I load 7.5gr of HP38 in Starline brass and crimp in the crimp groove of each of these bullets. There are many outstanding cast bullets for the .45 Colt. The original .45 Colt bullet profile is known as a truncated cone or round nosed flat point (RNFP). It is often associated with its vital role in settling the western frontier, where it found favor with lawmen, outlaws and anyone that needed a potent sixgun. Deployed military should use stateside address. You can certainly use the Jacketed bullets fine, but dont look for incredible speeds. The proud tradition and history of Lyman Products began simply in the late 1800?s when William Lyman, an avid outdoorsman and inventor, created a product that resolved problems with gun sights of his day. Jeff Bradley shows off the Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR) from Christensen Arms at SHOT Show 2023. With Accurates 5744 the speeds with 17.0 were 853 fps UP and 802 DOWN, but spreads were much better at 45 fps and 16.6 fps respectively. Moving up to 22.0 grains increases the muzzle velocity to 1,300 fps and then 24.0 grains is right at 1,400 fps with both putting three shots in at 45 yards. These Lyman loads are conservative made for older guns. (WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter, HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose, FMC= Full Metal Case, FMJ= Full Metal Jacket, JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet), Loads for .45 Colt: barrel differ from a 4 4/5 revolver by (I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. This same bullet can be loaded to much higher velocity in Rugers large-frame single- and double-action sixguns. When he died in 1862, the company was dedicated to producing the same percussion revolvers. The .45 Colt operates at notably less pressure, produces a slower, more. My brass of choice is Starlines excellent 45 Colt brass with CCI 300 Large Pistol primers for all powders, except I switch to CCI 350 Magnum Pistol primers with IMR 4227, H110, W296, and all black powder and black powder substitutes. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Contrary to popular belief, the Mason patented spring-loaded, cylinder-pin release catch first appeared in 1896 around serial number 164,000, which were still black powder guns. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Incidentally, many jacketed bullet loads will produce higher velocities in revolvers with shorter barrels. Although far from perfect, the old Taylor Knock Out (TKO) formula, which is caliber x bullet weight x velocity 7,000, is far more accurate. New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, State Agency: The .44 Magnum is a great cartridge that offers a flatter trajectory and helps to make hits easier at longer distances; however, this added performance comes at the cost of greater pressures, heavier guns, increased recoil and muzzle report. No data for RX7 and this bullet in the 1886 Winchester & 1895 Marlin section. 11; firearms used: Universal Receiver & Ruger Blackhawk; barrel length: 7 1/2"; twist: 1-16"; groove dia. The vast majority of my 45 Colt handloads over the last 60 years, however, has been put together with cast bullets. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. I usually select an expander ball that is at least .003 to .004 inch smaller than bullet diameter, which helps prevent bullets from jumping crimp and aids in achieving consistent powder ignition. With the 45 Colt, IMR 4227 is almost magical in being able to provide excellent accuracy when other powders will not. The day of the percussion revolver would soon be over, and even Colt could see the future and began converting 1860 cap-and-ball sixguns to fire cartridges. While only sporadically available as a component, the Remington .456-inch 250-grain lead hollowbase bullet will obturate to minimize bullet tilting. State Agency: When the new 454 Magnum revolvers (as they were first called) arrived, however, the brass was lengthened so it could not be used in standard 45 Colt sixguns. The final level includes custom five-shot Rugers and the Freedom Arms Model 83. However, it cannot be approached the same as smokeless. Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. A roll crimp is generally preferred and should be applied as heavily as the bullets crimp groove or cannelure will permit. Then comes the Freedom Arms Model 97, the original Ruger Vaquero, Ruger Blackhawk, Ruger Redhawk, and the Ruger Super Redhawk. It is impossible to go wrong with the 45 Colt. Make sure your gun can handle it before No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Be very careful using the loads for Ruger and T/C (Thompson Contender) as these are maximum loads, even for these strong guns. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. They are my choice for the heaviest loads especially with cast bullets weighing 300 grains and heavier. It has never failed me. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, State Agency: Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. I'll be a nice to you as you'll let me be, or as mean as you make me be. REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD. This lets it feed in many cowboy-action guns and use common 45 ACP load data. considered more the norm. top notch work!! All entries must be received by giveaway end date. The company also distributes IMR and Winchester powders as well as Goex black powder. For the 45 Colt this is the Single Action Army revolver. For example, the .45 Colt with a 255-grain bullet at 860 fps (Winchester) generates 419 ft-lbs, while the .44 Magnum with a 240-grain bullet at 1,180 fps (Remington) generates 741 ft-lbs. and how they grouped at ther yrds. The other problem, that of cylinder throat diameters, centers around the fact that they vary considerably. When crimped in its cannelure, the overall length still exceeds industry specifications at 1.652 inches. Space constraints keep me from looking at all of these powders in depth, but I can cover a few. In ranking the various 45 Colt sixguns now in production from the least strongest to that capable of a handling the heaviest loads, I would set the following order. Quality 300-grain jacketed bullets are also offered by all three of these manufacturers. moderate recoil and substantially less muzzle report. [See page on powder location in case affecting FPS elsewhere on pages] Bullet sizes vary from .450 for jacketed to .454 for some lead in diameter. I normally stay under 900 fps with a 250-grain bullet in Colt Single Action Army revolvers and its replicas. Taurus Marketing Manager Caleb Giddings highlights the features of the new Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum, a purpose-built revolver with a 10.5-inch barrel and an effective recoil-taming brake, with Guns & Ammo Executive Editor Joe Kurtenbach. Reloader 7 - 37.0 grains start, 39.0 grains max. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Smith & Wesson revolver throats have varied significantly. Everyone who has a Ruger Blackhawk or Freedom Arms single-action revolver realizes the roots of these modern guns go back to the Colt Single Action Army. We are blessed to have many excellent cartridges and sixguns available to us, but it would be hard to find any cartridge that is as versatile as the old 45 Colt. The (top) Model 25-5 has .458-inch throats while the (bottom) Model 25-5 has .451-inch throats and is far more accurate. (In fairness, many historians maintain that original loads contained 40 grains of black powder with 255-grain bullets, including noted Colt authority John Kopec.) LYMAN Reloading Products A trusted Brand since the 1800?s. The new big bore pistols feature industry-first capacity, with a standard 15-round capacity and 22+1 rounds of 10mm or 18+1 rounds of .45 ACP from the extended magazines. American Handgunner Favorite 45 Bullets - American Handgunner The Oregon Trail 250-grain RNFP bullet should be seated with an overall cartridge length of 1.570 to 1.580 inches, depending on case length. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Reddings excellent Dual Ring Carbide sizing die was used to prep cases as it works the case less, results in longer case life, seems to improve accuracy and eliminates the Coke bottle shape forward of the head. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, State Agency: Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM May 2023, P.O. In my opinion, throats that measure .452 inch are generally ideal with a variety of bullets. Load data for the 45 colt rifle | The Firearms Forum This database has 6400 loads for cast bullet loads. Before I discuss handloads for the 45 Colt, we have to acknowledge there exists such a wide range of revolvers accepting the 45 Colt that great care must be used in assembling loads and choosing which guns will safely accept them. It follows Keiths original idea of three equally sized driving bands, one forming the base, the middle one serving as the top of the grease groove, and the front driving band helping true up the bullet in the cylinder and is located above a generous crimping groove. Ruger's multi-role small frame autoloading rifle - Sear - combines AR-10 power with AR-15 Portability. One problem inherent with the original #454424 was the fact that when sized to 0.451 to 0.452 inch, the crimping groove almost disappears. about 175 fps and from 7 1/2 by 50 fps. It's always had a great reputation as a man stopper. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM March 2022, P.O. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. In 1935 we entered the Magnum Sixgun Era with the arrival of the 357 Magnum; however, long before that we had the 45 Colt. My brass of choice is Starlines excellent 45 Colt brass with CCI 300 Large Pistol primers for all powders, except I switch to CCI 350 Magnum Pistol primers with IMR 4227, H110, W296, and all black powder and black powder substitutes. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, State Agency: (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. of blackpowder, the .44-40 . Lyman has been an important name for shooters for well over 100 years. Use a COL at 1.572". This significantly improved its accuracy when compared to the original cylinder with its typical oversized throats, and resulted in increased velocity. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Basic Load Data Hornady Manufacturing Company develops and publishes reloading data for the Handbook of Cartridge Reloading. Discussion: The old Western Style COLT normally uses big, heavy and slow lead bullets. Soon after smokeless powder came into use, throats were increased to .4555 inch (according to Colt specifications), which worked fine with .456-inch lead hollowbase bullets contained in Remington and Winchester ammunition. Failure to do so could result in severe personal injury (or death) and/or property damage. that charge was increased to 38 grains by 1898. With the 45 Colt, IMR 4227 is almost magical in being able to provide excellent accuracy when other powders will not. The other problem, that of cylinder throat diameters, centers around the fact that they vary considerably. The .45 Colt was soon loaded with smokeless powders with loads eventually standardized with 250- and 255-grain lead hollowbase bullets from Remington and Winchester, respectively, at around 870 fps, but today are listed at 860 fps. Pyrodex P is the equivalent of Triple-F or FFFg black powder. I especially like the 260-grain Keith gas-check bullet which shoots exceptionally well using #4227, 20.0 grains is 1,115 fps for 5/8 and then it gets even better! There are some excellent jacketed bullets available for use in the 45 Colt, including the Sierra 240-grain JHP,Hornady250-grain XTP-JHP, and the Speer 260-grain JHP, all of which I prefer for deer-sized game. sure they will feed and chamber through levergun actions. The new 9mm suppressor can mount easily to any pistol barrel threaded x28 inches and doesn't compromise on sound suppression, gas blowback or recoil. On paper, the 357 Magnum was the first cartridge to exceed the 45 Colts muzzle energy, but many knowledgeable sixgunners, Elmer Keith included, believed the 45 Colt actually offered more practical power than the First Magnum. Today, it remains one of our most popular sixgun cartridges. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. This load will certainly handle deer-sized game. Moving up to the second level, loads at around 1,000 fps with the same-weight bullet are used in the Colt New Frontier, Smith & Wesson Model 25/625, Ruger Flat-Top New Model, and the Ruger New Vaquero. Keith bullet, the Lee 452-255-rf 250gr bullet and the RCBS 45-270-SAA for .45 Colt. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Blue dot and 45 colt | Graybeard Outdoors H110 works well for heavy bullet loads in the .45 Colt levergun. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Rifle Data - Speer (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. With the coming of Rugers Blackhawk chambered in 45 Colt in the early 1970s, we finally had a sixgun that could tap the tremendous potential of the 45 Colt cartridge. However, a tight-chambered 45 Colt cylinder may require tolerances offered by a 454 Casull full-length sizing die. Before I discuss handloads for the 45 Colt, we have to acknowledge there exists such a wide range of revolvers accepting the 45 Colt that great care must be used in assembling loads and choosing which guns will safely accept them. Sep 8, 2016 (Edited) Greetings, recently I received a quantity of .45 185 gr LSWC's. Both of these are plainbased Keith-style bullets, and their numbers are #310.451 and #325.454, with the first three digits giving the approximate bullet weight. These will still work in the vast majority of sixguns with the exception of the old short cylinder Smith & Wesson N-frames produced prior to 1978 and a couple of others not commonly encountered. This revolver and cartridge proved to be a great teacher as I learned how to shoot a big-bore single-action sixgun accurately. Pet Loads and Handloader are registered trademarks of Wolfe Publishing Company. Idaho Department of Fish & Game, State Agency: There are many good jacketed bullets for the .45 Colt. .45 LC loads for rifles | Ruger Forum .45 Colt Load, Red Dot or Clays? - SASS Wire Forum Factory warranties may apply in some cases. The same load in a Jim Stroh custom 5-1/2 Bisley has the same accuracy with more . It has many additional virtues, primarily its big-bore performance and reliability. I soon added single-cavity molds for the .45 Colt and .38 Special. The standard groove diameter for the .45 Colt is .451 inch minimum and .452 inch maximum. At 1,400 fps it is an excellent hunting bullet. Sam Colt became a millionaire producing percussion revolvers. Not only do the Hodgdon folks offer excellent powders, but also they are simply some of the nicest folks in the industry. My loading dies are from Lee, Lyman, and RCBS, and all of them give excellent service. That is black powder loads or Black powder level only. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up. My most used powders for these loads are #2400, #9, #4227 and H110. Deployed military should use stateside address. For the 45 Colt, I especially prefer the 250-grain RNFP and the 255-grain SWC. Actually, we can divide 45 Colt sixguns into several reloading levels, and I have moderated these somewhat over the past several years, with the first two levels being very close together. So if one used 40 grains by weight of Pyrodex when the chart called for 40 grains of black powder, the result would be an overloaded charge. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Bullet is .452 diameter. This Colt SAA .45 was manufactured in 1893 and saw extensive use on the frontier prior to being professionally restored. I have tested vintage loads that produced an honest 1,000 fps. Handgun Data. There were no 45 Colt heavyweight bullets available at the time, so we sized down 300-grain 45-70 bullets in several stages, going from around 0.460 inch to 0.452 inch. John makes up dummy loads using available cast bullets to make (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. so when i find my gun,,i can get busy asap with this . patterned after the one worn by Theodore Roosevelt. I have found two things necessary gas checks and hard alloys, also in most cases muzzle velocities over 1,200-1,300 fps. While there were multiple experiments with different cartridges, the .45 Colt was a joint development between Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and Union Metallic Cartridge Company. Guns with larger throats will usually produce improved accuracy when loaded with bullets that measure .454 to .456 inch. Rhode Island Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: Any time I have a 45 Colt that doesnt shoot the way I think it should, I dont give up until I try this load of IMR 4227 with Keiths bullet. The .45 Colt is rapidly approaching 150 years in existence, and it remains one of our finest, most useful, versatile and handloaded sixgun cartridges. It is loaded not by weight, but by volume. We are blessed to have many excellent cartridges and sixguns available to us, but it would be hard to find any cartridge that is as versatile as the old 45 Colt. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. If I had to shoot only one factory ammunition the rest of my life, I would. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Copyright. I would conclude this powder is much more consistent in speeds than others that I have tried in the .45 Colt. Note that the "Ruger New Vaquero" uses a smaller frame and cylinder like original Colts. Loading the .45 Colt for Rifles - CHUCKHAWKS.COM Energy in foot-pounds (ft-lbs) is not a good method to measure a straight-walled cartridges effectiveness, particularly when using nonexpanding bullets. I have found 5.0 grains of Clays under a 250-grain bullet delivers a very pleasant-shooting load at 725 fps and will group all its shots in 0.63 inch at 20 yards. RNFP), 1007 MAX+ (Actual in 7 1/2 bbl 255 gr. My Rugers like a 355gr with 21.5-22gr H110, CCI 350, starline brass, nice tight crimp. A check of Hodgdons loading manuals shows these two powders using the same charge weight produce the same velocities and pressures. This is a plain base bullet and I found out very quickly it was not very accurate in either rifle. 9 with 15 gr. My powders of choice are Clays, HP-38, HS-6, Universal, Trail Boss, H110, IMR 4227, W296, and W231. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. This revolver is fitted with a new line-bored cylinder that is tightly chambered with .452-inch throats, a .003-inch barrel/cylinder gap and the forcing cone cut to 11 degrees. More than 45 years of shooting and slugging the barrels of hundreds of Colt SAAs suggests differently. I didnt think I could shoot this well! With multiple powder charge weights there has been considerable confusion on this subject. ok 45 long colt lovers,,ring out ,lets hear from you,,the more the merry. And about 1450+fps out of the 20" 454 Puma Levergun. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (when required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. These black-powder guns should not be fired with smokeless powder loads. Contest void where prohibited by law. Its also a good choice for hunting. hi guy, for awhile now i have slowly been adding to my collection,,i just got 2 molds, a rcbs 255 grain ,,and a lyman 325 grain gc,,,i got the dies, the powder, had dale put my name on miha list for his 45 long colt hollow point mold, ,i have some brass, i got the dies,, but still looking for that one 45 long colt gun. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Western Powders (Accurate and Ramshot) are about the only ones publishing higher pressure 45 Colt cast bullet data. Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th edition. - Free Online Library Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. take the .45 Colt as my game and defense cartridge. It is noteworthy that this statement was made 20 years after the development of the .357 Magnum, a cartridge Keith also tested and used in the field. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. 45 Colt: Shooting and Reloading - Ultimate Reloader Nevada Department of Wildlife, State Agency: In ranking the various 45 Colt sixguns now in production from the least strongest to that capable of a handling the heaviest loads, I would set the following order. im leaning towards the ruger blackhawk bisley 45 long cot 5.5 barrel. It is a good choice for self-defense, long-range shooting, hunting everything on four legs, and just plain fun shooting. Make sure your gun can handle it before you use any of these loads listed below with STARS (*). When the Marlin and Winchester Trappers first arrived in the early '80s, the #1 45 Colt bullet was still Elmer Keith's #454424 weighing about 260 grains from my alloy. That is, until I tried IMR 4227 with Lymans #452424 and a 20.0-grain load, and that combination produced one-hole groups. Dropping down to 30 grains results in an easier-shooting 835 fps and a group of 1.13 inches. 45 long colt favorite load data - Gunloads.com Instead of being overly large, Rugers have been way too tight, with some measuring around 0.449 inch, but now Ruger is cutting all cylinder throats at 0.451 to 0.452 inch. PDF The Future of Reloading Target loads in .45 Colt - Cast Bullet Forum However, none of these loads should be taken for granted and should be worked up very carefully. IMR Trail Boss, 4227, IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Elmer Keith was way ahead of his time in developing everyday working and hunting loads. So if one used 40 grains by weight of Pyrodex when the chart called for 40 grains of black powder, the result would be an overloaded charge. The Colt fanciers had .45's, usually in the New Service model, unless they were cowboy fans who had SAA's. The guys that worked in the paper mills and machine shops had 1917's. If you want-ed a handgun with power, the GI surplus .45 ACP in the 1917 was the only thing you could afford to shoot as reloading "ca'tridges" was unknown. Hodgdon's Clays And Your .45 - GUNS Magazine Minnesota Deptartment of Natural Resources, State Agency: Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. I have found HS-6, Universal, and W231 powders work very well for standard loads, while IMR 4227 bulks up nicely in 45 Colt brass. Wolfe Publishing Company | 2180 Gulfstream Suite A | Prescott, AZ 86301. Deployed military should use stateside address. 45 Colt - Cast Bullet Forum Contest void where prohibited by law. 45 Colt Load Data - HunterHub After all the work and expense, it turned out to be a somewhat mediocre performer. The 45 Colt also predates the 38 Special, the 44 Special, and the 45 ACP, and not only is it more than 80 years older than the 44 Magnum, but it also has more case capacity and in the proper sixguns can outrank the 44 Magnum. Quality 300-grain jacketed bullets are also offered by all three of these manufacturers. In spite of the above factory loads featuring the old Government bullet profile with a relatively small meplat, they are still effective. Not only do the Hodgdon folks offer excellent powders, but also they are simply some of the nicest folks in the industry. * 45 Colt Load Data - Guns and Ammo 45 Colt is a pistol round. i even just recieved an awsome holster rig new,lined,scroll work, you name it , looks fantastic quality for only 40.00,,,got hooked up with this awsome lady on ebay,whos selling them for a friend who makes them. The charge weight is 9.2 grains. Treat it like one. The more powerful loads are only suitable for strong handguns like the Ruger Blackhawk and the Thompson Center Contender. They include a (1) restored 1900 revolver with carved grips, (2) 1903 custom engraved, (3) 1901 with carved pearl grips, (4) 1899 with carved grips, (5) 1957-era custom, (6) custom 1901 with stag grips, (7) 1903 with custom carved grips and a (8) Colt New Frontier SAA with custom carved grips. Notes: cases: Winchester; trim-to length: 1.275"; primers: Winchester WLP; primer size: Large Pistol; Lyman shell holder: No. These two examples were produced in 1875 (left) and 1887 (below). Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders. This brings us to powders, and I use a lot of Hodgdon powders. Missouri Deptartment of Conservation, State Agency: I shot all kinds of bullets and powders from my 45 colt from 200gr to 350 gr trying to find something that was better than the other. In 1898, Colt made the necessary changes to permit its guns to be used with smokeless powders; however, it wasnt until 1900 (revolvers with serial number 192,000 or higher) that Colt began to officially warrant its guns for such. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content.
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