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No_1
12-03-2009, 09:00 PM
What is your favorite 45 Colt load? It can be BP or smokeless and of course the projectile must be lead.

R.

Rusty W
12-03-2009, 10:02 PM
Mine is 18gr of 2400 w/255gr 452423kt style boolit for a "business" load.
7.5 universal same boolit, sometimes a 452190 for an easy load. Mix brass, any primer I can get, Win, Wolf, Rem, CCI, etc. These are for a Ruger Blackhawk and the 2400 is a bit stiff.

NickSS
12-04-2009, 06:49 AM
Lately I am shooting a 250 gr RF PB bullet with 6 gr of WST. This load shoots to POA with my colt clone from Cimeron and recoils about like 6 gr of red dot does. I am using this load because I got a great deal on an 8 pound bottle of this powder and need to use it or buy something else. So far I have found good loads for 38Spl, 45 acp, 45 colt and I am experimenting with 9mm right now.

missionary5155
12-04-2009, 07:15 AM
Good morning
17 grains 2400 with a Lee 265 PBFN of 50/50 (WW-Lead) in my Ruger 7.5 barrel.
18 grains 2400 same boolit in my Rossi Rifle 20 " (Old Interarms import)
Same Boolit & 8 grains Unique in either one....

j20owner
12-04-2009, 01:19 PM
Have a couple that I'm using for right now
8.5gr Unique, Lee 200gr RFN @ ~815fps(powder puff for noobs)
7.0gr TiteGroup, 454190 or 454424 @ 950fps(nice '+P' load, IMO)


If I try to push them any faster at this point, accuracy goes to pot. The throats in my 5.5" Blackhawk are still small and haven't had a chance to send it to cylindersmith. Want to keep it handy during deer seasons while stomping around in the woods. After the first of the year, I'm planning on sending the cylinder off for doctoring.

DanWalker
12-04-2009, 02:08 PM
6.5 grains of Red Dot and either a 454424 or a 320 grain hammer boolit.
18.5 grains of 2400 under a hammer is what gets loaded when i'm in the bear woods.

Gray Fox
12-04-2009, 02:35 PM
My carry load for my S&W 4" .45 Colt Mountain gun and my Blackhawks and original Vaqueros is the Lee 250 RNFP of WCWW lubed with 2 light layers of LLA over 8.0 grains of Win 231. My heavy (for my needs) load for my Rugers is the RCBS 275 CAA of ACWW (285 grains) with the same lube over 13.0 of HS-6. This load is particularly accurate out of my scoped 7.5" Blackhawk. I've tried it in the Smith, but is more than I like in that light gun. That having been said, however, I would carry it with that load if I needed a backup gun for bear or large hogs.

R.C. Hatter
12-04-2009, 03:07 PM
:arrow: I find that 8 to 8.5 grs. of Unique under either Lyman #454424 or #454190 lit off by CCI Lg. Pistol primers are very satisfactory for my 4 5/8" O.M. Ruger Blackhawk. The boolits are WW+ a bit of tin and weigh about 255 grs.

brian
12-05-2009, 03:20 AM
Dave Scovill's RCBS 45-270-SAA sized 0.456" over 13 gr. of Blue Dot. - general utility load

RCBS 45-300-FN sized 0.456" over 21 gr. of H110 for max load - really kicks too hard for general use. i use only for hunting or bear defense.

working up a RCBS 45-330-U load with 2400 but not "there" yet.


have fun
Brian

James Gibson
12-06-2009, 06:07 PM
RCBS 45-270-SSA (275 as shot) .452 with 11.5gr #5 in a Ruger Bisley 7.5" 1075-1105fps
1 1/4" @25yds (on a good day)

arkypete
12-06-2009, 06:29 PM
I've used 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique behind NEI 255, Saeco 255 SWC. for the past 25 years.
I use 20 grains of H110 behind a 300 grain SAECO for use in my Rossi/Winchester 92.

Jim

Hardcast416taylor
12-07-2009, 12:15 PM
As I recall the equivalent to the original factory load was 6 gr. of Red Dot with about any 250 gr. slug. I have used this load for about as far back as I remember. The velocity is around 900 fps and is good for anything I want to use it on.Robert

jh45gun
12-07-2009, 12:26 PM
I only have one: 8 grains of Unique with a 250 grain cast bullet. I am using the Lee 252 Gr. Semi wad cutter with great results.

swat113
12-07-2009, 01:01 PM
So far my best load is 10 gr. Unique with a 300 gr. gc flatpoint, other load is 24 gr. H-110 over 255gr. Keith...both of these are in a ruger blackhawk!

Dframe
12-07-2009, 02:21 PM
Since most of my time is spent killing steel plates I don't need any ringtailed fire belchers.
My favorite is a 200 grain RNFP and 6.0 grains of trail boss.

frank505
12-07-2009, 02:34 PM
21 grains of WC 820 (lot 47320) starline case, wlp gold and 310 Keith has worked for me for twenty years on lots of things.

