Alloy to use for .45 colt?

[josper]

I just bought a Ruger new vaquero in .45Colt Most loads in the lyman manual call for lyman #2. My question is ,do I need to use an alloy this hard for a bullet that will be moving at around 850fps. I was thinking I could use 50/50 ww&pb What are you .45 Colt shooters using? Thanks.

[Dan Cash]

I use 20:1 over 8 grains of Unique for my .45 Colt loads. Ammo is used in a Rossi carbine, S&W M25, Uperti Schofield, Ciimarron/Uberti 1873 SAA and a U.S. Fire Arms SAA. They do not lead or give accuracy problems. I would think your alloy would work fine.

[btroj]

For 800 fps I would go 25/75 ww/Pb. Lyman 2 is using an awful lot of stuff that isn't required.

[Nose Dive]

I agree. 50/50 mix with Layman could be considered rich. But, you will be fine with that mix. Can warm the loads up abit if desired. Anyway.... That is what I blend with my 'trash' lead i smelt.

Nose Dive

Cheap, Fast, Good. Kindly pick two.

[avogunner]

I've been shooting/casting .45 Colt for almost 30 years and I've used almost exclusively straight range lead (COWW when my range stock is out) that whole time. As long as they're lubed/sized correctly, my 45 guns aren't too picky and don't fuss.
Semper Fi.

[josper]

Thank you all for the tips. You confirmed what I was thinking. I just wanted to make sure about things before I dove into it.

[xrae21]

I have a Rossi carbine in my near future and am looking at potential loads. I’ve been using Accurate #2 in my pistol loads and am a real fan of it.

[runfiverun]

i'll put the alloy question into perspective for ya.
winchester and remington both used 40-1 alloy in their 45 colt loads for over 100 years.
38 specials too and in the 44 special and...

[Boatshop]

I just bought a Ruger new vaquero in .45Colt Most loads in the lyman manual call for lyman #2. My question is ,do I need to use an alloy this hard for a bullet that will be moving at around 850fps. I was thinking I could use 50/50 ww&pb What are you .45 Colt shooters using? Thanks. My first post. I use 30:1 lead for my Ruger Blackhawk over 5.8 gr. of TightGroup. No leading. Nice easy shooting load.

[arkypete]

I've a got a bunch of time feeding 45 Colts. I use what ever lead I have, mostly WW with a bit of tin. I use LBT lube for everything, size the bullets .454., 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique, Winchester primers.
My Rossi is fed a 300 grain Saeco, gas checked, ahead of 20 grains of H110, the same Winchester primers and sized .454.
All of my 45 Colt barrels have lapped.

Jim

[saint_iverson]

Welcome boatshop!

[fredj338]

You don't need #2 for 850fps. I use the same alloy I use for my 45acp; range scrape or 50/50 lead & clip ww. If I run hotter loads, into the 1000fps range, then straight ww works fine.

[John Boy]

My BP 45 Colt reloads run close to 875 fps. I cast the 454190's strictly with Bhn 13.5 or 15.4 wheel weights. Average year is about 2400 of these reloads for CAS - no lube starvation - no leading in either the revolvers or the rifles

If it makes one feel good, just mix 1/2% tin to the WW's for your alloy

[bslim]

I've been using 49% WW's with 49% pure lead with 2% tin in my SAA Colts over the past 14 yrs. I'm running a 200 grn. RNFP cast bullet with 5 grns. of Red Dot. This is a light recoil CAS load running around 730 Ft/Sec. I'm sizing my bullets at .453". The only leading issues I ever see are in the forcing cone and that's something I can live with. No leading issues with my rifle at all.

[William Yanda]

Just checking through the archives. Was planning on 50/50 COWW/soft lead + 2% tin for 45 Colt,CAS levels and 44 Magnum for plinking and target. Glad to confirm it has been used-correction-is being used successfully by others with similar needs.

another old thread resurected.

[Outpost75]

......winchester and remington both used 40-1 alloy in their 45 colt loads for over 100 years....

And many of we old boffins do too. I get mine from Roto Metals.

[Defcon-One]

I agree with your first suggestion, 50/50 COWW & Pure Lead. Add a bit of Tin if you need it for better fill-out.

My Vaqueros are .44 mag, but I load them down to .45 LC power for cowboy shooting and they shoot very well with that alloy mix. I am a lazy caster and like close to 100% good bullets, so I do add some Tin, but not more than 1-2% total in the mix, some of which comes from the COWW alloy.

[concho]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/12/18/end-line-for-lead-bullet-regulations-bans-force-switch-to-green-ammo/ What are you fellows going to use now ?

[btroj]

And many of we old boffins do too. I get mine from Roto Metals.

Silly boys, we all know handguns all require hardball at a minimum.......

Those soft bullets just won't work with heavy loads like some of the real cowboys used. Just don't tell Elmer.

['74 sharps]

And many of we old boffins do too. I get mine from Roto Metals.

Me too. I'm almost pure lead for my Colt. Get mine from a local source at about .80 per pound.

[WILCO]

My first post.

Congrats!!! Welcome aboard.

[roberts1]

i buy range scrap from the swappin and sellin area here for about $1 a pound for my vaquero. Cheap and works great.