45LC bullets in 45ACP?

[CodeSlinger]

I've been loading 45LC for a while, with 200gr LRNFP. Just recently I started loading 45ACP as well. I like keeping things simple. If I can get away with loading one bullet for both rounds, I'd be very happy. Is this possible?

As far as I can tell, the only difference is the presence of a crimp groove in the LC. (Well, that and the .001" diameter difference that I'm not convinced will matter...I don't load hot enough for any pressure increase to be dangerous). Will the ACP taper crimp the case to the flat part of the bullet that's below the groove?

Is there anything else I'm not thinking of that would prevent me from doing this?

 

[dmftoy1]

I'm doing it just the opposite and haven't had any problems. I'm using a 200 gr LSWC from my .45 acp loads in my .45LC loads. From what I can see the diameter (.452) is identical for both pistols. They seem to be accurate enough from what little work I've done. (this is with Ruger pistols). I've heard that the older colts have a.454 diameter. I'd really like to learn how to slug my barrels to be sure but I haven't tried that yet.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[HSMITH]

It will work fine.

 

[taliv]

no kidding? interesting. i don't shoot 45lc, but i'd considered reloading for some friends who are into cowboy. could i load 45lc with the same L-swc 200g bullets i've been using for 45acp?

i'd always assumed i couldn't. not sure why

 

[CodeSlinger]

Sounds good

I never really considered going the other way around, putting ACP into LC cases... Since the ACP bullet lacks the crimp groove, you'd end up with a mini-"shoulder" at the case mouth. It wouldn't make a difference for dmftoy1, loading a revolver by hand...but I'd suspect it'd hang up in my lever-action rifle, because the Win. 1873 design doesn't have any sort of feed ramp into the chamber like a pistol does.

Coincidentally, I just came back from a gun show where Bob Palermo from http://www.pennbullets.com/ had a table set up. I noticed, sure enough, he lists his 200gr LC bullets for ACP too, so I asked him about it. He verified it works fine, and recommends seating the bullets to an OAL of 1.175, which places the crimp groove inside the case, so the case mouth can crimp on the flat just forward of the crimp groove. Duh, makes perfect sense.

 

[dmftoy1]

Yup, that's pretty much exactly what I've been doing . .by dumb luck I guess. I hadn't tried them in a rifle mainly because I hadn't bought one. The reason I decided to use them was that I had been talking to George Kead before my last order and he said that the new RN semi-wadcutters he had worked good for cowboy action. In looking at the design it didn't seem any different than the standard semi-wadcutters so I figured what the heck.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[ulflyer]

Codeslinger: I've been using the 200gr RNFP for 45acp loading a good while now. I seat them at about 1.226 and they work well in a variety of 1911's that I plink with. Not into target shooting but they are fine for my purposes. Since I bought a bunch of them awhile back I have some dies on the way to start loading them in 45 Colt for my S&W 25 that I recently got.

 

[Bronson7]

Works fine. I load 200 grn rnfp's for my Glock 30. I seat the bullet so the crimp groove is barely in the case. In my Glock, it feels like I'm cycling the slide on an empty chamber. They feed great and shoot great. My brother on the other hand has loaded my swc's for his Colt without incident, however, he prefers the rnfp's. If your gun will feed them, I still prefer swc's as I'm thinking the extra bearing surface improves accuracy.
Bronson7

 

[quiknot]

45LC SWC

I too use the SWC lead bullet in my 45LC...just had to make sure the crimp was over the shoulder

 

[jeepmor]

45LC bullets in 45ACP, or vice versa

I have a 45 ACP and did this with some laser cast bullets for 45LC. I did not have an issue and did make them a touch long (and some short for comparison) to taper crimp away from the cannelure groove. They functioned fine and I did not notice any movement of said bullets in their cases due to recoil. Remember, we're talking about the 45LC and 45ACP, not 454 casull here.

I did this only because my retailer was out of the more popular 45ACP bullets. BTW, I used 200 grain RNFP bullets, they cycled wonderfully in my PT145. The only issue that came up was that I was loading for target loads (reduced powder charge) and my 45 has a short 3" barrel, which equates to a stiff recoil spring. It barely cycled my action when loaded in the middle of the Speer catalog specs for Bullseye powder. Nothing to do with the bullet, but an issue to consider and a point to share with everyone.

Plink away,

jeepmor