Getting a Colt New Service in 45 Colt!

[school of mines]

I will be getting a 1925 Colt New Service in 45 Colt in a couple of weeks. I will post pictures as soon as I receive it. We shoot an informal 20 yard Bullseye competition at the local range and I am looking for input on molds/boolits and loads. Any suggestions? I did do some searches on the site but didn't find what I was looking for.

Thanks!:mrgreen:

[DougGuy]

You will likely need to size to .454" or larger for that one, possibly even .456" to fit the cylinder throats, the bore should be .454" in those.

[Ithaca Gunner]

Mine, a 7.5" barrel made in 1904 likes 200gr. swc for the .45acp. sized at .452" or 225gr. LEE rn. I just do a little recreational shooting with mine, I have more modern guns for serious stuff. It will probably shoot high.

[smkummer]

I just bought one in 45 colt made in 1923 and with a 7 1/2 barrel of which I really wanted the long barrel. It likes Lyman's 454190 water dropped WW and sized to .454. Behind 9 grains Unique, it is right on with the sights. It is boringly easy to hit a 16" metal plate at 100 yards, so I moved the plate to 200 yards and now its a challenge. At 200 yards on a good day I can hit the same plate 35% of the time as I have marked a notch in the rear sight and raise the front. Your New Service should have the earlier small front sight that is great for 50/100 yard and beyond shooting. When the front sights got fatter, then it completely covers a target at 100 yards.

[bob208]

i have a 1909 army model. i use the lee 250 gr swc 8.5 br unquie. it shoots rear nice. one time long ago i passed on a 7.5 inch in .38-40. i should have bought that one. you do need a grip filler or at leadt i do.

[Eddy Stone]

I have one made in 1917 that was issued to the RCMP. With 8.0 grains of Unique and a 250 swc sized .453 it is incredibly accurate at 25 yards.

[Outpost75]

My M1909 .45 DA made in 1910 shoots best with Saeco #954, 230-grain Cowboy slug, as-cast and unsized at .455" diameter, from Roto Metals 1:30 tin/lead, lubed with Lee Liquid Alox and either 6.5 grains of Bullseye, 7 grs. Of W231 or 8 grs. of Unique. It will stay on a 12" steel gong at 100 yards.

[school of mines]

Thanks for all the input! I have plenty of Unique and an old Lyman 454190 that I haven't cast with yet that I hope drops .454". I will post some pictures soon hopefully!

[Char-Gar]

I have had quite a bit of experience with the New Service in 45 Colt having had four over the years. The barrels are a uniform .452. After the Model 1917 in 45 ACP, Colt kept the .452 barrel groove diameter for both the 45 ACP and 45 Colt revolvers. It was the SAAs that had bigger barrel groove diameters.

The cylinder throats will be .456 or .457, so keep the bullets as large as they come. I will second Outpost75 suggestion to tumble lube as cast and not sized.

Your bullet and load should be selected for the task at hand. You want just enough velocity to give decent accuracy at 25 yards and shoot to the sights (more or less). I think Bullseye would be the powder of choice for this task. Remember the newest of these sixguns are 73 years old and yours is pushing 90. Spare parts are made from unobtainium.

Here is my last and only New Service in 45 Colt made in 1921. It is a good old pistol and a good shooter, but I do respect it's age. I have been known to hot rod the 45 Colt round, but never again in a New Service.