Trey45
12-07-2009, 04:11 PM
Business load is 24 grains H110, mag primer, NEI 310 grain Keith water dropped boolit.

Plinking load is 8.5 grains unique, Lee 255 RNFP.

Redhawk and Blackhawk only with the H110 load.

ironcowboy
12-07-2009, 07:01 PM
I just started loading .45 colt. Right now i'm doing 8grn of unique, and a 255grn cast bullet.
Does anyone have any good BP loads? I tried loading 35grns as someone suggested, but they left no room for the bullet...

1874Sharps
12-07-2009, 09:57 PM
Ironcowboy,

If you are using your loads for CAS matches, you might load a little lower with the 255 grain boolit -- say around 7.3 grains of Unique. I believe the suggestion someone made of loading 35 grains of powder must have been for BLACK POWDER, as a load like that with Unique would blow a gun up.

2ndAmendmentNut
12-07-2009, 10:02 PM
A pure lead Lyman 454190 sitting on top of a case full of Goex 3fg.

2ndAmendmentNut
12-07-2009, 10:06 PM
Does anyone have any good BP loads? I tried loading 35grns as someone suggested, but they left no room for the bullet...

I use Lee dippers to measure the powder out by volume.

Remember no plastic funnels, measures, etc, with BP unless it has been specifically approved for BP use.

ironcowboy
12-09-2009, 12:25 PM
Ok. Yea i'm not going to blow my self up. :) I was talking about black powder. Any recommendations what i should use to measure black powder? And anyone know of a good load? The measurer i use in my flint lock does not go down below 50grns...

Dframe
12-09-2009, 02:27 PM
A 45 ACP case will yield about 25 grains of black powder. Try some empty cases. Fill them then pour onto your scale.

2ndAmendmentNut
12-09-2009, 04:56 PM
Ok. Yea i'm not going to blow my self up. :) I was talking about black powder. Any recommendations what i should use to measure black powder? And anyone know of a good load? The measurer i use in my flint lock does not go down below 50grns...

The Lee dippers are what I use. Yes, they are plastic, but they have been rated safe for BP, even Lee says this. I have one of those Saturn brass and aluminum funnels for getting the powder into the case. As far as load data, it is a no-brainer just compress the load lightly and use a soft cast boolit with BP lube.

dougader
12-11-2009, 02:52 AM
For lighter, plinking loads: 6.5 grains WW231 and a 250 grain rnfp bullet.

Medium: 255 gr swc over 14 grains Blue Dot

Heavy: 335 grain WLNGC bullet over 22.0 grains WW296/H110 for 1200 fps.

Tim357
12-13-2009, 09:21 PM
9 grains Unique, Lyman 454190 boolit.

pulltabbob
12-13-2009, 09:29 PM
Since I have only used my 45 LC for shooting steel targets, I use 5.7 grains of trail Boss and 200 grains RNFP. Crono's out at about 721 FPS. For longer range (Rifle) I have cranked it out to 7.2 grains of Trail Boss. Tack driver at 150 yards and paper targets.

targetshootr
12-13-2009, 10:58 PM
8, 9, or 10 gr Universal under a 250, 280, or 300 gr lead anything.

Potsy
12-13-2009, 11:14 PM
Lyman 454424 with either 9.0 grn. Universal (1000fps) or 21 grn. 2400 (1225fps).
Now if I can just kill a dad-gum deer with either load......

Bullshop Junior
12-14-2009, 01:08 AM
What ever shoots under 2" at 50 yards...........
Mostly Hot loads.

Dale53
12-14-2009, 02:38 AM
ironcowboy;
The proper load for Black Powder is a "case full" (a case full being enough to compress 1/16" when seating the bullet). It is extremely important to use a good black powder lube. I use the Lyman 452644 RF bullet cast 30/1 lead/tin and sized .452" in my Ruger Bisley Vaquero and BlackHawk. The actual amount will depend on the capacity of the case that you are using.

Use 2F if you prefer somewhat lighter recoil and somewhat less velocity. Use 3F if you want maximum performance. Swiss powder is considerably more powerful than Goex but also exhibits more recoil. Swiss 3F will give you close to 1000 fps in a long barreled .45 Colt revolver.

I use Federal LP primers with excellent results.

My most used smokeless load is 8.5 grs of Unique behind either the Lyman 452664 OR the Lyman 454424 cast of WW's+2% tin and sized .452". This is about the velocity of a factory load with a much better shaped bullet.

Dale53

cwskirmisher
12-15-2009, 01:03 PM
452 RNFP lubed with SPG, 20/1 alloy over 28 grains 3F (I use a filled .45 ACP case) top the BP once in the 45 Colt case with cream of wheat up to the top of the case . Seat the bullet - the seating action will compress the COW nicely (and also the BP of course), giving a perfect round, with a roll crimp. The COW lets me produce a reduced load, keep the case full (no air space), and the COW also acts like a wad to protect the bullet base.

Works perfeclty, nice easy recoil in an SAA, accurate. Works really well in a Henry also.

