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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,118 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,118 Likes: 2 |
The H&G 68 200gr. bullet is my personal gold standard. Cast from either of my H&G molds, a 4 cavity and a 6 cavity, and propelled by 4.0gr. Bullseye. I don't compete in any kind of handgun competition, nor do I daily carry for fear of snakes, bears, or bad guys. What I do is shoot for fun at paper, steel, and empty cans and the bullet serves quite well for that too.
Similar great performance is turned in by 230gr. RN's from other molds I own, and frankly there's no reason not to employ that bullet for my applications. What dropped me into the lap of the H&G 68 a bazillion years ago was as much for economic reasons as anything: 30 grains less lead in each one means that about every 8th bullet I cast I get a free one. At four or six bullets every time I open the mold those free ones add up pretty quickly.
Anecdotally, I see no reason whatsoever to opt for harder alloys or powdercoating at .45ACP velocities - even hot loads fall well below the threshold where hard alloys and/or PC'ing become viable. If I ever bought said bullets and had a choice between hard/PC'ed versus soft/traditionally lubed I would opt for whichever was cheaper and/or best fit my throat(s). Throat fit trumps all in the end.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,118 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,118 Likes: 2 |
Addendum: Not ever having shot a large tough animal, such as a bear, with a .45ACP is there truly a real-world difference in penetration between a bullet of 10-12bhn versus one of 16-20bhn, given identical shapes? And does it truly matter? Not trying to start a "Campfire Polarizing Debate", just curious.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 21,317 |
Addendum: Not ever having shot a large tough animal, such as a bear, with a .45ACP is there truly a real-world difference in penetration between a bullet of 10-12bhn versus one of 16-20bhn, given identical shapes? And does it truly matter? Not trying to start a "Campfire Polarizing Debate", just curious. Depends on velocity. At 1500 fps or above, I'd want the harder bullet. At 1200 and under I would expect penetration to be similar.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,707
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,707 |
I've got a 50 cal. ammo can full of loaded 45's with the H&G 68. Yeah, I like em & have shot them for decades. But I've been playing with what some are calling the bowling pin bullet. It's a 215 SWC that has the body of the 68 but a shorter fatter nose & a .330" meplat. Redding/Saeco has it as a #58. I got it going 900 fps & my chrono quit. I bought a new chrono but haven't gone back with the testing. Maybe when it cools off. Looking for about all I can get with stock springs & without crazy ejection or other signs of, Too Much. Thinking Magnus states, "yes, it feeds". I was surprised how well it does, & OAL wasn't a pain to find. Afterthought, the dummy photographer could have included an H&G 68 for reference. I tried that bullet and never could get it to shoot as accurately as the #68 200 gr. SWC. I really like the larger flat meplat of that bullet and overall profile.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,707
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,707 |
The H&G 68 200gr. bullet is my personal gold standard. Cast from either of my H&G molds, a 4 cavity and a 6 cavity, and propelled by 4.0gr. Bullseye. I don't compete in any kind of handgun competition, nor do I daily carry for fear of snakes, bears, or bad guys. What I do is shoot for fun at paper, steel, and empty cans and the bullet serves quite well for that too.
Similar great performance is turned in by 230gr. RN's from other molds I own, and frankly there's no reason not to employ that bullet for my applications. What dropped me into the lap of the H&G 68 a bazillion years ago was as much for economic reasons as anything: 30 grains less lead in each one means that about every 8th bullet I cast I get a free one. At four or six bullets every time I open the mold those free ones add up pretty quickly.
Anecdotally, I see no reason whatsoever to opt for harder alloys or powdercoating at .45ACP velocities - even hot loads fall well below the threshold where hard alloys and/or PC'ing become viable. If I ever bought said bullets and had a choice between hard/PC'ed versus soft/traditionally lubed I would opt for whichever was cheaper and/or best fit my throat(s). Throat fit trumps all in the end. The Hi-Tec coating MBC uses does a couple of immediately noticeable things for the loaded ammo. There is much less smoke when firing the bullet with the coating. I shoot outside mostly so this may not be too big of a deal however if I shot at an indoor range it would definitely be a valuable improvement. And, there is a lot less residue left on the gun. It is easier to clean later and that is especially nice when cleaning revolver cylinder faces. This also means less gunk on the shooter's hands as he manipulates the gun when shooting 100+ rounds in a shooting session. Occasionally I have felt like I was at a black powder rendezvous after several hundred rounds of smoky cast bullet shooting in the past. Supposedly it makes cast bullets ok in Glock barrels, though with a decent hard cast bullet, I have never had an issue there. I like the stuff, I see advantages for my purposes with it. I'm not a salesman and I am not trying to convince anyone to quit doing what they have been doing for time eternal. I am just relaying my experience with the coated hard cast and saying that for me it is a plus and I like the stuff.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,679
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,679 |
Addendum: Not ever having shot a large tough animal, such as a bear, with a .45ACP is there truly a real-world difference in penetration between a bullet of 10-12bhn versus one of 16-20bhn, given identical shapes? And does it truly matter? Not trying to start a "Campfire Polarizing Debate", just curious. Question for a Question If 230 grain lead 10-12 Bhn is all that’s needed, why the need for a 230 grain lead encased in a metal jacket.
Swifty
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 389
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 389 |
I love the saeco 058 loaded to the mid nines. Power pistol will make it sing as will long shot. I was given an LBT 230 grain LFN mold the I’m falling in love with. Both of these bullets will shoot excellent groups and do a lot of work
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,118 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,118 Likes: 2 |
Addendum: Not ever having shot a large tough animal, such as a bear, with a .45ACP is there truly a real-world difference in penetration between a bullet of 10-12bhn versus one of 16-20bhn, given identical shapes? And does it truly matter? Not trying to start a "Campfire Polarizing Debate", just curious. Question for a Question If 230 grain lead 10-12 Bhn is all that’s needed, why the need for a 230 grain lead encased in a metal jacket. Never said there was. FMJ .45ACP military bullets were adopted solely as a nod to Geneva Convention rules.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,534
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,534 |
Addendum: Not ever having shot a large tough animal, such as a bear, with a .45ACP is there truly a real-world difference in penetration between a bullet of 10-12bhn versus one of 16-20bhn, given identical shapes? And does it truly matter? Not trying to start a "Campfire Polarizing Debate", just curious. Question for a Question If 230 grain lead 10-12 Bhn is all that’s needed, why the need for a 230 grain lead encased in a metal jacket. That's what the Hague Convention required, and the .45 was designed for Army use. Outside of that, I don't think the jacket is worth the trouble. It sounds like we're all in agreement here, really. Sounds like everyone likes them, and at about the same speeds, too. It should be noted in Campfire history, complete agreement is such a rare thing around here.
You can roll a turd in peanuts, dip it in chocolate, and it still ain't no damn Baby Ruth.
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,427
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,427 |
These have been good. I like Magnus but coated is a lot easier loading and less smoke. Brazos 200gr
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 9,651 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 9,651 Likes: 3 |
The button head 185 "might" out group the #68 but my hands can't tell much diff in many of them. I have a Ransome rest with a 1911 insert. It might tell me the most accurate load or bullet, but it doesn't consider feed capabilities to whacking power. Several things to consider.
All things considered though, just like the thread started, the H&G 68 is good to go. At 700FPS or 950, pick yer poison.
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