45 Colt in Ruger Super Redhawk

[Rick45Colt]

I have been lurking for a couple of years and tried my had at casting a couple of years ago but because of all the shortages I decided it was time to go jump in with both feet.

I bought a new mold. I chose the Lyman 452490 and plan on using it for 45 Colt. I ran some wheel weight version and sized and gas checked them. I am getting a range of 267.4 to 269.9 when checking them on my scale. So in order to be safe I have been trying to find loads for 270 grain Lead Bullets in the 45 Colt and my info is all over the place. I found a reference where someone said that they load a 265 - 270 grain lswc and either 9.0 grains of Unique or 18.5 grains of 2400. Now if I back that off 10% I could use a starting load of 8.1 grains of Unique or 16.7 grains of 2400. My question is does that sound reasonable safe? I also would like to shoot this load in my Henry 45 Colt.

Thanks

Rick

[Rick R]

Someone here on Cast Boolits pointed me at:

http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL%20246partial.pdf

I believe your Super Redhawk will handle about anything in the article with no problem. I've used similar loads to the ones you quoted in my Redhawk without incident and good accuracy using the 270SAA boolit (280gr).

[Ramjet-SS]

The Henry will no issue I run 315 grain out of mine at 1600+ FPS with good dose of H110

[44MAG#1]

Here is what is reasonable since the SRH isn't made in 45 Colt it must be a 454.
The 454 is rated at 50,000 + psi. and you are talking about a load that is at most 18-19,000 psi.
Even Ruger BH levels are higher than the loads you listed.

[Rick45Colt]

Thanks for the answers.

In casting the Lyman 452490 GC my bullets came out after sizing at least 15 grains heavier than Lyman says in their description which is 255 grains. Does this mean that I should blend in Tin or something to bring the weight down closer to what Lyman publishes?

[gofastman]

I have been lurking for a couple of years and tried my had at casting a couple of years ago but because of all the shortages I decided it was time to go jump in with both feet.

I bought a new mold. I chose the Lyman 452490 and plan on using it for 45 Colt. I ran some wheel weight version and sized and gas checked them. I am getting a range of 267.4 to 269.9 when checking them on my scale. So in order to be safe I have been trying to find loads for 270 grain Lead Bullets in the 45 Colt and my info is all over the place. I found a reference where someone said that they load a 265 - 270 grain lswc and either 9.0 grains of Unique or 18.5 grains of 2400. Now if I back that off 10% I could use a starting load of 8.1 grains of Unique or 16.7 grains of 2400. My question is does that sound reasonable safe? I also would like to shoot this load in my Henry 45 Colt.

Thanks

Rick
What is you goal? max power, accuracy, etc?
It is very, very, very hard to blow up a SRH (if you have at least half a brain)
I have read they are proof tested to 120Ksi, and will probably "handle" a bit more than that :shock:
so with the levels you are at safety is not a concern, as long as you take reasonable actions to not do anything stupid.

[littlejack]

Rick45Colt:
Welcome to the CastBoolits.
Jack

[Mohillbilly]

Yes .45 Colt in a SRH is a real brick shxthouse . I shoot 8gr unique in my BLKHWK as a standard start load , and a SRH IS MORE OF A GUN YET . I gotta 44 SRH and its a beast , it loves those 300 gr xtps loaded long with lots of 296 under it . Ruger did make a 45 Colt chambering and also a 454 Casull . The Casull loks the same except it has a sorta french gray finish and made out of special tempered steel . The Colt model is standard finish and about the same as my 44 . The Colt gun will take Ruger loads in 45 Colt but do NOT load to 454 Casull presures . You will find loads for 5 shot Colt in custom hand built guns , which will be too hot for the SRH . Your gun is a six shot , stick to standard , and Ruger/ Tompson contender loads do not excede those . Start at the starting loads and work up to best accuracy . IF you need more than that ( and I doubt you will ) get a bigger gun ...

[DougGuy]

Those variations in boolit weight aren't anything to worry over.

Also, If you are punching paper or ringing steel then shoot whatever alloy is the most accurate in your gun. If you are hunting, you would likely want an alloy that will perform the best on the game you are after.

Softer would give expansion and be good on deer, elk, bear, harder with Keith type flat nose or a wide meplat would penetrate more and do lethal damage on pigs.

As far as leading, you can match the alloy to your cylinder pressure and have a barrel that for the most part never needs cleaning. I don't cast but have found that acww is near perfect for my Rugers and for the game I will take with it, and could even go softer than that with a gas check. This is with Ruger Only loads near 30,000psi.

16.7gr of 2400 under a 270 sounds almost light. I can use 18gr 2400 under a 320gr boolit and have great accuracy, no leading with no pressure signs and easy extraction. In fact it is a real sweet spot, not even max.

