LSWC Bullets

I recently recieved 1500 LSWC bullets from a buddy. The one on the left is a ZERO 185 LSWC--note the flat base. This is what I have used since I started reloading and they are very accurate. I only have about 100 left.
I now have 500 of the middle 185gr LSWC bullets, and they have a slight bevel at the base, and I have no idea what the alloy is.
I also have 1000 of the bullet shown on the right. They are made by Alpha Bullet in Illinois, and are 200gr LSWC. I am not sure of the alloy on those either.
Does anyone have any comments about these bullets?


https://i.servimg.com/u/f71/17/07/08/60/wp_00010.jpg

I would load any of them with the same recipes as I have used for numerous, similar projectiles. The only thing on my setup that might need a tweak would be the seater stem. I want a fingernail thickness of lead sticking out of the cases.

The good news is the tops are all the same tallness. No adjustments for the seater.
Any opinions on the tapered bases?

The bullet on the right is from the Magma mould used by every volume cast bullet seller. Not sure of the center one. I'd use those two for short range practice and order more Zero's from Rose Dist.

The 200 is the standard hg68 style, very accurate, 3.8-4.1 bullseye will send them into the xring, the middle is the same thing except in 185 gr, load the same way, the left is a zero copy of the famous star 185, lswc-hp bullet, these can also be found at delta precision bullets.

Glad to hear! I will load em up. David R.'s formula is the same as mine. It's nice to get good stuff.

Load based on shoulder exposed from case mouth and NOT by the bullet tip.
Use the shoulder to minimize head space.
If your seating plug seats on the bullet head, the 200gn will probably need to have the seating stem raised a little to maintain enough shoulder exposed.
The amount of shoulder exposed may be "a fingernail thickness" in some guns, but will be significantly more in other bores, all depending on individual bore dimension.
No biggie, but is minimizing group size is desirable...

That's what I mean noylj, these bullets have all the same distance between the top (that touches the seating plug) and the shoulder.
No matter which bullet I'm using, the same amount of shoulder is exposed without changing the adjustment on my seating dies. I love it when a plan comes together.

I realize this is an old thread but it's my understanding that all Zero LSWC .45 ACP bullets are swagged and that all of the swagged bullets I've seen have the same flat bottom.  The other bullets are cast and all of those I've seen have the rounded bottoms.  Do the flat bottom bullets provide more seating surface?  Is that in part what makes them more accurate?  I realize the swagged bullets also use softer lead.

beeser wrote:I realize this is an old thread but it's my understanding that all Zero LSWC .45 ACP bullets are swagged and that all of the swagged bullets I've seen have the same flat bottom.  The other bullets are cast and all of those I've seen have the rounded bottoms.  Do the flat bottom bullets provide more seating surface?  Is that in part what makes them more accurate?  I realize the swagged bullets also use softer lead

I think it has to do with less gas cutting on the base of the bullet when the bottoms are flat compared to a bevel base. I have always found flat base to be more accurate but it just might be a difference that's between my ears and no where else. Lots of people report the same accuracy with flat or bevel base of the same design. Bevel base come out of the mold easier than flat base when cast and IMHO for no other reason that's why they exist. So commercial casters can cast more and not be knocking bullets out of the mold.


Virgil

If I could shot only one bullet in my .45s, it would be either the Zero 200gn swaged L-SWC or Precision Bullets 200gn swaged/coated L-SWC. Both are extremely accurate. The Zero seems to shoot best with 0.2-0.3gn less powder than the Precision.
My seating die seats against the shoulder, so the nose makes no difference and all SWCs are seated with the same amount to shoulder exposure.