Why the Leading Issues with 45C

[writwing]

Why are there leading issues with the 45C and not the other big bores??

 

[louiethelump]

There are exactly the same leading issues with all of them. What makes you feel the 45 Colt is special? If you have leading problems with 45 Colt, you either have a barrel problem or an ammunition problem, presuming the throats are as they should be.

Be specific about the loads and firearm you are getting leading from and maybe someone can help.

 

[tek4260]

I think it is because more cast is shot through 45's than other calibers. Most 44 shooters play with jacketed rounds, and when they shoot factory cast, they are usually GC, so leading isn't usually an issue.

 

[RMHoward]

There are exactly the same leading issues with all of them. What makes you feel the 45 Colt is special? If you have leading problems with 45 Colt, you either have a barrel problem or an ammunition problem, presuming the throats are as they should be.

Be specific about the loads and firearm you are getting leading from and maybe someone can help.

Wow, are you always so crotchty in your answers? Kind of uncalled for if you ask me, which you didn't.

 

[louiethelump]

Are you always so sensitive to the written word that you feel the need to interpret emotion when there is none there? :?: :?:

There is no more leading issue with 45 colt than any other round fired with lead bullets, and in fact if one is fussy with lead it is the 357 magnum. Nothing crotchty there. :roll:

Then a question to try to determine why the op feels that way. Nothing crotchty there. :roll:

Then an offered suggestion as to reasons it MAY be causing his leading problems with no real information given, just a guess. Nothing crotchty there. :roll:

Finally a request for specifics so that I or someone else may help with the problem. Nothing crotchty there. :roll:

So where is the crotchty????? Seems to me either you have just made it up, or spent too much time getting in touch with your feminine side and want to be courted and flirted with on a gun forum? I dunno. Are you sitting around bored and have nothing to do or something?

You COULD just ignore what you consider crotchty since no one was talking to you anyway. :shock: :shock:

 

[radicalrod]

Why you elitist reloaders are always talking in your secret codes...makes me never want to join a reloaders association the way you talk down to us that are not up on these thing or understand the lingo... :lol: :lol: :lol: hey Louie ya got to admit the shoe can fit on any foot....sorry just had to say it....destroy me now if you must....RR.

 

[louiethelump]

Destroy you??????

Why?

I think it is funny and you made a joke...........


I don't want to destroy anyone. I am amazed that presumably adult males on a gun forum are so sensitive and behave like little teenage girls....

how is this?


"I am soooo sorry that you are offended and probably typed "OMG! did you hear what he said? " to all your little friends on your twitter account and went to your facebook page and cried to your other friends......................."



Better?


(I am guessing not........... )

You ladies need to go to a book club where you can sip mint beverages and discuss the latest Nicholas Sparks novel and you check to see if your cycles have synchronized yet................

GEEEZZZZZZZZZZ............

 

[CraigC]

I think it is because more cast is shot through 45's than other calibers. Most 44 shooters play with jacketed rounds, and when they shoot factory cast, they are usually GC, so leading isn't usually an issue.

I don't find that to be the case at all. In the spirit of political correctness and hurt feelings, you .45 fans are weird.

 

[dlhredfoxx]

In my experience, my stock Ruger 45 Colts have all typically had undersized cylinder throats, which can by itself lead to leading... I've had to ream all of them to .4525 and it helped reduce leading significantly. When I shoot lead RNFP cowboy loads, I still get some leading to time to time but nothing severe that does not come out pretty quickly when cleaning. I'm one of "those" that believes you can remove very minor leading by shooting a cylinder full of jacketed bullets down the tube pretty frequently. I'm not making any general across the board claims so go easy on me, but for me this process seems to work. When I'm shooting a load or a particular revolver that tends to exhibit some minor leading... I'll shoot one full cylinder of jacketed loads for every three cylinders of cast, either hard cast or softer lead cowboy RNFP and Keith style loads. I don't get any leading in any of my Ruger 45 Colts when shooting a gas check. Just my $0.02...

Oh, PS- I've experienced the same issue in a 44 Mag, a 510 GNR and a 475 Linebaugh, but to lesser of a degree... Oh, and the 510 GNR and 475 Linebaugh are full customs with proper cylinder throats, cylinder/barrel gap, 11 degree forcing cones and proper cylinder alignments... but on some loads they will still exhibit some slight leading.

 

[writwing]

dlhredfoxx Thanks for the answer.

 

[Rclark]

In my experience, my stock Ruger 45 Colts have all typically had undersized cylinder throats, which can by itself lead to leading... I've had to ream all of them to .4525 and it helped reduce leading significantly.

My experience as well. Note that older .45 Colt revolvers have the reverse problem of to big of throats. .454 for example. The solution is to bump up your bullet diameter to match. You don't hear of this much is .357 or .44 because the throats are usually (not always) ok.

