45 Colt Light Loads?

[mtgrs737]

Has anyone here loaded any light boolits in the 45 colt. I am new to this cartridge and have been loading 250gr. Lyman 452664 boolits with great success over 8grs. of Unique. I was thinking that maybe some of the light SWC style boolits that I cast for the 45 ACP might make a dandy plinking round (and save me some Lead). I have a really nice 185gr from a H&G mould and the Lee 200gr. SWC boolit. What do you guys think? Anyone have a favorite load?

[Southern Man]

Hello
You can use a dab of Trail Boss for a cheap load with 185 or 200 swc.
I'd rather use .44 spcl for such shooting.
If you have fixed sights they'll be a good bit off,and if they'er adj.you'll be adjusting them from one load to the other all the time. if they have enough adjustment
I've been going the other way and using RCBS 270 SAA in .45 ACP Kimber target,with stiff charge of unique, and taper crimped at top of front driving band.
Southern Man

[9.3X62AL]

I've shot a lot of Lee and Lyman 200 grain SWC from 45 Colt. They shoot a bit lower than 250-260 grain bullets, but if slowed to 700-750 FPS barrel time gets them pretty close to the sights that are set for 250 grainers at 900 FPS. Such a light load feels like a rimfire in that big ol' BisHawk of mine, but they shoot quite well.

[pls1911]

9.3 is correct... lighter bullets at lower velocities get you back to the point of aim and are as user friendly as a light .38 load. You'll need to load a few a various levels and test for best in your gun. I've had good luck with various SWCs in 180-190 weights from various manufacturors, and have no preference. It was interesting, but I don't load these any more. If you shoot a LOT, are recoil sensitive to extremes, and don't reclaim your lead, this may be worthwhile to you.
Having said that, the standard load (255 gr. with 9.0 gr. Unique at 910 fps) is a healthy, but pretty light in a Ruger Blackhawk frame, enjoyable to shoot, and easy to shoot very well.
Effective on pigs, (shot from bow blinds at 20 yards or less) my soft ".45 alloy" penetrates end to end if not interrupted by bone, and mushrooms beatifully and reliably to .72-.82. with weight retention over 90% and never leading .... Very sweet.
I use the same alloy at 1450 fps in 45-70s for all the same reasons and much the same results)

I guess that pretty well sums up just why I like the .45 colt over ANY .44 mag.
In my use, it's just as effective, and being easy on both the equipment and your body, a joy to shoot.
It can be hot rodded plenty, but I've never found that to be needed.
With these big bores, I've found heavy and slow every bit as effective as fast and furios...and A LOT MORE FUN!!!

[mtgrs737]

I figured the fixed sights would be a problem with point of impact. I am looking for a plinking load and I didn't want to buy another mould. My Vaquero's fun to shoot with the 250gr boolits but the lead bill is high as is the recoil, it sure does knock over those heavy steel plates with authority!!

[runfiverun]

for 160 to 250 i use either 5grs clays or 6 grs titegroup.
the 160's and 5 grs clays is like a 38 lite load but will take the head off a grouse at 30 yds easily.

[eka]

RCBS 201 SWC, 6.2 grains of Bullseye. It shoots great, but soots the cases from the lack of seal, which doesn't bother me.

Keith

[shooting on a shoestring]

MTGRS 737, I had the same problem shooting my .45 Colt. Lots of fun but way too hard on the lead pile. My solution was to buy a .357 Blackhawk.

[mtgrs737]

That thought had cossed my mind Shoestring, but then I never need an excuse to buy another gun.

Thanks guy for your loads, I will be having fun trying out some light loads based on your recomendations.

[biggome]

I too desire to have an easy on the hand as well as the leadpot load for the 45 Colt. My 3.75" Vaquero has seen some prettyheavy loads though I am not much of a hotrodder when it comes to handguns, I like to be able to shoot them A LOT! Other than a 255 gr. mold my only other choice was my 230 gr. ACP boolit. Though it saves a bit on lead, the round nose boolit made it a bit long for some of my ammo boxes.

