.45 Colt load for East of the Mississippi

[Rick R]

I recently picked up a 4.2" Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt mostly for bumming around in the woods of WVa. It shoots the 250gr XTP, 255gr RNFP commercial, and 200gr Lee RNFP all reasonably well.

What boolit (not just the above) would you knowledgable gents suggest for deer, black bear, hogs, cans, rocks, stumps, or the horrible woodchuck?

:cbpour:

[oldfart1956]

Rick try or find someone who has some Lyman 452460 boolits. I think Lee has the same design mold. It's a 200gr. swc design and it works incredibly well in my Blackhawk. Like 1 1/4in. groups at 75yds. usually with 3 out of 5 touching. (using a scope....nearly blind..;) ) Don't know why it works so well as it really shouldn't at that range. Might be a smidge light for big black bears but boolit placement could fix that. Unique powder seemed to work best but Bullseye has been puddy impressive to. I'm crowding 1000f.p.s. at times. Audie...the Oldfart

[JohnnyFlake]

here is a chart from John Limbaugh showing high-end .45 Colt revolver loads.

John Limbaugh~

VELOCITY AND PRESSURE COMPARISONS SHOWING THE SUPERIORITY OF H-110 AND W 296 OVER OTHER COMMONLY USED POWDERS IN THE .45 COLT. 7" TEST BBL.

BULLET POWDER GRAINS VELOCITY CUP
260 GR. LEAD SWC H-110 27 1459 FPS 30,600
260 GR. LEAD SWC H-4227 26 1377 FPS 30,600
260 GR. LEAD SWC # 2400 20.5 1294 FPS 29,800
260 GR. LEAD SWC HS-6 16 1259 FPS 30,800
260 GR. LEAD SWC UNIQUE 12 1199 FPS 30,000
310 GR LEAD SWC H-l10 23 1330 FPS 30,000
310 GR LEAD SWC H-4227 23 1176 FPS 29,400
310 GR LEAD SWC # 2400 19 1172 FPS 29,400
310 GR LEAD SWC HS-6 14 1119 FPS 30,400
310 GR LEAD SWC UNIQUE 11 998 FPS 29,200

In addition, several handgun hunters have suggested the following loads to me, however, so far I have not tested them.

300gn Cast RNFP over 10.0gn of Unique
255gn Cast RNFP over 10.5gn of Unique
300gn Cast RNFP over 15.0gn of 2400
255gn Cast RNFP over 17.0gn of 2400


Warning: always work your way up to suggested load data!!!

[Rick R]

Gents,

Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can't round up some of those Lyman 452460 to see if they shoot better than the 200gr Lee.

[subsonic]

Is that Rush's brother?

Or do you mean Linebaugh?

Oldfart, I gotta know more about that load that's driving tacks with that 452460. How much powder you using? Crimping over the front?

Light boolits seem to never shoot worth a hoot in the .45 Blackhawks.

[runfiverun]

seat them even with the case mouth and just bump the roll crimp ,they shoot well in a levergun too..
9.3 grs is the load i'm using with it,and the 452664 or the 454424 seated the same as the 452460.
5 grs of clays works well with the 460 too.

[subsonic]

To answer the OP's original question, I tend toward heavy boolits in the .45 Colt Rugers - because they have been the ones to shoot most accurately for me in my gun.

I would tell you to get the 45-340D mold from Accurate Molds - but I am biased, I designed it.

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-340D-D.png

If you want lighter, maybe go with something that looks about the same, but weighs less?

[subsonic]

I was just monkeying around on the mountain molds website and tried to draw what I thought would be a good design for a 265gr boolit. I ended up making something that looked an awful lot like that Lee 255gr RF... which I have, but have not really worked with.

[Lefty SRH]

For rocks, cans, stumps, and small critters use whatever is available and cheap. For deer, hog, and bear I'd go with something heavy 300-330gr LFN or WFN PB over a healthy dose of H110 or other magnum powders.
My plinkin load for "rocks, cans, stumps.....etc. is a SAA 270gr HP casted from a MiHec mold with 13.0gr HS-6.
My HEAVY hunting load is a 330gr LFN solid from MiHec Ruger ONLY mold over 22.5gr H110 moving at 1250fps.
Both loads are shot from Ruger Blackhawk Bisley and Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter.

