45 Colt

[Gene Perryman]

Has anyone got a good every day plinking / target load for their 45 Colt ?

[Beagle333]

What powder and boolits are you going to be using? Mostly anything in the 250-265 grain range will fly nicely with 7.0-7.5gr of Unique. You can go on to 8.0 if you want to get a little more zing.

[Gene Perryman]

I was looking for something ranging from 200 to 250ish....

[DougGuy]

The 45 Colt is a large case, and needs enough pressure to expand it to the cylinder walls or you have soot all down the case sides and very inconsistent velocities. Lighter boolits need to be driven harder. Loads with Bullseye in the range you want to shoot are very doable.

7.0gr Unique under a 255gr will likely soot the case walls. 8.0gr Unique under a 255gr is pretty much the bible for standard pressure 45 Colt loads and it works very well, has for decades been the "go to" load for this caliber.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

All good knowledge. I specifically agree with DougGuy. A 255 gr. RNFP over 8.0 gr. of Unique is just about all that I use in 1873 Colt clones and lever rifles.
DG

[Love Life]

I use 9.0 gr unique under the Lyman 452423 SWC. I also like Herco.

[jmort]

I go 10 grains with my Blackhawks. You can go 9 grains, no problem with the new Vaqueros. But I suppose those are not for plinking. In such case I use Red Dot/ Promo
250 Cast #452664 Alliant Red Dot 5.8 752
Remarks: sugg. start load; 1.570" OAL
250 Cast #452664 Alliant Red Dot 6.5 836
Remarks: max load; 1.570" OAL

[35 Whelen]

A few years ago Brian Pearce did a piece on loads that duplicated the original 45 Colt load, that is a 250 gr. cast bullet at ~850 fps. Two that have been outstanding for me are 6.5 grs. of either Red Dot or 700-X. Both have been quite accurate out to 75 yds-

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Single%20Actions/Uberti%20Frisco/Frisco%2075%20yds%20454424%201%20edit_zpsu7qgbxu6. jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Single%20Actions/Uberti%20Frisco/Frisco%2075%20yds%20454424%201%20edit_zpsu7qgbxu6. jpg.html)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Single%20Actions/Uberti%20Frisco/250%20gr%20RNFP%2075%20yds_zpsaibbgrty.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Single%20Actions/Uberti%20Frisco/250%20gr%20RNFP%2075%20yds_zpsaibbgrty.jpg.html)

I've had really good luck with Unique but prefer these two powders because there more efficient.

35W

[Bohica793]

5.5 grains of Trail Boss under a 454190. Soft, accurate and a lot of fun.

[Outpost75]

Bullseye was used for factory .45 Colt smokeless loads for over 100 years. Is STILL a good choice.

6.5 grains of current Bullseye with #454190 or Saeco #955 is a close approximation of factory loads.

Thanks to Larry Gibson for this pressure tested data:

https://castbulletassoc.org/forum/thread/ed-harris-45-cal-cast-bullets-45-colt/

https://castbulletassoc.org/forum/thread/ed-harris-45-cal-cast-bullets-45-colt-ruger-level-loads/

[jrmartin1964]

For .45 Colt my "go to" powder is Bullseye. Lots of other powders will work, and work well, Unique being the one most often recommended and which has given excellent results for many years.

[Brassduck]

where ever I find that's accurate.

[jonp]

200gr over Promo is my target load for my 45lc's. 4-5grn's

[jonp]

Bullseye was used for factory .45 Colt smokeless loads for over 100 years. Is STILL a good choice.

6.5 grains of current Bullseye with #454190 or Saeco #955 is a close approximation of factory loads.

Thanks to Larry Gibson for this pressure tested data:

https://castbulletassoc.org/forum/thread/ed-harris-45-cal-cast-bullets-45-colt/

https://castbulletassoc.org/forum/thread/ed-harris-45-cal-cast-bullets-45-colt-ruger-level-loads/

Thanks! I've got several pounds of Bullseye that I don't load anything with and for some reason never tried it in the 45LC.

[9.3X62AL]

This is for my Bisley Blackhawk, and might be a mite warm for Colts & clones--Lyman #454424 (255 grain Keith SWC) atop 9.5 grains of Unique or 10.5 grains of Herco. These run close to the 1000 FPS from 7.5" barrels that 1873 U.S. Army black powder specs listed for 45 Colt. It is accurate and about 10% more than factory 45 Colt ammo offers downrange. The revolver can manage a lot more pressure, but this load is all I need in 45 Colt. I do own a few rifles, as well.

[wrench man]

250grn RNFP over 7.0grns of Trail Boss, I run them at the top because the chambers of my Marlin 1894's are on the bigger side and need the extra pressure, the revolver, Uberti Colt 1873, shoots VERY well with this load too.

[LAH]

250 RNFP & 6 grains of Bullseye or Red Dot.

[smkummer]

My cowboy and plinking load is 5 grains 700X and Lee’s 200 RF cast bullet. Red dot, promo and bullseye would also work so as to expand the case enough and not get sooty cases. I am guessing about 700 FPS and shoots very close to the sights in my fix sighted colts.

[Ed_Shot]

250 RNFP & 6 grains of Bullseye or Red Dot.

+1.....Works perfect for me.

[bedbugbilly]

454190 Ideal/Lyman over 6.5 grains of Red Dot works great in my 7 1/2" Cattleman - furthest I've shot with that load is 50 yards and had excellent results.

[marlinman93]

For plinking loads in my S&W 25 in .45 Colt I prefer 185 gr. or 200 gr. SWC cast. I load them with 6.0-6.5 grs. of Red Dot and they shoot tiny little groups.

[Reverend Recoil]

Any 200 gr. slug with 7.5 gr. of Win-231 works well for me.