WFN hard cast

[rope2feet]

I am trying to develop a 200 grain duty / field load for a 45 ACP that will use the 1911 platform.

I admire the WFN hard cast bullet. Great penetration and wound channel. I have been looking around for bullets and I see two styles that might work for me, a RNFP and a copper coated bullet.

Typical RNFP: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/20...00-grain-lead-flat-nose?cm_vc=subv12046337037

Copper Coated: http://www.xtremebullets.com/45-200-FP-p/xc45-200fp-b0250.htm

I am concerned about the hardness of these bullets, I want max penetration with minimum deformation and I'm also concerned if the bullet is too hard it might shatter on impact. I am looking for max metplat with best reliability. I would run them at +P pressure and velocity.

I like the loadings that double tap has developed for the 10 mm, but I don't know where to find a similar 45 bullet. The 255 grain 45 ACP load by double tap and buffalo bore is heavier than I want to go.

DT 10mm: http://www.doubletapammo.net/index.php?route=product/product&path=125_178&product_id=105

DT 45: http://www.doubletapammo.net/index.php?route=product/product&path=125_197&product_id=732

I would appreciate any advice and comments you might wish to offer.

Rope

 

[ljnowell]

Missouri bullet sells the same basic RNFP style bulket at much cheaper prices than midways price on Hunter Supply.

An 18bhn is certainly hard enough and you really aren't going to have to worry about shattering a bullet from a 45acp, not any commercial bullet anyway.

http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=78&category=5&secondary=&keywords=

 

[41 Mag]

I am pouring my own, and I use alloy that runs from about a 7 up through about a 12 on the hard side. I have not had any issues with the solids I shoot even in my revolvers ranging from 357's up through the 45 Colt having problems with shattering or overly expanding at velocities up to around 1200fps, and certainly not under 1000fps. This is however keeping the alloy somewhat equal to the pressures I am loading too.

In the ACP your not going to get much over 1000fps, depending on barrel length, so I would be more concerned with proper fit and lube for lead and reliable feeding for them both.

 

[rope2feet]

Thanks for the comments.

From everything I read, nobody makes a hard cast bullet that will give me the performance I am trying to find.

I found a real nice 215 grain bullet with a large metplat, but the bullet tumbles if driven at velocities greater than about 900 fps out of a 1911. Evidently the shallow rifling grooves of the 1911 barrel do not support higher velocities using hard cast bullets.

Looks like I need to wait for someone to manufacture a 200 grain, deep penetrating, hard cast load. In the meantime I'll try to develop the copper plated bullet load.

Rope

 

[ljnowell]

Thanks for the comments.



From everything I read, nobody makes a hard cast bullet that will give me the performance I am trying to find.



I found a real nice 215 grain bullet with a large metplat, but the bullet tumbles if driven at velocities greater than about 900 fps out of a 1911. Evidently the shallow rifling grooves of the 1911 barrel do not support higher velocities using hard cast bullets.



Looks like I need to wait for someone to manufacture a 200 grain, deep penetrating, hard cast load. In the meantime I'll try to develop the copper plated bullet load.



Rope

I've driven 200gr lead bullets to max book data with the slowest powders you can use in 45acp and never had tumbling problems.

 

[Jim Watson]

Try the 225 grain truncated cone.
Lasercast is about as hard as you will find commercial cast.
The Hornady HAP or Montana Gold JFP should work; or even the MG JHP which is not really a good expander.

 

[TommyD45]

I use a 230 Long Flat Nose (LFN) rather than a WFN in 45 auto.

I find the LFN profile feeds better and chose the 230 grain weight because the longer bearing surface should theoretically give better accuracy. I say theoretically because I have not tested this myself.

When talking about LFN and WFN bullets, I am talking about LBT style bullets and I cast my own using original LBT molds. Veral Smith of LBT has written that the meplat of the WFN profile is 0.09 less than the bullet diameter while the LFN is 0.13 less. In a .452 bullet that would work out to .362 and .322 respectively. While the LFN meplat is smaller, it is by no means tiny in the 45 ACP bullet.

Montana Bullet works sold 230 grain authentic LBT bullets. I'm not sure what kind of inventory they have because the owner had spine surgery and is looking to sell the business.

Beartooth bullets sells a 225 grain bullet that looks a lot like the LBT LFN, but I don't know if they use LBT molds for their casting.

Tom

 

[LiveLife]

From everything I read, nobody makes a hard cast bullet that will give me the performance I am trying to find.

I found a real nice 215 grain bullet with a large metplat, but the bullet tumbles if driven at velocities greater than about 900 fps out of a 1911. Evidently the shallow rifling grooves of the 1911 barrel do not support higher velocities using hard cast bullets.

Looks like I need to wait for someone to manufacture a 200 grain, deep penetrating, hard cast load. In the meantime I'll try to develop the copper plated bullet load.

You may want to consider Rocky Mountain Reloading's 230 gr "thick plated" RN good to 1500 fps. They are made with harder 11-12 BHN lead alloy core than most plated bullets and have shorter nose that extends the bullet base/bearing surface that may provide greater rotational stability at higher velocities. Here's my load development/range test - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=761471

Range test at 25 yards - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9630316#post963031

They are $124/1000 with free shipping and you get additional 5% THR discount with thehighroad5 promo code and your THR name/ID in the order "notes" box - http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/45-2...ed-1000-Count-45-230-Grain-RMR-TP-1000-Ct.htm