[RobS]

To answer the OP's original question, I tend toward heavy boolits in the .45 Colt Rugers - because they have been the ones to shoot most accurately for me in my gun.

I would tell you to get the 45-340D mold from Accurate Molds - but I am biased, I designed it.

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-340D-D.png

If you want lighter, maybe go with something that looks about the same, but weighs less?

I see you on the design your own as I"ve done the same over at Accurate Molds. Like Subsonic I too have had better accuracy with the heavier boolits, 300 to 340 in my Ruger 45 Colts and 454 Casull. The Lee 255 with it's tangent profile and short nose length gives the design quite a bit of bearing surface and is why many have good accuracy with it. I think the 255 Lee would do most anything you need East of the Miss. but if it were me I would go with a 300+ grain cast boolit for hunting. Heck I only shoot 310's and 345's out of a Bisley and leave the easy shooting loads with 260's for the Ruger flat top 45 Colt.

[M-Tecs]

For pleasant, accurate and cheap 45 colt loads my favorite is Lyman 454190 over 8 grains of Unique. Due to its small meplate it is very accurate for long range rock busting. For that I will kick the loads up to 10 or 12 grains of Unique.

The 454190 has a small meplate but when cast at 25 to 1 it expanded well on the couple of deer that I shot with it.

[762 shooter]

For rocks, cans, stumps, and small critters use whatever is available and cheap. For deer, hog, and bear I'd go with something heavy 300-330gr LFN or WFN PB over a healthy dose of H110 or other magnum powders.
My plinkin load for "rocks, cans, stumps.....etc. is a SAA 270gr HP casted from a MiHec mold with 13.0gr HS-6.
My HEAVY hunting load is a 330gr LFN solid from MiHec Ruger ONLY mold over 22.5gr H110 moving at 1250fps.
Both loads are shot from Ruger Blackhawk Bisley and Super Blackhawk Bisley Hunter.

Agree with the SAA 270 Mihec. Nice big meplat, heavy, and accurate. With mid-range loads it's a pleasure to shoot. A nice handful in my 45 colt flat top. 270 grains at 1000 fps should handle anything on that list easily.

762

[MT Gianni]

I have to suggest the Dan Walker load of a 250 gr boolit and 6.5 gr of Red Dot. This is a great accurate load and the penetration is there also.

[ole 5 hole group]

I've found 9.3 grains of VV N340 to put 250 to 265 grain cast boolits into bugholes. It's a soft shooting load at about 925 to 1,000fps depending upon barrel length and outside temp. If you get a chance, try it, I think you might like it.

[JohnnyFlake]

Is that Rush's brother?

Or do you mean Linebaugh?

Oldfart, I gotta know more about that load that's driving tacks with that 452460. How much powder you using? Crimping over the front?

Light boolits seem to never shoot worth a hoot in the .45 Blackhawks.

I guess your right. My Bad!

[subsonic]

I guess your right. My Bad!

No problem, just have a lot of respect for the man. No harm intended, only a bit of :kidding:

[TXGunNut]

I like Lyman's 452424, drops a couple tributes to Elmer Keith at a right smart pace after I get her warmed up. USPS just brought me RD's last 454290 mould but it's still on the dining room table. Should be interesting.
My Ruger seems to like heavy boolits (and bullets) but it likes Uncle Elmer's 255 gr boolits just fine. My SAA-pattern revolvers like this boolit as well, don't think I'll subject them to the heavies.

[DanWalker]

I have to suggest the Dan Walker load of a 250 gr boolit and 6.5 gr of Red Dot. This is a great accurate load and the penetration is there also.
Wow! I have officially hit the big time. I have a load named after me. Much to the suprise of my friends, it's not a load of manure!!!

I love this load and have shot many thousands of them. It is pleasant enough to shoot all day without flinching, and has enough power for 100 yard killing shots on big game. I've killed pronghorns at over 100 yards with this load, and they are a LOT tougher to anchor with a handgun than the whitetails I've killed.

