I have looked at the Swift 325's, but not the Underwood's. Are these Copper, by any chance?I picked up some Accurate TCM powder and new Starline brass, but I haven't found the bullets for loading my own heavy 45Colt loads yet. I currently shoot the Underwood Ammo loaded with their 325gr bullets.
My purpose for heavy loads is woods defense. That Underwood ammo pushes that 325gr bullet at over 1300fps with a muzzle energy over 1250ft-lb.I hear that! For my purposes I am most interested in moving a BIG piece of .452" lead. Well under 800fps is just fine. Definitely do not want to over-pressure the brass or the gun!
The Underwood's are hard cast with a polymer coating. I can't seem to find a source for them. I think they are a Underwood proprietary bullet. I have been looking at the Cast Performance 335gr. Not sure I want to go to the 365gr.I have looked at the Swift 325's, but not the Underwood's. Are these Copper, by any chance?
FYI, I have been a bit shy of the heavier Copper bullets because inch for inch they are significantly longer than Lead. I wish Speer still offered their Tungsten bullets.
This makes me think now that I need to investigate Tungsten and Bismuth projectiles of European manufacture. Hmmm!
Those should be great for that purpose! I don't need that much energy, but have for hunting or dangerous animal protection used .458" 400-500gr. slugs in a custom 45-70 Gov't Mauser built on a 8x52Rmm Siamese Mauser action with the Gibbs style slanted magazine. Good luck & stay safe!My purpose for heavy loads is woods defense. That Underwood ammo pushes that 325gr bullet at over 1300fps with a muzzle energy over 1250ft-lb.
Have you looked at the Swift 325gr. A-Frame Hollow Point Pistol bullet, by any chance? B.C. is 0.171, but S.D. is 0.227. If you do want Lead with a Gas Check, then the Cast Performance 335's may be the ticket.The Underwood's are hard cast with a polymer coating. I can't seem to find a source for them. I think they are a Underwood proprietary bullet. I have been looking at the Cast Performance 335gr. Not sure I want to go to the 365gr.
Thank you for coming up on the net! I'm thinking that FP and HP bullets are what would provide what I'm seeking. The results I have received with W296 in .357, .44, and .45 loads have been good, and I am OK with the recoil since I will not be putting a lot of rounds downrange at any given time. All this being said, while I am not afraid of lead casting, I don't own the required molds, melting pot, tools, and raw metals...yet. My current thinking is to develop loads with 300+ grain bullets from Swift and Cast Performance. I also want to learn more about the Speer DeepCurl bullets, as well as trying to find any remaining NOS Speer tungsten bullets.What type of nose profile are you looking for? I have bullet molds that were designed by JD Jones that I believe would work in your handgun and lever action. It just depends how much recoil your willing to deal with. They require big doses of W 296 to propel them. A couple pictures for reference.
Thank you. One must be prudent, but I also have been known to run with scissors.Henry,Rossi and winchester do not recommend anything over 250 grain out of the lever guns in 45 colt! but i do load elmer keith in 255 grain and they shoot great!!!!!
Grizzly has a 335 offering for 45 colt and a 360 for 454, might check with them and see what bullet they use. I would imagine casting your own is the best route.Thank you for coming up on the net! I'm thinking that FP and HP bullets are what would provide what I'm seeking. The results I have received with W296 in .357, .44, and .45 loads have been good, and I am OK with the recoil since I will not be putting a lot of rounds downrange at any given time. All this being said, while I am not afraid of lead casting, I don't own the required molds, melting pot, tools, and raw metals...yet. My current thinking is to develop loads with 300+ grain bullets from Swift and Cast Performance. I also want to learn more about the Speer DeepCurl bullets, as well as trying to find any remaining NOS Speer tungsten bullets.
Thank you, but aside from their proprietary ammo, Grizzly appear to offer only Cast Performance brand bullets. I believe these are the weights you cite.Grizzly has a 335 offering for 45 colt and a 360 for 454, might check with them and see what bullet they use. I would imagine casting your own is the best route.
I might have missed it, but what are you wanting to shoot them out of?
The heaviest I've seen is 395gr. It'll be slow but hard hitting. If you have a 7" barrel we're talking maybe 650fps.Any experienced advice sought regarding heavy bullet offerings appropriate for the 45 Long Colt. Wish to investigate safe possibilities for bullets up to 400 grains. Thank you for your kind consideration!
As far as I'm concerned, slow but steady wins the race. I've seen the pictured bullet on MidwayUSA and a couple other sources, and like what I see. The gas check might not be absolutely necessary, but I'm not going to take it off the slug...it won't hurt, and can only help!The heaviest I've seen is 395gr. It'll be slow but hard hitting. If you have a 7" barrel we're talking maybe 650fps.
Cast Performance Bullets 45 Cal (452 Diameter) 395 Grain Lead Wide
Cast Performance Wide Flat Nose Gas Check bullets are cast from virgin alloy and produced in extremely precise and consistent LBT style molds....www.midwayusa.com
View attachment 207461
Yes, thanks, all good points. I'm not 100% sure, but I suspect most balloon head Colt brass is out of circulation. I'm using new Hornady and Starline, plus some once-fired Federal and Fiocchi brass. The Starline stuff is nickel plated so as to identify certain W296 loads versus lighter Clays plinking loads in yellow brass.Did I miss it or what gun will you feed these to? Depending on gun, twist and type of rifling makes a difference in accuracy and safety. Also know that the 45 Colt case can be weaker in the head so there’s that.