Looking for a 45 Colt load

[tcrocker]

I just got in my new Lee 300gr 45 colt mold , and now I'd like to get some input on a good hunting load for a Ruger Redhawk. I'm using gas checks on the round aswell. I also am planing on getting a Puma 92 in same calaber so I'm needing a heavy load that will work in both gun safely.:lovebooli

[RobS]

Are you a ball powder guy as H110/Winchester 296 will yield you the higher end loads. If not then 2400 is a good option as well as IMR 4227.

What are you looking for velocity wise? What powders do you want to load with?

[RobS]

325 GR. CPB LFN PB Hodgdon H4227 .452" 1.680" 20.0 1053 22,300 CUP 23.0 1189 28,000 CUP

325 GR. CPB LFN PB Hodgdon H110 .452" 1.680" 21.0 1109 18,100 CUP 24.0 1266 27,400 CUP




335 GR. CPB LFN GC Hodgdon H4227 .452" 1.680" 20.0 1011 21,100 CUP 22.5C 1155 28,300 CUP

335 GR. CPB LFN GC Hodgdon H110 .452" 1.680" 20.5 1109 19,200 CUP 23.5 1240 28,000 CUP

[Frank]

Lee 300, 22.0 grns H110, (not W296), CCI350 Mag primer or Fed 155, seat to the top channelure, definitely water drop WW's, 75/25 or 50/50 mix.

Work up 21.5, 22.0, 22.5

[tcrocker]

I'm using pure ww and I'm water droping them.

[DeanWinchester]

I use that same mold in my Blackhawk. AA #9 works great.
AA manual says starting load =13.5g @ 798FPS Max load = 15.0g @ 907FPS

This is for RUGER only mind you. No old guns or repro's

[MT Gianni]

XXX gr WC820 is very accurate in my Rossi 92 & Redhawk with the Lee 300..

Scratch this brain fart this is 44 mag data.

[Frank]

Also, if you have the longer barreled Redhawk it might work better with the standard primer. For load testing I use an optical sight, Weigand base and Ultradot Pan-V or U/D 30. My favorite way to work up a load with the Redhawk is put a target out at 50 yds and shoot it Creedmore. The "light" gun with that load has a lot of muzzle flip. POI is probably the same offhand as Creedmore.

[44man]

296 and H110 are the same powders but I think Hodgdon gets a slight different burn rate batch then WW even though Hodgdon handles all the powders.
296 has always worked better for me in BH's, SBH's, SRH's and the BFR revolvers. OH, the S&W's too.
But for some reason the RH prefers H110. I have worked loads every which way but it always comes out the same. We spent a long time working with some RH's for IHMSA and I could not get 296 to group but the guns shined with H110.
I don't know what 4227 does in the .45 but I had a lot of trouble with it in the .44. As the gun heated, velocity and POI would change DRASTICALLY. Sad because my most accurate long range test groups were the smallest with both 4227's, just could not make the gun hot. The powder made me flop big time shooting IHMSA.
4227 worked like a charm in the .357 Max with none of the heat problems. I will not profess to know why! :confused:
Anyway, I would be interested in finding out what you fellas experience with the 4227's in the .45 when you shoot the gun at long range enough to make the gun hot in the summer. The stuff kind of scares me with the pressure rises I seen in the .44. Primers would get flatter and flatter too.
I had a big problem with 4198 in the 45-70 revolver. Now and then velocity would jump from 1600 fps to 1800 fps and stick brass bad. But the stuff works in a rifle.
I had an SEE event and so did a friend, both in Swedish Mausers using 4831. We had to increase the load but I went to Varget instead. That long throat can cause problems with a rifle that needs low pressure loads.
I find it hard to recommend some powders in some guns that I worked with over the years because funny stuff happens. Call me chicken but one problem will put a powder back in the drawer, never to be used in that gun again. :mrgreen:

[Frank]

44man:
296 has always worked better for me in BH's, SBH's, SRH's and the BFR revolvers. OH, the S&W's too.
But for some reason the RH prefers H110. I have worked loads every which way but it always comes out the same. We spent a long time working with some RH's for IHMSA and I could not get 296 to group but the guns shined with H110.

I got the idea of using H110 from 44man and he was right. With the Lee boolit, H110 wins hands down. But the funny thing is when I switched to jacketed, 296 worked. Did you every try it with jacketed, 44man?

[Snyd]

300, 335, 350 and 360gr boolits- H110, CCI 350, Starline Brass, Ruger Only Hodgdon load data with a heavy crimp from a Lee factory crimp die shoots great in my 4 and 7.5 wheel guns and my Puma 454 levergun. 50fps difference between 4 and 7.5 inch. 20" Puma picks up about 200fps.

[tcrocker]

I fount some data for 300gr jacketed bullets would the same data work on cast bullets?

[RobS]

The Lee 300 grain bullet will more than likely cast out at 325 grains from straight WW. I would be looking at the starting loads if I was going to look at 300 grain jacketed info. What Powder are you wanting to use as this will help us in steering you in the right direction?

[tcrocker]

325 GR. CPB LFN PB Hodgdon Lil'Gun .452" 1.680" 17.0 1061 20,700 CUP 20.5 1235 29,700 CUP .Here is one load I was looking at . It uses Lil'Gun powder . I have never used that powder before. Is it eny good?