[Rick R]

Looks to me like the 250ish bullet range has a lot of support with several giving the nod to the 270 - 300 grainers. A that one guy who likes them chunky 330 grainers. ;)

What does everyone think of the various SAA 270 molds? Is the MiHec still available?

[Dale53]

Rick R;
If you manage to get one of those Mihec molds for the RCBS 45-270-SAA you will have hit pay dirt. I LOVE my Mihec moulds - they just don't get any better.

That is an excellent weight for serious work, also. If you have a SAA, then 8.5 grs of Unique will do fine. If you have a large frame Ruger, then you can, if desired, load it MUCH heavier for hunting. Frankly, a 270-285 gr SWC moving anywhere from 1000 fps -1200 fps will do the job if the shooter does his job.

FWIW
Dale53

[oldfart1956]

Is that Rush's brother?

Or do you mean Linebaugh?

Oldfart, I gotta know more about that load that's driving tacks with that 452460. How much powder you using? Crimping over the front?

Light boolits seem to never shoot worth a hoot in the .45 Blackhawks.

Sub, the loads I found best so far with the 200gr. swc has been 8.5gr. of Unique and Recluse loob on an air-cooled boolit seated at 1.520 o.a.l. in my Ruger. Note the short o.a.l. and watch for pressure! A close runner-up has been 6gr. of Bullseye with an air-cooled boolit and again Recluse loob and it was seated at 1.520 o.a.l. as well. Again, note the short o.a.l. and watch that pressure. Also, with the Bullseye you're only gonna make 1 mistake with a double charge. I didn't clock either of the loads but assume the speeds to be sub-1000f.p.s. and now I'm clocking all my loads. 7gr. of Bullseye ran 1015 f.p.s. out of my Ruger with 7 1/2 in barrel. And loob matters! Saeco loob gave me 12in. groups (not a typo) moly-loob gave me 10in. groups. Same alloy/cast same day/using same loads. I'm running some thru the Lyman 450 now with an unknown loob (red/tacky/needs to be warm...I assume Carnuba?) and I'm still getting 1 1/2 to 2in. groups. Universal clays and Trailboss haven't worked so well as of yet. Extending the length to 1.540 started opening up groups. Out of 5 .45 molds this one only gets matched/beat by a jacketed Sierra 8800 (185gr. h.p.) and not by much. Audie...the Oldfart... P.S. Sorry for the thread hijack.

[Rick R]

Old Fart,

Not a hijack at all! Very interesting how a small change can make such an improvement in a load. In fact thanks to all that have posted, this has contributed to my education.

[762 shooter]

RickR,

There is some nice 45-270-SAA boolit porn at the end of this thread.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=144350

762

[oldfart1956]

Old Fart,

Not a hijack at all! Very interesting how a small change can make such an improvement in a load. In fact thanks to all that have posted, this has contributed to my education.

Thanks Rick. My reason for even trying the lighter boolits was to reduce recoil. Sure you can lob a 300gr. slug at turtle velocity and trade off some recoil. But I wanted to keep the velocity to keep it shooting reasonable flat from 25 to (in my dreams) 100yds. or mebbe a smidge more for groundhogs. At the range I shoot whitetails (best measured in feet so it sounds far...) I'm sure a 200gr. slug will drive all the way thru both shoulders. And yup....little changes do matter. Now I keep a record of every shot and each change no matter how trivial it might seem. I larn't that here. I've shot that 200gr. swc from soft to hard lead, air cooled, heat treated, water dropped and a dozen different loobs applied 3 different ways. Four different powders, 2 makes of brass and 2 different primers. I've also run the o.a.l. from stubby to just fit the cylinder. It all mattered. Audie....the longwinded Oldfart...

[MtGun44]

Miha (MP Products) put out a real Keith design at about 285 gr a few years back. It has
become my go to mold for my BH, and a friend has me load some for him, too. With
8.1 gr W231 it is a pussycat and accurate, and with a hot load of H110 (I forget right
this second, somewhere north of 20 gr, but in the books) it is a real thumper, but stays
accurate.

