The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: Fox_Hound on November 06, 2008, 06:52:11 PM
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I'm planning on buying several thousand hard cast lead bullets from a friend that casts and sells all sorts of bullets out of his shop. I've shot em' before and they are great for the price. I'm looking into buying several thousand bullets to shoot in my new Para SXT .45 ACP. The problem is, I can't decide if I should go with 230 gr. RN or 220 gr. SWC. If we fall on hard times I may still be able to get bullets from him, but I don't want to take any chances. I want to have em' if I needs em'. I don't really plan on killing game with them since I own several great rifles, but if we can't buy defensive ammo in a few years I want something that would be marginal for two legged varmints. They will primarily be used for plinking. Any thoughts?
~Fox_Hound
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Well, if both feed well in your gun, then I'd tend to go with the SWC. You indicate that mostly they'll be used for plinking and if that includes paper targets, then the SWC makes a cleaner hole. For self defense I don't think there's a lot difference in the terminal ballistics of those two designs in that caliber at those velocities.
For what it's worth (< 2cents), I use lead RN for my 1911 .45ACP and SWC for my P99 .40S&W.
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If your pistol feeds them with 100 % reliability then go with the SWC, the flat nose on them gives them more surface area when it hits the target, which means a larger hole. The LRN will just slip through the target and the hole will close up on itself. This is just my opinion and your mileage may vary.
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For a 1911, they were built, and designed for a military LRN. My 1911's, shoot them without fail time every time, all the time. My experience with SWC, are IMHO, better suited for wheel guns. Just from a feeding point of view.
I'm sure there are some that will shoot SWC in semi autos all day. But, the core design of a LRN suits a 1911 to a "T". But the plinking aspect vs. the "two legged" aspect is personal choice. The history has always been LRN.
Just my .02 cents, only worth .00001 cents after the election.
I own about 1750 rds. of .45 LRN and my S&W 1911, Kimber Ultra, and Springfield love them.
Great to know folks that can give you a deal on ammo. I think they may be more valuable over the next 4 years.
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I buy 90% swc's but all my 1911's feed them well, but in this current environment, I would go with lrn, because you don't know what your next .45 will be, but the round nose will work in it, revolver or semi. As for revolvers, I do use the swc's but I don't try to reload with them, I load them initially, but when doing a speed reload, they are a definite hindrance.
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For a 1911, they were built, and designed for a military LRN. My 1911's, shoot them without fail time every time, all the time. My experience with SWC, are IMHO, better suited for wheel guns. Just from a feeding point of view.
This.
The consideration of the round nose is a good one, given that you might want to use them in other .45 firearms. Feed ramps vary, and the LRN is the safest bet for consistency.
jr