Dale53
12-15-2009, 02:31 PM
ckskirmisher;
That looks like a good prescription for Cowboy use. Have you tried the Cowboy Special cases? I have a few hundred of those but haven't yet tried them with black powder. They should give about the same results as you have with the .45 Colt case without using a filler (which will greatly increase production if a progressive press is used).

My shooting buddy has been running accuracy tests with smokeless using a Ruger SS Bisley .45 Colt/.45 ACP convertible. These revolvers (three of us who shoot locally have one) are turning out to be VERY versatile platforms.

Using target loads with the .45 Cowboy Special (using 185 gr SWC) he gets "X" ring accuracy. Using 255 gr bullets, in the .45 Colt case, he gets "X" ring accuracy, and using the .45 ACP cylinder using 185 gr bullets at target velocity (4.0 grs of Bullseye) he also gets "X" ring accuracy. Ronnie Rooster is a 2650 shooter, so his results are to be believed.

Our next test (I will run this if we get a warm day) will be to use the .45 Cowboy Special case full of black powder and a 200 gr Big Lube bullet to see how it shoots at 25 yards. Using the .45 Colt case and a full case of Black powder I get excellent accuracy at both 25 and 50 yards with the Lyman 452644. However, the recoil is relatively heavy, at nearly 1000 fps.

It should be a bit more fun to use the shorter cases and a lighter bullet if the Big Lube bullet will give decent accuracy. The Cowboy shooters accuracy requirements are quite a bit "looser" than mine, in general, so I will just have to see for myself (their targets are bigger and closer - so their needs are different). I am looking forward to the little experiment.

FWIW
Dale53

cwskirmisher
12-15-2009, 03:20 PM
ckskirmisher;
That looks like a good prescription for Cowboy use. Have you tried the Cowboy Special cases? I have a few hundred of those but haven't yet tried them with black powder. They should give about the same results as you have with the .45 Colt case without using a filler (which will greatly increase production if a progressive press is used).

My shooting buddy has been running accuracy tests with smokeless using a Ruger SS Bisley .45 Colt/.45 ACP convertible. These revolvers (three of us who shoot locally have one) are turning out to be VERY versatile platforms.

Using target loads with the .45 Cowboy Special (using 185 gr SWC) he gets "X" ring accuracy. Using 255 gr bullets, in the .45 Colt case, he gets "X" ring accuracy, and using the .45 ACP cylinder using 185 gr bullets at target velocity (4.0 grs of Bullseye) he also gets "X" ring accuracy. Ronnie Rooster is a 2650 shooter, so his results are to be believed.

Our next test (I will run this if we get a warm day) will be to use the .45 Cowboy Special case full of black powder and a 200 gr Big Lube bullet to see how it shoots at 25 yards. Using the .45 Colt case and a full case of Black powder I get excellent accuracy at both 25 and 50 yards with the Lyman 452644. However, the recoil is relatively heavy, at nearly 1000 fps.

It should be a bit more fun to use the shorter cases and a lighter bullet if the Big Lube bullet will give decent accuracy. The Cowboy shooters accuracy requirements are quite a bit "looser" than mine, in general, so I will just have to see for myself (their targets are bigger and closer - so their needs are different). I am looking forward to the little experiment.

FWIW
Dale53


Dale53 -
Have heard of the 45 colt special, but from what I have read, in a revolver like an SAA, the distance for the jump from the bullet to the forcing cone is too far, and the throat diameter of the cylinder where the new cartridge OAL would put the bullet is too big - thus a loose fitting bullet in the chamber that most likely will not be centered routinely going into the forcing cone - and (again from only what I have read), the accuracy is lousy. Maybe a different story in a rifle - I haven't found anything about using it in that application, other than available carriers for toggle link rifles to use this new ammo.

1874Sharps
12-15-2009, 04:21 PM
Iron Cowboy,

Much good information in the above posts. If you are looking for a CAS oriented BP load, might I suggest the 230 grain RCBS RFN Cowboy mold boolit loaded in a 45 Schofield (45 S&W) case? This boolit has a generous grease groove for BP lube and gives a little less recoil than a standard 250 grain boolit. Because the powder column height is not all that tall, I do not bother settling the powder by drop tube, but I do choose a scoop type measure that fills the case and gives about 1/16 inch compression upon boolit seating. Shooting a Schofield round in the 45 Colt does mean that there is a bit more freebore, but at 25 yards or less it seems to have no ill effect on accuracy that I can tell. It is rather fun to make your own scoop for a given cartridge and load out of iron coat hanger wire and range brass. Just pop out the primer, cut the brass down to the desired volume and solder in the wire in the primer pocket and you have a scoop of exactly the volume you want.

Loading and shooting the old cartridges of the West is quite fun and it is sort of a nostalgic connection to our roots as well. It has become exclusively what I shoot in CAS now. Yes, it is true the clean up is a little more time consuming and an imperative after shooting BP, but it can be looked at as part of the fun as well!

Dale53
12-15-2009, 08:21 PM
cwskirmisher;
The .45 Cowboy Special shoots VERY well. See the report above. "X" ring on standard NRA targets is NOT inaccurate.