Bill

[TXGunNut]

Sub, the loads I found best so far with the 200gr. swc has been 8.5gr. of Unique -OldFart

Now that you mention it I used a very similar load more than a few years back with excellent results. Had hundreds of store bought lead boolits for my 45 acp and acquired a RBH but didn't have any suitable boolits. Shot quite well and were very pleasant to shoot. Seemed odd that a hard cast .452 boolit shot well in that revolver, still seems odd.

[Rick R]

Looks like I need to revisit my 200 gr Lee RNFP with around 8 - 9 grains of Unique as a woods bumming load.

[bigboredad]

I'll be honest even though Elmer keith is one of my Idaho heros I never could get one of his designs to shoot worth a hoot for me. I will Tell that thru personal experience that the bullet style subsonic designed is a definite shooter also RobS has a winner with his 310gr bullet from accurate molds I have yet to shoot his new 345 but that's mostly my fault cause i've been busy shooting my own designed 345 from acccurate molds it is the 45-340e and the 2 molds from RobS are 45-310b and the 45-345a I have also had decent luck with the 45-300f it is along the lines of a Keith improved and it loves the Dan walker load I am biased on that one but to be honest Robs 310b will out shoot mine any of the above loads will do you just fine or you can design your own and have all the fun of saying hey that's my bullet

[41mag]

I'm pretty new to the cast boolits, and to the 45 Colt. I picked up a 7.5" Ruger Redhawk last fall and have been in love with it since.

I have only shot cast through it to date and probably won't change that anytime soon. I have VERY accurate loads with several weights, in fact I really haven't shot anything which wasn't acceptable.

I can throw out that the Lee 452 255RF loaded atop of the listed 260gr Linebaugh loads above using HS-6 does indeed shoot VERY well. I can also testify that the MiHec version 45 270 SAA does equally as well. I have no real reason to push the loads in this one even though it IS a Ruger, I have the Raging Bull if I want to crank it up a notch. Keeping the loads at or below 1250'ish fps, has been my goal and pretty easily accomplished. I haven't had the chance to test any of them out on anything other than a bucket full of dirt and paper, but I am hopeful that in the upcoming weeks, there will be several test being preformed on some feral hogs I have been fattening up recently under my deer feeders.

Good luck with your choices and I wish you the very best in your endeavors.

[DanWalker]

I'll be honest even though Elmer keith is one of my Idaho heros I never could get one of his designs to shoot worth a hoot for me. I will Tell that thru personal experience that the bullet style subsonic designed is a definite shooter also RobS has a winner with his 310gr bullet from accurate molds I have yet to shoot his new 345 but that's mostly my fault cause i've been busy shooting my own designed 345 from acccurate molds it is the 45-340e and the 2 molds from RobS are 45-310b and the 45-345a I have also had decent luck with the 45-300f it is along the lines of a Keith improved and it loves the Dan walker load I am biased on that one but to be honest Robs 310b will out shoot mine any of the above loads will do you just fine or you can design your own and have all the fun of saying hey that's my bullet


I'm inclined to agree with you about the keith SWC's. As much as I love them, my RNFP's outshoot them past 50 yards. I don't know if it is caused by too much unsupported nose or what, but you can really see a difference. I'd love to try the Mihec designed 285's just to see if they strike the balance between weight and velocity, with accuracy as well. Something that's heavy enough for good penetration out to 100 yards, but light enough not to pound your wrists when you load it to shoot flat out to 100.

[subsonic]

It's really surprising how close my 45-340D and the 45-345A are! Just a loob groove difference as far as I can tell.

With these large bore calibers and slow powders, I am starting to develop a theory that you need to keep plenty of lead in the case to aid combustion. I'm going to try to design a lighter boolit for the .45 Colt that is mostly in the case like a full wadcutter with a little nose on it and see what happens. Looking at the Lee 140gr SWC for the .38/.357, I am obviously not the first person to think of it!

[DanWalker]

I'm pretty new to the cast boolits, and to the 45 Colt. I picked up a 7.5" Ruger Redhawk last fall and have been in love with it since.

