.45 LC bullet?

[ar10]

I've been looking for a full/partial jacketed .45 long colt bullet and am discovering they may be hard to come by. I found lots of lead bullets but noting jacketed. Could someone give me a direction or site I could start with.

I know someone makes them because I've seen them in Winchester ammo. A friend of mine just bought a new .45 LC rifle and revolver and wants to keep shooting jacketed bullets instead of lead, and he's interested in reloading. (He's an "old f##t" like me but doesn't have any type of internet account or want's it).

 

[Sunray]

Hornady makes several .452" jacketed bullets. 240 to 300 grains. Midway carries all kinds of jacketed .451" to .454" bullets. For example, Speer Gold Dot 250 gr JHP's run $16.49 per 50.
"...keep shooting jacketed bullets..." He'll get over that when he see's how expensive shooting jacketed bullets regularly gets.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Any .451" or .452" jacketed bullet will be acceptable for the .45Colt.

I've shot the 260gr Speer JHP, as well as the 250gr Hornady XTP in my .45's.

In addition I've also loaded some 185gr .451" .45acp bullets as well. They shot exceptionally well from a friends Taurus "Thunderbolt" pump rifle. About 2" at 50yds w/tang reciever sight. They're very impressive on Armadillo's at about 1,200fps.

There are many-many such bullets available.

But, the good-old 255gr FN, does just about as well. Just not as "messy". It knocks a nice 1/2" hole through the 'dillers, and if you can line up two or three, it'll get'm all ! Besides, they'll take down a deer, pig, or most anything else you run across.

I've "regressed" to using the 255gr FN over 7.8gr of Universal for just at or under 1,000fps from my 5.5" Ruger RH.(DROP TO 6.8 FOR A SAA OR CLONE). All the power I've ever really needed. From a 24" bbl rifle, they sound like a "deep voiced" .22rf. Impact on the 'diller is often louder than the gun going off. My friend and I were "cowboy assault rifle" "plinking" at my backyard range. (his the aforementioned Taurus Pump, and mine a Win. M94 "Legacy" w/24"bbl) A "passerby" at a nearby Corp. of Eng. park called in to the Sheriffs Ofc. reporting someone shooting "machine" guns! The Deputy and I, and later, the Sheriff too (a long time aquaintance) had a good laugh about that. (Sheriff owned a Gunshop/Range I frequented regularily.)

 

[ar10]

Thanks,
I don't have a clue regarding the .45 long Colt, never owned one or shot one before. I did see the .451 Cassul(?) but wasn't sure if that would work. The guy's been saving his brass since he bought the guns and wants to start reloading.
He's got to work up his loads for both guns. I guess my next question is since the rifle and wheel gun are the same caliber can he use the same bullet weight and powder in both????

 

[moosehunt]

Short answer, yes, long answer, maybe. Basically, anything he can shoot in the pistol, he can shoot in the rifle, but not necessarily the other way around. Top end rifle loads may be too much for the pistol, and definately so if it is something other than a Ruger or Casul. Generally speaking, the best approach is to find a good load for the pistol, then see how it shoots in the rifle. Maybeso a little adjusting in for the rifle, then see if it's still good in the pistol--likely it will be, then you've got a load for both. Again, unless the pistol is a Ruger Blackhawk or Redhawk or a Casul, then upper end rifle loads should NOT be shot in the pistol.

 

[rcmodel]

Be aware that there are .45 Colt bullets, .45 ACP bullets, and .454 Casull and other Uber-Magnum .45 caliber bullets.

For standard .45 Colt velocity, in normal .45 Colt guns, at normal power levels, you don't want bullets designed to operate at .454 Casull velocity levels.

The .45 ACP bullets will not have a crimping cannulure necessary for use in revolvers & rifles.

rcmodel

 

[ar10]

Be aware that there are .45 Colt bullets, .45 ACP bullets, and .454 Casull and other Uber-Magnum .45 caliber bullets.

For standard .45 Colt velocity, in normal .45 Colt guns, at normal power levels, you don't want bullets designed to operate at .454 Casull velocity levels.

The .45 ACP bullets will not have a crimping cannulure necessary for use in revolvers & rifles.

rcmodel

Exactly, why I'm asking, I did have a couple of .454 Casull cases in my "misc bag" and pull one comparing it to the .45LC. The Casull is one big bullet, and it will not fit in a .45LC case. I didn't measure it but just comparing the two side by side, the .45LC has a smaller diameter.

Thanks for the heads up on the .45 APC. I have a bunch of those.

 

[454PB]

You're confusing things here. The .45 Colt, .45 ACP, and .454 Casull all use the same diameter bullet in modern firearms (.451" to .452"). Theoretically, bullets designed for the .454 Casull will work in .45 Colt loads, as long as the C.O.L. is held to .45 Colt specs. and the powder charge is correct for the bullet weight. However, bullets designed for the .454 Casull are built heavier to survive the 60K pressures at ignition, and also designed to expand at much higher velocity than .45 Colt bullets. As a result, they are usually far more expensive.

 

[rcmodel]

Actually the .45 Colt and .454 Casull have exactly the same case measurements except for length.
The Casull is .096" longer, but they are both .480" around.

You can shoot .45 Colt in a .454 Casull gun.

They both use the same diameter (.451") jacketed bullets, but the Magnum bullets may be more heavily constructed to withstand the extra velocity.

rcmodel

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Speer had a good 260gr JHP bullet (Part #4481) that will work well in the .45 Colt.

Barnes has a 225gr XPB bullet that's specifically made for the .45 Colt. They also have a 250gr XPB bullet that's listed for the .454 Casull but I see no reason why you can't use it for the .45 Colt. Both are liated as .451" so both will work.

Hornady has a 240gr XTP bullet (Part #45220) that will make a good .45 Colt bullet. They also have a 250gr XTP bullet (Part #45200) that will make a fine round. I'm not sure the Hornady bullets will expand from a .45 Colt because they have a reputation of not expanding.

I would say the Speer bullet will be easiest to find but I think the Barnes bullet will perform better.

 

[earplug]

If you can't find it, consider it a clue

As the 45 LC cartridge has been around for awhile. Its happy pushing lead down most barrels.
Since you can't find a jacketed bullet in the weight you want. It a good bet that a plain lead bullet in that weight will work just fine.

 

[fastbike]

I've loaded thousands of "45acp" bullets in my Blackhawk without any problems. You can figure out a 230 grain load for the 45 LC easy enough. The XTP bullets are very expensive. You're a lot better off shooting a lead bullet. I have had great experience with the Oregon trail bullets. They don't need gas checks and don't lead like your friend may be worried about.

 

[buck460XVR]

I'll occasionally shoot .45 Colt outta my .460 for *hits and giggles at bowling pins. Hornady's 250grn. XTP-HP #45200 works very well over 7.0 grns of Unique.