We have yet to try them with black powder but with smokeless they shoot VERY well.

FWIW
Dale53

ChuckS1
12-15-2009, 08:40 PM
Depends on how far away you are when you shoot into that X ring. At 25 yards, I'd call that accurate. At 25 feet, I'm not impressed, sorry.

Dale53
12-16-2009, 12:49 AM
When I use the "X" ring for a "case in point" I mean at the standard distances for the respective target. These were shot at both 25 yards and 50 feet on the standard targets for the distance. It is now too cold to shoot much outdoors so I thought that as long as the standard targets were used that could represent something important.

I perhaps should have been more clear in my comments. I DID mention that we don't shoot at Cowboy matches.

To me, it's not "X" ring unless you are at the proper distance.

Further trials at fifty and 100 yards will come when the weather moderates.

YMMV
Dale53

azrednek
12-16-2009, 01:59 AM
I see that Unique seems to be popular among 45 Colt shooters. Does anybody use Herco in their 45 Colts?

Greg in Malad
12-21-2009, 02:38 AM
7.0 gr of alliant E3- 230gr Lee RN TL.
950 fps in a 5 1/2" blackhawk
Its my favorite load because I found an 8lb can of E3 at a super deal.

Butler Ford
12-21-2009, 10:09 AM
I just started loading .45 colt. Right now i'm doing 8grn of unique, and a 255grn cast bullet.
Does anyone have any good BP loads? I tried loading 35grns as someone suggested, but they left no room for the bullet...

Compress the powder, that's a good load.

9.3X62AL
12-21-2009, 11:19 AM
Late to the party again.......the 45 Colt gets the same response in this kind of thread that the 32 Magnum gets--40 to 60 posts in a few days' time. Happily, the 45 Colt is more kindly regarded by revolver-makers than are the 32s, with very usable platforms made in large number.

Long-time favorite 45 Colt load for me uses 8.0-9.0 grains of Unique under 250 grain-class castings like Lyman #454190 or #454424. This load is Colt-safe and spaghetti-revolver-usable. Somewhere in that powder weight range, the boolits will hit closely to where the sights are looking.

As time goes on, I fire fewer and fewer Ruger-level loads in 45 Colt and other Magnum revolver chamberings. To paraphrase Buckshot, if the boolits don't bounce back from the target cardboard, they're fast enough for punching paper. There's a time and place for the Mastodon Cartwheelers, but as I grow longer in the tooth my needs for such blastiferous handgunning recede markedly.

StrawHat
12-24-2009, 07:40 AM
I'll toss a couple of loads in for consideration.

I used the Unique loads under the 454424 bullet for a long time. Now I use the same bullet and a "caseful" of black powder. I slip a card disc under the bullet and it is accurate and has a good deal of penetration. Same powder and disc under the 255 RNFP is alos a winner.

My newest load is the same powder and disc under the GB Collar Button boolit. So far it is accurate and noisy. If I stay with it, I will need to resight my revovler for that load and that load only. I tried it once and while fun, the sight issue may cause me to stay with the traditional bullet weights.

Of course, I still want to try the Keith loading where he used the 300 grain "express bullet" (perhaps Lyman 457191? or the 457122) over a case of black powder. I have wnated to try that load for a long time but as I get older the supposed need of such heavy loads slips away. I have sold my 44 Magnums and Ruger 45s as the 45 Long Colt black powder loads are more than adequate for my hunting and plinking.

fortrenokid
02-14-2010, 09:49 PM
5.5 grains of Titegroup and Lee 255 WFN bullet. My Cowboy Action Shooting load; works like a charm in both pistol and rifle. Light load for pistol: round ball or short conical and 4.6 grains of Unique or Bullseye (Lee 5cc dipper). Extra light plinking load: round ball and 2.7 grains of Unique or Bullseye (Lee 3cc dipper).

dakota
11-07-2019, 08:21 PM
I'm loading for a Model 25-15 6" barrel - 45 Colt. I cast a bucket full of WW 250 grain bullets from a NOE mold - looks like a Keith or Thompson bullet - with a very wide flat point. Sized to .454. I also have some Nosler 230 grain J bullets and a box of American Eagle 225 Grain J-bullets.
I've used 5744 and IMR4227 with the NOE bullets. I have some very old Unique (Hercules) left it shoots pretty dirty and I have not tried it.
I have 2400, H110, Lil Gun, Alliant Unique, BP, and a couple of others on hand in this burn range, plus Bullseye. I think I also have a lb of "Red".
With the loads I've tried, I have been a little disappointed ~~ 4" to 5" - 6 shot groups at 50 yards.
I'm trying to get ~~900 fps and would be happy with 2" groups at 50 yards. It's unseasonably cold right now and my experimentation goes down when the temps drop.
The dimensions of the cylinder look fine as does the barrel - no leading.
I suppose I'll try Unique next. Any helpful hints??