I have only shot cast through it to date and probably won't change that anytime soon. I have VERY accurate loads with several weights, in fact I really haven't shot anything which wasn't acceptable.

I can throw out that the Lee 452 255RF loaded atop of the listed 260gr Linebaugh loads above using HS-6 does indeed shoot VERY well. I can also testify that the MiHec version 45 270 SAA does equally as well. I have no real reason to push the loads in this one even though it IS a Ruger, I have the Raging Bull if I want to crank it up a notch. Keeping the loads at or below 1250'ish fps, has been my goal and pretty easily accomplished. I haven't had the chance to test any of them out on anything other than a bucket full of dirt and paper, but I am hopeful that in the upcoming weeks, there will be several test being preformed on some feral hogs I have been fattening up recently under my deer feeders.


I found the 255 LEE rnfp's to be lacking in killing power for me. I tried them on hogs when I was gunning them on Catalina, and the LEE 300 grainers beat them in terminal performance, hands down.

[pmer]

This thread has been fun to read. I'm supposed to excited about carrying my model 94 32 WS this year deer hunting but now I think I have to double check what I have in case I want to take out the 45 Colt.

The RCBS 255 Kieth is nice looking and good shooting boolit too. Poured in COWW its closer to 265 grains. It has longer nose than the Mihec 270 SAA though. The RCBS 255 has a little trouble feeding in my Rossi 92 but that 270 SAA would feed good. Another standard nose length heavy boolit would be the Accurate Molds 45-300G. I have bloodied my knife using this one in a rifle, and the 452424 in a Ruger BH (standard loading of Unique) and they both worked good.

I never put much thought in a light weight 45 Colt offering, I think I would grab the 1911 instead. :kidding:

[44man]

I'm inclined to agree with you about the keith SWC's. As much as I love them, my RNFP's outshoot them past 50 yards. I don't know if it is caused by too much unsupported nose or what, but you can really see a difference. I'd love to try the Mihec designed 285's just to see if they strike the balance between weight and velocity, with accuracy as well. Something that's heavy enough for good penetration out to 100 yards, but light enough not to pound your wrists when you load it to shoot flat out to 100.
Refreshing to me to see to see some agreement on the Keith. I think why they are loved is appearance only. They look COOOOOL! :bigsmyl2:

[subsonic]

I think the Keith's can shoot well in a good gun, but I have had pretty mixed results with them. All of the boolits I'm shooting for hunting and accuracy are pretty much "wfn" shaped.

[Rick R]

OK, so I'm stuck on the 270 gr SAA design, above medium weight but not too heavy, no gas check, plus it's danged sexy. :D

If the Mihec mold isn't available is the RCBS mold worth buying? Or have I missed an option?

[RobS]

OK, so I'm stuck on the 270 gr SAA design, above medium weight but not too heavy, no gas check, plus it's danged sexy. :D

If the Mihec mold isn't available is the RCBS mold worth buying? Or have I missed an option?

Accurate Molds, and Tom will make it exactly like you want it down to the T if you ask it from him. You want equal width drive bands, done; you want a 72% meplat, done; you want a flat bottom lube groove, done etc. He will design and then put it up in his catalog for you to view. He will make revisions if you don't quite like what you see the first time or even the second. Not to mention his work is excellent.

[RobS]

This would be his most current that is similar in design and like I mentioned before he will make modification that suit your needs/wants.

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-270K-D.png

[JohnnyFlake]

Accurate Molds, and Tom will make it exactly like you want it down to the T if you ask it from him. You want equal width drive bands, done; you want a .320 meplat, done; you want a flat bottom lube groove, done etc. He will design and then put it up in his catalog for you to view. He will make revisions if you don't quite like what you see the first time or the second. Not to mention his work is excellent.

Can you provide a link to his catalog?

[RobS]

Refreshing to me to see to see some agreement on the Keith. I think why they are loved is appearance only. They look COOOOOL! :bigsmyl2:

I worked the heck out of the 280K design from BRP Molds, the design that 45 2.1 setup. It was a good shooter and I had a few very good loads cooked up however now I find that a LFN style design with a bit shorter nose than the typical .400" or longer length is twice as easy regards to finding accuracy and with a multitude of different loads which have a wider range of velocities. Seems like the Keith 280 grainer like things a certain way to make those tight groups.

