45 Colt

[DanWalker]

Here's my favorites for this caliber.
For a moderate load with suprising power, try a 300 grain boolit over 6.5 grains of RED DOT. I get 900fps and OUTSTANDING accuracy from my 5.5" blackhawk.
For a full power, hard hitting, LARGE game hunting load, I use the same boolit over 18 grains of 2400. A word of caution about this load. Keep an eye on your gripframe screws. This load generates enough recoil that if they are loose and the grip can flex, it WILL crack the gripframe over time. This is not a plinking load, but if you're headed out to kill a moose,elk, bear, etc... it WILL get the job done.(I shot through 2 hogs with one of these last year)
For a load that will whistle right through any whitetail or medium game, try the classic 9 grains of UNIQUE under a 255 grain Keith SWC. I shot an antelope 2 years ago with this load and it penetrated diagonally lengthwise. The previous FOUR shots that I took and missed at the SAME antelope at 40 yards, made impressive holes in the prairie.(Nothing like handgun hunting to keep you humble)
For a nice sedate target load, for rolling cans or busting rocks, I use 6.5 grains of RED DOT under a 255 keith swc. I get 850 fps from my blackhawk, and sub 1" groups at 25 yards. This is also the load I'd suggest to anyone who has a lady or youngster hunting with a 45COLT levergun.
The recoil and blast from this load makes a 243 seem like a 416 rigby in comparison.
The above mentioned 6.5 grain load with RED DOT and a 300 grain boolit is also a GREAT hunting load from a carbine.
I've had lots of people doubt it's power due to the low blast and recoil. I change their minds when I have my daughter blow a hole clear through an 8" tree with them.
18.5 grains of 2400 under a 255 keith swc is another classic I've played with. Velocity runs around 1100fps from my blackhawk and 1500 from my win 94 carbine. I'm a cheap SOB and don't shoot this load much, as I can get nearly the same velocity from other loads that use less powder.
For a fun small game load I load a tumble lubed .454 round ball over 5 grains of RED DOT. I get 590fps and itsy bitsy groups from it. I recoils about like a 22rf from my carbine and is my daughters favorite load. I've shot a few grouse with it from my blackhawk and it puts them down nicely, and doesn't rip up the meat like a SWC does.

[xtimberman]

Good information Dan. I agree that RedDot - GreenDot too - is largely ignored by pistol shooters. Many regularly use Bullseye, then skip all the way up to Unique. I discovered how good those two are when I had some leftover from shotshell loading and had run out of Unique.

How do you get the round ball to stay put in the .45 Colt case - particularly in the tubular mag. of your carbine?

xtm

[Bret4207]

Good stuff Dan. I have a Ruger Blackhawk 45 convertible. I have never had the 45 Colt cylinder in it, but your post may change that! If only my gun had the 5.5" barrel I wanted instead of the 4.5" it came with. Sad part is it's a shooter so I don't want to change the barrel.

[Ballard]

Great post, Dan. Thanks for the information.

[DanWalker]

Good information Dan. I agree that RedDot - GreenDot too - is largely ignored by pistol shooters. Many regularly use Bullseye, then skip all the way up to Unique. I discovered how good those two are when I had some leftover from shotshell loading and had run out of Unique.

How do you get the round ball to stay put in the .45 Colt case - particularly in the tubular mag. of your carbine?

xtm

I screw the seating stem all the way down as far as it will go, and adjust the die to crimp also.
This puts the ball DEEP inside the case.
Some leverguns will feed this round from the mag. I just single load them for kids to plink with.

[Frank V]

I too like Red Dot in the .45 Colt. I keep my loads down in the Colt safe range & have no trouble reaching 800/850fps with a good cast 45-270SA. That's enough for most shooting. Frank

[mainiac]

must be something about red dot! I also use it in my 45 bisley blackhawk. 7.3 grs with a 452460 boolit. 1020 av velocity,AND, it shoots ragged hole groups!

[willwork4ww]

You can't beat Titegroup. 7.0 grs gives around 900fps with the 270 SAA. 7.5 gives 950 and 8.0 gives about 1015 from a 4 5/8' bbl, all with excellent accuracy and no position sensitivity.

[Calamity Jake]

I've used 12-15# of RD in the 45 colt over the years. Mainly for the CAS game, my wife shoots a sheriffs model Uberti 45, off hand, using 4.0gr RD and a Saeco 255rf cowboy boolet.
She loves the 45C as do I.

[LeMat]

Would 6.5gr of Red Dot work well behind a 250LRN (45 Colt)?

I've got a box of those as well as a box of 300gr LTCFP (that I bought for only $23.00 a few short years ago).

I've been having serious problems finding Unique, but seems there is Red Dot everywhere and I'd love to know that this powder works well with the 250's and 300's.

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Hullo , lots of good stuff for the 45 colt & different boolits & powders, it is always nice to hear what other are using, I keep mine full of 250 KT's with 18 gr 2400, not bad...but some of the liter loads look interesting..Thanks Again

[Lloyd Smale]

redot works great with 250s. 5-7 grains depending on how mild you like it.

Would 6.5gr of Red Dot work well behind a 250LRN (45 Colt)?

I've got a box of those as well as a box of 300gr LTCFP (that I bought for only $23.00 a few short years ago).

I've been having serious problems finding Unique, but seems there is Red Dot everywhere and I'd love to know that this powder works well with the 250's and 300's.

[LeMat]

Thanks Lloyd. So I take it that 7 grains is about as hot as you want to go with a 250? Same goes for a 300?

[Hardcast416taylor]

Hey Dan. Glad you agree with me on the 6.5 gr. of Red Dot loading. I`ve been using that charge as my everyday go-to load with a RCBS 255 gr. ww ac boolit. It works very well in my 5.5" Ruger convertable as well in the 7.5" Ruger Blackhawk. I break the mold as what constitutes a carry weapon as I carry the 5.5" convertable. I want to end an arguement now not 6 shots later. Robert

[mag_01]

Yes I'm a bullseye user an my load is 6 to 6.5grs. behind 255gr. lee and 225 and 200gr. lee boolit --- Good performance. Not abusive.

[jh45gun]

Thanks for the info Dan

[azcoyhunter]

You can't beat Titegroup. 7.0 grs gives around 900fps with the 270 SAA. 7.5 gives 950 and 8.0 gives about 1015 from a 4 5/8' bbl, all with excellent accuracy and no position sensitivity.

I agree,

I love it in my Ruger.... Cast 300 gr, not a bad kick, but it lets you know that you are shooting a 45 LC.

Clint

[bishopgrandpa]

6.8 gr. W231 under a 255 gr cast is a great load at around 850 and accurate from my 7.5" blackhawk

[jh45gun]

Dan got any suggestions for that 300 grain bullet with any other powder suggestions besides red dot? Just curious. I got some of the 255 grain pills you sent me loaded up with 8 grains of Unique now I am looking for a load for the 300 grain ones for my Encore 45/410 barrel. Powders I have on hand are Unique, 2400 and HP38.

[revolver junkie]

my hunting load is a 330 kieth over 16 grains of lil' gun kicks like a mule, hits like freight train
it put a huge dent in 3/8 plate at 50 yards man what a rush
and it dropps right out of the cylinder like a cowboy load