Wheelguns 1961
11-07-2019, 09:26 PM
I shoot 8.0-8.5gns of unique with a noe 454-280wfn. It is extremely accurate in my blackhawk and my marlin lever gun. I would try that noe bullet of yours with 8.5gns of unique.

Drm50
11-07-2019, 10:14 PM
I have three S&W m25-5s. Two 6" and a 8 3/8". I have two set up for WCs. The 237gr Lyman 454-309 WC loaded at 750fps with Unique. The 250gr Lyman 454-190 RNFP at 875fps also with Unique. I have tried other powders and only other I used a lot of was Win 630 which is obsolete. I got 16lbs of it in sealed cans at auction for $4.50 and use it for my plinking loads in large bores. Load to same velocity as Unique loads. I don't hot rod any of my S&Ws including 44mag. I shoot nothing but cast boolits in them. I have Ruger SBH for deer and heavy magnum loads. The SBH and a Brn Hi power are only handguns I load Jacketed bullets for.

Tripplebeards
11-07-2019, 10:46 PM
I use the same bullet out of my new vaquero with the minimum charge of trail boss. It’s a hoot to shoot very accurate at 25 yards. Doesn’t kick much more than a 22 Winchester mag. I’d have to check my load data. I think I’m either five or 5 1/2 grains of powder.

Dale53
11-08-2019, 12:57 AM
A really useful "standard load" for the .45 Colt is 8.5 grs. of Unique behind a 250 gr. SWC. This will give you about 850 fps. Any revolver chambered for the .45 Colt and satisfactory for smokeless powder can safely use this.

FWIW
Dale53

kingrj
11-08-2019, 07:11 AM
Using RCBS N0. 82050 mold (255 grain SWC) it is 25 grains WW296 or 15 grains of BlueDot..These are RUGER ONLY LOADS!!!

cwlongshot
11-08-2019, 08:24 AM
TEN YEAR OLD POST!!

Good to see the information still useful!

Unique was always THE powder for the LongColt and lead bullets. Its still a good one! I picked up a bunch of BlueDot and have been using that. I didnt see many guys quoting BD loads but its working great for me with lead in 357 mag & Max 41, 10mm and 45 Colt!

I like Lymans 454424 mold allot. I powder coat them and 13 is my magic number.

I also really like the LEE 454300 RD GC mold.

CW

dakota
11-08-2019, 09:10 AM
Why can't old threads can't be brought back up?

I'll try Unique. I stopped using Unique a couple years ago. I loaded up a few hundred 44 Mag (fairly light loads) and took it prairie dog shooting. After a hundred plus rounds the Model 29 was so dirty, it was hard to function. Now I normally clean my guns often (perhaps too often), but this was a test. I came to the conclusion that unique was indeed dirty. Maybe that was a bad conclusion?? I've heard that new Unique is much cleaner. But I'm not sure what the definition of "newer" means? Does all Alliant Unique fall into this "newer" category?

Alliant lists 9.5 grains of Unique with "250 gr Speer LSWC", but shows no pressure measurement.

I can't tell you when I bought this Unique. Probably before the President between the Bush's was sworn in. Is it the newer cleaner version?

I'm conservative when it comes to some S&W revolvers (29, 629, 19 and now the 25). The first 29 I bought (the first I could afford) was a 29 with no dash. I thought at the time I had the best revolver made. But the previous owner had evidently used too many full power loads and the cylinder seemed to be bulged slightly. If I shot 44 Special equivalent loads the cases ejected fine, but anything much hotter the cases did not want to come out.

Love Life
11-08-2019, 12:14 PM
I've gone up to and beyond 9.5 gr unique with 255 gr bullets in strong revolvers, but I don't/wouldn't use that load for my Colt SAA, Spaghetti guns, or Ruger new Vaquero.

USSR
11-08-2019, 01:35 PM
I use very little Unique any more with my .45 Colts. Not enough pressure for it to burn cleanly with the 800's fps velocities I shoot. Since I shoot trap, I have a lot of better suited powders that operate at a higher pressure level and shoot well.

Don

Larry Gibson
11-08-2019, 03:21 PM
I use very little Unique any more with my .45 Colts. Not enough pressure for it to burn cleanly with the 800's fps velocities I shoot. Since I shoot trap, I have a lot of better suited powders that operate at a higher pressure level and shoot well.

Don

Found the same, as much as I like and use Unique it just isn't the best for the lighter 200 - 230 gr bullets I prefer to use. I've found Bullseye and 700X to work very well under those bullets. Either gives excellent accuracy in my Contender, my SAAs and my Uberti M73.

PositiveCaster
11-08-2019, 08:42 PM
Wow, a ten-year-old zombie thread! But still a good topic. My fav is 10.0 grains of Unique under the Lee 255 RF with old LBT Blue. Kills deer well and is accurate in both my BH and M94 Trapper. My silhouette load was the LBT 300 LFN over 23.0 grains of W680. Dead accurate at 200 meters and I never lost a ram I hit.


.


.

USSR
11-08-2019, 09:45 PM
Anybody ever used SR7625? I picked up a couple pounds at a yard sale and haven't used it for anything yet.

