[miker84]

Now that I'm starting to feel comfortable reloading, I'm seriously looking at casting. I've noticed that LSWC (Lead Semi Wad Cutter) seems to be the preferred bullet (or boolit) to cast for 45 ACP instead of LRN (Lead Round Nose). Why is that?

Is that true for 9, 40, 38, and 357?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

[captain-03]

Good question -- just like jacketed bullets come in all shapes and sizes, so do cast boolits. Take a look a the mould charts in this thread:

http://www.msgunowners.com/reloading-ammunition-f11/boolit-mould-charts-references-t1645.htm

I don't know if the SWC is the preferred boolit for the 45ACP ... I guess it is somewhat of a personal preference. Boolits moulds should be selected based on some criteria; such as:

Boolit choice -- weight/style:
1. Intended purpose for the boolit - target, hunting, etc
2. In autos - what feeds best in your weapon

I have both SWC and RN moulds for almost all my autos - got SWC, WC, and RN for most of the revolvers -- each has its place and purpose.

 

[miker84]

I have both SWC and RN moulds for almost all my autos - got SWC, WC, and RN for most of the revolvers -- each has its place and purpose.

SOLD! The more the merrier! I was looking for someone to validate my desire to buy 2 molds for each caliber.

 

[Xd357]

That didn't take much. Lol. Like he said each has there purpose.

 

[msredneck]

If you are shooting them in a 1911 be prepared to clear jams and have feeding issues...especially if you are not loading full power loads...

Keep in mind that JMB designed the 1911 to feed hardball...not SWC and WC....some of mine will eat em...some won't....

I'd start with the RN's....Enjoy the new adventure of bullet casting....lots of fun

 

[Doug Bowser]

I shoot H&G .452" Mold number 130 200 gr SWC in the .45 ACP. I prefer the lower recoil afforded by the 200 gr bullet at 775 fps. I do believe a slow moving (800 fps) .45 lead bullet is a good self defense load.

Doug

PS: I have 2 H&G 130 molds. You can quickly empty a 20 pound pot with 2-4 cavity .45 molds.

 

[Beladran]

my 1911 hates! HATES! wad cutters. SWC it feeds fine, like neck said it was designed to shoot ball ammo

 

[Doug Bowser]

my 1911 hates! HATES! wad cutters. SWC it feeds fine, like neck said it was designed to shoot ball ammo

I can make a 1911 feed an empty case. It is in the polishing of the feed ramp and the position the ramp on the barrel has in relation to the feed ramp in the frame.

Doug

 

[msredneck]

my 1911 hates! HATES! wad cutters. SWC it feeds fine, like neck said it was designed to shoot ball ammo

I can make a 1911 feed an empty case. It is in the polishing of the feed ramp and the position the ramp on the barrel has in relation to the feed ramp in the frame.

Doug

Yep.....I said be prepared....not everyone has "tweaked" their 1911's....polishing feed ramps, and mag lips is almost a requirement to get good reliability...it can be frustrating to take a new or seldom shot 1911 out and feed it WC, SWC and HP's....jamamatic...at least in my experience

I have some old Colts and Springfields that will eat anything...and I got a Kimber CDP that is finacky as hell with anything but ball...and its been "smithed" twice...so just go into it with your eyes open is all I'm saying

 

[Beladran]

well its like you said neck.. 1911 was designed to feed ball so there is really no point in getting all worked up about it.. That would be like your dodge trying to beat a ford lol it just wasnt ment to do it!

 

[captain-03]

As I posted earlier above:

Boolit choice -- weight/style:
1. Intended purpose for the boolit - target, hunting, etc
2. In autos - what feeds best in your weapon

I got 2 1911s - Colt and Springfield -- both handle SWC very well with no modifications!! Just depends on the weapon!

 

[Xd357]

my trp fed empty cases out of the box.

 

[DBChaffin]

I shoot H&G .452" Mold number 130 200 gr SWC in the .45 ACP. I prefer the lower recoil afforded by the 200 gr bullet at 775 fps. I do believe a slow moving (800 fps) .45 lead bullet is a good self defense load.

Doug

I thought the #130 was a 185 gr. mold? That is how it is listed by HG, but maybe that is because it is in linotype?:

I thought I had read somewhere that the #130 was the lighter short yard line Bullseye bullet for lighter recoil.

I am more familiar with the H&G #68, 200 gr. with a little longer nose than the #130, shown here:

It is generally known as a very good feeder in 1911's, and also generally very accurate. My understanding is because it was designed by keeping the part on the bullet that actually hits the ramp in a properly tuned 1911 the same as round nose hard ball, but just removing the "excess" away giving the SWC profile and a 30 grain lighter weight. If it makes sense, the bullet doesn't (or shouldn't) actually hit on the end of the nose on the ramp. It should hit about halfway down the bullet, about where the H&G #68 SWC becomes a flat point. I don't have the OAL in front of me, but I am pretty sure it is 1.250" on the H&G #68 for that to be true. Interestingly, I had trouble making it feed in a Glock 21 some years ago. I was able to get it to work, but I remember it was at a different length than is standard for 1911's.

In IPSC/USPSA circles (where reliability is very important to do well), this bullet is pretty popular among .45 shooters and it is sometimes referred to as the "Wilson load" after Bill Wilson. Not that he invented it, but he has apparently been a big proponent of it for quite some time and uses it to test all Wilson pistols before they leave the factory. As a matter of fact, Wilson Combat now sells (overpriced IMO) loaded "Bill Wilson Signature Load" ammunition with the 200 gr. H&G #68 bullet:
http://shopwilsoncombat.com/45-ACP-Bill-Wilson-Signature-Load-200-gr-HG-68-L-SWC-875-FPS-5-Barrel-50_Box/productinfo/A45-200-LSWC/

Long winded thoughts summed up, I think Captain pretty much nailed it on the head. As to the last question posed, SWC are not very common in 9 or .40. Most typically they are round nose, truncated cone, or hp.

My $.02...
Bryant