My go to design for the 300 grain area is this one I put together at Accurate Molds:
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-310B-D.png

[RobS]

Can you provide a link to his catalog?

It's up there, just click on the weblink I provided at the bottom.

[RobS]

It's really surprising how close my 45-340D and the 45-345A are! Just a loob groove difference as far as I can tell.


Yep, and the nose length on yours is just a slight bit shorter than the one I put together. I bet yours is very accurate!!!

[oldfart1956]

It's really surprising how close my 45-340D and the 45-345A are! Just a loob groove difference as far as I can tell.

With these large bore calibers and slow powders, I am starting to develop a theory that you need to keep plenty of lead in the case to aid combustion. I'm going to try to design a lighter boolit for the .45 Colt that is mostly in the case like a full wadcutter with a little nose on it and see what happens. Looking at the Lee 140gr SWC for the .38/.357, I am obviously not the first person to think of it!

Sub, when you get the boolit up and running please post your results. I'd be very interested in this. Audie...the Oldfart..

[subsonic]

I worked the heck out of the 280K design from BRP Molds, the design that 45 2.1 setup. It was a good shooter and I had a few very good loads cooked up however now I find that a LFN style design with a bit shorter nose than the typical .400" or longer length is twice as easy regards to finding accuracy and with a multitude of different loads which have a wider range of velocities. Seems like the Keith 280 grainer like things a certain way to make those tight groups.

My go to design for the 300 grain area is this one I put together at Accurate Molds:
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-310B-D.png

I had a battle to the death with the RCBS 270SAA mold(s). Went through 3 molds, several powders, primers, etc and still never could get it to shoot like ANY load I tried with the Cast Performance 335gr WLNGC. My 45-340D is my idea of an improved plain base version of that boolit.

The best groups I was getting with the 270SAA were over 2" at 25yds. With both heavier boolits mentioned above, I can get 3" or under @ 50yds from this gun with irons - but I have not really worked my 45-340D yet - those are just initial groups.

I am sure the 270SAA will work great in some guns, but I have not had luck with it personally.

[subsonic]

Yep, and the nose length on yours is just a slight bit shorter than the one I put together. I bet yours is very accurate!!!

Initial impressions show that it shoots more consistenly accurate than the 335gr CP's I was trying to "improve on". More work to do yet....

[subsonic]

See this thread for the initial impressions I got:

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?p=1798545#post1798545

[bigboredad]

Sub, when you get the boolit up and running please post your results. I'd be very interested in this. Audie...the Oldfart..

subsonic sent me some of the 340d bullets he cast up. My usual go to load that is way accurate out of MY guns is 21.5gr of 296 and I have just switched to the cci 350 as it nudged my groups a bit tighter. Back to the bullet let me tell boys and girls I wasn't feeling good that day and was pretty shaky and I put that bullet in to a inch and a half at 25 yards. Now I'm not one to hand out load info unless you are a friend and I trust that you will be smart about it and I really detest posting my group size mostly cause I can't shoot for sheep dip. But RobS knows his sheep dip around a .45 bullet and if he comes up with a design that is close to subsonics than I gauarantee that either one of them will shoot for you. But I still like my design a bit better but only cause I know how much time I put in to the design and I have to give credit is due Robs was my coach thru the whole design he spent a butt load of time trying to get thru mt redneck head what makes a bullet shooot. So pick the one that fits your gun and I know you will be happy with the results Robs and subsonics bullets will make you a believer just don't over look the 45-340e[smilie=s:

[Rick R]

Subsonic,

Looks like that boolit works very well for you! I appreciate the info and you gentlemen taking the time to post it.

[subsonic]

I think bigboredad has the right load for this one - 21.5gr H110 or 296 - but I want to try it with a FED150 primer and compare to the mags.