Slowing either boolit down too much caused a quite a bit of soot which I don't like to see so I use my fastest powder (AA Solo 1000) and increase the charge until it cleans up the cases. My Vaquero shoots low and left to a some extent no matter what the load is so one must always remember the proper "hold".

I bought a 200 gr. mold that I have yet to try. I hope to be able to slow it down enough to raise the P.O.I. without having the cases getting too badly sooted up. If I can't "get it up" enough with the new load I'll work the front blade down some then I will put it in a barrel vise and try an tighten the barrel a bit and move the P.O.I. to the right.

With some luck, I hope to correct the sights and have something I can stand to put several thousand rounds through if I so desire without beating the gun up one bit.

Paul

[mtgrs737]

I just loaded up some 185 gr. swc's over 6grs of Bullseye with a tight fitting bullet to brass fit and very little to none at all crimp. I will see how this works. Thanks again!

[KSCowboy]

Howdy mtgrs737!

I'm a life long OZ resident myself, good to meet you!

I've used the Lee 160 grain round/flat nose bullet a lot with 5 grains of Bullseye for years and like it well from a Colt SAA for plinking and cowboy shoots. I've also got a 180 grain group buy mold I bought here and it shoots well with the same 5 grains of Bullseye.

I always use a fairly heavy crimp on any revolver load

[Lloyd Smale]

what do you call accurate. If your looking for a 1 inch 25 yard load good luck. Its tough enough to even get bullets as light as a 250 to shoot well in a 45 colt. In my opinion if its low recoil your looking for stick with the 250s and just load them slower.

[HotLead]

For just plain fun plinking with the .45 revolver, 185 grain SWC's are a real hoot! I use both ready-mades from Shooter's Choice or my own cast in Lyman's 452389 mold, using wheelweights. I worked up these loads to shoot very close to the same point of impact as my 255 grainers ahead of 8 grains of Unique, so I can interchange both loads without re-adjusting the sights or having to remember how to hold differently with my fixed-sight .45's:

Velocities were measured using a 4-5/8" Blackhawk.

6 gr. Red Dot in .45 Colt cases: 834 fps
5 gr. Red Dot in .45 Schofield cases: 855 fps

Other results obtained were:
6.5 gr. Universal in Schofield cases: 757 fps
10.0 gr. Unique in .45 Colt cases: 1105 fps

My absolute favorite is the 5 grains of Red Dot in the Schofield cases. As if the short SWC wasn't enough, I also know at a glance that the shorter case contains a light plinking load.

[oldhickory]

The lite load I like for my 1904 vintage Colt New Service .45 is, 9.5gr of Unique under a Lyman 200gr swc. It shoots to point of aim at 25yds and groups well...That's all I can ask, recoil is considerably less than with 250 or higher gr. Boolit too.

[C1PNR]

I've shot a lot of the 452423 out of my BH. Kind of a medium weight that does save some lead and recoil. Also like the 452460 for much the same reasons.

I haven't tried the H&G 68 or 130, but imagine those would be even easier on the reloading supplies.

[Curly James]

My favorite for a long time has been a Lee 200 grain rnfp on top of 6.0 grains of WW 231. Very accurate and my CAS load for many years. I usually tumble lubed the boolits due to casting and lubing a huge amount at a time. I have just put a Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt on layaway and am looking forward to seeing how it likes this load. Take care and good luck, CJ.

[pjogrinc]

I use 6 grains of Unique with a 250 gr LRNFP. Have not played with the 230 grain LRNs as they all seem to disappear out of my 1911 before I get a chance to try some in the 45 Colt. :castmine:

[ktw]

I just loaded up some 185 gr. swc's over 6grs of Bullseye with a tight fitting bullet to brass fit and very little to none at all crimp. I will see how this works. Thanks again!

