Author Topic: Suggest commercial cast bullets for BC 45 LC? (Read 1587 times)

bobc2 · « **on:** September 18, 2010, 08:34:34 AM »

I've just bought a BC and have worked out a nice load with 250 gr Hornady jacked HP's, chronoed this morning at 1450 fps. Hope to test on a wild hog tomorrow. Anybody have a commercially available cast bullet to recommend. I've looked at Beartooth, Berry Plated, Oregon Trail, etc. If I buy in 500 quantities, I want to be fairly sure it's a workable bullet!

What have you found is best diameter to start with, .452, .453, or .454?

Bullet weight and shape? Do the SWC's work will in this rifle.

Thanks for help, this forum has already been very useful. Bob

petemi · « **Reply #1 on:** September 18, 2010, 08:58:54 AM »

Bob, I'm new to reloading. I just loaded 100 250 gr. Hornady JHPs. They work fine in my rifle and my load gives me about 1600 fps and I'm happy with it. All my Handis shoot better than I can. In my hands, they're all minute of deer, and that's all I need. The 250 Hornady will take down anything that walks on my land. Why look beyond that?

Pete

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** September 18, 2010, 09:18:12 AM »

Best advice for cast bullets is use the biggest diameter bullet you can chamber.

Tim

http://www.lbtmoulds.com/measurebore.shtml

gjdykeman · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2010, 10:38:35 AM »

I hate buying bullets, it is fun to make your own. I use a Lee mold and cast a 300g GC FN. I use these in all my 45LCs. Different powders sometimes but that can get expensive. My BC Carbine and NMBH like the heaver bullets. W296 is the powder of choice and the gas checks remove the leading issue. I size these to 452. I have Cronyed these in the rifle at 1450fps, and 1150 in the pistol. Very stiff but shoot great. If you hit anything with these it is dead. Loins, tigers and bears included. I don't like the heaver loads so mine are down to 1350 in the rifle and 1050 in the revolver. I have used Unique in the same configuration with somewhat the same results One mold, one powder, two guns. I don't shoot targets, just things and when I do they used to be alive. Deer, hogs, woodchucks what ever, an elephant if I find one. I hate raccoons, skunks and possums. I even shot a grouse, only found feathers.

petemi · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2010, 11:57:42 AM »

Ya know, gjdykeman, you must be here at home with us. You sound like family. Are you hanging out in the living room or something? Tim, How'd I know you were going to say something like that......load the biggest bullet. I've gotta agree, but I'm having some trouble stuffing some of those big bad boys.....resize them after they're loaded?? I gotta get going. Scope and rail came in fer da tirty tirty...got work ta do before da moon comes up.

Pete

Dinny · « **Reply #5 on:** September 18, 2010, 12:16:40 PM »

I like the Cast Performance bullets in 335gr and 360gr. Both of them shoot to less than 2" at 100yds for me. They're not fast but they hit real hard! Cast Performance lists load data in their box that worked out great for me.

I haven't tried any of their 395gr bullets, but I bet they would work good too, maybe a bit better in a .454 Casull or .460 S&W though.

Also, they're customer service is great. I have spoken to the owner twice now and he has even emailed me load data when it wasn't in one of the boxes.

http://www.castperformance.com/Detail.bok?no=22

Thanks, Dinny

zoner · « **Reply #6 on:** September 19, 2010, 03:34:02 AM »

i buy cast bullets from Oregon Trail. Their website lists prices for 500 bullets, but if you call em they'll sell em to you in bags of 100 for testing purposes

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #7 on:** September 19, 2010, 08:34:28 AM »

I use Oregon Trail 360gr Silver cast max load at 1500fps. They are devastating to anything in North America and beyond. Kurt

yep I fixed it thanks

quickdtoo · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2010, 08:41:27 AM »

Kurt, aren't you using the 360gr?

