45 colt contender help

[Catmanran]

I have a new mgm 12 inch 45lc barrel on a g2. I been playing with 250xtp over hogdon minimum charge of 23.5 grains of lilgun. They published a velocity of 1333. I have a new magneto speed which is reading at 1650. Does this sound right? I do know that it’s not much fun to shoot and I need to step it down a notch. I think I bought the lilgun and h110 to try with this piece. What powder should I look for to calm this down some?

[old70]

I’ve burned about 3 pounds of lil gun in a number of cartridges, and I’ve found it to vary greatly in its burn characteristics, with velocities and pressures all over the map. Others experience has differed. H110 has been very consistent for me, but is most predictable at near max loads. If that’s what you want, I’d give H110 a try, making sure to have a good consistent crimp and magnum primer. If you want less than full speed, I’ve found 2400 to be good at less than full charges, as well as at full speed. Good luck!

Old70

[Catmanran]

I just looked I didn’t buy 110. I think I’ll keep an eye out for 2400

[MT Gianni]

What do you want to do? If target shooting or cougars out of a tree @ 20 yards or less 6,5 gr Red Dot and a 240270 gr bullet just works. It gets about 950 fps out of a 4 5/8" blackhawk and is accurate out of my 10" contender. If you want to hunt look for some AA9, 296. H110, or 2400. Blue Dot might work as well.

[Ed K]

If you’re finding the H110/WW296/Lilgun level hotter than you want, the 2400 suggestion to slow things down a bit is a good one. I’m posting because AA#9 is very similar and often a little easier to find and somewhat cheaper.

[Catmanran]

I want to use the 45 for whitetail range most likely 50 yards like to be able to stretch that some if I can see that far. I guess I’d like to try something around 1200 fps.

[contender1]

Get some 2400 powder if you can. It, and IMR 4227 are excellent powders for your applications.

[P Flados]

I have a Contender barrel for 45 Colt. The lightest of the factory barrels (Octagon - external choke). Full power "TC / Ruger" was brutal. With a 12" round barrel, 1200 fps should be a lot more comfortable to shoot.

For the 1200 fps you desire, 2400 is a lot slower than needed. All of the Quickload calculated loads are well below the 30,000 psi limit for the Contender. Faster powders will minimize muzzle blast.



Cartridge : .45 Colt (SAAMI)
Bullet : .452, 250, Hornady HP/XTP LC 45200
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.595 inch = 40.51 mm
Barrel Length : 12.0 inch = 304.8 mm

C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Lovex S040 70.9 15.9 1.03 1200 76.4 15457 2243 1.256
Lovex D037.2 Heavy Pistol 57.5 15.5 1.01 1200 79.9 15433 2253 1.267
Accurate No.9 58.1 15.5 1.01 1200 79.9 15433 2253 1.267
Lovex D037.1 50.9 13.8 0.90 1200 86.1 15115 2238 1.279
Accurate No.7 51.3 13.8 0.90 1200 86.1 15115 2238 1.279
Vihtavuori N105 *C 66.3 13.1 0.85 1200 92.9 13709 2247 1.292
Vihtavuori 3N38 63.4 13.0 0.84 1200 90.5 15877 2118 1.262
Hodgdon HS-6 45.4 11.3 0.73 1200 99.2 17476 1863 1.228
Hodgdon Longshot 43.4 11.0 0.71 1200 99.8 17693 1812 1.221
Vihtavuori 3N37 55.5 10.8 0.70 1200 99.9 17268 1834 1.242
Vihtavuori N350 58.1 10.7 0.69 1200 100.0 17486 1799 1.218
Accurate No.5 41.0 10.7 0.69 1200 97.8 16839 1955 1.236
Lovex D036 41.1 10.7 0.69 1200 97.8 16835 1956 1.236
Alliant POWER PISTOL 51.8 10.3 0.67 1200 94.9 15761 2101 1.269
Alliant UNIQUE 56.2 9.1 0.59 1200 100.0 18778 1651 1.216

[P Flados]

Even though the 1200 fps speed is probably enough, I would try a few a little hotter just to see how both you and the gun like them. I ran the previous table up to 1300 fps for your reference.



Cartridge : .45 Colt (SAAMI)
Bullet : .452, 250, Hornady HP/XTP LC 45200
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.595 inch = 40.51 mm
Barrel Length : 12.0 inch = 304.8 mm

C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Lovex S040 77.3 17.4 1.12 1300 80.6 18803 2537 1.155 17.4
Lovex D037.2 Heavy Pistol 62.7 16.9 1.10 1300 84.0 18694 2540 1.165 16.9
Accurate No.9 63.4 16.9 1.10 1300 84.0 18694 2540 1.165 16.9
Accurate No.7 56.1 15.1 0.98 1300 89.9 18337 2510 1.176 15.1
Lovex D037.1 55.7 15.1 0.98 1300 89.9 18337 2510 1.176 15.1
Vihtavuori N105 *C 72.6 14.3 0.93 1300 96.1 16757 2486 1.187 14.3
Vihtavuori 3N38 69.8 14.3 0.93 1300 93.9 19382 2363 1.157 14.3
Hodgdon HS-6 50.7 12.6 0.82 1300 100.0 21756 2032 1.118 12.6
Hodgdon Longshot 48.6 12.3 0.80 1300 100.0 22140 1967 1.113 12.3
Vihtavuori 3N37 62.2 12.1 0.78 1300 100.0 21619 1990 1.122 12.1
Vihtavuori N350 65.2 12.0 0.77 1300 100.0 21984 1952 1.111 12
Lovex D036 45.7 11.9 0.77 1300 99.4 20781 2156 1.130 11.9
Accurate No.5 45.7 11.9 0.77 1300 99.4 20788 2155 1.130 11.9
Alliant POWER PISTOL 57.4 11.5 0.74 1300 97.4 19192 2344 1.159 11.5
Alliant UNIQUE 63.9 10.4 0.67 1300 100.0 23851 1823 1.101 10.4

