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Thread: 45 colt contender help

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub Catmanran's Avatar
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    45 colt contender help

    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?

  2. #2
    Boolit Mold
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    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

  3. #3
    Boolit Bub Catmanran's Avatar
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    I just looked I didn’t buy 110. I think I’ll keep an eye out for 2400

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    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.
    [The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    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.

  6. #6
    Boolit Bub Catmanran's Avatar
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    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.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    Get some 2400 powder if you can. It, and IMR 4227 are excellent powders for your applications.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    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.

    Code:
    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
    Last edited by P Flados; 11-05-2022 at 11:39 PM.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    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.

    Code:
    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

  10. #10
    Boolit Bub Catmanran's Avatar
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    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

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by Catmanran View Post
    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?
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  12. #12
    Boolit Bub Catmanran's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Gibson View Post
    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

  13. #13
    Boolit Bub Catmanran's Avatar
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    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

  14. #14
    Boolit Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Gibson View Post
    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"

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Quote Originally Posted by BK7saum View Post
    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.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  16. #16
    Boolit Master Castaway's Avatar
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    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

  17. #17
    Boolit Bub Catmanran's Avatar
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    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

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    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.

  19. #19
    Boolit Bub Catmanran's Avatar
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    Click image for larger version. 

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

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    WINNER, WINNER, Chicken Dinner!

    Very good find!

    Three44s
    Quote Originally Posted by Bret4207

    “There is more to this than dumping lead in a hole.”

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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
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