As said above if all calibers have proper dimensions leading problems would be the same across the board. No different. BTW I've had my .357 lead up horrible years ago. This was due to shooting almost pure lead bullets fairly hot.....

BTW, the throat problem also gives the impression (complaint) that the .45 Colt isn't accurate. But once dimensions are corrected, the .45 Colt is just as accurate as any other caliber.

 

[louiethelump]

careful............. ur gettin close to crotchty............. :shock:

The word police will be gettin after you.......... :wink:

 

[S&W44Spcl]

The redfoxx has got his stuff in one sock. Had the exact same experience with my .45 LC and was getting pretty dissatisfied with it due to the leading and accuracy issues until I had the cylinder checked and found all but one throat was small and were different sizes. We reamed 'em out and problem s solved. There are many causes of leading, but this one is a very common problem, recognized or not.

 

[dlhredfoxx]

I will add one small observation, if you have a barrel restriction at the frame, which is quite common in Ruger large frame SA's, reaming the throats is only half the battle. Fire lapping the barrel will help or eliminate this issue, but it's a serious PITA! In other words, if you ream your cylinders and the leading issue does not improve significantly, look for a barrel restriction at the frame... which can only really be determined by slugging the bore. The tell-tale sign of this is leading in the first two inches or so of the barrel. I'm also a big fan of 11 degree forcing cones as well, also tends to improve leading... and all three of these will also help accuracy significantly. I shot two large frame Vaqueros last weekend at the range that I have only reamed the cylinders on, and leading is all but completely gone, and my groups at 25 yds were cut in half, from around 6" to around 3" (flyers excluded).

 

[Skalkaho Slim]

Seems Ruger may have opened the throats up a bit on the New Vaqueros. I haven't seen any leading whatsoever with it using 3 different loads I have. Used to get leading with a Blackhawk and two older Vaq's with these same loads.

 

[5of7]

A lot of leading problems are caused by the reloader not loading a hot enough load.

This is assuming that the throats and the groove diameter of the barrels are the right size.

Even if the bullets are sized right, a hard cast bullet needs to be bumped hard enough to slug up a little to get a proper gas seal in the bore.

Softer bullets require less pressure to achieve this. Shooting cast bullets is a little more involved than it would appear at the onset, but once the little secrets are learned it it quite rewarding.

I shoot a 275 grain .45 cal. hard cast (commercial) bullet in my Blackhawk and they leaded the bore at 950 fps., but once I got them up to 1050 to 1100 fps the leading went away. This same bullet performed the same way in the 4.2" Redhawk, so it isn't gun specific. 8)

 

[Rafsob]

There are exactly the same leading issues with all of them. What makes you feel the 45 Colt is special? If you have leading problems with 45 Colt, you either have a barrel problem or an ammunition problem, presuming the throats are as they should be.

Be specific about the loads and firearm you are getting leading from and maybe someone can help.

The way I see it you are not crotchety, you anger management problems pal. The gentleman ask a general question and you came back at him like a jackhammer. How about talking like he is standing next to you. Nothing better then a gentlemanly manner instead of an...

 

[Dan in MI]

Yeah Louie, take another lump! (I had to pile on, looked like fun) :lol:

Most leading is bullet to throat to bore aligment. My basic rule rule is bullet = .001" under throat and .001" over bore.

After that it is playing with lubes, hardness, and velocity.

 

[Heywatchthis]

Why are there leading issues with the 45C and not the other big bores??

I'm not sure I have ever heard that before.
I can lead up a 44 as bad as a 45.

As others here have stated, if the cylinder throats are right, if the bore is not rough or constricted, and if the velocity matches the lead alloy, then leading will be almost nonexistant.

In recent years I've gone to fire-lapping a barrel and although tedious, it does wonders for smoothing a barrel and cutting down any leading I might have had.

I don't read anything "crotchity" in louie's response. Perhaps slightly terse, but "jackhammer"?
Geez, c'mon now!

 

[bigboredad]

crotchity uh oh the other day I responded almost exactly the same way a couple weeks ago to a shooter that was shooting next to me. once he had some useful info I gave him my experience with what I did and how I did it. a couple of days later he came back and was all smiles cause his leading was all but completely gone and accuracy up. So Louie can I join the crotchity club I sure don't want any part of the other club

 

[dlhredfoxx]

Maybe Crotchity is only grumpy because he's got lead in his pipe... maybe his throat needs reaming? Or he has a barrel constriction? I jest only to add a little levity...

I'm sure he's a great guy like all the other great guys here on RF, and everyone can come across the wrong way every now and then... Anyway, I do agree that when all one has to go on is the written word, and not facial expression, voice, syntax, tone, etc... that it's easy to misinterpret... or be misinterpreted. I think he was only asking for more info so he could better help the OP, now lets move on gentlemen.