[Catmanran]

That’s a lot of good info right there!
I ordered the barrel with mgm’s sixer brake and it was still nasty to shoot with the lilgun . I think I know where to get some #9 and keep my eye open for 2400. I appreciate everyone’s input

[Larry Gibson]

I have a new mgm 12 inch 45lc barrel on a g2. I been playing with 250xtp over hogdon minimum charge of 23.5 grains of lilgun. They published a velocity of 1333. I have a new magneto speed which is reading at 1650. Does this sound right? I do know that it’s not much fun to shoot and I need to step it down a notch. I think I bought the lilgun and h110 to try with this piece. What powder should I look for to calm this down some?

What's the length of barrel Hodgdon used to get the 1333 fps and was it out of a revolver?

[Catmanran]

What's the length of barrel Hodgdon used to get the 1333 fps and was it out of a revolver?
I’m not sure what hogdon used I went back and looked didn’t see it on the page

[Catmanran]

So to follow up the only powder I could find locally was imr4227. I loaded a handful at the minimum charge and clocked at average 1,118. Seemed like it might group well. And it much more pleasant to shoot. I’ll play with that some more. Had a single cartridge loaded with the lilgun figured I get rid of it 1,670 on the meter

[BK7saum]

What's the length of barrel Hodgdon used to get the 1333 fps and was it out of a revolver?

I pulled up a Hodgdon dats sheet online with 23.5 as starting charge and listed barrel length was 7.25"

[Larry Gibson]

I pulled up a Hodgdon dats sheet online with 23.5 as starting charge and listed barrel length was 7.25"

That was probably a revolver or a vented test barrel. Having numerous Contender barrels and revolvers in the cartridges, including the 45 Colt, I have no doubt that 1650 fps is a correct velocity out of a 12" contender barrel. The differences in velocity obtained, with the same load, in revolvers with 4 to 8 3/8" barrels vs Contender 10" or longer barrels can be as much as 200 - 300 fps.

[Castaway]

I know you mentioned you were loading a Hornady XTP, but for the sake of this forum, it’s hard to beat a Keith Style bullet over a generous load of 4227. For some reason, the 45 Colt and 4227 combination are easy to work up accurate and powerful loads. It won’t push a bullet as fast as H110 will, but H110 is a hard powder to get to shoot for me. If you do get and load it, I strongly recommend a heavier bullet, a heavy crimp and magnum primers to minimize chances of a squib load. As noted, 2400 also works well. Count yourself lucky you didn’t get H110

[Catmanran]

I loaded up some more with the 4227 but haven’t had the time to continue. Little time I’ve had been working on a friend’s muzzleloader

[contender1]

For 99% of my big bore handguns,, I use a total of (4) powders. I use Unique for what I call "fun loads!" But for serious shooting,, and finding the best accuracy,, I use 2400, 4227 & HS6.

But a Contender can be a different beast occasionally. However,, I still do not use H110 for much. But even in Contenders,, for the 45 Colt,, my "big 3" have proven their performance. As always,, accuracy trumps velocity.

[Catmanran]

307206

Well I got back at it and found 22.9 grains of imr4227 puts me about 1235fps. And looks dam accurate

[Three44s]

WINNER, WINNER, Chicken Dinner!

Very good find!

Three44s

[contender1]

That looks mighty good right there.

[John in WYO]

307206

Well I got back at it and found 22.9 grains of imr4227 puts me about 1235fps. And looks dam accurate

Which bullet/weight did you fire that group with?
Still the Hornady 259 XTP?

Thanks

[Catmanran]

Which bullet/weight did you fire that group with?
Still the Hornady 259 XTP?

Thanks

Yes the 250 xtp

[DougGuy]

I got away from the XTP in 44mag because they were shedding the jacket and sending lead fragments into the meat, about the same velocity you are shooting.

You might be better served with a RF style boolit with a large meplat cast in 50/50+2%, or 20:1, with soft lube. This is a great hunting alloy that stays together well even if it hits bone.

[Catmanran]

I got away from the XTP in 44mag because they were shedding the jacket and sending lead fragments into the meat, about the same velocity you are shooting.

You might be better served with a RF style boolit with a large meplat cast in 50/50+2%, or 20:1, with soft lube. This is a great hunting alloy that stays together well even if it hits bone.

Where do I get some of those?

[DougGuy]

If you don't cast, there are numerous places that sell boolits, Montana Bullet Works is where I get LBT WFN (wide flat nose) boolits, I have gotten some of the LEE C452-300-RF from forum members. Lee also has a 250gr and 200gr RF (round flat).

Several of the commercial casters that sell boolits have a choice of alloy, ask for their softer alloy and soft lube.

These are the LBT designed WFN from Montana Bullet Works:

308071

LBT 250gr WFN-PB

LBT 250gr WFN-GC

LBT 250gr OWC

Here is the Lee C452-300-RF

308072