45 colt 250 grain

[hornady]

I will be ordering a new Ruger Black hawk in 45 colt this week, still up in the air on barrel length, but it will be 4.5 or 5.5 inch, and was thinking of getting a 250 grain mold for it, something like the Lyman #454190, would this be a good choice, or should I go up or down on the bullet weight, this gun will mainly be for punching paper , or a close range White tail deer gun. I cast other bullets 9MM, 38/357. 45ACP, and .308, but this would be my first 45 colt. Thanks in advance.

[txbirdman]

I like the looks of the 4 5/8 barrel but you'd get a little more velocity out of the longer barrel. I like the 255 RFN Lee bullet but there's nothing wrong with the 454190. You probably should check the cylinder throats (slugging). The ones on my Vaquero were as small as .449. I borrowed a reamer and opened them up to .4525. I like 9 gr. of Unique with the Lee RFN for a general purpose load. It will take a whitetail at close range easily.

[Rocky Raab]

Dittoes for the Lee 452-255-RF. I tumble-lube mine and load them as-cast - about as simple a procedure as can be imagined. No leading, great accuracy and I think that meplat would hit like the flat side of an axe.

I personally load a bit lighter than some, mostly because I do more fun shooting than hunting. I favor 8.0 Unique or Universal, 7.0 W231, or 6.5 of Red or Green Dot or American Select.

Oh, all of my Blackhawks are 4 5/8" regardless of caliber.

[felix]

Me too, Rocky. 4 5/8 is about all the weight I like in a heavy gun (to me, 98 pound weakling as advertised in weight lifting commercials in those type magazines.). ... felix

[Rocky Raab]

And one good holster fits 'em all, too!

[JJC]

I have the 5.5 barrel and shoot the RCBS 270 SAA Boolit at 1150 fps. I like it but if and when I would like to get the shorter barrel for poking around the woods.

[hornady]

Thanks guys I too like the look of the shorter barrel but may end up with the 5.5, to squeeze out a little more velocity. I will give the 255 a try. I will need to get the gun, but will diffidently slug it. I was looking at a used Ruger in 44 40, but read that some of them had a problem with the Bore and cylinders being mis-matched, and some said they needed the cylinders reamed out. May have been Internet rumors, but for the price of a new Black hawk, I decided to just go new, there is just something about the old 45 Colt round

[Hardcast416taylor]

I have a 5 1/2" model Blackhawk convertable. I`ve shot bullets from 185 Gr. up to 300 Gr. thru it. If you just want to casual shoot it use a 230 Gr. meant for the .45 acp. My business load is using the RCBS 255 Gr. cast with 50/50 alloy. For more serious work I cast with just ww alloy. Don`t skimp on getting a comfortable holster for it if you plan on packing it around for awhile.Robert

[Grapeshot]

I will be ordering a new Ruger Black hawk in 45 colt this week, still up in the air on barrel length, but it will be 4.5 or 5.5 inch, and was thinking of getting a 250 grain mold for it, something like the Lyman #454190, would this be a good choice, or should I go up or down on the bullet weight, this gun will mainly be for punching paper , or a close range White tail deer gun. I cast other bullets 9MM, 38/357. 45ACP, and .308, but this would be my first 45 colt. Thanks in advance.


You might try the Lyman 452424,255 grain LSWCor the Lyman 452664, 250 grain RNFP. Both have worked well for me in all my .45 Colt revolvers.

[kennisondan]

donot fool around with jacketed bullets, get cast bullets for sure, cost is right and they are quite effective. I load some for USFA reproductions with a 265 gr RN lead to old black powder velocities with unique.. 8 gr. a little less of red or green dot as stated above... for my vaquero birdhead with short barrel I shoot em all up to 300 gr. lbt flat nosed wide nosed hard cast pushed over a thousand fps; and in my blackhawk done up by clements I also shoot them all. my longest barrel is 5.5... I had gotten used to the 7.5 and thye 6 inchers used to be the shortest I would shoot but carrying and moving with them .. you have to try at least as short as a 5.5... still plenty of sight plane for seeing sights pretty well, and a pleasure iwth the right holster.. anything longer than the 5.5 will be a bear to use from sitting.... I have grown accustomed to crossdraw chest /shoulder mounting of all my hunting 45 colts...
I doubt also that any whitetailed deer the size of the ones here in Louisiana will contain a 45 bullet well placed at anything over 750 fps unless it is trapped in loose hide on the other side and a soft lead bullet to boot.. you will be happy..
cheers
dk

[ChuckS1]

Can't go wrong with the 454190...

[Rocky Raab]

Friend hornady, I hope when you slug that gun you do it with confidence and not diffidently.

(I think I know what you really meant, but that was a hoot. You even spelled the wrong word correctly!)

[9.3X62AL]

I'm another fan of the Lyman #454424 in 45 Colt. The #454190 shoots just about as well from my current 45 (Ruger BisHawk x 7.5"), but the big meplat and square shoulders cut much cleaner holes in paper and I suspect would be more efficient on game. I'll admit right here to STRONG prejudices favoring the Keith/Thompson/SWC design as a good all-purpose boolit, though.