[Rick R]

I haven't tried W296/H110 in this Redhawks 4.2" barrel. If it's like my Mountain Gun the muzzle flash should be dazzling. :D

I believe I'll make do with my lil Lee mold for a while and see how your development on the 45-340D progresses or if Mihec re-releases the 270gr SAA or if something else shiney catches my attention. :)

[RobS]

I haven't tried W296/H110 in this Redhawks 4.2" barrel. If it's like my Mountain Gun the muzzle flash should be dazzling. :D

I believe I'll make do with my lil Lee mold for a while and see how your development on the 45-340D progresses or if Mihec re-releases the 270gr SAA or if something else shiney catches my attention. :)

subonic's 45-340D will be accurate, my designed 45-345A is nearly the same boolit and it's a ringer in both my 45 Colt Bisley as well as my SRH 454 Casull. The 310 I put together is the exact same nose as the 345 but will less on the backend.

[subsonic]

subonic's 45-340D will be accurate, my designed 45-345A is nearly the same boolit and it's a ringer in both my 45 Colt Bisley as well as my SRH 454 Casull. The 310 I put together is the exact same nose as the 345 but will less on the backend.

I think I would have done it the other way - kept the back end the same and snubbed the nose.

But I can't say for sure that it's better.

[Rick R]

The catalog at the Accurate Mold website is like a bakery window to a fat man! I wanna try all of them but know no one ever could.

Rob,
Which of the 310gr designs is yours?

And has any one tried the 290gr designs that are listed as "Ruger Redhawk" designs?

[subsonic]

If you are wanting to keep weight down to make the gun softer shooting, you might be better off just going with the heavy boolit. I find the 335gr as pleasant to shoot, if not more pleasant than the 300gr and the 270gr was with full boogie loads.

[Rick R]

Subsonic,

So far the stoutest load I've tried has been the 240gr XTP with Hornady's book max of 2400. The little (?) Redhawk is a ***** cat compared to my 4 5/8" SBH or 629 Mountain Gun with similar loads. I'm not worried about recoil in normal reloads.

Guess what I'm looking for is one bullet/load thats accurate, effective (99% use on deer or targets) and economical to load. Big bear aren't in the equation and if I ever hunt elk or moose it'll be a once in a lifetime trip so my 9.3x62 would be called to bat. I can see that you're trying to educate us that heavy boolits are inherently more accurate in your astute opinion and several other forumites seem to agree.
I'm stuck in the old wisdom that you use heavy boolits for monster game not lil Bambi.
:drinks:

[subsonic]

I wouldn't say that heavier is more accurate under all circumstances, but I will say there is a definite trend toward heavier being more accurate, especially in .45 Rugers - or at least heavy is more forgiving than lighter boolits when it comes to finding accuracy.

[superior]

Try working up a load with Hs-6. In my blackhawk 7.5, 12 grains under the Lee 255-rf is extremely accurate. 11 grains under the Lee -300-rf shoots to the same point of impact in that gun.
Use appropriate charges for your gun. The 255 at about 35 yards put a quarter sized hole through a smallish fox and completely penetrated a small mesquite tree behind him (or her).
The only direction he moved was down.

[subsonic]

Subsonic,

So far the stoutest load I've tried has been the 240gr XTP with Hornady's book max of 2400. The little (?) Redhawk is a ***** cat compared to my 4 5/8" SBH or 629 Mountain Gun with similar loads. I'm not worried about recoil in normal reloads.

Guess what I'm looking for is one bullet/load thats accurate, effective (99% use on deer or targets) and economical to load. Big bear aren't in the equation and if I ever hunt elk or moose it'll be a once in a lifetime trip so my 9.3x62 would be called to bat. I can see that you're trying to educate us that heavy boolits are inherently more accurate in your astute opinion and several other forumites seem to agree.
I'm stuck in the old wisdom that you use heavy boolits for monster game not lil Bambi.
:drinks:

PM me your address. Next time I'm casting I will send a few 43-340D your way, lubed and ready to go.

[Rick R]

Thamks for the offer! I'll send a PM.

[RobS]

I think I would have done it the other way - kept the back end the same and snubbed the nose.

But I can't say for sure that it's better.

