Hot 45lc load

[Forrest r]

Was looking thru an old reloading manual (1949/1950) and found a hand written load in 2 different places in the book. Both were for the 45lc using the lyman 454424 bullet.

The load was 22gr of 2400???

I know that balloon headed cases used +/- 2gr more powder than the modern cases we use today. Still, that seems like a pretty hot load for a 45lc in +/- 1950.

I've herd of "ruger" only loads for the 45lc. I have no idea what that 454424/22gr of 2400 load was for back in 1950.

Any idea's?

[R-71]

The hand written note could be from any period after the manual was purchased, I'm not sure what the current 45 Colt Ruger only load for 2400 is but that seems high today. I don't have any old manuals but have read numerous times that the data has been reduced overtime. I did see one of those gun programs this morning talking about the 454 Casull way back in 1959. Wasn't the classic 44 Magnum load 22 grains of 2400?

[Wheelguns 1961]

Brian Pearce lists 21gn as max “ruger only” 32,000psi with a 270saa.

[sharps4590]

R-71, I'm pretty sure that's what Elmer used. Doubt there is anyone who knew as much about that cartridge as he did.

[Drm50]

That's same load I use in Ruger SBH 44mg/ 240gr JHP. It's a stout load and only reason I use it is
for deer and it is accurate. Not fun to stand and shoot for fun.

[hc18flyer]

That is probably a Linebaugh 45 Colt 'Ruger only load? I haven't gone above 19 grains of Alliant 2400, in my Blackhawk with the RCBS 270saa. And that is a hand full. I plan to hunt with the 270saa, plain base aluminum check, soft alloy, and 18 grains of Alliant 2400. Plenty for NE Whitetails! hc18flyer

[jonp]

Was looking thru an old reloading manual (1949/1950) and found a hand written load in 2 different places in the book. Both were for the 45lc using the lyman 454424 bullet.

The load was 22gr of 2400???

I know that balloon headed cases used +/- 2gr more powder than the modern cases we use today. Still, that seems like a pretty hot load for a 45lc in +/- 1950.

I've herd of "ruger" only loads for the 45lc. I have no idea what that 454424/22gr of 2400 load was for back in 1950.

Any idea's?

Linebaugh runs max at 20.5gr through a Blackhawk with a 255gr. If he won't do it I surely will not as he knows far more about upper end loads than I will ever find out. I can say that I've run up to 19gr with that boolit out of a 7.5in Blackhawk and while all the signs were fine pressure wise it was all I cared for seeing as I don't think a rhino or buffalo is going to come cruising through the homestead in the near future. If Jurassic Park becomes reality and a T.Rex shows up I"ll try the max load.

If you decide to try these loads for fun as I did I strongly urge you to use a Blackhawk, Redhawk, TC or maybe a Dan Wesson and approach with caution.

https://www.johnlinebaughcustomsixguns.com/writings

[jonp]

Brian Pearce lists 21gn as max “ruger only” 32,000psi with a 270saa.

With all due respect to Mr. Pearce, Linebaugh lists 20.5gr as max with a 255gr Cast at 1294fps and 29,800 cup. I can't imagine anyone needing more as Linebaugh stated in his article that a 260gr Keith at 900fps shoot length wise through antelope at 100yrds.

[Wheelguns 1961]

8.5gn of unique is hot enough for me, and will do anything I need it to do in my neck of the woods.

[Forrest r]

The reloading manual is from 1949. In the notes is quoted a 1950 article in the rifleman OCT 1950/Keith page 54 for 18gr to 20gr max (per article). Just found it odd the note started out at 22gr of 2400 for the 45lc with the 454424 bullet.
https://i.imgur.com/tjGn1FR.jpg

In or around 1950 ruger wasn't around yet. Perhaps a lever action rifle???

[Larry Gibson]

That was back in the days prior to the advent of the 44 magnum. Also remember that Keith blew the top strap off and dissected several several Colt and S&W revolvers in his development of hot loads with 2400 powder.

[MT Gianni]

Also interesting that at the bottom of the notes Keith recommends 18 gr with 20 maximum. We should never assume the accuracy of someone else powder measure.

[Forrest r]

I really don't find the 18gr to 20gr load excessive. The 22gr load on the other hand seems hot.

When these loads were written they used balloon heads cases. Balloon headed cases have more case capacity. The NRA tested 44spl loads using the keith 429421 bullet in balloon headed 44spl cases and 18.5gr of 2400 had tested out at 20,000+psi. The 45lc case has roughly 20% more case capacity then the 44spl.

With the modern cases we use today take 2gr off the loads or a 20gr max load of 2400 pushing that 454424 bullet.

It just got me scratching my head as to what firearm they were using that load in back in 1950. Ruger's or contenders were's around, that leaves s&w's/colts or rifles.