Long, light bullet in a 45-90

Leadville Bill · Post by **Leadville Bill** » Fri May 12, 2023 9:10 am

Luke- Thanks for the detailed explanation. That puts my mind at ease going with the default twist.

I’ll have to look through old posts and see what folks are using for the silhouette game that’s not heavy bullets.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Fri May 12, 2023 9:17 am

16 twist works well with bullets like the 525 gr money bullet but it also gives you the option to go with bullets longer than 1.45 if you think you need to go there

Luke · Post by **Luke** » Fri May 12, 2023 9:44 am

https://www.buffaloarms.com/459-500-gra ... 59500.html

The Army designed this bullet expressly for the 2.4" case. The tapered first band allows it to be loaded with one grease groove exposed with a thumb push into the rifling if desired.

(FWIW: I have an order in with Accurate for a close approximation of this design, should show up in the catalog in a few weeks)

kwilliams · Post by **kwilliams** » Sat May 13, 2023 4:58 am

The US military (Frankford Arsenal) did NOT provide 45-70 loads that had 1 grease groove exposed.

Luke · Post by **Luke** » Sat May 13, 2023 7:35 am

I did not say that. I said it could be loaded that way if desired.

Luke · Post by **Luke** » Sat May 13, 2023 7:47 am

Nor was this design used in the 45-70. That bullet was an adaptation of this design for the shorter case, with length reduced by .05, mostly by compressing the the lube grooves.

Leadville Bill · Post by **Leadville Bill** » Sun May 14, 2023 1:55 pm

Re: Long, light bullet in a 45-90
Post by Luke » Fri May 12, 2023 9:44 am

https://www.buffaloarms.com/459-500-gra ... 59500.html

The Army designed this bullet expressly for the 2.4" case. The tapered first band allows it to be loaded with one grease groove exposed with a thumb push into the rifling if desired.

(FWIW: I have an order in with Accurate for a close approximation of this design, should show up in the catalog in a few weeks)

That's an interesting option. Let us know what the designation is once it goes live.

I like the suggestions but I see most of them are still in the 500+ grain range. I'm still looking for a lighter option for mid-range BPCR work. Something along the lines of BACO's 435 or 450 Money bullets. Does anyone have experience with these? It would seem to me there should be something in the 400-450 grain range that would work decently up to and including the rams.

Luke · Post by **Luke** » Sun May 14, 2023 3:33 pm

I think what you are running into here is that the difference between a 450 to a 500 grain is literally the weight of a 25 acp bullet. You would not feel the difference in recoil. So most everyone goes for the more capable 500 grain designs. To get a difference you can feel you have to drop to the 405 grain range, and at that point you've lost too much capability. Accurate has a number of designs in the 450 range, you may just have to pick one and try it. The Saeco 645 480 grainer is wonderful performer, and pretty much as light as anyone goes in the midrange 45s.

RB1Shooter · Post by **RB1Shooter** » Sun May 14, 2023 11:29 pm

Just a suggestion:

Accurate Molds - 46-510M or for slightly heavier - 46-513M1. They will come in at 505 & 525 grains. Using 76 or 78 grains 1 1/2 Swiss, very comfortable shooting.

I agree, brass molds sweet to cast with!

SSShooter · Post by **SSShooter** » Wed May 17, 2023 3:57 pm

Isn't "long & light" something of an oxymoron in 45cal? If the OP wants to limit recoil and stay under 450gr would not a 40-65 or 40-70SS or even a 44-77 be a better option?

Leadville Bill · Post by **Leadville Bill** » Mon May 22, 2023 10:45 pm

Luke wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 3:33 pm I think what you are running into here is that the difference between a 450 to a 500 grain is literally the weight of a 25 acp bullet. You would not feel the difference in recoil. So most everyone goes for the more capable 500 grain designs. To get a difference you can feel you have to drop to the 405 grain range, and at that point you've lost too much capability. Accurate has a number of designs in the 450 range, you may just have to pick one and try it. The Saeco 645 480 grainer is wonderful performer, and pretty much as light as anyone goes in the midrange 45s.

Good point Luke. I'll check those out.

RB1Shooter wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 11:29 pm Just a suggestion:

Accurate Molds - 46-510M or for slightly heavier - 46-513M1. They will come in at 505 & 525 grains. Using 76 or 78 grains 1 1/2 Swiss, very comfortable shooting.

I agree, brass molds sweet to cast with!

Thanks RB1Shooter. A little heavier than what I was envisioning but with that charge weight maybe not so bad.

Leadville Bill · Post by **Leadville Bill** » Mon May 22, 2023 11:08 pm

SSShooter wrote: ↑Wed May 17, 2023 3:57 pm Isn't "long & light" something of an oxymoron in 45cal? If the OP wants to limit recoil and stay under 450gr would not a 40-65 or 40-70SS or even a 44-77 be a better option?

OP here. Yes and No. What I was looking for was actual experience with the lightest possible bullet in .45 that would still give decent accuracy. I'm fond of my Gould mould but I know it's lousy at distance. My poorly worded request of "long and light" was in the hopes that somebody had found a design with deeper grease grooves or shape to minimize the weight but still have enough length for acceptable accuracy. Admittedly, I'm looking for something that may not exist, but I figured somebody had already gone down this road and found something that mostly worked. And judging from the responses, there are a few sub-500 grainers that might work for my purposes.

You bring up a good point in caliber, which I considered for some time before deciding that since this rifle will be facing a bison at some point, my preference would be for a 45 caliber (yes, I am aware that many of the old hide hunters used the 40-70, but as an engineer I like having a factor of safety, hence .45). If it were a dedicated target gun, I would definitely be looking at a 40 cal.

SSShooter · Post by **SSShooter** » Tue May 23, 2023 7:23 am

Sounds like an excellent reason to own two (or more) rifles.

desert deuce · Post by **desert deuce** » Tue May 23, 2023 8:33 am

SSShooter wrote: Sounds like an excellent reason to own two (or more) rifles.

Since it is generally accepted that life begins at 40 and I assume you have attained that. You should be able to engineer more than one.

Practically took the words right off of my keyboard. With the exception that I would have substituted the word more for two.

Why do you limit yourself endlessly?

sccadu · Post by **sccadu** » Tue Sep 12, 2023 4:52 pm

Good evening!
So good to have so much experienced guidance here. I shoot a 45/90 Shiloh LRE in silhouette events. I use a Postell 535gr with 74 gr. Swiss 1 1/2.
Even with the heavy barrel it just took getting used to the weight. I use a Limb Saver pad to stay out of the Orthopedic surgeons office, I'm retired but worked trades so I have to be careful. You will not find the recoil unpleasant, I shot a short event, just 30 rounds on Sunday with no ill effects. It sure does take the Rams out! Enjoy, such a good day. Most of what I learned about this subject I learned here from all these knowledgeable folks.