Your favorite 45 colt Loads for the Colt Clones

[jh45gun]

I am getting a used but almost like new Uberti Cattleman just wondering what loads to feed it. Is the 300 grain bullet too much for these clones or is it best to stick with 250 to 255 grain loadings? I know you cannot hot rod these and you have to stick with loadings that would be comparable to the origional Colts so what is best to stay under for Vel and Pressure? I do not want to shoot black in this gun I prefer to stick with smokeless loads.

[mtgrs737]

I like 8 grs. of Unique behind either a Lyman 452664 or 454190 cast boolit both of which are in the 250gr. weight range. I think that 9grs. of Unique is a max load for the small frame Vaqureo or original Colts in this weight range.

[Fowler]

6.0 gr Red Dot and a lyman 454190 is a classic 45 colt load that pretty much matches the old BP load. If you don't have the 454190 (I don't) any 250-255 lead bullet will suffice and the load runs 810-825fps in most 5 1/2" guns....

[leadeye]

8 grains Unique under an RCBS 250 RNFP for my Colt New Service.

[Hardcast416taylor]

6.0 gr Red Dot in both my RBH`s 5 1/2 and 7 1/2" barrels. My best pard uses that same load since his pappy was using it back in the late 60`s with about any 250 gr. range bullets in his 2nd generation SAA. I get almost 900 fps out of the 7 1/2. My personal fav bullet is the RCBS 255 gr. out of plain acww alloy.

[9.3X62AL]

I had a Cattleman some years back, and fed it 8.0-9.0 grains of Unique under 250-260 grain bullets. 8.0 grains was much preferred, there is a significant difference in recoil and power between the two charge weights. This difference is discernable in my present Bisley Blackhawk, which is likely a better platform than a Colt clone for 9.0 grains of Unique/250 grainers. I don't think that 9.0 grains of Unique would do any damage to the Colt clones, even over time--but my shooting hand's middle finger appreciated the 8.0 grain loads.

[runfiverun]

i like 5 grs of clays,6grs of titegroup,or 7 grs unique.
for 160 to 250 gr boolits.
these are all about 45 acp ballistics, in the 14k range appropriate for these guns.

[Don McDowell]

9grs of unique and a 250-260 gr cast bullet has been the standard bp velocity replacement load since time began. I've yet to come across a 45 colt gun that won't shoot that load very well.
The 300 gr bullet are pretty long and its not uncommon for them to be to long to fit in a Colt/clone cylinder. The RCBS 270 saa mold is about the heaviest that'll work thru the colt cylinder.

[jh45gun]

Thanks guys good advice as usual from this forum. I have Unique on hand and I will get some Red Dot too and try both powders. and loadings. I do not plan to hotrod this gun so I plan to keep the loads under max. Even loading for my rifles I keep the loads in the moderate range figure its better on the gun and me and less powder use too. :) One rreason I like shooting cast in my rifles I can make the bullets and then even with the higher ranges of 2400 for my 30/30 and K31 and 45/70 still have moderate loads. I got lucky a friend gave me a Lyman 450 Lubrisizer a while back and it came with the 452 sizer so I am set up for that already so the sizing part is ready to go.

[Cherokee]

A word of caution on bullet size: My older Uberti has cylinder throats of 454 and 452 sized bullets did not do as well as 454 sized bullets. All my bullets are of ACWW alloy.

[Lloyd Smale]

My go to starting load when i get a new 45 to test is the rcbs 255 and 9.3 grains of herco. Dont know what it is about that load but it just seems to shoot well in everything.