Rapine hollow based .45

[tseaha]

Does anyone have a supplier for Rapine#452250, 255gr., hollow base .45 Colt bullets?  Western Bullet lists them but seems to always "out".

[Pettifogger]

Rapine has been out of business for several years.

[Blair]

tseaha,

What Pettifogger said is very true.

However, you may still be able to find some hollow based bullet molds around made by Rapine.
I would also suggest, if one wants to shoot smokeless or some of the alternative powders in a breech loader of cartridge firearm one should avoid the hollow base type bullets. They just don't seem to do very well.
And in revolvers, the base of the bullet tends to blow out when the bullet interfaces between the chamber mouth and the forcing cone of the barrel using these high (er) pressure powders.
Just a thought on my part.
My best,

[w44wcf]

http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/index.html
offers a 454-230 HB mold

[Bunk Stagnerg]

 Hello Blair,
I would have a hnch you are right on target bout hollow base revolver bullets and a possibility of pressure problems, but my guess is it would take a rare set of circumstances to have that happen. In all my reading that is something that has never come up. Personally I prefer my "6 holer" for both rifle and revolver maximum production verses a one-at-a-time oh so slow work.

Here's something for you to ponder because I found, back in the dim dark recesses of my shop, a box of lead Winchester .45 Colt "Luballoy" coated 256 grain bullets labeled for the .45 Colt (.454 dia,) which, I presume, would be  also used in completed ammunition. They have a small (.165") diameter hollow base. The hollow is .233" deep and appears to be tapered. The bullet is .735" OAL with a small flat tip. Since the width of the base around the hollow is .130" I doubt there would be any base expansion with normal loadings.

In his book on loading for the .45-70 rifle, Wolf recommends using a hollow base bullet because of the variances of bore diameters in original rifles and carbines. The original issue ammunition from Frankfort Arsenal was hollow based and my hunch is that was a carryover from the muzzle loading "mine" ball that was used so effectively in the war of Yankee Aggression, rather than attempting to  improve accuracy.

Even though casting hollow base bullets is a slow and tedious process I am going to cast some to try and develop a load for my .45-70 1873 original trapdoor rifle.
Respectfully submitted

Bunk

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

That NEI 230gr HB would be just what the doctor ordered for a .455 Webley or some such.

I have the .45-155 gr Lyman HB mould. Yes it is a bit tedious to run, but when you have a bunch of well filled out skirts (pun intended) they are accurate.

[Blair]

I base my opinion off of what the N-SSA, and their shooting of breech loading carbines and rifles has taught them over 60 + years of shooting experience has taught them.
Please, don't believe me!
Should you wish to reinvent the wheel, then please let the rest of the world know what your findings are.
My best,
Blair