This would have resulted in a lighter boolit, I was after a 300-310 grainer. I think I know where you are going though in that you would have shortened the nose up and put more of the boolit in the case. As I managed it best I worked toward a balance and see it as more room for powder and less pressures for those upper velocity loads.

[RobS]

Rob,
Which of the 310gr designs is yours?



the 45-310B

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-310B-D.png

[RobS]

I wouldn't say that heavier is more accurate under all circumstances, but I will say there is a definite trend toward heavier being more accurate, especially in .45 Rugers - or at least heavy is more forgiving than lighter boolits when it comes to finding accuracy.

Often times a heaver boolit is also a longer one as well which helps keep the boolit true and from possible slump because the boolit is supported at both ends i.e. the base/body drive bands are still in the cylinder throat as the nose ogive/front drive band makes contact with the lands and starts into the bore. I also tend to find better accuracy in a particular boolit weight with the one that has more bearing surface and one where the rifling engraves the nose sooner, the reason why I prefer a tangent ogive vs a secant for revolvers.

[Rick R]

Rob,

Nice! Looking at the differences in boolit styles, what is the rationale in one vs multiple lube grooves?

[RobS]

I've tried two lube groove in the 300-310 grain class and didn't see any notable difference. The heavier 345 grain boolit needs more than one lube groove simply because a single groove would be a monsterous wide one. I've designed and have had many, many 45 cal molds cut from various mold makers and through it all I've come to where I am now. I have quite a few designs cataloged and where as the secant designs I used in the past were also very good accuracy wise I now prefer a tangent nose profile for a bit more bearing surface and easier alignment into the forcing cone of the revolvers. My lever actions on the other hand could care less if the nose profile was a secant or a tangent.

[pmer]

I made it out with the 45-300G and was averaging 1100 FPS using H110 out of a 4 5/8 Ruger BH. But speaking of primers, I got to compare CCI 350s to Winchester WLP/M and the WLP primers were grouping better. The 350s had flyers going high and a few going left.

It would be nice to try Fed 150s but I didn't have any.

[Rick R]

pmer,

How's the muzzle blast with H110 out of that short tube?

Please keep us up to date on your progress with that boolit.

[USSR]

Took a large doe last year with the Mihec HP version of the .45-270-SAA bullet ahead of 18.0gr of 2400 in my S&W 25-5. Love this bullet and load.

Don

http://home.online.no/~kjel-phu/bilder/IMG_4294.JPG

[Dale53]

I admit that I am a real Mihec fan. I further admit that the bullet above (Mihec version of the RCBS 45-270-SAA hollow point bullet is a WINNER!. I can hardly imagine a better mould or bullet than this for the .45 Colt.

I do like the bullet that Frank Siefer and I designed for Lee (the C430-310-RF) and the spin off 452-300-RF if you prefer a gas check bullet. They both shoot extremely well and with the large meplat have tremendous WHACK ("Whack" is a highly technical term[smilie=w:) when they hit big game...

Dale53

[pmer]

pmer,

How's the muzzle blast with H110 out of that short tube?

Please keep us up to date on your progress with that boolit.

There is some flame in low light and it flips upward pretty good during recoil. With the short sight radius, my useful range for hunting is in the 40 - 50 yard range. It'll put the squash to a deer.

The 45-300G is near to my heart because it helped me get that deer in my avatar. The boolit is really Tom's design, my was request was to have 300 grain GC RF that can feed in a lever action and have good 100 yard plus accuracy and he did the rest. I just was shooting it the Rossi sized to .454 and just recently sized some to .452 for the BH.

I had such a big case of buck fever when that buck came by. I had to freeze with my chin over my right shoulder because when I looked he was 10 yards away and looking up at me. Right next to my tree he did that drop lunge where an arrow might shoot over his back. And then at about 20 yards for the shot he veered left and the boolit nearly grazed him - instead it went in bettween the rib cage and shoulder bone and came out at the base of the neck over the left jugler vein. That's right no hole in the rib cage at all. He bled out in the rib cage with not much blood on the ground and I could easliy stick my thumb in the exit wound.

It was not good for him but it was the longest 20 secnds of my life. LOL