I've just purchased a new Kimber Custom II .45 pistol and am about to jump in head first into reloading so I can shoot more!

I've got about 450 rounds through the gun already and have shot a variety of target ball ammo - PMC, UMC, and S&B. I've also ordered my reloading rig and 100 rounds of Nosler .451 diameter .45 bullets.

I've purchased Lyman's Handgun and Pistol reloading manual and while reading it I've noticed that it states that when reloading you should use the same bullet size to reload with as the original bullet in the case your reloading.

Problem is - none of my boxes from PMC, UMC, S&B have the bullet diameter on the box.

Is it a problem if a cartridge had a .429 original bullet diameter but I want to reload it with a .451? Seems like a very insignificant amount - but when it comes to reloading I want to be totally safe. Also - is there some way to tell what the bullet diameter is for each of the different types of ammo I've used?

If you have any cases that have .429" diameter bullets they are not 45 ACP ammunition. The .429 diameter bullets are for 44 Special and 44 Magnum cartridges and neither of these will fit in your 45 ACP gun's magazine or chamber.
Do not try to load any 45 ACP ammunition with .429" diameter bullets.
The difference in diameter from .452 to .429 is HUGE when you are talking about reloading.

Ah, OK.

I must've been reading the product information wrong then when I was looking at some bullets for reloading - I could've sworn that I saw some.429 in .45; But it makes sense that they would all be the same size.

thx!

Yeah, it can get confusing. What, with .45 bullets in so many diameters - .451-452, for the .45acp; and .454-455 bullets for the .45 Colt, not to mention the various permutations in cast bullets. Just be sure you are getting the correct bullets for the ACP, in .451" to.452", and you will be fine. Ain't it great to have a group like this to ask Q's, though?...........Bug.

.451" to .452" is the correct size for .45 ACP. There are also a lot of .45 Colt caliber (and .454 Casulls) made since the end of WWII that have groove and chamber throat diameters made to use .451" to .452" bullets. Manufacturers have quit making the .45 Colt to shoot .454" bullets. So, if you get a .45 Colt, it is best to slug the bore to determine which size bullet it was made for.

[ 05-26-2003, 19:00: Message edited by: eldeguello ]