Smee78

Hi all,

New to reloading (I'm only reloading 38spl right now)and got a question about reloading for the 45c. Does anyone use 45acp bullets in there 45c? I got a deal on a Dillon b square setup for 45acp (Got a rcbs for 45c) and it came with a 30cal ammo can of lead 200gn swc 452. dia and a new box of 500 West Coast copper bullets 230 gn rn plated bullets all for $100. I am not interested in loading for acp right now but would love to use the bullets in 45c cases. I've got a Smith 625MG 45c and a Redhawk 45 7 1/2 and a 45 Blackhawk 4 5/8 and Vaquero BH 3 1/4 so as far as guns go, I'm set but need to start reloading for 45c and thought the bullets would work fine for range time. What say yall?

Old Shooter

There is no problem interchanging them, they are the same size ie. .452 , watch the seating depth and do not try to make hot loads.

Iowegan

Smee78, Chances are your bullets do not have a crimp groove like normal 45 Colt bullets. This is not a problem if you have 45 ACP dies because you can use the taper crimp instead of the 45 Colt roll crimp die. I have fired lots of 230 gr LRNs in my 45 Colt and even some SWCs. They shoot just fine.

Smee78

Good to hear and thanks, no super loads for me, just plinking and range time fun.

texagun

I've got a thousand or so 230 gr LRN under my loading bench. Can you suggest a recommended load for this bullet for target use in a Ruger Vaquero?

elrondo

5 Gr. Clays, 5.3 Win 231. 5.7 Bullseye, good plinking loads and short range target.

vico512

Welcome to a very pleasurable & cost effective hobby. Without intending to cast aspersions on anyone's favorite load, when you see suggested loads on the internet forums, I strongly advise you to compare them to published reloading tables. I'd use the recommendations only as a starting point. There are great books, such as Lyman & Lee, and you can also obtain a wealth of info from the powder mfg websites.

"Trust, but verify".

cyrille

+ 1 on vico 512's advice

Cowboy T

Another +1 to that advice. I apply that even to John Taffin's load info, and he's a recognized expert.

A taper crimp is fine, just like Iowegan says. Actually, for those light loads, you don't even need that. All you really need to do is iron out the flare that your expander die made, same as for .45 ACP. Heavier loads, yes, roll-crimp and use a bullet with a crimp groove.

Iowegan

texagun, 5.8 gr of Unique with a 230 gr LRN is my benchmark load for 45 ACPs. It is very accurate, feeds well, and operates a 1911 slide with a factory spring just perfect. In my 45 ACP cylinders for my Ruger BHs, this load also shoots very well and is a "middle of the road" load is right out of the Hornady manual.

vico512, Your "trust but verify" is excellent advice but you picked the two worst references in the industry for accurate load data.

MidLife

The Lyman is one of the worst reload data sources?
That surely conflicts with alot I have heard/read about this subject.

Old Shooter

The Lyman data is somewhat limited in scope but safe to use. Try the Lee book for additional loads and pressure data.

MidLife

OMG!
I have decided that the Hornady manual is the definative resource. A reloader must decide whose data they are going to trust.
I just can't keep jugling these pros and cons for the the right data.
All the manuals and data and just about everything has come full circle and just keeps circling. There is NO definative resource. So, one must choose. I myself have decided that Hornady will be my manual.
And, I have found that you can't consult more than one manual as they differ so much.
This is in my particular cartidege, the 357 magnum. Apparently other cartidges dont have as much conflicting info.
So, I'm done.
On to reloading!

Iowegan

MidLife, Unless Lyman has changed very recently, they do not test their published loads, rather they borrow load data from other sources. Lee has never tested loads and also borrows from other sources. Lee does not list specific bullets for many of their "generic" loads so seating depth is often not right. Are they safe? Probably but they sure aren't optimum nor current.

Current load data will have chamber pressure expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) whereas old data is expressed in copper units of pressure (CUP). Due to modern testing procedures, some of the "CUP" loads were found to exceed pressure standards. Also, many changes have been made in the powder industry so formulas are not exactly the same as they were 10 years ago.

The three best sources of current load data is: Speer #14, Hornady 7th Ed, and Sierra 5th Ed. These companies actually pressure test all their listed loads and use very modern SAAMI certified labs.

MidLife

Thanks. As my above post indicates, I have decided that I will use my Hornady manual for reloading the 357 magnum. I've been circuling this for over a month now and have determined there is NO consensus for the 357 magnum cartidge. So, I have decided the Hornady data will be my decision and all other data will not be used by me. I just can't keep going round in circles with the available data and dealing with differing opinions and such everyday. Like I said, a reloader must decide whom they are going to trust, and my pick will be the Hornday manual. So, I'll be buying their bullets, as I already have my brass for the next several years!
it is kinda of satisfying that I wont need to puzzle over different laoding data any more and can just use the one manual!