280 cast in 45 Colt

[jerry p.]

I would like to find a load for an NOE .452 280gr boolit in .45 Colt. Would prefer to use Win 231 powder, any help would be great. Thanks - Jerry

[DougGuy]

That's sort of a heavy boolit for 231, it burns a little fast for the heavies, Hodgdon lists starting load for a 260gr boolit 6.5gr 231 722fps 12,000 CUP and max 7.1gr 231 787fps 14,000 CUP.

They don't list 231 at all for the 300gr boolit, and they don't list it for any of the Ruger Only 45 Colt loads.

What gun?

[Wheelguns 1961]

I have the NOE 454-280 WFN. I guess it is the same one you have. It is a great bullet and is very accurate out of my blackhawk and my marlin 1894. I don’t use 231. I use 8.0-9.0 of unique, or 18.0-19.0 0f 2400 with great success. Warning:the 2400 loads are tier 2 ruger only loads.

[hc18flyer]

18 grains of Alliant 2400 was my whitetail load in my Blackhawk with that NOE 280 WFN, did the job. I didn't see any need to go higher, or go to a heavier bullet.
hc18flyer

[Outpost75]

Larry Gibson pressure tested this load for me with Accurate 45-290H with 7.5 grains of Bullseye gives 855 fps in 4-5/8" Ruger, 880 fps in 5-1/2" Colt New Service and 1120 fps in 20-inch Rossi carbine.

Attachment 279129Attachment 279130

[jerry p.]

The gun is a Ruger Red Hawk 5 1/2" barrel. With powder being hard to find, I would like to try what I have. Would Hodgdon Universal Clays or H110 work? Thanks - Jerry '

[DougGuy]

Larry Gibson pressure tested this load for me with Accurate 45-290H with 7.5 grains of Bullseye gives 855 fps in 4-5/8" Ruger, 880 fps in Colt New Service and 1120 fps in Rossi carbine.

25,000psi in a Colt New Service?

The gun is a Ruger Red Hawk 5 1/2" barrel. With powder being hard to find, I would like to try what I have. Would Hodgdon Universal Clays or H110 work? Thanks - Jerry '

Yes you would be MUCH better off using H110, in the Redhawk you can use all of the Ruger Only data that you want to. Go to Hodgdon's loading data online and put in your caliber, Ruger and TC, and boolit weight, the calculator will show you all the load data you need.

[Wheelguns 1961]

I have loaded that bullet with a magnum primer and 24.0 grains of H110 before. Not for the faint of heart. That was one of John Linebaugh’s pet loads.

[Outpost75]

25,000psi in a Colt New Service?...

No, the 25,000 figure is the max Y axis setting for the graphical display only, the actual sample average pressure was 17,400 psi, which is within normal .45 ACP parameters and completely within safe design limits for the Colt New Service.

[44MAG#1]

Don't tell Lyman but their latest Cast Bullet Manual has W231 data for a 300 grain cast that is standard pressure. Even Titegroup powder.

[kingrj]

The gun is a Ruger Red Hawk 5 1/2" barrel. With powder being hard to find, I would like to try what I have. Would Hodgdon Universal Clays or H110 work? Thanks - Jerry '

24 grains of H110 or W296 will give that bullet 1130 fps from a 5 1/2 " barrel. At least it does from my Blackhawk...This is a Ruger ONLY load which your Redhawk should yawn at...

[black mamba]

10.0 gr of 231 should give you about 1025 fps @ well under 30 kpsi, enough power for anything in the lower 48. The Redhawk can easily handle 40 kpsi.

[jerry p.]

Thanks for the info.

[Castaway]

Handloader magazine published 6.5 grains of 231 giving 782 f/s with the RCBS 270 grain mould with bullet actual weight of 280 grains. This load was in the lower “tier“ meaning 14,000 psi or less. There were no heavier loads listed with 231. H110 will work but I suggest a heavy crimp and magnum primer to prevent squib loads. The H110 loads aren’t for the squeamish at heart but your RedHawk won’t bat an eye at them

[cowboy4evr]

I have found 8.0 grs of 231 using a 255 gr to a 280 gr cast bullet an excellent load . My BIL shoots that load out of his Uberti 45 colt clone , and has for years . It's the only load he will shoot . He used Unique before , but said he wanted no more Unique loads after shooting the 231 powder load . Regards Paul