Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

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Bill in Oregon
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Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Hoping to get this boolit to feed through an XD. Will get to the range with it on Thursday. Using 4.5 of Universal Clays for the test fuel.
3leggedturtle
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Re: Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

Post by 3leggedturtle »

Yes, but in a Contender Carbine. Some how have never tried it in my 1911 or Blackhawk. Todd

Bill, have shot it out of Blackhawk going about 900fps or so. Hit gongs with nice heavy "smack" and ring !
Last edited by 3leggedturtle on Tue Jan 19, 2021 12:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
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marlinman93
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Re: Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

Post by marlinman93 »

My .45ACP guns are a Colt Commercial 1965 era, and a 1943 Remington 1911A1, and a S&W 745 IPSC, and I rarely shoot anything more than 200 gr. bullets in either. It's either the 200 or the 185 and both are SWC design. I love them, and my guns all cycle and shoot them extremely well. The Colt Commercial sees a fair amount of carry time, and I do carry with heavier loads in that magazine, but rarely shoot it with those heavier weight bullets.

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Ray
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Re: Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

Post by Ray »

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3leggedturtle
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Re: Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

Post by 3leggedturtle »

Ray, I used Hodgdons HS7 data for the 260gr JHP I think by Speer or Hornady. Also used Unique but didnt save the load data I chronoed and shot. Its averages 1075fps out of my 18" barrel.
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
Bill in Oregon
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Re: Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Well, they are handsome but the jury is still out on whether they will feed. Will try to test them tomorrow, although we may actually have rain for the first time in forever.
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Ray
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Re: Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

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Bill in Oregon
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Re: Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Well, I have some work to do. Even with just 4.5 grains of Universal, the big 255-grain Lee recoiled about the same as the Federal HST+P -- stoutly -- but out of 20 test rounds about half failed to go all the way into battery.
It is hard to see, but you might notice the ring around the boolit at the case mouth where it was engaging the pistol throat rifling. This caused the slide to hang up just a couple of millimeters shy of full engagement, and I had to slap the back of the slide to lock it up, then I could fire the round. I sized these boolits to .452. I think .451 might solve the issue, but I will also try seating just a few thousandths deeper into the case. I did not put them on paper, instead engaging the steel ram at 50 yards on our pistol range. Seemed like they wanted to be accurate out of the XDm, which still has fewer than 100 rounds through it. Working on that.

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3leggedturtle
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Re: Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

Post by 3leggedturtle »

Thats about how short the throat is in my Contender. Great looking round, short stubby and all business! :P
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
Bill in Oregon
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Re: Anyone here using the Lee 255 in .45 ACP?

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Seated them a smidge deeper and they ran flawlessly. Now to try a larger sample and put them on paper.
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