Don

Poygan
11-08-2019, 09:50 PM
I have acquired some 7625 recently and have used it in a variety of pistol calibers. I do like it and suspect you will as well.

osteodoc08
11-09-2019, 11:03 AM
Zombie thread but still a good one.

13.5gr HS-6 and 45-270-SAA

cowboy4evr
11-11-2019, 11:22 AM
I recently found that I really liked 7.5grs of Accurate #2 under a 255gr cast bullet . Don't know the velocity for sure , but I'm sure it was in the 800's , soft recoil and very accurate . Shot out of my OM Vaquero , 4 5/8" barrel . Regards, Paul

hylander
11-12-2019, 11:54 AM
Revolvers:
Uberti El Patron 5.5"
Pietta 1858 with Howell Conversion Cylinder 8"
These loads give me excellent accuracy.

Light Load:
200gr. SNS poly coated or 200 LEE, Sized .452
7.0 of HP-38 or Win. 231
WLP primer
OCL: 1.580

Stout feeling load in the revolver:
255gr. HP, this is a huge hollow point, G/T bullet.
Also 255gr. RNFP G/T Bullet, Sized .454
8.0 of Power Pistol
WLP primer
OCL: 1.640 for Uberti
OCL: 1.610 for 1858, seated past crimp groove to fit length of cylinder.

Miroku Winchester 92:
The new Miroku's need at least a .453 cast bullet for accuracy.
Very Accurate load, I use this load for Cast matches, 6-8" steel plates at 50yds.
They go right down.

255gr. HP, this is a huge hollow point, G/T bullet.
Also 255gr. RNFP G/T Bullet. Sized .454
8.0 of Power Pistol
WLP primer
OCL: 1.640

jrmartin1964
11-16-2019, 05:14 PM
I must be the only remaining old dinosaur still loading .45 Colt with what for almost 100 years was considered the "standard" load... 5.o grains of Bullseye and a 255 grain Lyman No.454190. In my 5-1/2 inch 1st Gen. Colt this load shoots to the sights at 25 yards. YMMV

Jim

M-Tecs
11-16-2019, 07:18 PM
8.0grs. of Unique and Lyman #454190

Outpost75
11-16-2019, 09:27 PM
Bullseye has been used for factory .45 Colt loads for 100 years. Larry ran some pressure tests for me with 7.5 grains of Bullseye and 250 to 295 grain bullets which give uniform velocities, a clean burn and excellent accuracy. I use these loads in my two Rugers and an H&R Handi Rifle as well as in the Colt New Service and have been very pleased.

263294263295

Dale53
11-16-2019, 11:44 PM
Outpost75;
Can you give me some help on what the pressure is with this load? The performance is excellent, but I don't know how to decipher the pressure (I need PSI:killingpc).

Thanks in advance,
Dale53

Outpost75
11-17-2019, 06:27 PM
Outpost75;
Can you give me some help on what the pressure is with this load? The performance is excellent, but I don't know how to decipher the pressure (I need PSI:killingpc).

Thanks in advance,
Dale53

Average peak pressure with the 250-grain bullet is 16,500 psi, which is slightly above SAAMI MAP, but well within design limits of any modern revolver, including Colt clones and stronger older revolvers such as the Colt New Service M1909. The highest individual pressure recorded in the ten-shot sample was 18,800 psi, which is in the same range as would be expected of .45 ACP or .38 Special +P.

With the 295-grain bullet seated out to 1.69" (too long for Colt, but fine in H&R Handi and Ruger) average is 17,400 and peak pressure is 19,300, which is also in a similar pressure range to .45 ACP. Velocity is 830 fps in 4-5/8" Ruger and 1050 fps in 20-inch H&R.

Dale53
11-17-2019, 07:30 PM
Outpost75;
Thank you, my friend! That’s exactly what I needed...

Dale53

MT Gianni
11-18-2019, 12:47 PM
6.5 grains of Red Dot and either a 454424 or a 320 grain hammer boolit.
18.5 grains of 2400 under a hammer is what gets loaded when i'm in the bear woods.

The Red Dot load is still my favorite plinking load.

DanWalker
11-20-2019, 03:00 PM
The Red Dot load is still my favorite plinking load.

I'm still tipping critters over with it myself. It was used on 3 antelope this year, with excellent performance as usual.

sac
11-26-2019, 02:15 PM
I have 3. lyman 457122 gould bullet sized to .454 with 20gr h110, this one i shoot in my super redhawk tonklit.
rcbs 45-270saa with 20gr 4227 for my blackhawk.
Rcbs 45-270saa with 24gr h110 for my rifle.

cowboy4evr
11-28-2019, 11:23 AM
I have shot the " Dan Walker " load of 6.5 grs of Red Dot using a 255 gr cast bullet . It's a good one for sure . I recently discovered that 7.5 grs of Accurate #2 using the same bullet is a winner in my Old Model Vaquero , 4 5/8" barrel . The POA and POI was spot on @ about 25 yds . I realize that further distance shooting might of changed things , but that was all there was to be had . In the past I tried " Hot Rodding " the 45 colt . Then one day I decided to shoot it the way it was meant to be used keeping the pressure down to a reasonable level . I enjoy it much more , now . Regards, Paul

sonoransixgun
12-16-2019, 09:52 AM
Though I’ve settled on a favorite load of IMR, the traditional Unique didn’t give a bad group in my BH….

