What is your plinking and hunting loads in your 45 Colt rifles?

[huntersdog]

For the ones who reload, what is your load for plinking/small game and also your deer/hog hunting load?

Thanks

[Outpost75]

I use 7.2 grains of Bullseye with Accurate 45-262H flatnose in my Ruger .45 Colt revolver and also in Marlin rifle. Accurate, economical and powerful enough. Nose length of this bullet is dimensioned for the longer Ruger cylinder and NOT for Colt SAAs or clones.

192818

[Butler Ford]

35 grains of Goex FFF and a RCBS 270 grain SWC. :guntootsmiley:

BF

[sghart3578]

Funny you should ask this question. I have just started working up loads for a Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt.

My first range trip proved a few things.

So far the loads that I shoot in my Vaquero and my Blackhawk also do best in the rifle. A Lee 452-255-RF, as cast, lubed with BLL over either 8.5 gr of Unique or 7.5 gr of Bullseye.

I am getting good luck with True Blue and Accurate #5 also.

I tried 200 gr bullets but I am getting some spray in the face and scorched brass. I suspect the chamber is cut to generous specs and the lighter bullets don't develop enough pressure to seal well.

I have not chrono'ed anything yet but judging from how these two loads hit the steel swingers at 50 and 100 yards I wouldn't be afraid to use them on deer or hogs.


Steve in N CA

[The Ozzman]

I kinda like Trail Boss now as a light or medium load, using a 250gr RNFP hardcast. Even a below max load packs a respectable punch.

I also like moderate charges or unique using the same projectile as a more powerful and versatile load. I dont have much chance to hunt around here but I like 2400 for hunting loads, around 19gr from memory, I have used AR2205 with about the same amount of powder.

The hardcast 250gr RNFP goes well, I much prefer a true Keith design but have not yet got a mold for one. Blackpowder goes nicely in my opinion too, even for hunting.

Another hunting projectile option is the Hornady XTP Magnum Hollow Point in 350gr weight. I quite like them and hear they stop hogs well.

But again, I am pretty old school at heart and would use a Keith with 2400 for hunting and defense. I would think too, in terms of self defense, that the Unique loads would work well.

[Mk42gunner]

Before I started casting, I bought several boxes of 255 gr RNFP to use in my Marlin 1894 Cowboy and Ruger Bisley Vaquero. I loaded them with a forgotten charge of Clays to play the cowboy action game, then never did. I am set for quite a while for plinking loads, in the Marlin they are pretty much "put the bead where you want a hole" at least up close. I haven't really tried them on paper with the new Rossi 92.

Back when I took the Marlin deer hunting, I used a Lyman 452424 in front of a suitably large charge of 2400. Never got to see what it would do to Bambi's kin, but I have no doubt it would work fine.

Robert

[Larry Gibson]

In both the Rossi Rifle M92 I had and the Uberti M1873 45 Colt I still have my standard plinking load is any 195 - 205 gr SWC or RNFP over 7.5 gr Bullseye. Runs 1150 to 1200 fps out of the rifles and 950 fps out of my SAAs. For hunting I use a 452490 (GC) cast soft (20-1) alloy, HP'd and loaded over 7.5 gr Unique.

One of these days I'm going to try the Lyman 185 gr Devastator over 7 - 7.5 gr Bullseye.

Larry Gibson

[fecmech]

Larry--Years ago a fellow gave me some 20/1 devastators that I loaded over a stiff charge of Unique in a 1911. Wanting to test expansion for use on woodchucks I shot a Half gallon milk carton full of water with a piece of cardboard behind it to see the expansion by the hole size. The bullet went through the carton, left a 1" hole in the cardboard and was laying on the ground about 3' behind the cardboard. I only had a few bullets and never did hit a chuck with any but they would have been perfect for that.

[Gunlaker]

I only plink with my 1894 Marlin in .45 Colt. It shoots way better with a .454" bullet than a .452". I'm currently using a 454" 250gr RCBS bullet with a light charge of Unique. That works quite well at 50-75 yards. At 100 yards the same bullet works quite well with 35gr of Goex FFg.

Chris.

[wrench man]

Marlins do indeed have FAT chambers!, I load a 250grn RNFP over 7.0grns of Trail Boss to get mine to seal up.

