Can I use a 230 gr lead bullet for 45 LC and 45 ACP??

[Atomross13]

I just bought some hard cast lead bullets, they are 230 grain with a .452 diameter. I plan to use most for range ammo for a 1911. Since they are .452 size will they work with 45 LC as well?

I have just started reloading, been doing lot of reading and research since Christmas. I have a hornady handbook and it doesn't have 230 gr listed for 45 LC just 225 gr. Would those be a good place to start? With all of the warnings to ensure you have a safe load I am very cautious on what I make.

Current powders I have are Ramshot True Blue and Hodgdon CFE pistol.

 

[edwardware]

In my .45 Colt, a Ruger, with a carefully firelapped bore, they work just dandy. They might be undersized in yours, but likely it'll work fine.

 

[EricBu]

They'll work fine, but if they are RN cast for the 45 ACP, they probably don't have a crimp groove. You can still roll crimp them without a groove, but pay close attention to whether or not they crimp jump.

 

[LiveLife]

Can I use a 230 gr lead bullet for 45 LC and 45 ACP?

230 grain ... .452 diameter ... for a 1911. Since they are .452 size will they work with 45 LC as well? Current powders I have are Ramshot True Blue and Hodgdon CFE pistol.

I have.

You can always reference load data for slightly heavier bullet for your load development/powder work up.

Hodgdon has 45Colt lead load data for 250 gr RNFP you can reference - https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center

• 45Colt 250 gr Lead RNFP CFE Pistol .452" COL 1.600" Start 8.4 gr (930 fps) - Max 9.2 gr (1,014 fps)

And note,

if they are RN cast for the 45 ACP, they probably don't have a crimp groove. You can still roll crimp them without a groove, but pay close attention to whether or not they crimp jump.

BTW, here are W231/HP-38 lead load data for 230 and 250 gr bullets for comparison:

• 45Colt 230 gr LRNFP W231/HP-38 .452" COL 1.580" Start 5.8 gr (738 fps) - Max 7.3 gr (941 fps)
• 45Colt 250 gr LRNFP W231/HP-38 .452" COL 1.600" Start 5.8 gr (785 fps) - Max 7.1 gr (916 fps)

 

[Archym]

Not sure if this will help, but it might depend on the instrument being fired. Some of the Smith and Wesson Model 25s had some issues with .451 and .452 bullets being less than "one hole" accurate. I have a Model 25-5 and using 225 grain cast lead flat point bullets (.451 diameter) will work fine, but I've noticed that the patterns "wander" a little bit. They work very well in 1911s with respective loads. I would like to shoot some more precision cast .454 bullets in the 250 grain weight, but their expensive and I have too many other guns to feed. Even the .452 powder coated bullets from Grizzly's or Missouri Bullet Company are a bit spendy for my budget, but both are extremely good quality.