[Rick45Colt]

My SRH is 454 Casull/45 Colt version but since I also own and love my Henry 45 Colt I want 45 colt loads that are as high performance but accurate as possible with both guns. I have shot some 454 Casull factory loads out of my SRH but found them to be beastly! I used to own a S&W 629 but I found it to be beastly and sold it.

I found a load on Handloads.com for a 45 Colt +P load using 24.0 grains of W296/H110 and a Cast Performance bullet of 265 grains. If I reduce that by 10% and start at 22.6 grains of W296 and work my way up.

[Mal Paso]

16.5g of 2400 in that size case may not burn consistently. 19g behind a 260g boolit is my regular 44 Mag load in a S&W 629 which is mush less robust than any Ruger let alone a SRH. I would start with 18.5 and use a faster powder for lighter loads.

The Redhawk and Colt (44 Mag) like 22g behind a 260g boolit. Brass ejects easy as cowboy loads.

[nicholst55]

Here is what is reasonable since the SRH isn't made in 45 Colt it must be a 454.

The Redhawk (not the Super) is indeed made in .45 Colt; it is strong as a bank vault, and will handle loads that would make Elmer Keith smile. See the model #: KRH-45-4

[Tatume]

I found a load on Handloads.com for a 45 Colt +P load using 24.0 grains of W296/H110 and a Cast Performance bullet of 265 grains. If I reduce that by 10% and start at 22.6 grains of W296 and work my way up.

My understanding is that Handloads.com has a collection of loading data posted by individuals. I would not trust that source.

My Speer Manual #13 has loads for 260 and 300 gr jacketed bullets. Both max loads are under 24.0 gr H110/W296.

I suggest you acquire appropriate loading manuals.

Take care, Tom

[44MAG#1]

Title of the post: "45 Colt in Ruger Super Redhawk"

I have a Redhawk 4 incher in 45 Colt.. Now I did not know that the SUPER REDHAWK is made in 45 Colt. I am sorry for the mistake.

[44MAG#1]

I just went to the Ruger site at 07:45 and searched the Super Redhawk revolvers and did not find them chambered in 45 Colt. Must be that they haven't changed their website info yet to reflect the new chambering.

[Tatume]

To my knowledge Ruger never chambered a Super Redhawk for only 45 Colt. They do specify that the 45 caliber version is intended for 454 Casull and 45 Colt ammunition, and the cylinder is so marked. This was probably done because Freedom Arms specifically warns against firing 45 Colt ammunition in Model 83 revolvers chambered for 454 Casull. Ruger wanted to be clear that their revolver is meant to handle either cartridge.

[Rick R]

In post #10 the OP says his SRH is a .454 Casull, he just doesn't like firing the full tilt ammo AND he has a .45 Colt rifle that he'd like to have a common load for. After firing a co-worker's SRH I can see where some would question the need for Casull grade ammo if you're not running around where critters regularly contest your spot on the food chain. ;)

We also fired some of my hotter .45 Colt loads in his SRH and the recoil was somewhat less but still there. I don't worry about my .45 270SAA @1,200fps protecting me or putting meat in the freezer here East of the Mississippi. :D

[Tatume]

In post #10 the OP says his SRH is a .454 Casull, he just doesn't like firing the full tilt ammo :D ...

It appears this is in response to my post #16, which is in turn in response to posts #8 & 15, in which one person says Ruger made a 45 Colt ONLY version of the Super Redhawk, and another person isn't sanguine of that fact. I concur with the latter that the Super Redhawk appears to have never be sold so chambered, but that versions such as my own are marked "454 Casull / 45 Colt."

Take care, Tom

[Rick45Colt]

I do have appropriate manuals I was just looking for loads in the +P +P+ range to test and see how they performed. My manuals which include Lyman, Hornady, Speer #10 and Sierra do not have loads in those ranges. Even the loads listed for the Rugers, etc seem mild. Maybe my tolerance for hotter loads has changed and it is time to get a rifle that shoots the 454 Casull.

[wildcatter]

If you want to take advantage of all the benafits of the 45 Colt with big lead BOOLITS, in the Ruger and FA guns designed for the real Horse Power this old case is capable of, here is another good read from a very reliable source,,,,,the man himself! Nice gun ENJOY!!:cast_boolits:

[DanWalker]

If you're loading 2400 and 255 grain boolits in 45 colt, let me save you some time and trouble. Cast your boolits at around 10-12 bhn. Load them over 18-18.5 grains of 2400 and go shooting. It's safe in Colt SAA's(from my own personal experience shooting it in them), so it won't blow up your henry. I took this load in a win 94 trapper to Africa last year, and everything I shot with it died VERY promptly. My Gemsbok only managed a 60 yard stumbling run, before taking a nosedive in the dirt. The impala in my avatar was killed with this load as well.