Tim

http://www.laser-cast.com/trueshot.html

gendoc · « **Reply #9 on:** September 19, 2010, 01:42:25 PM »

hey dinny, your right about the cast performance folks
i called and talked to one of the sales people...
couple days later, i had a box that my mail lady could'nt even lift out of the jeep !!

they sent them to me because of the information i asked for !!!!
all kindsa boolits

they are great people !! and i have ordered a bunch for some hunters around here.
great to have people like that on our side !!!

Dahlgrenjohn · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2011, 01:21:00 PM »

I have a 454 in which I use a mild load consisting of a trueshot 360 grain gas check bullet at ~1050 ft/sec (about 880 ft-lbf at the muzzle). Nice shooting load and more than ample for anything around where I live (Virginia) with plenty of penetration. This load is entirely within 45 Colt (or Long Colt if you prefer) parameters for revolvers such as the Ruger.

twhrider2 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 05, 2011, 02:16:12 PM »

Ditto on the Cast Performance bullets. I am currently shooting their 300gr. LFNGC with a moderate/heavy load, great accuracy with H110. I loooove my little .45!!!!. Oh and by the way 2 shots 2 deer 2 bang flops this season, sweeet.

gomerdog · « **Reply #12 on:** January 05, 2011, 03:11:49 PM »

I have on order various weights of 45 cal. bullets from Beartooth Bullets, some gas-checked and some plain-based. Not sure when they will show up, but I'm not in a hurry as the weather has been pretty cold here in Wyoming. Whenever they show up and whenever it warms up a little, I will load some up and post a report. I bought some locally commercial cast 300 gr. bullets with gas-checks with a .452" diameter and accuracy was dismal. Hoping a couple thousandths larger bullets will improve accuracy. Accuracy was much better with 300gr. XTP Mag bullets on top of a stout load of H110.

Good luck!
Jeff

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 05, 2011, 03:16:28 PM »

Slug your bore, mine ended up measuring .4525 so I used .454 bullets.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #14 on:** January 05, 2011, 03:27:42 PM »

Montana Bullet Works here in Billings puts out some mighty fine bullets. Check out his web site at www.montanabulletworks.com for pics and prices. DP

Saloon slug · « **Reply #15 on:** January 05, 2011, 05:03:47 PM »

+1 to Montana Bullet Works.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2011, 11:50:36 PM »

I also prefer to cast my own.
BUT, I have bought some from a couple different small manufacturers. The first one that comes to mind is Ranger Rick up in Alaska. He makes some fine bullets.

My mold is a LBT style that is advertised as a 310Gr with a wide mepat and a gas check. It shoots very well form both my revolvers and rifles.

CW

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #17 on:** January 06, 2011, 02:56:37 AM »

I've had great results in my .44's with Creeker's bullets. Lynn post here from time to time and he's great to deal with.

http://www.drycreekbullets.com/

petemi · « **Reply #18 on:** January 06, 2011, 03:31:43 AM »

All I have reloaded for my .45 is Hornady XTPs, but I bought .433 SWCGCs from Montana for my .445 and they are excellent.

Pete

gcrank1 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 06, 2011, 08:21:32 AM »

I suggest you try .454 first. Generally the cast bullets at the same dia. as jacketed are too small and result in poor accuracy and/or leading.
My normal recommendation is to use the largest dia. lead bullet that comfortably fits the fully fire-formed case mouth.
You may not even have to resize the case if they do.
BTW, if you load some up and they are stiff to chamber, they bullet is actually a bit too large a dia. Yes, you can 'size' loaded rounds down. Do it incrementally, a bit at a time, then trying in the chamber; only go just far enough to get them to fit.

dangerranger · « **Reply #20 on:** January 06, 2011, 09:58:12 AM »

my carbine seems to like lead bullits sized to .454. all the .452s I tried looked more like shotgun patterns than rifle groups. It will also shoot lees 230 gr round nose with the tumble lube grooves just as cast pretty well. they drop a little bigger, [.455, 456] but still shoot well. Good luck DR