230 grn .452" boolet in a .45 colt?

[moptop]

My brother is thinking hard about buying a Ruger Vaquero chambered in .45 Colt (or Long Colt if you prefer). I was wanting to know if I could use the 230grn LRN sized at .452" I use for .45acp? It's the Lee tumble lube style. I've had good luck with it in my 1911's. It would be great if I didn't have to buy another mold.

Thanks much!

[geargnasher]

It might tend to shoot a bit low, they do in mine, but switching to a slower powder and lighter load brought mine back to the fixed sights on my New Vaquero. Other than that, no problem.

Gear

[runfiverun]

the older vaquero's [big frame] preferred 453,at least all the ones i had or worked with did.
the newer rugers seem to do fine with 452,unless they have a throating issue.
if i could only keep one of my 45 molds it would be my 225 rnfp as i normally use it it my 45 acp,and ocassionally use it in my 45 colt.

[cajun shooter]

Most 45 Colt Rugers had some problems with cylinder throat size being the same as the barrel. Some were so bad that they would make much better wall hangers. Hopefully you have one that may be adjusted. Slug your bore and then check your cylinder throat size. Some had bores of .449 and cylinder throats of 453. This will never work out.
If you are lucky and the bore is 452 and the throats are 450-451 you can send it to a man by the name of cylindersmith. He will open up the throats to say 453 and you will be at the correct range for lead bullets. Best to You David

[fcvan]

25 years ago, my dad picked up an original Colt .45 made in 1898 according to serial numbers. He bought black powder loads to shoot through it and saved his brass. I bought some dies and loaded some Lee 452-228 1R (235 cast with range scrap) as that's what I had on hand. They were loaded light with Unique and shot well according to dad. I was concerned they needed to be .454 for the older Colt but it wasn't a problem apparently.

Last spring, I picked up a Vaquero (as opposed to the newer lighter Vaquero) and the first loads I shot were the Lee 452-228 I size at .452 and they shoot fine. I also have an H&R 1871 Classic Carbine in 45 Colt which also shoots well sized at .452. I have shot loads ranging from mild to wild, with light to heavy boolits. I've shot round ball, 200 RN, 235 RN, 255 RF, and 300 RF. Point of impact changes depending on the load so it's all about 'Kentucky windage' with whatever I'm shooting at the time. The only thing I haven't tried yet is wax and hot glue boolits. I've shot them through my S&W M13 and my 38-40 / .40 S&W Vaquero, just not the .45 Colt. I'm thinking I will try round ball glue boolits just because they look like fun! Frank

[arkypete]

I have one Ruger BH, 35 years ago, maybe 30 years, one Rossi model 92, Colt Anaconda and a half dozen S&Ws model 25s. They all shoot better with bullets sized .454. Lyman, NEI, Saeco 250 grain, any shape in .454 will be accurate and zero leading.

Jim

[rexherring]

Depends on the particular gun. My older .45 Blackhawk shoots anything sized .452 very well and no leading. So you just have to try them in yours to see.

[bigboredad]

it will work results obviously will vary. One thought is I've been shooting 250-255's out of my 1911 and it works great with the keith style working the best but I had very good luck with the Lee 255 rnfp it just needs to be seated deeper. But that's a option that wouldn't break the bank

[coalgeo]

My 70's vintage Blackhawk in 45 Colt only shoots well with relatively soft boolits sized to .454. My new, smaller framed Blackhawk will shoot best with those sized to .452 and does not seem to care to much about hardness. Yup - the cylinders on my older one are over-sized. Someone makes cylinder guages but I cannot remember who at the moment.