I have a box of 500 .452" dia, 255 gr. Hard Cast semi wad cutter bullets I purchased eons ago.

Was thinking of loading them in a 1911 semi-auto.

Looking for load data?

Any experience or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanx,

GWB

I think the Lyman manual may have data. I know it’s been done just not by me.

Not many have 255 but 250 is found. Accurate has 250 grain loads and this place. 250 data should get you started.

https://www.powderthrough.com/data/caliber/45acp/

Good luck.

Gee. I have some data for 260 grain covering Hodgdon, Winchester can’t post pics right now but here goes
260 grain jhp

Hercules
Blue Dot. 7.5-8.0
Unique. 5.0-5.8
Bullseye 4.2-4.6

WW 231 4.4-5.0

Hodgdon

HS7 8.8-9.3
HS6. 7.5-8.0
Trap100 4.5-5.0
HP38 4.5-5.1

I have one of my 1911's set up with a 22 pound spring I use for +P loads, it would be a good candidate for such loads. Have some cast 250's laying around also.

For no better reason than curiosity I loaded a bunch of Lyman 454424 255 gr. sized to .452 in .45ACP with 3.5gr. Bullseye. Functioned perfectly in a Colt Gov't 1911. Accuracy was ok, don't know velocity. Gave up on followup with different loads as I didn't see the point since the 185 and 200 SWC's I normally shoot are less of a drain on my lead supply. Thought they might make better man-stoppers for the night stand gun, but I figured I was splitting hairs versus the 230gr. hollowpoints that normally live in that gun.

I shot a pig a couple days ago with a 200gr RCBS WC out of my 5” Govt. hit him through the hips as he ran by about 40 yards away. It smashed both hips and exited. Not sure how much a 255 would gain us on that. But if a guy had a bunch he might as well use them up.

The reason I asked is that I'm going to do the bowling pin shoot with a bunch of guys in March while on the 24hourCampfire hog hunt. I've been shooting the 230 gr. FMJ's last couple years and googled "what 45 ACP bullets for bowling pin shoot " From what I read it seems the 255 gr. Hard Cast Lead semi-wadcutters are a stand-out.

I thought I might give it a try if I could score a few and test them to see how they fed and maybe get suggestions on a safe load.

Thanx for the input guys!

Best,

GWB

Load 'em to 875-900fps.

My timberline carry and high desert carry.

Good luck there, GW! Say "Hi" to my buddy Joe Ryba. We've been practicing a lot lately and I gotta warn ya, he's getting pretty good! One of these years I'll get moved from the waiting list to the "Come on down" list!

10/4. Some amazing Pistoleros that attend that soiree.

As I mentioned on another social platform, I do the bowling pin shoot as "somebody's gotta come in last". LOL



Ya!

GWB

Nice hat old fella. Be Well, RustyZipper.

geedubya

Did ya get tired of shootin pigs and decide to go to bowing pins?

Havnt shot them in a 1911 but run a lot of them in 45 acp and auto rim for a few revolvers.

Best luck has been with bullseye @ 4.2 gr
And a heavy load of unique @ 6.5gr and a heavy crimp.

Nice hat...and tell me more about this pig shoot...

I was expecting to see tighter groups on those bowling pins and less flyers

I figure a good heavy hard cast with a nice meplat would do a deer and/or hog in as well as any. Should get complete penetration and I have to assume at close range, it would do in game about as well as a similar 240 in a 44, loaded around 1000 - 1,050. I know how well they work.

Nice pic enjoy those 45s

I use a Buffalo Bore 45 Super load to experiment with It is 250 or 255 gr cast with a good meplat. Haven't killed a deer with it yet. Be Well and kill lots of pins. RZ.

Should do quite fine, must have some decent speeds.