[timkelley]

I like the 255 Lee and I loaded up my last yesterday. I will probably get to pour tomorrow as it is supposed to rain and will be prime pouring weather. Get the six gang mold if the wallet will go for it. You can easily pour four or five hundred in a couple hours.

[JJC]

Do you guys that have the Lyman 452424 crimp on the front of the driving band? I stayed away from this mold due to that fact, as stated in the manual. I read in handloader magazine (I think) that they were cut wrong for a number of years and that was the reason. I guess they are putting the correct dimensions out now?

[9.3X62AL]

I crimp #454424 into the crimp groove, and the boolit's front drive band is a snug fit into the chamber throats. My cases are only sized about 1/2" down the case wall, then expanded. Between the fatter case base area and the boolit front bands entering the throats, I get around the issue of generous chamber diameter that seems to be a feature of 45 Colt chambers. This regimen has prolonged case life GREATLY for me with this revolver.

The Lyman #454424 and #454190 are in real life a lot stubbier-appearing than catalog photos or diagrams indicate.

[zxcvbob]

I really like Lee TL452-230-TC. I cast them with any old scrap lead alloy, lube with Alox (unsized), and load them roll-crimped lightly into the top little lube groove. Very accurate, and they make nice big holes in the paper.

[geargnasher]

I really like Lee TL452-230-TC. I cast them with any old scrap lead alloy, lube with Alox (unsized), and load them roll-crimped lightly into the top little lube groove. Very accurate, and they make nice big holes in the paper.

POI is a factor with the lighter boolits and fixed sights.

Gear

[geargnasher]

I crimp #454424 into the crimp groove, and the boolit's front drive band is a snug fit into the chamber throats. My cases are only sized about 1/2" down the case wall, then expanded. Between the fatter case base area and the boolit front bands entering the throats, I get around the issue of generous chamber diameter that seems to be a feature of 45 Colt chambers. This regimen has prolonged case life GREATLY for me with this revolver.

The Lyman #454424 and #454190 are in real life a lot stubbier-appearing than catalog photos or diagrams indicate.

+1, and I do one better with almost all my .45 Colt loads including 454190, 452664, Lee 300 WFN, and Lee 255-RFN: I screw out the sizing die until it only sizes the part the boolit will occupy when seated, leave the rest as-fired so it doesn't rattle around in the cavernous chamber. Between a tight case head fit and tight boolit in the cylinder throats, you get a really straight start and good accuracy.

For paper the Keith boolit is best. Works for hunting, too, and is about the right weight for the gun.

One more thing, I don't know why anyone would ever want anything other than a 7-1/2" barrel! Oh, well, I guess that makes for good horse-racing too. [smilie=l:

Gear

[R.C. Hatter]

:coffeecom I have an old model 4-5/8" Blackhawk myself, and you can't very well go wrong with #454190 over top of 8.0 gr. Unique, or #454424 (if you can find one) using the same powder charge. Its big medicine for most game.

[StrawHat]

I don't have a Blackhawk but I do shoot several 45 long Colt revolvers. I use the 454190 GB, 454424 GB and the 454423 GB, the Lee 255 SWC and the 45-270 GB. My revolvers have 4", 5 1/2" and 6" barrels. The shorter barrels have a preference for the SWC GB boolits and the 6" likes the 270 GB but all produce good usable accuracy. The 255 grain boolits over a case of black powder are good on whitetailed deer. I have not recovered one yet. Unique is a good choice for smokleless.

If cutting clean holes in paper is a criteroa, try the SAECO 453, 235 grain full wadcutter. I have not worked a load for it in long Colt but it sure does a good job from the 45 AR.

Soon, I'll be loading for a 3" long Colt and plan to use one of the 255 grain boolits.

[hornady]

Thanks guys, I did some window shopping today, a local guy had some beat up Black hawks, I think after handling them I am going to go with the 4 5/8 barrel. It just felt better in my hand, now all I need to do is find the Dies and mold in stock at the same place, I have always had good luck with the Lyman molds. I have the #358156 that has worked out great in two 357s, I also have the #452374 I load in 45ACP. If sized properly would this bullet work in the 45Colt? The #452374 shoots well in my colt 1911 and Ruger P-90, but my Sig 220 just doesn’t like it. Would there be an OAL problem. I am going to buy the heaver bullet mold just a question.

[fredj338]

I have the 5.5 barrel and shoot the RCBS 270 SAA Boolit at 1150 fps. I like it but if and when I would like to get the shorter barrel for poking around the woods.
I like this bullet, but my mold throws them closer to 280gr ready to shoot. The RCBS 255grSWC is a good mold design & I have great results w/ RCBS molds.

[Wally]

In my Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt I tried all sorts of bullets & loads--none gave acceptablel accuracy until..

The Lee .452-200-RF # 90234 using 7.0 grains of Bullseye with a poly filler...

968 FPS MV...

Very accurate & fun to shoot....the lighter bullet saves lots of lead....and is easy on the gun and me.

