Bullets for Bowling Pins (45ACP)

[Norm Lee]

I have loaded the last of my stash of 235 gr SWC "Pin Busters" and so far have been stymied in my search for a replacement. Does anyone have a source for .45ACP SWC bullets in the 230 to 240 grain range?

Thanks

Norm

 

[Jack B.]

Only thing I can find over 230gr are 255gr plated bullets and 255 gr SWC lead bullets .452 Diameter.
http://www.xtremebullets.com/45-255gr-SWC-p/x45-255swc-b0500.htm

 

[hdwhit]

Norm Lee wrote:
Bullets for Bowling Pins

Sounds like the next Michel Moore movie.

Seriously, I'm not aware of anything else over 230 grain in a SWC other than some 255 grain ones that appear to come from someone reselling Xtreme bullets and Jack B has already covered those directly from the source.

 

[Demi-human]

MBC has coated two hundred fifty five grain bullets. These are flat nose, round shouldered though, not semi wad cutter. They were accurate for me.

 

[Walkalong]

Magnus #807 215 Gr Bowling Pin bullet. Work great.

Magnusbullets.com

I would link it, but I am on a borrowed pad of some sort and have no idea how to do certain things on it.

http://saas.shopsite.com/magnusbullets/store/page8.html

Figured it out.

 

[rsrocket1]

I would think that the nose of the bullet would have no effect on knocking over a bowling pin. If that's true, why not use round nose bullets? They ought to be more reliable in feeding.

My Lee TL452-230-TC's drop at 240g and with a powder coat give me a few more grains of added weight. I chose that bullet shape for the fact that there was no shoulder to catch while feeding plus it has a flat metplat just in case it was needed. Feeds nicely in my ancient 1911 and flawlessly in my XD45.

 

[Englishmn]

Rcbs 45-225-CAV mold throws 235gr slugs with my alloy. I powder coat and size to .452.
If you want to go the roll your own route.

 

[Walkalong]

The large flat tip is what makes it a good bowling pin bullet. Off center hits are more likely to knock over the pin, and that's all that counts. The pin has to fall.

 

[PapaG]

I always used RCBS 255KT and a moderate load of unique. Slammed pins off the table. Use same bullet in 45 Colt for deer at about 1050 fs. ACP load isn't much over 750.
.452 for both. ACP seated with about 1\16 of front band exposed.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Missouri Bullets has a 250gr RNFP bullet meant for the 45 Auto they named PinBusters.
http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=48&category=5
They have the same bullet with Hi-Tek 2 coating too.

I have not shot them but they look good. They also have a 215gr coated bullet that has a very wide meplat that might be even better but it's a little lighter than you asked about. It does look like a good bullet.
http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=426&category=5

 

[Demi-human]

Missouri Bullets has a 250gr RNFP bullet meant for the 45 Auto they named PinBusters.
They have the same bullet with Hi-Tek 2 coating too.
I have not shot them but they look good.

I have. The reason I mentioned them was that they were so accurate. I don't know how they would react to the pins, but the name says it all. Putting them exactly where a shooter wants them should be no problem at all. I used the coated ones. I think the ogive being far forward engages the rifling sooner. Recoil was very smooth.

 

[Walkalong]

The MBC "Express" bullet is a better shape for pins, but is 20 BHN, which is way more than you need for .45, but it is also coated, which could make it suitable.

The Magnus Bowling Pin Bullet has been around a long time.

 

[Demi-human]

I like the looks of those 'Express' bullets for sure.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Have you looked at Backwater Shooters Swamp Popper bullets?
https://shop.backwatershooters.com/45-ACP_c127.htm

 

[Rule3]

Sounds like the next Michel Moore movie.

Seriously, I'm not aware of anything else over 230 grain in a SWC other than some 255 grain ones that appear to come from someone reselling Xtreme bullets and Jack B has already covered those directly from the source.

Always good for picking off those pesky 7-10 splits

 

[Norm Lee]

Thanks, everyone for the great response. I think we'll try that Magnus Bowling Pin Bullet. While the weight's a little lighter than we've been using, the shape looks right.
We have tried a variety of the 255 gr. SWCs and just found them a bit edgy as in close to the edge of any sort of safety margin. Getting them up to speeds where bounce back wasn't an issue had us riding in some potentially dangerous territory. The 200 gr SWC (H&G 68) can be loaded to between 185 and 200 PF and will work but the extra mass of the 235 gr SWC made just enough of a difference. Round nose bullets came in somewhere between P-Poor and totally unsatisfactory. Speed is of the essence in this game and the RN bullets gave the shooter little credit for anything but a perfectly centered hit. Disappointing to see pins napping on the job when they should be scurrying off the back of the table.
Norm

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like the looks of those 'Express' bullets for sure.

Yeah, that's why I mentioned it. That wide meplat looks perfect for knocking over pins. It seems most of us here are on the same page. We all can't be wrong lol.

 

[Sunray]

You don't need an SWC for pins. Any cast/plated/painted 230 grain RN or FP will blow a pin off the table right smart like. Doesn't have to be a hot load either. 4.5 grains of Bullseye does it with no fuss.
"...between 185 and 200 PF..." There is no PF with pin shooting. And 255's will give you OAL issues.
"...a good bowling pin bullet..." At the height of Pin Shooting before Second Chance was ended by stupid politicians, there were more idiotic ideas defining that than you could shake a stick at. Best one, that didn't work any better than an RN, had teeth around a hollow point. Maker claimed the teeth would grab the pin even with a glancing hit.

 

[Norm Lee]

I don't think I've heard the story of the demise of Second Chance> Have you got details?

 

[Sunray]

Story I heard was that the local politicians(recently elected woman mayor) decided they didn't want the shoot any more. And conspired to shut it down.
Seems the approximately 2 million(big time guess arrived at over beer one night.) that got dumped into the local tourist economy(The Central Lake area is full of house keeping cottage resorts, fishing resorts and people's summer cottages. Whole place was booked solid for the first week of June. Plus all the money spent of food and drink.) right at the beginning of the summer, wasn't wanted.
There was also a story about some idiot with a house, way behind the MG ranges(that had a great big 100 plus foot hill as a back stop), claiming a bullet had come into the kitchen window. Later proven to be entirely impossible given the angles and the physics/ballistics. And the guy supposedly sued Dick Davis over it. Why he kept the Second Chance Body Armour factory in Central Lake I have no idea. Except he has 600 acres there.

 

[wally]

Off center hits are more likely to knock over the pin, and that's all that counts. The pin has to fall.

Been a while since I've done this, but unless the rules have changed, not only do they have to fall, they have to fall off the table which is like 2' wide so often follow-up shots on fallen pins would be required.

 

[model 649]

Yes, the RN 230 does the work just fine. I tried several different styles of bullet. My recipe is a RN 230 5.8 w231. It clocks about 820-830 and if I hit the pin right (upper third below the stripes) they leave the table nicely. The bullet NEARLY penetrates the pin.

 

[jmorris]

Don't forget the old "pin grabber" bullets

 

[Walkalong]

I remember those, did they ever gain any support? I don't see how the cuts in that soft lead would help.

 

[the Black Spot]

http://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=71&products_id=305