[Harter66]

I shoot a pair of Rosschester 92's .
8.0-8.5 Unique under 45-200 SWC , 452-255 RNFP , 454424 KSWC or NOE copy are good to go . The 454424 with 9.5 gr Unique is hard on hogs up to at least 165# on the hoof from powder burn to 50 yd .

Based on my experience going over 1100 fps with the SWCs ends with missing the 100yd berm but shooting golf under 75 yd .....At least with the 1-32 " twist . A 457-340F sized accordingly can be pushed 1000 fps but it's kinda out in the weeds data wise . If you choose to go super sonic 1250 fps isn't enough to make groups at 100 with the SWCs the RNFP does a little better .

[.45Cole]

My pistols do well with 454190's over hp38, my 1885 likes 452460's over AA#5, and the lever is 230RN's over unique. My hunting load is LBT's (260-280) over H110. Pistols don't like 452460's, the 1885 will shoot anything pretty well and the marlin is pretty easy to please. The marlin has an oversized chamber, needless to say. I have other 250ish SWCs but haven't found guns/loads that work really well together.

[The Ozzman]

Yes like Gunlaker I run .454 in my .45 Colt rifle, but generally run .452 in my Uberti Cattleman.

I did run .454 in my Cattleman once by accident and it recoiled a whole lot more with the same bullet weight and charge, if I recall there was a little more leading than usual. Having said that I don't beleive I have slugged the cattlemans bore, only the rifle.

[Ken in Iowa]

We have a couple of Rossi rifles. .454 boolits are fine and help the chamber seal.

I have two different RCBS moulds, 45-225-CAV and 45-230-CM. The 225 over about 5.5 of Red Dot would be what I consider a plinking and Cowboy Action load. Reasonable close range accuracy, light recoil and clean burning. They cycle through the action beautifully.

the 230 over 5.5 of 700x is more accurate and my go to load for 50 yards. Cases are notably dirtier but cleanup in the tumbler just fine. This boolit cycles better than a SWC and has a big meplat which would be a consideration for hunting. My mould drops at 240 grains with 1-2-97 alloy which is about 50/50 WW/soft

I can't speak for hunting or heavier loads.

[hp246]

230 grn Lee .452 TC bullet ahead of 5.5 gr. of Trail Boss. Sorry, don't hunt with mine, just shoot a lot of steel with it.

[jimb16]

8.5 unique behind a 230 gr flat nose.

[Ickisrulz]

RCBS 45-230-CB and 8 grains of Unique. Shot from my Henry BBS Carbine, these have a velocity just under the speed of sound (about 1075 fps) so I avoid the sonic crack. I try not to annoy too many of my neighbors.

[Catshooter]

In my 94 Trapper I run either 9 grains Universal Clays or for more umpff 20 grains of #2400. About 1,100 & 1,400 fps each. Boolit is almost any of them really. The 452424 is lovely.


Cat

[T-Bird]

For plinking, Lee 45-200gr rnfp over 7 gr titegroup. For hunting, RCBS 270SAA over 11gr AA#5, or LY 452490gc over the same. All are accurate and work well. My Rossi is a mid '90's 24in bbl half oct.

[shootinfox2]

200 gr rnfp over 5.5 gr promo.

[Good Cheer]

My brother swears by 777 behind the Lee RFN in his '73.

Mine is a single shot break over.
I like a full case of FFFg behind a bore rider hollow base or smokeless behind this bore rider from Accurate that is designed to maximize the remaining powder space.
http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-380C-D.png

[w5pv]

Just remember the parameters that the 45C was designed so I have been told "It was to be powerful enough to shoot through the horse and kill the Indian hiding on the other side" if this is true the standard 255 grain round nose flat point bullet was more than enough.My own experience with the 45C it has dropped everything in its tracks that I have shot with it up to deer size animals.Remember that bullet placement is most important and I use A Rossi 92 with a 24 inch barrel just a wonderful gun for my hunting uses.

[Griff]

My favorite load in any of my 45Colt rifles is 6.0 grains of RedDot behind a 225 TC... (RCBS 45-225-CAV). I also like a 200grain RFN in front of the same charge. That's in a Uberti 1860, an 1873 Sporting Rifle, an 1873 Short Rifle, an 1885, a Rossi 1892 Short Rifle and a custom Marlin 1984 Cowboy w/17" octagon barrel.

