Choice of .45 ACP Bullet

[Dr.cry]

What do you reload your .45 with? As I'm reloading for a Remington 1911-R1, I'm tempted to buy Remington bullets. I'm looking to start with a 230 gr. FMJ. Thanks for your input.

 

[ljnowell]

I dont care much for the bulk remington bullets. I would like to make the suggestion that if you are wanting to load some good range ammo, you should look at Missouri Bullet. I load the 230gr LRN and find it has great accuracy. Lead reloads and 1911s just go hand in hand!

 

[LiveLife]

Montana Gold for me. I haven't tried Precision Delta, but plan on trying some soon as there's good reports about them.

For lead 45 bullets, it's hands down Missouri Bullets.

 

[cavman]

For 230 grain, I have Missouri cast lead and Zero FMJ bullets.

The vast majority is the Missouri Lead however. Costs are far less expensive and shoot just the same for me.

 

[Bmac1949]

I've had good luck with the Oregon Trail 200gr swc. I did have a little trouble with lead fouling at first but after I brought by load up by 1/2 gr it wasn't so bad.

 

[Magoo]

I have to use FMJ at the indoor range I shoot at. I've been using Precision Delta's 230 grain and am plenty happy with them.

 

[rfwobbly]

Good Dr. -

Welcome to THR & Reloading.

Lead bullets are by their very nature a larger diameter than plated or jacketed. This larger diameter can give a new reloader some headaches. It's like learning to drive in downtown Austin during rush hour on a stick shift. You got enough to contend with just getting your process up & running while keeping things "between the painted lines", without throwing in over-sized bullets on top.

There are numerous plated and jacketed bullet sellers where you can get a moderate number of bullets to start with. Some will even sell you a sample kit of several various types, as long as you buy their minimum order, which is usually 250. THEN, later on when you have your process down, feel more comfortable with reloading, and you have a better idea of what weight bullet you want to deal with, then you can mass order anything you want.

I generally recommend plated bullets for novices. They are generally cheaper than jacketed, but none of the issues of dealing with lead. Places to look are...

Berry Mfg.......................... Dist by Graf & Sons
Ranier.............................. Dist by Midway
West Coast Bullet

So there's 5 places for you to check.

Hope this helps!

 

[Walkalong]

Your Remington could care less what brand bullets you buy, or whether they are jacketed, plated, moly, or straight lead.

Lots of good suggestions so far. I would add the 200 Gr SWC from Precision Bullets.

 

[Jake in TX]

Ranier and Berry's plated, 230 grain. As you're in Austin, head down to Cabela's in Buda, and pick up a box of either one. I use 5 grains of bullseye powder as a charge, in all of my 45ACP firearms.

Jake in TX

 

[LiveLife]

FYI, West Coast Bullet is now X-Treme bullets.

Great bullets - I buy their rifle bullets.

 

[Dr.cry]

Thanks for all your awesome responses. Keep em coming!

 

[918v]

I think the OP should first try a #68 pattern .452" 200gr LSWC loaded to 1.250" to test the reliability of his weapon. If it works, it will work with anything.

 

[highlander 5]

I don't always buy cast bullets as I cast my own when I can,but I shoot a 200 gr swc out of the 45 ACP that I have 2 1911 and 2 S&W 625s

 

[Safetychain]

I have cast my own when I first started reloading. Thats fun and instructional but time consuming. Then went to Missouri Bullet and a GA casting company. Sometimes my loading would lead up a little but nothing a mag of jacketed wouldn't fix at the end of the session to make it easier to clean. Now my range bullet is only Berries plated. They are cheaper than jacketed, very clean while loading, and clean shooting. Just loaded up 2000 with Berries, the last 200 or so with a single stage press after my progressive went out of sinc which will have to be dealt with later.

 

[FirinFlatTop]

I have shot lead, plated, jacketed, I prefer the lead over them all. MBC (Missouri Bullet) is hard to beat, I have used Penn, Friendswood, and a few others. For the price MBC is the best choice. Berry's plated were a good shooter also, but the lead was top notch.


RC

 

[SuperNaut]

For plinkers I use Berry's 200 gr HP

For SD I use Hornady 200 gr XTP

 

[Quoheleth]

My brand-new Rock Island tactical .45ACP loves Missouri Bullet's 185gr SWC over Win 231 primed with Winchester LPP in mixed brass.

Good gun + good bullets = happiness.

Q

 

[blarby]

Indoor Range

45 ACP
230 GR Hornady FMJ RN
5.5 Gr Unique
1.260 COAL
.471 Taper Crimp

Mag'd up fine, chambered well, shot well. Not as dirty as I expected in two Kimber 1911's. Reduced recoil.


45 ACP
230 GR Hornady FMJ RN
6.0 Gr Unique
1.260 COAL
.471 Taper Crimp

Shot these in a glock as well, worked just fine.


Mag'd up fine, chambered well, shot well.

I have since hopped on the MBC bandwagon having received a boxfull of castoffs from a friend of the 230 gr SOFTBALL variety.

Loaded em up with :

45 ACP
230 GR MBC Softball
6.0 Gr Unique
1.260 COAL
.472 Taper Crimp

And they shot just dandy

 

[Walkalong]

For plinkers I use Berry's 200 gr HP

One of my favorites as well.

 

[cfullgraf]

I prefer 230 FMJs or similarly shaped bullets. I have never had much luck with semi-wadcutters but lots of folks do.

Currently, I shoot Berry Mfg plated bullet but have shot Rainer and the various jacketed bullets on the market.

Berry Mfg can be ordered direct from them although Graf may have a better price. Check the shipping costs. Many of Berry Mfg's bullets include shipping.

Cast bullets work great but as rfwobbly said, they may cause you grief until you get your reloading feet on the ground.

 

[Walkalong]

first try a #68 pattern .452" 200gr LSWC loaded to 1.250" to test the reliability of his weapon. If it works, it will work with anything.

Yep, and if it won't shoot that well, it may not shoot anything well.

 

[SuperNaut]

One of my favorites as well.

I'm pretty sure you are the reason I tried 'em out in the first place!

 

[jeepmor]

I've used Extreme and LaserCast as they were available locally. No issues with either running about the middle of full jacket loadings. I don't care for the lube smoke much and prices are close enough I try and buy plated rounds when I can.

I have 1000 230 grain XTPs to shoot through since I bought my Hornady LNL a few years back. 500 loaded, 500 waiting, about 150-200 shot. My gun feeds it reliably as ball.

 

[iareConfusE]

I used Ranier 200gr plated bullets. Since I've run out, I'm now using Bear Creek Moly coated bullets. I haven't yet tried them in my 1911, but will tomorrow.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

My two favorites are Missouri Bullet Co. 230 gr Softball and 200 gr SWC. Both of them loaded over Unique give me great accuracy and zero feeding problems.....Yeah, I've tried Berry's and they work great. I just don't see the need in paying for copper plating for a slow mover like a .45.