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/58591_600x400.jpg (https://www.jpgbox.com/page/58591_600x400/)

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/58592_600x400.jpg (https://www.jpgbox.com/page/58592_600x400/)

Dale53
12-16-2019, 04:55 PM
sonoransixgun;
That is excellent work for the sixgun, load, and not the least, the shooter!

Good work!
Dale53

Butler Ford
12-16-2019, 06:12 PM
TEN YEAR OLD POST!!

Good to see the information still useful!

Unique was always THE powder for the LongColt and lead bullets. Its still a good one! I picked up a bunch of BlueDot and have been using that. I didnt see many guys quoting BD loads but its working great for me with lead in 357 mag & Max 41, 10mm and 45 Colt!

I like Lymans 454424 mold allot. I powder coat them and 13 is my magic number.

I also really like the LEE 454300 RD GC mold.

CW

CW, since we've been on at least 3 different forums together for at least 10 years, I feel I can argue with you with out hurt feelins. I disagree!! His 35 grains of 2 or 3F under a 250 grain flat point made of 20:1 or softer is, in my not so humble opinion, the awesomest deer 'n hog killin' machine a man could ask for!

sonoransixgun
12-16-2019, 06:33 PM
sonoransixgun;
That is excellent work for the sixgun, load, and not the least, the shooter!

Thanks, Dale53...much credit to you experienced old timers and the wealth of info here at castboolits....

Stuckcase
02-08-2020, 01:33 PM
My gun, my load, use at your own risk
Ruger blackhawk
Starline brass
325 gr WFN GC Beartooth bullet
25 grains W296
Winchester Large Primer
Definitely not for the faint wristed.

goryshaw
02-08-2020, 10:49 PM
I have standardized on 6.2 - 6.3 gr of Red Dot (whatever my Lee Auto Disk is throwing today), with any 250gr + SWC. Right now RCBS 45 270 SAA. Haven't bothered Chrono'ing it for 30 yrs, last time I did it was between 800 and 850 fps depending on which revolver I used and which bullet. Accurate and mild, but powerful enough to shoot through abandoned car bodies. When I was young and dumb I would load them hotter, but all that accomplished was a deeper divot on the far side of what I was shooting at.

plowboysghost
04-03-2020, 12:52 AM
Lee .452-255RF over 8.2-gr of Universal.....in standard pressure Italian sixguns and toggle link leverguns.

DHDeal
04-04-2020, 01:08 PM
I'm perfectly content with 12.5 grains of HS6, a 155 primer, and a MP PBHP bullet (or a 45-280C) but my shooting partner doesn't really care for that level of recoil. He tried to download HS6 but the powder doesn't like to be downloaded much (I knew it wasn't going to be clean or particularly accurate). As we both have Universal, I'm loading up some at 7.5, 8, and 8.5 grains and a 150 primers to see if it's more to his liking. This is with the MP PBHP bullet. Looking for 850 - 925 fps and accuracy.

His revolver is a RBH 5.5 Bisley and it shoots very nicely with those bullets pushed hard, but didn't like them at pipsqueak level. It quite possibly was that HS6 wasn't the powder for that level of load.

00buck
04-10-2020, 09:25 AM
I use Trail Boss mostly because I use .45 Colt for Cowboy Action Shooting.

I did use 2400 for hunting rounds in my Marlin and labeled the box
“For hunting rifle only”

tominboise
04-10-2020, 10:07 AM
Zombie thread but still a good one.

13.5gr HS-6 and 45-270-SAA

How is the recoil of this load? It would be shot out of a Ruger Blackhawk with a 4-5/8" barrel.

GSSP
04-12-2020, 11:00 AM
My favorite bullet has, so far, worked very well in 4 different guns. It's an air cooled 284 gr LBT WFN PB. Two Bisley's; 3.75" and 5.5" barrel. A 20" Winchester 1892 and a 20" Taylor Tuned (Uberti) 1873. The first 3 use the same load of 23 gr H110 in Starline cases capped with the Fed Gold Medal 155 match primers. Velocities run 1100, 1150 and 1550, respectively. The 1873 gets 9.5 gr of Longshot in Starline cases capped with CCI 300 primers for 1175 fps. This load is max for the old style guns. All are accurate, hit hard and are devastating on game animals. 260184260185

DougGuy
04-12-2020, 11:36 AM
My favorite, after shooting all levels of power and many boolit styles and weights in different guns, turns out to be the LBT 250gr WFN or 250gr OWC over 21.5gr H110 in Schofield brass.

This load is safe in medium framed Ruger, large framed Ruger, and any other 45 that is safe to 45ACP+P of 23,000psi.

