I am getting ready to start reloading for the .45 ACP.
I would like two loads, one with cast bullets just for plinking and making holes in paper. The other for in case I need to put a hole in something else.
What two bullets would you suggest? There are too many options out there.
Thanks for your input.

For the bullet with the self defense roll, I get great accuracy and good velocities with the Speer Gold Dot bullets, whether in 185 grain or 230 grain. I use VihtaVuori N340. A little tricky at first to get the right seating depth but once you do you can get some really great groups and these bullets are considered very good by lots of people who test them in real world simulations: through windshields, car doors, etc. The icing on the cake is that RCBS makes special seater plugs for these bullets as well. I haven't shot anybody with them.

For the shooting targets at the range I would probably just go for el cheapo FMJ ball bullets and limit the hassle of lead, leading, lubricants, etc. There are also copper coated bullets which can do the same thing which are also cheap.

whatever bullet you decide on, make sure, very sure that it functions well in you gun. A defense load must function. one of the things that i found is quite helpful is to taper crimp. taper crimping seems to all be eliminate stovepiping.

I cast my own 230gr RN lead bullets from wheelweights using a Lee tumblelube mold and their liquid alox...quick and cheap.

For personal protection I always use factory loads only, and CorBon+P 185gr solid copper hollowpoint DPX is my choice. They function 100% in my Springfield 1911 clone and Taurus PT945.

A lot of good information in the preceding posts, I would like to add my two cents. If your local LE is honest with you, he will tell you NOT to use handloads in self defence. You may beat a criminal charge but, in a civil suit, a lawyer will come at you like a junk yard dog for using "killer" loads (handloads). Check with your local LE and see what the police use as duty ammo. If they try to prosecute you in a civil suit, they'll have a rough time if you are using the same ammo the local police use. By the way, a lot of forces use the SPEER Gold Dot but, only in factory loaded ammo.

As for plinking, I have used a lot of lead bullets in a .45 ACP with out any problems. I buy them in bulk from a local caster and they are already lubed and ready to load. If you want to stay with jacketed bullets, BERRY's Bullets are very good. They are lead projectiles that are electoplated with copper and are quite inexpensive (relatively speaking).

You can get plenty of 200 grain SWC cast bullets for your practice and paper punching needs. Cheap and very accurate. 230 gr. FMJ or HP bullets for your other needs.
Peter.

First, what kind of 45acp are you shooting? Glocks should not be running on lead bullets (although I have done this), some other style pistols are finicky about bullet styles. I agree, I only use factory ammo for SD. You can find a factory load you like & handload an equiv. load for full power practice ammo. The std. 45acp load is a 230grJHP/FMJ @ 850fps+/-.
You can duplicate this w/ 6.5gr of Unique under a jacketed bullet & 6.2gr under a lead or plated bullet. There are literally 100s of good loads for the 45acp as just about any powder & bullet combo from Bullseye-BlueDot, 185gr-230gr work well. The 45acp is a very easy cart. to load for.

I use 200 gr Penn LSWC for paper and cans in my 45 acp. http://www.pennbullets.com/

I`m another that does use handloads for defence, I`m not sure all the horror stories about them are true but 185 gr Winchester Silvertip or Speer gold Dot will do fine. they are also available in 230 gr I believe.

Concerning the use of handloads for self-defense, I think the best argument for using factory ammunition is that there is much less chance that the ammunition will be imperfect in terms of dimensions or consistancy of performance, feeding, etc. and that is what counts the most. A relative beginner to reloading will usually (at least in my case it was true) make many more errors than he/she thinks. You figure it out over a pretty lengthy learning process.

I don't think a single poster here could ever point to a single verifiable court case in which handloaded ammunition made a difference, or was even a factor, in a court case involving self-defense. No matter what law enforcement people or self-defense experts say or write. It just hasn't happened as far as I know and no one has ever been able to provide a case to show the contrary. People out-lawyer themselves all the time.

I agree with Wink. The rationale for using factory ammo in a carry gun has a lot more to do with reliability than with what Massad Ayoob says!
Peter.

For target work, try a Bevel based 45 acp 200gr. lswc. The bevel base makes for better accuracy, plus they load easy.

quote:

Originally posted by 243winxb:
For target work, try a Bevel based 45 acp 200gr. lswc. The bevel base makes for better accuracy, plus they load easy.

Actually, a flat base bullet will USUALLY be a bit more accurate than a BB, at least in my not so limited experience. The only advantage to a BB is it loads easier into the case.

I agree with Fred. Only thing good about bevel base bullets is they're easier to seat, if you're in a hurry.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:

quote:

Originally posted by 243winxb:
For target work, try a Bevel based 45 acp 200gr. lswc. The bevel base makes for better accuracy, plus they load easy.

Actually, a flat base bullet will USUALLY be a bit more accurate than a BB, at least in my not so limited experience. The only advantage to a BB is it loads easier into the case.

All guns are different, But my Gold Cup when shooting bullseye target likes the BB best(Lyman No. 452630). I cast my own and have tried many types/styles of bullets/moulds, at 50 yards from a machine rest, the BB wins. I suggest you recover fired bullet from the back stop. Look at the base of both a flat base and a BB. The flat base is deformed. I don't care if you size to .451" or .452" the flat base is still deformed. IN all, when it comes to accuracy, a cast bullet is not a good choice, air pockets. You must weight each bullet to get great accurcy. IN lead, a swaged bullet is best. All guns are different as i said before.

243, enlighten me about "deformed" bases. I have recovered my bullets from varying mat'l. several times. What deformation are you talking about that does not occur w/ a BB bullet?
You are right, all guns are diff. but across the widest spectrum, a flat base bullet will often yield best accuracy, rifle or pistol.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
243, enlighten me about "deformed" bases. I have recovered my bullets from varying mat'l. several times. What deformation are you talking about that does not occur w/ a BB bullet?
You are right, all guns are diff. but across the widest spectrum, a flat base bullet will often yield best accuracy, rifle or pistol.

Metal is displace by the rifling as the bullet leaves the barrel. The base is no longer perfectly flat. This does not happen with a BB. I have cast and tested 3 flat base bullets, 185gr, 200gr, 230 round nose. At 50 yards the BB did best in my gun. AT 25yards they all shoot ok, but still the BB has an edge. I am not sure that the base makes the difference, it may be the style of the bullet design. AS you know, not all moulds of the same weight bullet are shaped the same. If i went to a harder alloy, maybe the base would look different. The bullets dont strip the rifling.

I load laser-cast 230gr RN bullets with bullseye 4.5gr for my XD45 acp.

My best groups at 100m with 45acp is with 230 gr FMJ Montana Gold, hot loads, and large rifle primers.

I resize the loaded ammo to get it concentric and fit in a tight chamber.

I cut the chamber with a 45acp throater that just closes on a dummy round made the the bullets I want to shoot.

My best group is 4", 20 shots, rapid fire, 100 meters, 4X scope.

For your self defense load forget about accuracy, it is not important.

To apply deadly force, you must be in fear for your life or the lives of others around you.

If you can hit the center of mass at 20 feet everytime under every condition then it is accurate enough. If your load will only hold 4 inches at 25 it will group into about 1.5" at 25 feet.

I don't think that you need to prepare for a long distance sniper attack, so just try to focus on a reliable load that will incapacitate the target with the least number of shots.