Help With Bullet ID and Load

I picked up some bullets cheap from someone cleaning out their reloading room. I heard 185gr SWC, but it has two lube grooves. The "normal" SWC on the right is about .289" shoulder to base. The double lube grooves bullet on the left is about .309".

I'm just shooting these for practice. My normal load for short line is 3.6-3.7gr N310, .920" to the shoulder. 

Anyone have any experience with these bullets? As light as I load, my first though is load them the same and it might feel a little more stout for practice.

Thanks!

Probably an old Lyman mound that is no longer catalogued. The upper groove maybe a crimping groove??? If they’re 185 grains or so, they should be fine for training with your existing loads.

I have a Lyman 452-460 that looks like that with a flat base. RCBS used to make a 185 SWC like that with a beveled base. Lee used to make a 200 gr like that also but changed to the liquid lube style with many smaller grooves. I have the Lyman and RCBS in 2 cavity molds. Both shoot really well.

Darrell

Might be worth checking with Donny Summers.  That blue lube is very typical for his products - https://summersenterprisesllc.com/product-category/45/
And his products are very good, IMO!

AP

I was just looking for something in a 3rd Edition Lyman Pistol and Revolver handbook, that I haven't looked at in years. It shows that as a 200 gr 452460, (as noted above.) Did you weigh yours?

Lists it for 45ACP, 45 Auto Rim, and 45 Gap.

1.161" OAL for 45 ACP.

Weighed them, definitely not 200gr.

I'm thinking of going with 3.6gr of N310.  VV's load data has the lightest starting load at 4.2gr of N310.  I'm guessing loading these to .920" to the shoulder with 3.6gr N310 will be safe to shoot.

3.6gr should be safe to start. VV's online data lists 3.9 - 4.6 at 827fps - 928fps for a H&N 195gr swc.
Most of our bullseye loads are at or below loading manual start loads. Load a few and test before loading a bunch. Then adjust as necessary for function and accuracy.

What did the bullet weigh?  You said you were told it is a 185gr. If it has a bevel base I suspect it is the RCBS 185gr swc discontinued a few years ago.
Cast bullet weight can vary +/- 5gr or more from nominal due to alloy variation. This is normal and not usually a concern unless pushing maximum loads. They just should be consistent within the lot.

Darrell

The double grooved are really consistent, 182.3gr with most +/- only .2gr.

The normal beveled based 185s range from 183-186gr.

I use Brazos for matches, these will just be for practice.

Soupy44

Wow, those are really consistent and well cast bullets. It sounds like you are good to go on load data.

I like and use the Brazos 160gr 45 bullets for indoor league and matches. Almost time to order more when they get back into production.

Good luck

Darrell