1200fps and just shy of 23,000psi according to QuickLoad, it is snappy but pleasantly so, not brisk or sharp. This would be a great hunting load for deer, hog, black bear.

https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Blued%20NM%20Vaquero/DSC04976%20Custom_zpsr686bkvr.jpg (https://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Blued%20NM%20Vaquero/DSC04976%20Custom_zpsr686bkvr.jpg.html)

Eddie Southgate
04-12-2020, 12:36 PM
18.5 grains of 2400 in my Colt and the better clones , 20 grains 2400 in Rugers and my Marlin . All with either 454424 or Rcbs 270 bullet cast just slightly hard . I add just enough tin and lino to toughen the pure lead to a little more than what wheel weights used to be . I also keep a box loaded with 20.5 gr 2400 and one with a full case of black since I still have a few hundred good balloon head cases .

9 grains of Unique also is a pretty decent everyday load with the same bullets .

GSSP
04-12-2020, 05:39 PM
My favorite, after shooting all levels of power and many boolit styles and weights in different guns, turns out to be the LBT 250gr WFN or 250gr OWC over 21.5gr H110 in Schofield brass.

This load is safe in medium framed Ruger, large framed Ruger, and any other 45 that is safe to 45ACP+P of 23,000psi.

1200fps and just shy of 23,000psi according to QuickLoad, it is snappy but pleasantly so, not brisk or sharp. This would be a great hunting load for deer, hog, black bear.

Doug, the OWC's have always intrigued me. Would you please share your impressions of them compared to the straight WFN?

Thanks,

Alan

DougGuy
04-13-2020, 06:12 AM
Doug, the OWC's have always intrigued me. Would you please share your impressions of them compared to the straight WFN?

Thanks,

Alan

They have the largest meplat of any boolit I know of in 45 caliber that still maintains a bit of ogive, the only larger meplat is a full wadcutter. I never liked driving a squared shoulder like a K type LSWC or a full wadcutter into the forcing cone, so the OWC has a little curvature to the sides that are more parallel with the angles in the forcing cone, a gentler introduction if you will, as the boolit exits the cylinder and enters the bore.

Other than that, it's hard to beat a wide meplat for a hunting boolit, there are two distinctly different schools of thought on this subject it seems, one view is that a HP kills better because it expands, the other view is that the wide meplat kills better because it cuts a wider wound channel. Truth is both are deadly at 1100+ fps and you put the boolit in the right place on the animal. The OWC would cut bone better than a HP and retain mass, less fragmenting, so if the shot wasn't placed well I would say the OWC might come out slightly ahead of the HP in terminal performance.

As far as how they shoot, they seem to be about equal with the WFN at short barreled handgun hunting distances, 25-35 yards, easily within 3". I couldn't elaborate on groups beyond that distance as my only intention is to hunt with them.

Plus, my load may not shoot as well in another gun, OR they may shoot better, you would have to try it and see. The cylinder in the Vaquero pictured has been reamed to 45 Schofield to reduce the amount of unsupported freebore that you would have shooting 45 Schofield length loads in a 45 Colt cylinder. This was done before the EO issued by our least liked POTUS deemed a simple conversion is manufacturing and not gunsmithing. I wish trump would rescind this one. I wanted to tweak the 45 Colt cartridge to fit the Tier 2 power level, less case capacity = higher load density, more consistent ignition, more consistent pressures, better groups, the 45 Schofield seemed like a logical choice for this project and so far it has proven itself worthwhile.

10or45
06-01-2020, 10:38 PM
13 grains of HS6 behind a 45-270 SAA for 1050 fps in my Blackhawks and OM Vaqueros.
24 grains of H110 behind a 45-325V Accurate for sledgehammers in Blackhawk hunter and Redhawk.

NorthMoccasin
06-05-2020, 08:26 PM
Lee 200gr rnfp 8.6gr 231. Shoots great, easy on the lead supply.

fcvan
06-08-2020, 02:53 PM
The first time I loaded 45 Colt, I was loading for my dad's 1899 New Frontier, a very well maintained piece. He bought some black powder loads for it but light Unique loads can be produced to keep the pressures down. The only mold I had then was a Lee 452-230 RN, which was more than fine for just general shooting. I don't think my dad has shot that Colt for 30 years.

8 years ago, I picked up a Ruger OM Vaquero in 45 Colt. The gun was originally owned by a guy who shot wax boolits for quick draw competition. He changed the factory springs which lightened it up. I don't like it, needs to be put back to stock. I have another OM Vaquero in 38-40/40 S&W that was new in-box. Love it!

As far as loads for the 45 Colt, I generally keep things on the light side, but have loaded and shot some barn burners. A bit snappy in the Ruger, a bit brutal in an H&R 1871 Classic Carbine in 45 Colt. That case hardened crescent steel butt plate is incredibly efficient at transferring the energy to the shoulder with minimal loss. Favorite load is 45 RB over a light charge of Bullseye with 900 fps from the carbine and 750 from the Ruger. Dad liked those loads too, real tin can killers.