For the past few years I have slacked off my shooting with my 45's. I just get to a point where I want to play with something different for a while. Nowadays it's the big boomers like the Casull's, or the lever action's in 44, 45C, and 45-70.
That said, for a while I was very into running hundreds of rounds through my 45's. They are a real hoot to shoot actually. I have always had a thing for nostalgia so to speak, so when I got into casting I wanted to go with the mold most of the big names in the shooting community used, which seems to be mostly the Hensley Gibbs. Back in the early 80's I had a friend who picked up almost a dozen 1# coffee cans of the HG-130 and we ended up trading them for something or another. At the time I didn't even have a pistol to run them through. Another friend traded me 800rnds or 230 Ball as well, so I figured it was time to find something to put them in.
I have since purchased Hensley Gibbs molds in several weights for multiple calibers. For the ACP though it has been the #68, 78, and 130,
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and I've added in a couple others from MP, Accurate, and NOE molds. Below is my favorite HP from MP molds, the 452-200,
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The SWC's can be tricky to get going as the shoulder usually will hit the ramp and throw it off or the chamber length will vary just enough that seating depth is critical. I found that seating them to where there is just enough of the driving band exposed to crimp around has proved to be the ticket on my pistols. I usually load 4.0 - 4.2grs of Bullseye with any of the above bullets. I do have other loads for top end accuracy but the above all shoot very well with this range of BE powder. Either conventional, tumble lubed or powder coated, they all shoot well.
These are a couple of 10 round groups shot with the HG-68 over 4.0grs at 10yds,
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For practice and such this is plenty good enough for me.
For plated and jacketed, I use Berry's for the most part in plated and Hornady for jacketed. I'm always on the lookout for bulk deals as well and have picked up plenty of pulled JHP's from major manufacturers. Back before the big buy up there were usually a couple or more dealers who had decent stocks in and out of top end pulled bullets, that while they might hace some signs of being pulled most were plenty good enough for loading again for practice and even hunting or otherwise use. Nowadays however, most are going for what the factory first are, so the price point is somewhat a moot point. Still you can find some that aren't usually packaged up for handloaders if you shop around and are willing to spend to get them.
I have found good loads with the numerous powders mentioned in this as well as a few not mentioned. I usually stick with the Bullseye, but I also use Unique, Universal, 231, AA-2 & 5 with equally good results for the bullet styles or weights I'm loading. Some folks say that Unique and BE are dirty, and I do agree they have a soot factor to them within certain ranges or loads, but they produce time and time again so I really have no issue with cleaning things up after a good range session.