I have been using one of the "H&G68" clones in my single action revolver for several years. Mine happens to be a dual cylinder (45ACP/45Colt) model. I like that boolit in 45 ACP brass over 6.2gr Bullseye for ~1000fps. I have never tried it in 45 Colt brass.

-ktw

[45CCW]

I bought a used Mitchell Arms SAA Colt clone that would NOT shoot a group with any of my favorite loads. I rolled up some 185 SWC with 7.0 of Unique and it shot like a dream.

[mtgrs737]

I tried 5grs. of Bullseye behind a H&G 185 swc and found it to be a very pleasant load to shoot. Accuracy was fine (= to my abilities) thanks for all your loads! They are appreciated!

[zxcvbob]

Don't use your good Starline cases for light loads (unless that's all you have). The brass is too strong to seal the chamber and will end up with black all over the sides like you were shooting blackpowder. Use Winchester or Remington brass for light loads. HTH

(Red Dot is a good powder for this, and cheaper than Trail Boss)

[WickedWillie]

I've shot a lot of the 452423 out of my BH. Kind of a medium weight that does save some lead and recoil. Also like the 452460 for much the same reasons.

I haven't tried the H&G 68 or 130, but imagine those would be even easier on the reloading supplies.


What are you sizing the 452460 at? My late father used to use the Lyman 452460 for bullseye in his 1911 and also in his 2nd generation Colt SAA, because the light bullet shot to the sights. If I remember correctly, he used 7.5 grains of Unique. I'm considering the same bullet for my .45 Colt guns...and maybe 6 grains of Red Dot. Share with me please, your load for this bullet in .45 Colt, sizing, lube, etc. The heavier bullets aren't as economical and I am starting to appreciate lower recoil loads. (I also have .38/.357 Blackhawks, so that is a moot point that needn't be addressed.)

[Walks]

WW,
I used the #452374 back when I got my .45Colt Blkhk in 1977, Colt SAA in 1979. Only .45cal mold I had. Over 6.0grs of Bullseye, shot close to REM & WIN factory 250-255gr loads. Later I tried the #452488(195gr) & #452389(185gr). Seated to top of bearing surface over 6.5grs of Bullseye they both gave good accuracy but shot low.

In 1990 At a Monthly Coto Cowboys Shoot, Hipshot suggested a 225-230gr TC over 5.0grs of Clays. Shot to the same POI/POA as the #454190 over 9.0grs of Unique as My Big old Vaquero.
Accurate ? I hit a tennis ball 6 out of 6 at 25yrds with My RH Vaquero.
Been casting the Lee #452-230-TC for about 20yrs, using it exclusively for Cowboy Shooting. Finally got the 6cav about 5yrs ago, sold off My pair of 2cav molds.
Feeds perfectly in every Lever Rifle I've tried it in. Accurate in Colt SAA's, Clone's Ruger BLKHK & old & new Vaquero's. And both M25-2 & M25-5. M625's too.

Taper Crimp.

[USSR]

WickedWillie,

C1PNR hasn't been on this site for nearly 2 years. Try looking for current threads, or better yet, start your own.

Don

[dougader]

I don't think I've ever shot 45 Colt lighter than 250 RNFP over 6.5 grain W231. Prefer closer to 7 grains.

[smkummer]

4.9 700X Lee 200 RF unsized shoots close to 9 grains unique/250 grain. Wonderful accurate plinking load in 45 colt. Unique is very dirty if you try to download. If your using a 45 acp bullet keep it as fat (.454) as possible in 45 colt.

[Good Cheer]

My solution was to reduce the case volume. To do that a wadcutter fully seated within the case was used. The make the boolit light weight a huge hollow base was added. To make the boolit a plain base less susceptible to skirt failure or leading it was loaded backwards.

That formula worked great. And that Webley Manstopper HPWC would roll an armadillo like you aint never seen.

[canyon-ghost]

I have been using a 215 grain swc ahead of 6.5 grains of Unique. Accurate to 100 meters.
Ron