Load question on .45 Colt

[dobe762]

Hi everyone

I have some cast bullets .454 x 275grains would these be ok for my Colt 45 revolver, I was thinking about using them over 7grains of Unique, but I'd appreciate the expertise on here before I'd make them. tia

[runfiverun]

that's a safe load.
your gonna see some soot down the side of the case.
but you could even bump the load another half grain or so and be alright.
you'll still see the soot [no big deal] it'll help in the carbide die.

[mozeppa]

is your throat chambers measure .454?

or is it .451

new models of 45 colt measure .451
and have for some time.

if you make up a bunch of ammo in .454 ....it may not fit all the way in your cylinder.

i'd size them down to .451 if indeed you have the smaller cylinder.

[45-70 Chevroner]

that's a safe load.
your gonna see some soot down the side of the case.
but you could even bump the load another half grain or so and be alright.
you'll still see the soot [no big deal] it'll help in the carbide die.
It could be a safe load but Lyman's 4th edition cast bullet handbook shows a RCBS 270gr boolit with a 7 gr load of unique as a max load.

[45-70 Chevroner]

dobe! What gun are you planning on shooting these in? Colt, Ruger, other, if it is a Colt mfg. I would think this over, how much is you gun worth and your hand and other body parts. Colts revolvers are not the strongest handguns.

[sghart3578]

I would make one dummy round with .454" bullets and make sure that they chamber in each hole. If they do you are good to go.

I shoot an original Ruger Vaquero and it likes .454" bullets. Very accurate and no leading.

I use a 255 gr bullet over 8.5 to 9.0 gr of Unique. Very sweet load.

That's also a very good point about the manufacturer of your revolver. Let us know.

[bangerjim]

If you have not slugged your barrel (HIGHLY recommended!).....make a couple blank test loads as said above to see if things actually will work.

My several 45 revolvers of different makes just happen to shoot 452 with no leading and good accuracy. That is my guns ....NOT YOURS!

I PC everything.

Also, if you do not own the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook - - - - drop what your doing right now and go BUY ONE!!!!! It is the bible for us cast loaders. And it is used to double check any and all load advise off forums and the net. Do not load anything off the net you have not checked!!!!!!

Do NOT just assume because you have a "45 revolver", it will take all loads and pressures!!!!!!!!!!

Bangerjim

[runfiverun]

the old speer manual I have here uses a colt revolver for their load data.
they also discuss the newer guns having 451 barrels.
their data for 454 projectiles goes a bunch above 7.5 grs.
they also show the saami max pressure as over 15-k instead of the now 14-k most often discussed.

[bangerjim]

Having a bunch of manuls IS worth the investment!!!!! I have at lease 6 different ones I use as references.

It really botheres me to see people on here always asking for load data and they do not even own a single manual. That reference material is part of our hobby!

[runfiverun]

I like load manuals.
I have at least 20 within arms reach right now, and at least that many in the reloading room.
finding a load for a round ball/bird shot/plastic bullets in the 44 mag, 45 colt etc. is a lot easier to do if you open the right book.

[dobe762]

Thank you for the helpful advice, I do have Lyman's 49th plus an older 3rd edition on cast bullets but they didn't answer my concerns on this being a heavier bullet (275gr) rather than the 255grain listed, plus being .454 rather than .452 I'll make up a dummy and see how it fits the Colt copy and maybe drop the load to 6grains Unique if all is looking good. Thanks meantime.

Should say I haven't slugged the gun , yet.

[bedbugbilly]

Don't know if this will be any help or not. You say "Colt copy" - which one?

I have a Ubeti 7 1/2" SAA Cattleman. On mine, the chamber are very generous in size. One of the boolits I use is from the Lyman/Ideal 454-190 - the traditional 255 gr RNFP. I am able to load mine (and emphasis on "mine") with the 454-190 just as it drops from the mold and they shoot just fine. I have not slugged the bore - according to Uberti it is supposed to be .452. The throats on my cylinder accept the 454 just fine. I have loaded this round over 6.00 gr or Red Dot and 7.00 gr of Unique and both shoot well. The revolver is fairly new to me so I have not yet had time to play with boolit diameters. I have a bunch of 200 gr and 255 gr RNFP that I had a chance to pick up from a fellow so am going to load them next to try. If the .452 shoot well and no leading problems, etc., then I will probably just start sizing everything .452. I'm used to shooting BP for the last 50 years so sooty casings don't bother me a bit.

The heavier boolit you refer to I have no experience with so can't address that one. If you measure a slug and it's .454 - remove your cylinder and see how they fit in the throats. Again, it's going to depend on the revolver as far as what size boolit is going to work best. Regardless though, if it is a "true Colt" or a "Colt clone" - I'd still load on the cautious side and not push them due to their design and strength - they aren't a "Ruger load only" revolver.

