Load for FA 97 .45 Colt

[Nutjob]

Hi guys,


New here. I thought you might be able to help me out. About six months ago I bought a used FA 97 5.5" in .45 Colt. I ran 4 different loads through the 97 that had worked well in my Ruger Bisley. I was hoping that one of the mid-level 255 SWC Lasercast loads would shoot well in the 97. Unfortunately, the only accurate load(5/8" @25yds) in the Freedom Arms was a 300 grain Hornady XTP which I had previously chronographed in my Bisley at 1330 fps. In the little FA 97 those loads were almost painful!!
Looking for something more manageable recoil wise as well as accurate at 100 yards+ and deadly. I did try some of the same Lasercast 255 grainers with 20.0 of IMR4227 and the accuracy was so-so @ 25yds but terrible at 100 yards.
I would like to shoot bullet with a nice sized meplat weighing between 255gr and 300gr at velocities around 1000-1100. Also, because it is a 97 the oal is limited to about 1.60 inches. I am not beyond trimming cases back if necessary to use a more effective bullet, because I absolutely love the handling/packing qualities of this revolver.
Also, at this time I do not cast my own. So if you guys could steer me in the right direction as far as a good cast bullet and the proper powder to push it with I would be much obliged. ( The powder I have on hand is H110, Lil'Gun, Blue Dot, IMR4227, and Hodgdon Clays. But I' ll buy whatever works best.)

Thanks,
Russ

[ktw]

My favorite load has been the Lyman 454190 over 9.3 gr Unique. A 250 at 1000 fps but doesn't have the meplat you are looking for.

The lyman 452423 (240gr) and the Lee 300gr gas check bullet are short enough in the nose to work in this cylinder length. I also have an NEI 454-270-pbk (#325), a 270gr short nosed Keith that just barely fits. Some of the RCBS Keiths (255, 300, 270-SAA) may work but I have not tried them.

454190 definitely gave me the best long range accuracy at moderate velocities out of the designs I did try.

I know what you mean about the 300gr@1250+loads in a Model 97.

-ktw

[Nutjob]

Thank you Ktw.

I'd like to try one of the long flat nose lbt style bullets. I am considering trimming my brass about .100". Good idea?

Russ

[ktw]

I have some LBT 452-265-LFNgc in inventory. I use them in a 45 Colt Carbine, not the FA97. They also seem to fly better than average at long distance for me. I will take some measurements and get back to you with them early next week.

45 Colt @ < 1200fps: My experience is that you don't need to go to the expense of a gas check design for this. Most all of the LBT designs I have seen do require a gas check.

Trimming Brass Short: I haven't been and don't have any experience with it in the FA97.
- Some have reported that a crud ring builds up in the chamber at the case mouth over a period of time. When shooting short brass in a longer chamber (e.g. 44spcl in 44mag chamber, 38 spcl in 357 mag chamber) this may present some pressure issues when going back to the longer brass if you aren't aggressive about keeping this area cleaned up regularly.
- I wouldn't be afraid to try shorter brass. I wouldn't trim back more than a dozen or two until you are sure that it was a solution that worked for you.
- the LFN design should allow you to simply seat the bullet deeper in the case, crimping to the nose above the crimp groove instead of making the brass shorter.

-ktw

[Nutjob]

Thanks again ktw.


Russ

[ktw]

Left to right

1) LBT 45-260-LFNgc: seated to crimp groove for use in Winchester 94 carbine, 1.688" COL
2) LBT 45-260-LFNgc: 266 grains with check.
3) LBT 45-260-LFNgc: seated to 1.630" COL for use in FA97.
4) Hornady 300gr XTP for reference

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g232/ktwna/reloading/1-1.jpg

1.630" is a comfortable length for the M97 cylinder. You might be able to get away with as much as 1.638"

This suggests that you would need to trim brass .0580" shorter than standard to get the 1.630" COL and still crimp in the crimp groove with this bullet.

Simply seating them deeper in standard length brass also appears to be a workable solution.


-ktw

[Nutjob]

Thanks ktw,

Those 260 lfn bullets were on my short list to try. What velocities are you shooting your 260 lfn? What powder are you using? What kind of accuracy are you getting? I've heard that the lfn bullets are very accurate or at least better than the wfn as the ranges extend past fifty yards. Are you casting your own? At what velocity would you consider a gas check necessary?

Thanks,
Russ

[ktw]

LBT 45-260-LFNgc, 23.0gr H110, CCI 350 .... 1,525 fps in a 16" carbine barrel

2-3 MOA out to a hundred yards with peep sights on the short carbine barrel, 1.5-2 MOA when I put a low power scope on it. The load gave me nice round groups and consistent performance over a number of range sessions. I have never tried this bullet in a handgun.

I don't own a mold for it. A board member local to me gave me a few to try. I liked them. He later lent me the mold, I cast a up a bucket-full and gave him the mold back.

Necessity of gas checks: If the bullet fits the throats well you can get a surprising amount of velocity out of a plain based bullet with good accuracy and no leading. Gas checks just make cast bullets more forgiving as you push for higher velocities (1400+fps in 45 Colt?). It is probably more accurate to say that gas checks become necessary when the chamber pressure starts to exceed the strength of your bullet alloy than to peg them to a specific velocity.

The LBT 45-260-LFNgc was an interim hunting load for me in the carbine. Something to use until I work up a new load with a plain based bullet (a 300 grain plain based group buy bullet called "Cayoot's Wide Flat and Kinda Heavy 45"). Not because I am I am not happy with the LBT but because I don't own the mold and I would rather not be dependent on having to buy gas checks for a load that I shoot a lot of when I don't have to.

I don't hunt with the FA. The RNFP 454190 does everything I need in high volume, steel plate plinking and target handgun bullet and does it well. If I was going to hunt with it I would drill hollow-point some 454190's or try to work up a load with the plain-based, 300 gr Cayoot bullet mentioned above at 1000-1100 fps.

Link to Cayoot bullet thread here: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=37586

-ktw

[Nutjob]

Thanks ktw,

You've been a big help.

Russ