Feedback on 160 grain button nose

The Brazos thread got me thinking about 160 grain button nose bullets. The lowest I've gone is 185 grain, I cast my own H&G 68 bullets and have used the Magnus #801 and swaged hollow point #814.

My pistol was built by Jon and is still pretty darn tight. I typically run a 10 pound spring then just add powder until I get good reliability which usually ends up 4.1-4.4 grains of WST, I also crimp to .463".

So my question, since I still need to build enough pressure to function the pistol reliability will I end up using more powder and getting a higher velocity? Then the question is what is the net effect on recoil and feel, is it lighter feeling or more snappy due to the added velocity?

my guns, AXI slide mount, and Clark slide mount, both have 12# springs and require 4.3 gr Bullseye to function with the Dardas 160gr bullet. my chrono pegs it at 794 fps.

It's a bit snappier, but, similar recoil to my 200 gr lead with 3.5 gr Bullseye.

The 160 button is near and dear to my heart.  Scott cast some up for me and I’ve had great luck with them at 25 yards and have tried them at 50 yards with pretty good luck.  I’ve loaded the from 4.2 gr of BE up to 4.5gr of BE.  The recoil for me is not much a lighter felt recoil but a different recoil impulse.  I like the way they feel and load.  Best thing is load some up and give them a try.  I have no feeding issues at all with them.  Accurate little suckers but don’t think of using a bullet feeder to load them...haha

Btw, slide mounted 9000 sc with a 11 lb spring

I'm running a 9000SC also, slide mount with a 10 pound spring. I'll probably give 500 a shot soon just so I can say I tried them.

zanemoseley wrote:I'm running a 9000SC also, slide mount with a 10 pound spring. I'll probably give 500 a shot soon just so I can say I tried them.

Prepare to enjoy

I ran the 160s last match with 4.4 of WST   .466 crimp.  Slide mounted 1" Ultradot and a 10 lb recoil spring.  4.3 might work ok when it gets hotter but for now the 4.4 works fine and just drops them in the net most of the time..I agree about the different recoil pulse. Zane you'll be close with 4.4 and that 9000

jglenn21 wrote:I ran the 160s last match with 4.4 of WST   .466 crimp.  Slide mounted 1" Ultradot and a 10 lb recoil spring.  4.3 might work ok when it gets hotter but for now the 4.4 works fine and just drops them in the net most of the time..I agree about the different recoil pulse. Zane you'll be close with 4.4 and that 9000

I’m trying to work up a load with these using titegroup....just because I have so much of it.  I’m thinking 4.4-4.5 to start.

Is the 160 "button nose" a different profile than this from Bob's Bullets?

https://www.bobsbullets.net/bullets/45-acp-160gn-swc

That's the same profile as the Valiants, AFAIK.

I've shot a metric s**t-ton of these.

We used to call them "165s" back in the day. I guess everything gets smaller with age.

john bickar wrote:Is the 160 "button nose" a different profile than this from Bob's Bullets?

Brazos Bullets posted a pic of the mold they use for their 160 on their Facebook page. 

https://www.facebook.com/1382231091918503/posts/1428793723928906

The Brazos and Bobs 160s are the same mold

jglenn21 wrote:The Brazos and Bobs 160s are the same mold

Looks like a Magma brand mold but I only see a flat base mold. The bevel base must be custom ordered.

The bevel based pictures I believe is 185 gr

I use 4.3 of Win 452AA with the Valiant/Bob's 160gn LSWC flat base. I'm not sure how many tens of thousands of rounds of that load I've shot, but the fact that I'm using a powder that was discontinued in the 1980s gives you an idea of how long I've been shooting that load...

And the size of your 452AA stache

jglenn21 wrote:And the size of your 452AA stache

Yup.

Multiracer wrote:We used to call them "165s" back in the day. I guess everything gets smaller with age.


Weigh a few ....might suprise you.

Meh. I'll let Bob do that. He's "retired".

Multiracer wrote:


Is WST what eveolved from 452 AA ?

Not from my research.

452AA was, in Pistol, very much like Red Dot maybe a tenth of a grain different slower than Bullseye.  WST is “slower” than Bullseye and more like splitting the difference between Red Dot and Green Dot.  WSL might be a better analogue but it has only old data in Pistol and Hodgdon does not recommend its use in pistols.

http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/Winchester/Winchester14.pdf

As always YMMV

Greetings,

The bullet in question is the Hensley & Gibbs S242.

"#242--.45 Auto. 185 grains in linotype. For Long beach California Police Department. Similar to # 130, except nose is beveled off to nose meplat, instead of being rounded over. Also available cut shorter, as #S242, at 160 grains in linotype."

Darius "Doc" Young used it quite a bit. Got us locals to start casting some also.

The weight variation is most likely variations in casting alloy.

Linotype usually weighs in as the lightest.

I just finished a day of casting #68 and #130 bullets for testing. I may have to dig out the S242 for my next session.

Cheers,

Dave

Anyone using this bullet with Clays successfully?

I just ordered the Magma mold 160 grain flat base. Was told is the same Brazos uses.

zanemoseley wrote:I just ordered the Magma mold 160 grain flat base. Was told is the same Brazos uses.

Look forward to your results.  Casting them is gonna be slow work being a 2 banger...however well worth it.  When my stash gets low I need to order the same mold

zanemoseley wrote:The Brazos thread got me thinking about 160 grain button nose bullets. The lowest I've gone is 185 grain, I cast my own H&G 68 bullets and have used the Magnus #801 and swaged hollow point #814.

My pistol was built by Jon and is still pretty darn tight. I typically run a 10 pound spring then just add powder until I get good reliability which usually ends up 4.1-4.4 grains of WST, I also crimp to .463".

So my question, since I still need to build enough pressure to function the pistol reliability will I end up using more powder and getting a higher velocity? Then the question is what is the net effect on recoil and feel, is it lighter feeling or more snappy due to the added velocity?

I use 4,1 WST. Very accurate at 50yd in my gun. Slide mount H1 on Kodak base. 10lb spring. My crimp is .462-.463 No functionality issues. I think you will not need more powder. It is a different recoil impulse but I prefer it.  I bet you’re going to like them.

lablover wrote:

zanemoseley wrote:I just ordered the Magma mold 160 grain flat base. Was told is the same Brazos uses.

Look forward to your results.  Casting them is gonna be slow work being a 2 banger...however well worth it.  When my stash gets low I need to order the same mold

I'm used to 2 bangers. Honestly I've only used 2 cavity molds. When the weather is nice I enjoy sitting out in the garage listening to music and casting. Occasionally I wish I had a 4 cavity.

I started playing with the 160's and found that with 3.5gr of Bullseye that it will both function my wad gun and my service pistol.  The slide sometimes doesn't lock back, and every now and then, I'll have an alibi.  The recoil is so light!  They also tear a golf ball sized hole in the X ring under this loading.  The hardest part about shooting them is staying focused.  I'm smiling so big because it's just that much fun, and that makes it hard to stay in the zone!  

I'm the other owner of Brazos Bullets, so if there is anything we can do better, let me know!

Steve