45 Colt Applegate X 2400 powder

[JRR]

Hello everyone
I did a work up of my Applegate 45 Colt mould bullets and 2400 powder. This bullet is rather short nosed and long shanked. Substantial lube groove next to the gas check. More bullet in the case than the typical LBT style bullet. Bullet weight averages 287 cast in WW.

I was trying to achieve an easy shooting but decent performing load in a Win. 94, 16" barrel.

287 gr. Applegate,
16 gr. 2400
Starline brass
Win. Lg. Standard primer
1265 fps. average, 12 shots
52.67 spread
15.42 SD
12 shots

16.5 gr. 2400
1292 fps. average
78.74 spread
18.65 SD
12 shots

17 gr. 2400
1325 fps. average
66.7 spread
17.66 SD
17 shots

17.5 gr. 2400
1349 average
65.06 spread
18.6 SD
16 shots

18 gr. 2400
1424 fps. average
61.85 spread
16.30 SD
17 shots

18.5 gr. 2400
1433 fps. average
55.52 spread
14.96 SD
17 shots

I stopped at this point because the 1400 fps zone was a decent performing but easy shooting load. I'm sure that I could have brought the velocity up to about 1600 without high pressure signs. At about 1400 fps. I got less case expansion than with factory plus P loads. All cases were sized with a steel, non-carbide RCBS die that produced cases that actually fit the chamber well.

All loads were fired at the same target at 60 yards without attention to precision aiming. 91 shots on the same target.

Here it is.
http://www.saber.net/~jr-abs/ApplegateTarget9-3-06.jpg

[w30wcf]

JRR,
Thank you for the detailed report. Much appreciated. I am not familiar with applegate molds but it sounds like a good one!

One of my favorite heavy bullets for my .45 Colt Marlin Cowboy is the .45-70 Gould Hollow point 330 gr. bullet (Lyman 457122). 20 grs. of 296 gives it 1,385 f.p.s. which is the ballistic equivalent of the old .45-70-330 cartridge but in a more compact package. Accuracy is first rate as well.

Thanks again for the report.

w30wcf