[Dale53]

My Ruger .45 Colts shoot exceptionally well AFTER I Reamed the cylinder throats to .4525". I size my bullets to .452", cast of WW's +2% tin and they shoot very well. I cast the Lyman 452664 (250 gr RF), the NOE Lyman 454424, and the .45-270-SAA. The 45-270-SAA is the performance champ of all of the bullets, although I get excellent results with ALL of those bullets. Further, the Ruger Convertible .45 Colt/.45 ACP works very well with the various 200 gr bullets in the .45 ACP cylinder.

If you plan on hunting, then the MiHec mould for either the two cavity hollow point mould (which also casts two solid point bullets if you desire) or the upcoming four cavity brass mould for the solid bullet are my choice for a performance hunting bullet.

If you are planning to limit your shooting to targets only, then the NOE 454424 is a good one. On the other hand, if you are planning to use a convertible - the MiHec 200 gr SWC H&G #68 mould cannot be beat in the .45 ACP cylinder.

Dale53

[hicard]

You might want to look at N.O.E. for his .452-210gr R2 HP or the one coming out now, the .452-230 gr HP mould also. Makes a beautiful looking bullet.

[Grapeshot]

Do you guys that have the Lyman 452424 crimp on the front of the driving band? I stayed away from this mold due to that fact, as stated in the manual. I read in handloader magazine (I think) that they were cut wrong for a number of years and that was the reason. I guess they are putting the correct dimensions out now?

I have a 454424 that I got back in the 1970's. I bought it along with the Lee 452-255-RNFP right after I bought my first Colt .45 SAA. (for $185.00 brand new at the BX on Elmendorf AFB, AK in 1973). I started crimping over the front driving band until I started reading some of the Articles by Elmer Keith and began to use the crimp groove. That snugged up the cartridge in the chamber and gave me better accuracy out of that lod Colt. I wish I hadn't have sold that gun.

[rintinglen]

That 452-374 will probably shoot just fine. I use the same bullet sized .452 in my new model Vaquero and it shoots great with 7.2 grains of WW-231 or 9 grains of Unique

[mroliver77]

I am quite fond of the 452423 Keith boolit. I have an old single cav Lyman that drops them like .456 and a Lee 6cav GB that is a peach. I also shoot the Mihec 200gr HP and the H&G #68 clone. The 200 grainers are a blast! I have the Mihec 270gr HP but have not got around to shaking it out yet. Oh and I almost forgot the Lee 255RF. That was my first mold for the .45 Colt. It is a real workhorse! Not hard to find a good load for thit, thats for darn sure!
Jay

[Railbuggy]

My 5.5 inch Blackhawk(1993) took a walk last month and was replaced with a brand new 7.5" Blackhawk with a Sept 2010 inspection sticker.The throats look to be .449,and the barrel .451.My Lee TL452-230-2R RN mould is what I have been shooting,but I am looking for a heavy weight zombie rd for my +P+ boolits.There are only 603 Blackhawks in 45 colt made of stainless with a 7.5" barrel.Two of them were listed on GB a couple weeks ago.:violin:

[geargnasher]

Railbuggy, a .4525" chucking reamer and a little masking tape wrapped around it for a chamber pilot would fix you right up. Or maybe .4520". Check it out: http://shop.webcuttingtools.com/product.sc;jsessionid=98807A791F8E82B135C4CBC2B271 F3C5.qscstrfrnt02?productId=5275

Gear

[x101airborne]

i have used a 7 1/2 inch BH my mother gave me after kosovo for years with good results. The one thing I will mention is mine would not shoot cast well and a gunsmith suggested recutting the forcing cone to a different angle. Viola!!! Shoots cast really well. i do get tired of that 7 1/2, though. Get a trigger job done to your specs, also. Or, you could just fill the void around the hammer with regular toothpaste and sit on the couch watching John Wayne movies cocking and decocking the thing about a thousand times. Remove toothpaste with carb cleaner after removing the grips, lube re-install. The lee 255 rf is great. i shoot it in my BH cast of 50-50 and in my ACP cast of ww or 50-50 linotype and range lead. Feeds fine and allows me to hunt hogs with the ACP without buying HP's.

[Good Cheer]

My brother used the 454190 in his 4 5/8" with WW296. It gave excellent accuracy (and abusive recoil) for the first cylinder full, as well as taking the eyebrows off of bystanders. But, it would sure take down hogs as well as any rampaging Buicks. It disappeared along with his safe.

[casterofboolits]

The Lyman 452664 250-RFB works well in my Colt New Service with 5.5" barrel.

[Catshooter]

With the 452424 in Ruger Blackhawks there is no need to crimp over the front, their cylinders are long enough to crimp in the crimp groove with lots of room to spare.

Regarding velocity. Remember, this isn't some small, tiny thing like a 357. Those need all the speed they can get. The 45 Colts (& up) work well even at lower speeds, really well.

I would stay far away from anything without a big flat nose for hunting. I love the Keiths, he designed them to cover as many bases as can be and he did a very fine job.


Cat