Author Topic: Target bullet mold design for Freedom Arms 97 .45 LC, or any revolver.  (Read 1467 times)

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Offline Humbo

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Hi Veral,
it's about time to get me a new LBT .45 caliber mold. This time I'm looking for a middleweigt bullet, that maximizes powder space, in my FA97. Max nose to crimp is .35, with this length the bullet is flush with the face of the cylinder. Should I account for some bullet jump and get a shorter bullet nose? Can you cut a mold with for example a .345 nose? It's mainly a bullet for shooting paper, so I was looking at the LFN. The 300 gr is extremely accurate in my .454, and I'm hoping I will get the same results with a 260 in the .45LC.

Thank you!

Offline Veral

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Re: Mold for Freedom Arms 97 .45 LC
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2009, 07:17:25 PM »
  A 260 gr isn't going to be as accurate as a 300 gr, simply because it doesn't have the bearing length to keep it self aligned as well.  I strongly suggest you get a 260 WFN, in plain base if you intend to punch paper with mild loads.  I can cut the crimp groove, or nose length at any distence you request.  However, if this bullet is for mild loads, and since the max OAL is so short anyhow.  Let's put the crimp groove IN the ogive, starting just forward of the bearing surface.  One lube groove in the middle of the entire bearing length will make it slip easy, and the bullet will have a super grip on the rifling.  Figgure out maximum bullet diameter that will chamber in your revolver, as we want to fill the chamber, because it will be the bullet guide as it enters the cylinder throats.  Unlike most Colt chambers, which are traditionally oversize, and hurt accuracy dramatically, FA makes tight chambers, but fill them to the limit that will allow chambering clear to the rim with cartridge weight only.   You'll have a delightfull tack driver.

  The same setup as above is suited to all calibers of revolvers but getting such a fit is difficult or impossible due to cylinder throat diameters being too small to allow a chamber filling bullet to be seated out for heavy loads.  However, for anyone wanting a low velocity bullet, the same recommendations apply.  In the above case the bullet will not reach the cylinder throats, and that's how I would set up for any other revolver where target loads are the main thrust.  Velocities to 1200 fps plus can still be very accurate if slow powders are used, but deep seating as outlined above reduces powder space, optimizes all the available bearing length of a short bullet, and really makes the light fast powder loads perform, in magnum or special cases.
Veral Smith deceased 1/19/25

Offline Humbo

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Veral, thanks for your input, it's always appreciated.
My throats are just over .452, which is normal for Freedom Arms revolvers, so .452 is the way to go. I don't mind the extra cost of shooting gas checked bullets, and I was thinking I could use the same bullet in my .454 also. Are there any other advantages with plain base bullets over gas checked ones at lower velocities? I plan to use this bullet with everything from mild loads, to rather stout ones if that is called for. I might even try to take down small game in Africa with it later on, so I want to be able to at least push this bullet to 1300-1400 fps. What you say about the WFN and the crimp groove placement sounds reasonable, but will there be enough room for using magnum powders like Vihtavuori N110? (similar to H110). American powders are impossible to get here, so I'm stuck with Vihtavuori, and N110 is by far the best powder for magnum velocities.

Thanks again.

Humbo

Offline Veral

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  My recommendations on nose length are normally for the purpose of maximizing powder room.  Though in this post I believe I spoke of a snorter nose length than max if the main purpose was target use.

  If gas check price isn't an issue with you, definately use them.  They will allow, or make possible the highest possible velocity of any  revolver bullet, when used with LBT bullet lubricants, on LBT bullet designs.  Or, used with any cast bullet lubricant, will allow the highest possible velocity without leading.  I don't shoot the 454 but have customer reports of speeds pusing 2000 fps with no leading, this with 250 gr bullets.

  You aren't stuck with anything bad when stuck with Vihtavuori powder!  I believe their N110 is a real close copy, performance wise, of Winichester 296 or Hodgen H110.  It's the best, and if I set up a 454 bullet with .4 nose, it will allow maximum powder capacity.
Veral Smith deceased 1/19/25

Offline Humbo

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Re: Target bullet mold design for Freedom Arms 97 .45 LC, or any revolver.
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2009, 07:32:42 AM »
Veral, total cylinder length on the gun I want this mold for is 1.625 inches, and my 45 Colt brass is roughly 1.270 inches (before sizing). That leaves about 0.355 inches for the nose, should I order the nose just a tad shorter than that to account for any bullet jump, stretching of brass etc.? I only necksize all brass I use in my Freedom Arms revolvers, and I never had any chambering problems. The mold I'm now looking at is a 4 cavity 250 grs WFN with gas check, .452 diameter and a nose length of 0.350 (if you don't have any objections on the nose length).

The order will go through a friend and arms dealer in the US, so if you don't have any objections, you will hear from him shortly.
Thanks!

Humbo

Offline Veral

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Re: Target bullet mold design for Freedom Arms 97 .45 LC, or any revolver.
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2009, 07:14:54 PM »
  Best to tell me the cartridge and overall cylinder lengths on your order and I'll make the allowances when I cut the nose length.  Since you have the friend to work through here in the US, it is a good idea to order through him, as he probably has a way to save you customs hassles.
Veral Smith deceased 1/19/25

Offline Humbo

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Re: Target bullet mold design for Freedom Arms 97 .45 LC, or any revolver.
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2009, 04:07:12 AM »
Thanks Veral, I will include the necessary info with my order. Just one question, won't overall cylinder length be the same as max cartridge length when case rims are recessed into the cylinder?

Offline Veral

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Re: Target bullet mold design for Freedom Arms 97 .45 LC, or any revolver.
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2009, 07:47:44 PM »
  Max cartridge length has to be a little less than cylinder length. 
  To get things perfectly clear, with a chambered round, there should be not less than .020 and preferably about .030 or more space between tip of bullet and end of cylinder.  If bullets are too close to the end and one slips a little from recoil of previously fired rounds, it can tie up the cylinder.
Veral Smith deceased 1/19/25

Offline Humbo

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Re: Target bullet mold design for Freedom Arms 97 .45 LC, or any revolver.
« Reply #8 on: September 14, 2009, 11:31:30 PM »
Thank you, that was all I needed to know.