I just dropped it down from my previous 6.5 grains... May drop it further as the Lyman 4th Ed Cast bullet Handbook lists 5.6 grains as their accuracy load for both 200 & 230 grain cast. I've loaded Trail Boss, Unique, 700X, TiteGroup and LOTS of Goex behind this bullet... I've shot thousands of rounds of this bullet in front of BP, and it seems to do the best of any powder.

[1Papalote]

Marlin 24" with Lee 255, homemade loob and unique. Killed a bunch of axis and wtd with it. One turkey at 85 yards. Clays at 110 yards are easy. It appears more powerful in use than the recipe suggests.

1Papalote

[GooseGestapo]

I use the Lee 255RFN lubed with SPG over 8.2gr of Universal. This is the minimum load that will obturate the cases to prevent blow-by. Very accurate through my 24" 1894 Winchester Trails End Legacy. It's killed deer, pigs and a few armadillos. No bullets recovered yet. Chrono's just over 1,100fps. My best friend uses it in his Taurus Thunderbolt also. Bullet hitting armadillo is louder than muzzle blast!

My next batch, I intend to use LongShot as I'm out of Universal. I've been Using LongShot from my S&W 625 MG and RCBS 270. I doubt the Winny will feed the 270.

[psweigle]

My shooting buddy has me cast him 200gr lee flat nose sized to 453, powder coated, and loaded behind 9 grains of winchester 572. He shoots those in a henry and ruger blackhawk.

[superior]

In the 7.5 BH and Rossi M92, I plink and small game hunt with 5.7 gr. WST under the Lee 452-255-rf. For bigger stuff, its 21gr. H110 behind the 300 lee w/ gc.

[DanWalker]

20 grains of 2400 under a 260 gr SWC put down a warthog, an impala, and a Gemsbok for me in Africa in 2012. Gemsbok was the longest tracking job. It went 65 yards. I have shot numerous hogs and deer and antelope with this load too. Works great in my Blackhawk and my win 94 trapper. For plinking and such, I like 6.5 grains of Red dot under just about any 45 caliber bullet, including the LEE 300 grainer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdVeIuYrTMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6wOMTRXh6A

[Naphtali]

Timely query.

My gunsmith is completing conversion of my stainless steel Rossi 92 454 Casull to 45 Colt (24-inch octagon barrel, stock built from blank, et al.) that I will have Freedom Arms Model 97 45 Colt and Rossi using the same ammunition. And with the FA 97, the universal handload (so far only used in the revolver) Winchester brass, Saeco 454 300-grain SWC-GC, 21.92 grains H110, CCI Magnum Large Pistol primers.

My purpose for this absurd investment is to create ammunition that will be safe and usable in my revolver while being a reasonable load for elk in my thickly forested hunting area from the rifle. I chose the 454 Rossi because I was certain the revolver would be satisfactory for thousands of shots, but not so confident that a 45 Colt Rossi or any other traditional lever rifle would hold up. The 454 kind've removes that worry. So I wind up with a 45 Colt load that masquerades as a heavy 44 Magnum load. I've got the fixin's for 11,000 shots. I figure I'm good for a while.
***
FYI: Anyone who tries this load must remember that overall cartridge length is 1.600 ± .004 inches. Cartridges will fit Colt SAA revolvers and clones. This handload will destroy such revolvers and will probably badly injure the shooter.

[warboar_21]

This comes at a time when I'm seriously considering picking up a new Marlin CB in 45 Colt. Currently I have a Rossi R92 and the chamber on it is a bit generous and the cases swell when I load the hotter loads so I only shoot the standard 8.5grs of Unique under a 255gr SWC. My prefered load for my Blackhawks and Bisley is 20.5grs of H110, under a 315gr Lee, and a mag primer.

[WI Shooter]

250 grain SNS Casting RNFP, .452 diameter. With 8 grains of Unigue. Give me about 1056 f/s our of my Henry rifle. 16 to 17 Bn. 9/6/2 alloy. No leading problem and a joy to shoot. Offhand and off the bench shooting.