[Heavy lead]

I absolutely am a 'Lil Gun fan in especially the .357, but also have found it to be very accurate in the .44, .45 (although have not used it as much with the .45, but only as I have a bunch of 296 ball buster loads still available for use) and quite a bit in the .475.
Some here and elsewhere have reported much higher temperatures, and more barrel wear, as well as more gas cutting than H110/WW296.
I simply can't say either way, I have monitored this as well as one can without special testing equipement, but so far no issues.
It does burn hot, but so does H110, as to how much hotter, I do not know, haven't noticed any more cutting than any other high intensity load, but what I do notice is this, it is cleaner, and at least as accurate, if not more in most of my guns including a slow twist 94 Winchester .44 mag and with 18.7 grains of 'Lil Gun under a Lee 317 cast jacketed boolit over a CCI 350 primer it is the most accurate load I've got in that rifle as well as a Super Blackhawk, and a Redhawk I have.

[RobS]

The only issues with lil gun is forcing cone and top strap erosion. A quick web search will provide you some info as well as pics. I've seen it first hand with 280-300 grain cast boolits in my casull and won't go back. You may be fine though with the Lee boolit as it is a bit heavier and in combination of the slightly smaller case the timing of the powder may not create the higher pressures right as the base of the bullet clears the cylinder throats.

[tcrocker]

just got around to sizeing and gas checking the bullets and they vary between 316 and 320 gr. Sizeing them to .452 with a Lee sizeing die. They look like they will do a number on critters:twisted:.

[dk17hmr]

I use a really stout load of H110 with my Lee 45-300 in my 45lc tender....chrono'ed 1450fps.

I really like the 300gr GC, its great for shooting p-dogs.

[tek4260]

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/101_1281.jpg

22.0gr of H110 with a 325 LBT at 25 and 100 yards. 5 shot groups. It was my starting load and I saw no reason to change a thing.

[Heavy lead]

Nope, wouldn't either, those are mighty fine groups there, especially that 100 yard group

[tek4260]

When I saw the 25, I had to crank on the sight and set up a target at 100. Was one of those days.

[Frank]

tek4260:
22.0gr of H110 with a 325 LBT at 25 and 100 yards. 5 shot groups. It was my starting load and I saw no reason to change a thing.
You got lucky. Your next powder lot may be 21.5.

Cool article in this month's Handloader on the .45 Colt by Brian Pierce. He gets more velocity from a 4 1/2" barrel than a 7 1/2" with one load specific load. Hint: It's also H110.

[BorderBrewer]

Inspired by this article

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=5

and the writings of John Linebaugh, I ordered a 325 grain mold from Mountain Molds. It is a Keith design with a wide 77% meplat. It drops from the mold at .453. I load this with 20 grains of H-110 and it is a comfortable and accurate load in my 5-1/2" Bisley Blackhawk. Merry Christmas to all!

[NHlever]

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm35/tk3945/101_1281.jpg

22.0gr of H110 with a 325 LBT at 25 and 100 yards. 5 shot groups. It was my starting load and I saw no reason to change a thing.

That gun sure looks more like a .44 Mag Super Blackhawk than the .45 Colt we were talking about........ can you verify this one way, or the other so someone doesn't use the wrong load data?

[tek4260]

That is a 45 Blackhawk. I have changed the grip frame and hammer in all of mine to the Super or Bisley.

[NHlever]

Sorry about that! I didn't notice the fluted cylinder until after I posted. That is one accurate .45 Colt you have there. Good shooting!

[44man]

44man:
I got the idea of using H110 from 44man and he was right. With the Lee boolit, H110 wins hands down. But the funny thing is when I switched to jacketed, 296 worked. Did you every try it with jacketed, 44man?
Yes, initial testing was all jacketed. We did not get into cast until I found how to make them as accurate or better then condom bullets.
It was just an accident that I tried H110 in the RH and I still scratch my head over it. I thought just load work would correct the difference but it never did.
I found H110 did work somewhat in other guns but it took 1/2 gr more powder. It never equaled 296 in some revolvers.
I love the shooting Tek4260 did, that is the way a good revolver should shoot. Great job.
My big question is, has H110 changed because Hodgdon now handles both it and 296? Or are canister powders still sorted by brand?

[44man]

I just noticed Tek4260 is using 22 gr and that is what I found with H110 but 296 takes 21.5 gr for the same results.
However the RH preferred H110 for some reason.
No wonder I lost so much hair! :holysheep

[cptinjeff]

Did you ever chrono this load?




I just noticed Tek4260 is using 22 gr and that is what I found with H110 but 296 takes 21.5 gr for the same results.
However the RH preferred H110 for some reason.
No wonder I lost so much hair! :holysheep

[tek4260]

Only running about 1180 IIRC

That revolver was practically new but I guess it isn't a good example of a factory Ruger, though it is close. It has had the throats opened to .4525, 11deg FC, .595" front sight, #25 Mainspring, Light Trigger spring, extra power latch spring. Also has oversized bolt fitted by me(and Ill never do another) All of this was done by me prior to ever firing it.

Of course all of this is easy enough and there is no reason to ever fire a shot without doing it.

[tek4260]

Funny thing about the chrono is that when others post velocities, ......

well you know


I guess I just have slow revolvers and slow powders :)

[cptinjeff]

Thanks for the info. Great load and great shooting. jb

[cptinjeff]

Funny thing about the chrono is that when others post velocities, ......

well you know


I guess I just have slow revolvers and slow powders :)


Yup! me too[smilie=l:

[44man]

Did you ever chrono this load?
Not the 300 but my gun with a 7-1/2" barrel shows 1160 fps with the 335 gr LBT.

[cptinjeff]

Thanks 44man!

[tcrocker]

Just got done loading up some rounds the min load was 21 gr and max was 24gr so i went with 23gr to be safe. the col is 1.680 but i had to shorten them to 1.64 to get them to chamber without sticking. I don't think that will be a problem but just wonted to get some input.

[Snyd]

That's some fine shootin there tek.