 

[ftlupton]

typical thread lately, guy asks a legit qestion and some idiot blows macho all over the site. My leading issues are usually my choice of powder, load/speed and lube. I love shooting my BH in .45, in fact I'm heading up to the range today with a new load but will pop the acp cylinder in for a few too and I shoot hardball in that. Check load/speed and lube and have fun, best caliber out there imho.

 

[COLT_45]

Minor Leading was an issue with both my Ruger SA 45 Colt NM & OM Vaquero's
when going target shooting running several hundred rounds of various cowboy
factory ammo during practice. Was driving me nuts cleaning them day to day.
Well..... (Note : I have nothing to do or gain from these companies below)

No longer a problem, as we went to a gun show and picked up from the Milwall
Corp Ammo Booth some .45 Colts that creat no leading whatsoever. They are
fairly priced at about $300 for a box of "500" rounds. They are lead, but are
Flat Nosed TMJ (Total Metal Copper Jacket). They are accurate enough for
practice and have low recoil as they are cowboy type loads. I get ZERO leading
with these loads and I just now clean and lub with CLP and rock on. If I want
to super clean them I just add a little Flitz lightly as well on the cylinder burn
rings to clean off that residue.....Then drop them in my Lyman 6000 Sonic Cleaner
( for SS guns only ! ) and they're better than new inside and out.

Now for home SD or CCW purposes who cares about leading so.....
I load my OM .45 Vaquero with Corbon DPX 225 +P Barnes.
I load my shorter NM .45 Vaquero Montado with Hornady 185 CD's
(Buffalo Bore, which I also like, have similar offering at even hotter levels.)
(Just a word of caution here-The High Pressure rounds do not use in a NM Vaquero).

ps-Really like the Corbon DPX +P 225 Barnes in the "OM" Vaquero.
(Solid Copper-No Leading possible)
Great reviews and a good middle ground choice at about 1100-1200 fps.
The BB's have an offering of 1,500 fps, but you have to contend
with the higher recoil at that level which might slow down follow
up shots, and of course, night muzzle flash and ear ringing firepower.
I'm always concerned about over penetration too when in comes to SD.
"Note: Many of the JHP standard pressures are also good in the "NMV" but
a little slower at around 850 to 900 fps)

AGAIN-Follow manufacturers warnings on ammo types and use !

 

[Dale53]

I have two Ruger .45 Colts. One is a Bisley Vaquero. One is a SS Bisley .45 Colt/.45 ACP Convertible. I had to ream both revolvers cylinders to eliminate serious leading. After reaming to .4525" with a Manson "made for the job" reamer kit complete with pilots, both revolvers and all three cylinders shoot like NRA Match pistols.

They are now MOST satisfactory in every way. My experience, over a period of more than sixty years, has shown me that most .38/.357's and .44's (both Special and Magnum) have proper cylinder throats. Most .45 Colts have not - most common of the older .45 colts were cylinder throats too large with newer Rugers falling into the category of too small (but easily corrected). The recent review of the new Colt New Frontier in the Handloader (by Brian Pierce) shows that Colt is still shipping this very expensive revolver with outsized cylinder throats. The New Frontier is one of the prettiest revolvers ever produced but due to those cylinder throats I wouldn't have one on a bet.

I'll take my Rugers any day of the week. A bit of "tweaking" and they'll shoot right along with the best of them for a fraction of the price.

Heading for the bomb shelter...

Dale53

 

[Pal Val]

Why you elitist reloaders are always talking in your secret codes...makes me never want to join a reloaders association the way you talk down to us that are not up on these thing or understand the lingo... :lol: :lol: :lol: hey Louie ya got to admit the shoe can fit on any foot....sorry just had to say it....destroy me now if you must....RR.

I would say, If I may, that there are no "secret codes". In reality, anything we don't know can look like a secret code. That said, ignorance is our own fault, not others'.
This forum has kept the highest standards of courtesy and cordiality for many years. It would be best if we all cooperated to keep it on the same course.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I guess Lumpy Louie thought he was on the SASS wire and not the RF. :wink: :wink:
Geeeeeeeeee usens that reload don't have a special code RR. But we do have the secret hand shake I would like to show ya but would be shot with a lead making 45.
By the way I shoot a lot of 45s with BP and smokeless in 2 rifles and 6 pistols. Hard cast and pure lead form 600 fps to 1200 or so fps no problem.
Don't know why not.

 

[two bit okie]

lets play the crotchty game.

If you are too dumb or too lazy to load you should not be able to shoot as much. And if you can afford to buy your ammo at the store, you are rich enuff to be taxed by the president extra.

Now thats crotchly and arragant.

being to cheap to buy the ammo. and not wealthy enough to buy, I have to reload. I have to cast. And if i can do it any one can. And at 30.00 to 60.00 dollers a box of 50, you can ge set and load for less than 5 boxes of big bore ammo.