45 Colt--Red Dot

[HEAD0001]

Guys I am about to load some Gallery Loads for my 45 Colt. These shells will be shot from a new(to me) 10" Contender. I use Red Dot in my 44 magnum and 45-70 for Gallery Loads. I would also like to use Red Dot for my 45 Colt gallery Load. I am thinking 3.0 grains of Red Dot should do the trick. Just wanting to check in with you guys first, to make sure Red Dot would work the same in my 45 Colt as it does my other firearms. It makes a great Gallery Load in my 45-70's. The bullet is an RCBS 255 grain pill. Thanks, Tom.

[Dale53]

HEAD0001;
Lyman's 4th Edition Cast Bullet Handbook shows;
4.5 grs of Red Dot behind a 255 gr 452424 SWC giving 550 fps
6.0 grs of Red Dot, same bullet, 780 fps.

I wouldn't go any lower than the minimum and myself, would probably load 5.5 grs. That's an awful large case for 5.5 grs of Red Dot.

Just a thought or two...

Dale53

[saz]

The tried and true "Dan Walker Load"

6.5grs Red Dot
250gr boolit

Yes Dan, it seems you are famous!!!

[HEAD0001]

Guys I am wanting a silent gallery load. Not a hotter load. I already use the 3.0 grain load in a 44 magnum handgun. And a 4.0 grain Red Dot load in my 45-70. So I am strictly concerned about the 3.0 grain load for the 45 Colt. Tom.

[stubshaft]

Should work fine for what you intend to do Tom.

[MT Gianni]

I switch between the 44 Mag and 45 Colt with the Dan Walker load of 6.5 gr Red Dot. If the lower charge works for you in 44, I would try it in the 45.

[warf73]

According to my RCBS casting book pg 168

RCBS 45-255-SWC

Red Dot

5.5grs ~ 696fps
6.5grs ~ 814fps

Hope that gets you going.

[warf73]

Pulled out my new Lyman Cast bullet handbook 3rd edition got some more info for you, pgs 284 & 285.

Please note the data is for Lyman mold #'s 452424 & 454424.

Red Dot

4.5grs ~ 550fps
6.0grs ~ 780fps

AND Ruger T/C only using same molds as above.

Red Dot

6.0grs ~ 780fps
8.3grs ~ 1018fps

So from both of my posts you should be able to get what your needing.

Hope this helps.

Warf

[DanWalker]

It's not what I would call a gallery load, but in my 45LC's I use a 454 roundball over 5 grains of red dot for prairie dogs, blue grouse, and bunnies.
It is VERY accurate with zero recoil. It's a great load for letting kids and recoil sensitive people enjoy shooting big bore guns. Kicks like a 22rf when fired from my win 94 trapper.
One thing I do, that seems to help accuracy is I screw my seating stem as far down as it will go.
This shoves the RB deep into the case. Yes, it raises pressures, but it has been completely safe in mine and my friends guns. I imagine 3 grains under a roundball, seated in the same fashion would be pretty quiet as well, and a joy to shoot from that contender.

[rollmyown]

Dan, is there a chance you could post a pic of this loaded round ball ammo? Also do they feed OK in the trapper, or do you load it by hand?

[DanWalker]

I don't have any pics, and am currently away from home. I should be done with this well within the next 4 days or so, and will take a pic for you when I get home.
Feeding of these rounds in my trapper has been dodgey but I haven't really tried any crimp adjustments to try to improve it.

[DanWalker]

Yes Dan, it seems you are famous!!!
HA!
Lucky me! I'm the first person in my family to be famous for something other than getting thrown over the hood of a police cruiser!

[rollmyown]

Cheers Dan.