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Thread: What is the most popular bullet for the 45 long colt? To be fired out of a ruger blac

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    What is the most popular bullet for the 45 long colt? To be fired out of a ruger blac

    title say it all. A friend wants me to cast some bullets for his newly aquired 45 colt revolver. what is the most popular bullet design?

  2. #2
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    The first question for any load is: what is the intended target?

    The next is: how far away is it?

    The simple answer to your question is that the most popular bullets in 45 Colt are 250-255 grain round flats or SWCs.

    But if you want power, the "Ruger Only" page is available for that revolver as well, I use the Lee 300s for that.

  3. #3
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    No doubt, the Lyman 452424. It's a 255gr SWC developed almost 100 years ago by Elmer Keith. Another good one is the RCBS 270SAA, a slightly heavier SWC.

    Don
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  4. #4
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    For many years, I only had one mould for the 45 LC BH. The RCBS 250 SWC PB. Then I acquired MP's 270 SAA with HP capabilities. It is a clone of RCBS's 270 SSA, when cast as a solid.

    Winelover
    Last edited by winelover; 07-12-2021 at 06:35 AM. Reason: spelling

  5. #5
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    For cowboy action shooting, a 200 grain round nose flat point is what most of use.

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    Boolit Grand Master Harter66's Avatar
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    What do have for 45 ACP ?

    I have 6-7 ".451" moulds , I've shot them all on paper done all the math for an H&G 130 , 45-200 SWC , Lyman round groove 454424 both as issued and with an HP , the NOE version no HP , 452-255 RNFP @265 gr Lee , a sized 458-340 Lee , and a custom 350 gr . With all of that I have come back to the 454424 NOE version , mine is only 252 gr vs 257 for the Lyman but it casts 5 at a time vs 1 . The 6 hole Lee 452-255 likely runs a close second for the same reason .
    At 1050 MV either will run right through 3' of hog out to 50 yd tested .
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  7. #7
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    I use the Lyman 452424 in both my Ruger Vaquero and my Marlin 1894CB. It works fine in both.

    If I were to start over in 45 Colt guns and boolits today, I would look very hard at the Lee ~250 RF six cavity.

    Robert

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    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    For field and game shooting, without a doubt #454424 with 7 grains of Bullseye, 7.5 of 231 or WST, 8 grains of Unique or 9 grains of Herco. Does it all.
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    2nd on Outpost75.
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  10. #10
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    I third the 454424.

  11. #11
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    Elmer Keith say's a 250 gr. Cast SWC of his design is best ... I'm not going to argue with that .
    #454424 ... It's as good as any and better than most .
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    Boolit Master gc45's Avatar
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    I can say that after hundreds of bullets from several mold designs that the rcbs 270 is an unbelievable bullet from both my blackhawk Bisleys.
    Awsome accuracy and power!

    R

  13. #13
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    Since I bought the MP .45-270-SAA mold(actually 2 four cavity) I don't use my RCBS 2 cavity molds. The article on this mold by Brian Pierce in Handloader several years ago is what I use for guidance.
    John
    W.TN

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by downzero View Post
    The first question for any load is: what is the intended target?

    The next is: how far away is it?

    The simple answer to your question is that the most popular bullets in 45 Colt are 250-255 grain round flats or SWCs.

    But if you want power, the "Ruger Only" page is available for that revolver as well, I use the Lee 300s for that.
    This needs an answer first, but without the answer from the OP, I agree with the above statement. I will add this- I have at six different makes and models of molds and can get any of them to shoot well with a little load development. The round nose flat designs is what I use most only because my lever guns and Schofield revolver is picky on the SWC's. My go-to in my Blackhawk is a 270 SWC for hunting but the round flats are just as accurate.
    Kind of a general statement, but I think the Colt is one of the easiest and most forgiving on bullet design with 38 special right there with it.
    Tom at Accurate molds has the number of molds sold on each of the designs shown. Kind of an indicator of what folks like, sort of. Outpost advise on a specific molds has always been spot on.
    Good luck, Tony

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master

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    To follow tradition you probably want a round nose flat point weighing around 250 grains. But my favorite to shoot if the 250-255 grain Keith type SWC. Like the others have said, it just works.

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    I have owned 10 or 12 45 cal molds. I am down to 2 or 3 but they all say 454424 on them.
    [The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze

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    I could not find a Lyman mold so I went with this:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    I size them to .454" and load them over 8.5 gr of Unique. Shoots great in my Blackhawk and wonderfully in my Marlin 1894CB.

    Steve in N CA

    Click image for larger version. 

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    This is 100 yards with stock buckhorn sights. And I am pretty shakey.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master gc45's Avatar
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    Intended use has something to do with bullet choice as does lead hardness. But ever since the RCBS-270 mold came around, I have cast that one for all my 45 needs selling most other molds but one Keith 255 gr. Cast the RCBS using #2 Lyman, load over #9 or HS-6 and your good to go for every big game in NA or, load it down with your favorite 750 fps powder and punch paper.

    GC

  19. #19
    Boolit Master gc45's Avatar
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    sarg. That is about the same accuracy I get at 25yds with Unique and my Ruger BH, always a great choice in the 45C.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by gc45 View Post
    Intended use has something to do with bullet choice as does lead hardness. But ever since the RCBS-270 mold came around, I have cast that one for all my 45 needs selling most other molds but one Keith 255 gr. Cast the RCBS using #2 Lyman, load over #9 or HS-6 and your good to go for every big game in NA or, load it down with your favorite 750 fps powder and punch paper.

    GC
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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
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