Good luck and enjoy!

[superc]

My worry was that you had a generation 1 pistol, i.e., BP only. But if you have a modern replica designed for smokeless powder you should be okay. I just found unique a lot smokier than I wanted. Also put some wrapping paper down on the bench or ground infront of the muzzle and check it for unburnt powder. I ran into that in .45 with some loads and short barrels and backed off the wasted amount..

[runfiverun]

unique is well,,, unique.
in that even in it's best situation it doesn't burn all of the available powder.

[dobe762]

The Unique I have was mainly for .38sp and I found that all the powder wasn't burned in those, even with light loads, I'd like to use it up and then perhaps try something else.

I'm beginning to think these CB's might not have been such a deal, I think they were really for .455 Webley revolvers, going to make up a dummy round tonight if I get a chance. Thanks again all.

[shooter93]

I don't know which 270 grain bullet you're using but the RCBS Scovil design was designed to allow more weight with the extra weight outside the case.....not lowering capacity... to keep pressures inside the standard Colt pressures.

[45-70 Chevroner]

I don't know which 270 grain bullet you're using but the RCBS Scovil design was designed to allow more weight with the extra weight outside the case.....not lowering capacity... to keep pressures inside the standard Colt pressures.

He says that it's a 275 boolit but no maker.

[45-70 Chevroner]

I have two Ruger Vagueros first models and would not worry to much about shooting the 275 gr boolit with any senceable load. I am not a heavy bullet shooter though. I just really don't like them, and the hunting and shooting I do has never required a heaver slug. Good luck in your quest.

[dobe762]

Thanks everyone for your valuable input. I made up a dummy round and it would chamber perfectly fine but was waay too long. I rang my dealer and he said he still didn't have a bullet to suit, but would take those 275er's back into stock, I think that was the best outcome, and I'll watch out for the proper CB's.

I do see some advertised ... .45 / .454?? and 250grains RNFP these look more like the McCoy, its still this .454 that's more than any of my loading manuals quote, perhaps its not going to be an issue? I know I need to slug this gun and a few others.

[runfiverun]

a number of boolits will go over the saami length.
it's the odd gun that won't take a 1.620-30 oal.
they are out there though.
if a swc type boolits go too long you just seat to the front drive band and put a slight roll on it's shoulder.
the 454424 has data for over the front band and in the lube groove because of this.
my model 92's will take a longer oal but I need to seat the 424 on the front drive band for feeding.

[6bg6ga]

The loads in the old manuals don't match some of the loads listed in the newer manuals. Some of the older manuals listed HOTTER loads than the latest manuals.

[DougGuy]

Dobe, this is a Colt clone? Before you take the .454s back take the cylinder out and see if one will go into the cylinder throats from the front. This is what should determine your chosen diameter. If the .454" boolit won't go, try a .452" and see if those will fit.

.45 Colt at standard SAAMI pressures is pretty limiting when it comes to launching a heavy for caliber boolit, it's very easy to get beyond 14,000psi. Lighter boolits take typical loads like 8.5 to 9.0gr of Unique pretty good, and I would consider 9.0gr a max load in a clone for a 255gr Keith type LSWC such as the 454424, or a RNFP like the Lyman 454190. 8.0gr or 8.5gr are a typical load and very safe. If you can get either of the two boolits I mentioned I think you would do well with them but find out what will and will not go into your throats before you make an order.

I have a Uberti Old West model, they faithfully copied every minute detail off an 1875 "pinched frame" Colt SAA, except the groove diameter of the barrel. I almost wished they had made it .454" like the originals, but it is .451" and the cylinder throats are .4565" so I size to .456" and they will slide into the front of the cylinder throats with light finger pressure. This is the kind of fitment you want to achieve so figure out your throat diameters. Mine shoots VERY WELL with the 454190 cast in 50/50+2% and sized to .456" and lubed with SPG which is black powder lube, loaded over 9.0gr Herco. NO issues whatsoever sizing down from .456" to .451" upon firing with this soft alloy.

[dobe762]

Thank you for the detailed replies.

here are my choices so far ...

http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_165_166&products_id=1295

http://www.henrykrank.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_165_166&products_id=1294

I have .452 x 200gr SWC for my Colt 1911 gold cup NM

Thanks.

[DougGuy]

The 250gr RNFP would work good. If the .454" won't go into your cylinder throats and a .452" will, you could simply run them through an inexpensive Lee push through sizing die if you can get one of those where you are.

[dobe762]

Thank you.