms might be worth while if you are a High Master Bullseye shooter.
 
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The biggest reason to adjust your guns is to eliminate leading completely. Better accuracy is just gravy. And if you go that far, you might as well fix your forcing cones as well.
 
If the gun with the biggest throats measure .452" then you want .452", regardless of what the bore slugs out.

For auto pistols, you fit the bullet to the barrel.

For revolvers, you should fit the bullet to the cylinder throats.
(as long as the throats are the same or bigger then the bore)

In the case of the two guns you have, .452" should work fine in both of them.

rc
 
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