[avogunner]

I shoot an Uberti 1860 Henry. 8.0 Unique under the Lee 452-255-RF is my most go to load. With the ladder site down, I have dead on elevation at 75yds and using the ladder can hit steel pigs at 200yds all day.

[smkummer]

I am reading this with interest. I just picked up my new to me uberti/Colt/burgess 20". I have only shot cowboy loads on my first outing to check the sights and feed of the Lee 200 FP and 4.8 grains 700x. Wonderful plinking load with minimal recoil, perfect for fast cowboy shooting. I have checked functioning of Lyman's 454190 and 454424 and even the kieth bullet doesn't hang up and feeds smooth. I will not going higher than Colt SAA pressure loads as I have many Colt SAAs, but a 250-260 grain bullet out of the rifle at 1150-1200 FPS will plink steel at 200 yards and drop any animal that roams and lives in So.Indiana-KY area.

[pietro]

.

FWIW, the latest issue of HANDLOADER Magazine has a timely article on loading for the Uberti Model 1873 in .45 Colt.

https://www.riflemagazine.com/home/index.cfm?CFID=59148738&CFTOKEN=86517927




.

[DougGuy]

9.0gr Herco under the 454190 is a great standard 45 Colt load fit for a 1st Gen Colt or Italian clones.

I also use 45 Schofield brass and some of the 250gr LBT WFN boolits for plinking.

Hunting loads are the Lee C452-300-RF cast in 50/50+2% alloy over 22.0gr H110

And the 250gr LBT OWC over 21gr H110 in 45 Schofield brass for the medium framed Rugers, this load is still under 23,000psi and runs out of a 5 1/2" barrel at 1200fps. WAY less recoil than the 300gr RF boolit, this is my current thin skinned game load.

[375supermag]

.

FWIW, the latest issue of HANDLOADER Magazine has a timely article on loading for the Uberti Model 1873 in .45 Colt.

https://www.riflemagazine.com/home/index.cfm?CFID=59148738&CFTOKEN=86517927




.
I just picked up that issue yesterday and am looking forward to reading that article.
I recently purchased a Cimarron 1873 in .45Colt with an octagon barrel and need to find a starting point for handloading for it, if my standard .45Colt handload (8.0gr of Unique over a 255gr LSWC) doesn't work in it.

[w30wcf]

Either Lee 225rNFP or 255 RNFP over 6 grs of Titegroup. Either shoot 1 1 /2" groups at 50.:-)

w30wcf

[leveraction 45 colt]

well let me tell you what I do as I own two rossi 92's 45 colt both 16in barrels one has large loop the other is regular loop and I also own two heritage big bore revolvers in 45 colt with 4 3/4in barrels and I just love these guns! ;) now here's what I do for my two revolvers and both rifles, I cast out of a old lyman single cavity part# 454 190 and these drop around .460 so lube these in lee alox this is the first step then I use a lee sizer in .457 yes guys .457 and I use wheelweights forgot to mention this but on to the method I use and works! so I size these at like I said .457dia and then I relube these again with the lee alox and I put these base down on wax paper to dry, then after they dry, I take baby powder and dust these so they won't attract dirt so bad to the lube. then I flare the case mouth so bullets don't get shaved when being pressed into the case! I load these with 6.8grs greendot powder and put a crimp using the lee optional collet die! so these shoot super tight groups in both rifles and pistols with zero leading!! the accuracy is awesome! plus I also load a ruger only load I only shoot these in the two rossi rifles, and this load is using the sierra 300gr jsp with 20.8gr h110 and the two rifles love this load its serious and is super accurate and cycles in both carbines just fine! but warning do not use this load in the heritage big bore or any colt or colt clone revolvers as it will grenade them! but I do shoot this ruger only load in the two rossi 92's and they handle it just fine! these loads work great and if you need anymore questions feel free to pm me!

[curator]

In My Rossi M92 .45 Colt I prefer my load using a .454-280 LBT LFN GC boolit under 10 grains of Unique. I cast from 50-50 wheel weight alloy and pure lead then water-drop quench them. Size to .454 and lube with LBT Blue. Easy 3" groups at 100 yards and pure feral hog murder at any distance I can hit them. LBT LFN boolits are the absolute best hunting boolits for the serious cast-boolit reloader. The Rossi M92 id the perfect platform for the .45 Colt cartridge.