In actual weight, Pyrodex is lighter than black powder, being about 80 percent of the weight of black powder. This revolver and cartridge proved to be a great teacher as I learned how to shoot a big-bore single-action sixgun accurately. ok 45 long colt lovers,,ring out ,lets hear from you,,the more the merry. Arizona Game & Fish Department, State Agency: about 175 fps and from 7 1/2 by 50 fps. The powder that has the lowest velocities are produced by Trailboss which also has the advantage of filling up the 45LC case. When loaded in the Colt Single Action Army at around 850 fps, it is a most powerful everyday working load. When using bullets designed for the .45 ACP that dont have a crimp cannelure, a taper crimp applied after bullets are seated to the correct overall length is the best option. It is often associated with its vital role in settling the western frontier, where it found favor with lawmen, outlaws and anyone that needed a potent sixgun. The Colt Single Action Army, Colt New Frontier, Ruger New Model Flat-Top, Ruger New Vaquero, and Smith & Wesson Model 25/625 are all very close strength-wise. Everyone who has a Ruger Blackhawk or Freedom Arms single-action revolver realizes the roots of these modern guns go back to the Colt Single Action Army. The .45 Colts origins started in 1871 when Colt began designing a new sixgun specifically to house metallic cartridges. Alas, the days of gun departments in grocery stores, department stores and drugstores are long gone. Load up some Low Recoil handloads. On paper, the 357 Magnum was the first cartridge to exceed the 45 Colts muzzle energy, but many knowledgeable sixgunners, Elmer Keith included, believed the 45 Colt actually offered more practical power than the First Magnum. Today, it remains one of our most popular sixgun cartridges. That brings us to the next level, which includes 45 Colt revolvers built on the Ruger Super Blackhawk frame and the Ruger Old Model Blackhawk, the arrival of which led to two separate load sections showing up in loading manuals. Space constraints keep me from looking at all of these powders in depth, but I can cover a few. That is, until I tried IMR 4227 with Lymans #452424 and a 20.0-grain load, and that combination produced one-hole groups. moderate recoil and substantially less muzzle report. 9, #5744, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company. Use 10% UNDER any values you see here for N-100. The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. By this time Winchester had changed its name to USRAC (United States Repeating Arms Co.) and the Trappers were offered in two versions, a blued receiver or a case-colored receiver. Elmer Keith was way ahead of his time in developing everyday working and hunting loads. The .45 Colt is a grand cartridge that has survived because it is so good. For a heavier bullet with #4227 I use 22.0 grains with the 305-grain Lyman #454629 gas check at 1,315 fps while grouping in 5/8 for three shots. ), RCBS #450255KT (258 gr. Everything really starts with our Vision, which is:To be the best-run business in America, and the most successful, most respected business in our industry, for the benefit of our Customers. This is a pretty bold Vision, but its absolutely real. For the 45 Colt this is the Single Action Army revolver. The more powerful loads are only suitable for strong handguns like the Ruger Blackhawk and the Thompson Center Contender. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. They are my choice for the heaviest loads especially with cast bullets weighing 300 grains and heavier. Rhode Island Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: Heavy loads that are safe for use in the Ruger Redhawk would destroy a fine Colt SAA. The Smith & Wesson Model 29 is the sixgun by which all other .44 Magnums are judged. Stocky's Owner Don Bitz walks David Faubion through the company's new rifle stocks for 2023. The revolver and ammunition were officially adopted for service in 1873. These two bullets in a custom five-shot Blackhawk or Freedom Arms Model 83 five-shooter can be driven to 1,450 fps with W296 or H110. I load 7.5gr of HP38 in Starline brass and crimp in the crimp groove of each of these bullets. By the standards of the day when it arrived in 1873, and even to this day, the 45 Colt was and is a powerful cartridge. The Judge has been promoted! My powders of choice are Clays, HP-38, HS-6, Universal, Trail Boss, H110, IMR 4227, W296, and W231. Later production revolvers and lever action rifles are built with .451 diameter grooves., This statement has been repeated many times but holds very little truth. Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, State Agency: Members 4.5k Gender:Male Location:Dolores, Colorado Interests:All types of shooting, hunting, fishing, camping. The 9.2 got the best SD and EP, if that means much to you. They include a (1) restored 1900 revolver with carved grips, (2) 1903 custom engraved, (3) 1901 with carved pearl grips, (4) 1899 with carved grips, (5) 1957-era custom, (6) custom 1901 with stag grips, (7) 1903 with custom carved grips and a (8) Colt New Frontier SAA with custom carved grips. At 1,400 fps it is an excellent hunting bullet. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Deployed military should use stateside address. His 45 Colt bullet was #454424 and was available for decades from Lyman. This brings us to powders, and I use a lot of Hodgdon powders. | All Rights Reserved. Deployed military should use stateside address. Today the throats of most Colt revolvers measure .457 to .458 inch, which is the same dimension used by Smith & Wesson during the late 1970s, Uberti and others. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, State Agency: Dropping down to 30 grains results in an easier-shooting 835 fps and a group of 1.13 inches. So if one used 40 grains by weight of Pyrodex when the chart called for 40 grains of black powder, the result would be an overloaded charge. IMR Trail Boss, 4227, IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. The 45 Colt rim is smaller than the rim on a 45 Auto Rim. I found the following heavyweight bullets all would work through both the Winchester and Marlin actions: NEI 310 Keith, NEI 325 Keith, Lyman #454629GC 300-grain FN, RCBS #45-270 SAA weighing around 284 grains with my alloy, and I also checked the #454490GC design by Ray Thompson, which is a 255-grain Keith-style gas-checked bullet. hi guy, for awhile now i have slowly been adding to my collection,,i just got 2 molds, a rcbs 255 grain ,,and a lyman 325 grain gc,,,i got the dies, the powder, had dale put my name on miha list for his 45 long colt hollow point mold, ,i have some brass, i got the dies,, but still looking for that one 45 long colt gun. A favorite pastime of many dedicated sixgunners is sitting around a campfire arguing the merits of their particular choice of caliber. Notes: cases: Winchester; trim-to length: 1.275"; primers: Winchester WLP; primer size: Large Pistol; Lyman shell holder: No. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. No purchase necessary. What the John Wick is 9mm Major, Anyway. Before I discuss handloads for the 45 Colt, we have to acknowledge there exists such a wide range of revolvers accepting the 45 Colt that great care must be used in assembling loads and choosing which guns will safely accept them. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. More than 45 years of shooting and slugging the barrels of hundreds of Colt SAAs suggests differently. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Cast bullets can be sized to .455 inch (assuming the mould casts bullets large enough), which again helps to reduce bullet tilting in the throat. There were no 45 Colt heavyweight bullets available at the time, so we sized down 300-grain 45-70 bullets in several stages, going from around 0.460 inch to 0.452 inch. The top of the can says NOT FOR HANDGUN LOADS. Contest open to U.S. residents only. I advise staying away from loads intended for custom sixguns with five-shot cylinders and it has also been proven the lever-action is not strong enough for .454 loads. Unique is better. Make sure your gun can handle it before Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: This is a plain base bullet and I found out very quickly it was not very accurate in either rifle. Bullets from RCBS mould 45-270-SAA, which usually weigh around 280 to 285 grains, are designed to maximize powder capacity, are accurate and an excellent choice for hunting big game. The original loading was a bullet of approximately 255 grains with a muzzle velocity of somewhere around 850 to 900 fps. Share to Reddit. At 1,400 fps it is an excellent hunting bullet. Not only do the Hodgdon folks offer excellent powders, but also they are simply some of the nicest folks in the industry. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. If I had to shoot only one factory ammunition the rest of my life, I would. i even just recieved an awsome holster rig new,lined,scroll work, you name it , looks fantastic quality for only 40.00,,,got hooked up with this awsome lady on ebay,whos selling them for a friend who makes them. In spite of the above factory loads featuring the old Government bullet profile with a relatively small meplat, they are still effective. They are my choice for the heaviest loads especially with cast bullets weighing 300 grains and heavier. Its also a good choice for hunting. I normally stay under 900 fps with a 250-grain bullet in Colt Single Action Army revolvers and its replicas. For several years Smith & Wesson cut throats at 0.455 inch or even larger, but now they seem to be running at a more proper 0.451 to 0.452 inch. Again using 255-grain factory loads at 860 fps, the .45 Colt reaches a factor of 14.09, while select standard-pressure handloads containing 280-grain bullets pushed to 950 fps factor at 17.17. I have been surprised by the fact the Marlin feeds Keith-style bullets perfectly. The 45 Colt brass could handle the pressures, but standard sixguns could not. If you want those speeds and power, buy a .44 magnum. This is a plain base bullet and I found out very quickly it was not very accurate in either rifle. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. A pair of Old Model Blackhawks with 4-5/8 and 4-3/4 barrels put five rounds in 1 at 20 yards while traveling at about 800 fps. Joe Kurtenbach and Caleb Giddings also look at the first-ever optics-ready carry revolvers with the new Taurus 605 and 856 T.O.R.O. When crimped in its cannelure, the overall length still exceeds industry specifications at 1.652 inches. - 9.4 grains Unique Lyman 452460 , 200 gr. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. The vast majority of my 45 Colt handloads over the last 60 years, however, has been put together with cast bullets. you use any of these loads listed below with STARS (*). For example, the most recent Speer Reloading Manual Number 15 states, Prior to 1945, most .45 Colt revolvers had a bore diameter of .454 inch. SWC - 9.6 grains Unique Lyman # 454190 , 250 gr. They do provide identical results of muzzle velocities and pressures using the same charge weights, and I use them interchangeably. Handgun Data. These figures correspond with the many other pre-World War II guns that I have slugged. The day of the percussion revolver would soon be over, and even Colt could see the future and began converting 1860 cap-and-ball sixguns to fire cartridges. The availability of all of these bullets is dependent on how much time I have to cast my own. Contest open to U.S. residents only. The 45 Colt also predates the 38 Special, the 44 Special, and the 45 ACP, and not only is it more than 80 years older than the 44 Magnum, but it also has more case capacity and in the proper sixguns can outrank the 44 Magnum. Bullet is .452 diameter. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Cast bullets in both plain-based and gas check versions are available from 260 grains to 325 grains. It has never failed me. that charge was increased to 38 grains by 1898. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. It is my most used powder both in cap-and-ball and cartridge-firing sixguns when black powder loads are desired. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. This was achieved with 40 grains of black powder. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. My brass of choice is Starlines excellent 45 Colt brass with CCI 300 Large Pistol primers for all powders, except I switch to CCI 350 Magnum Pistol primers with IMR 4227, H110, W296, and all black powder and black powder substitutes. The larger diameter ring that sizes the lower half of the case provides longer case life and eliminates the typical swaged bulge just ahead of the solid head. Jeff Bradley shows off the Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR) from Christensen Arms at SHOT Show 2023. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, State Agency: The Lyman bullet 452651 GC will cast 20-1 at about 325 grains including gas check. Do Pistols Benefit From Popular Aftermarket Modifications? Factory warranties may apply in some cases. For loading black powder 45 Colt loads, I use Goex as well as Pyrodex and Triple Seven. The standard groove diameter for the .45 Colt is .451 inch minimum and .452 inch maximum. That brings us to the next level, which includes 45 Colt revolvers built on the Ruger Super Blackhawk frame and the Ruger Old Model Blackhawk, the arrival of which led to two separate load sections showing up in loading manuals. Many early black-powder-era Colt revolvers (1873-1898) feature .449- to .452-inch throats that corresponded reasonably with .450- to .452-inch barrel groove diameters. It shoots VERY well, the recoil is tolerable, and it cuts a clean hole in both targets and small game. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. In guns with .452-inch throats, the Magma designed 250-grain RNFP offered by most commercial cast bullet companies (Oregon Trail used here) can be surprisingly accurate. I chose the Herco powder to utilize as much case capacity as possible. That is, if the loading table calls for 40 grains of black powder, then one uses a 40-grain volume powder measure for the same amount by volume of Pyrodex. All Freedom Arms cylinders are held to very tight tolerances and whether using 45 Colt or 454 Casull brass, I size with a special 454 die. Custom five-shooters built on the Ruger Blackhawk, the Ruger Redhawk, and the Freedom Arms Model 83 top the list. (NOTE: Sections marked Ruger Only are not for the New Model Blackhawk Flat-Tops or the New Vaquero!) These black-powder guns should not be fired with smokeless powder loads. Stay tuned. SAAMI pressures for STANDARD .45 Colt is 14,000 PSI MAXIMUM, but For clarification, the above three, revolvers are completely original with barrels featuring the small rounded bead-type. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. 53 pg. New Hampshire Fish & Game Department, State Agency: http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/ad.php?t=78528, http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi&id=1465047205, Vintage Boxes - Gear, Shell, Case, Primer, Group Buys Design, Active , Waiting and Archives, Closed Buys/Waiting for delivery/in shipment, If this is your first visit, be sure to I didnt realize how many different powders from Hodgdon I use in loading the 45 Colt until I began putting this article together. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. The other problem, that of cylinder throat diameters, centers around the fact that they vary considerably. My loading dies are from Lee, Lyman, and RCBS, and all of them give excellent service. Moving up to the second level, loads at around 1,000 fps with the same-weight bullet are used in the Colt New Frontier, Smith & Wesson Model 25/625, Ruger Flat-Top New Model, and the Ruger New Vaquero. * which is just a little over maximum Colt loads (but mild for Ruger) shot an average of 880.2 fps pointing up and 708.0 fps pointing down, but the spread between shots was 146 fps and 235 fps respectively. This prevents bullets from being sized down when seated into an overly tight case. So if one used 40 grains by weight of Pyrodex when the chart called for 40 grains of black powder, the result would be an overloaded charge. (See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.) When time is a problem, actually when sometimes my own energy is the problem, I look to Oregon Trail Bullets. Survival, Banned, Training, Load, reloading, powder Collection folkscanomy_defense; folkscanomy; additional_collections Language English. within an inch or 2 of each other at 50 yards. Alaska Department of Fish & Game, State Agency: 5, No.7, No. Before I discuss handloads for the 45 Colt, we have to acknowledge there exists such a wide range of revolvers accepting the 45 Colt that great care must be used in assembling loads and choosing which guns will safely accept them. (I) Giveaway ends December 31, 2022. However, due to their heavier weights and increased barrel time, many fixed-sighted sixguns may group high. However, when using soft swaged-lead bullets, an expander ball around .002 inch smaller than bullet diameter is preferred. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2021. Moving up to 22.0 grains increases the muzzle velocity to 1,300 fps and then 24.0 grains is right at 1,400 fps with both putting three shots in at 45 yards. sure they will feed and chamber through levergun actions. I normally stay under 900 fps with a 250-grain bullet in Colt Single Action Army revolvers and its replicas. I usually select an expander ball that is at least .003 to .004 inch smaller than bullet diameter, which helps prevent bullets from jumping crimp and aids in achieving consistent powder ignition. Then something dramatic happened in 1869: Smith & Wesson brought forth the 44 American sixgun that used fixed ammunition. I use my Winchester and Marlin Trappers for relatively close-range shooting. 2020, Lyman Products Corporation, printed in U.S.A. All other trademarks in this catalog are the property of their respective owners. It is my most used powder both in cap-and-ball and cartridge-firing sixguns when black powder loads are desired. In addition to outstanding terminal performance and accuracy in guns with correct internal dimensions, it offers low pressures, mild muzzle report and controllable recoil, all of which make it especially practical for an outdoorsman who uses a sixgun daily. The .45 Colt was soon loaded with smokeless powders with loads eventually standardized with 250- and 255-grain lead hollowbase bullets from Remington and Winchester, respectively, at around 870 fps, but today are listed at 860 fps. El Hombre Sin Nombre Members 6.3k Gender:Male Location:Oakland, CA SASS# 101096 Richmond Roughriders, Coyote Valley Cowboys, Faultine Shootist Society,Two Rivers Posse, River City Regulators Posted February 18, 2017 There simply is not much that cannot be accomplished with the 45 Colt. The Lyman family of brands including Pachmayr, Mark 7 Reloading, TacStar, A-Zoom, Trius, Butch's, and Targ-Dots offers products to meet the needs of shooters and reloaders. It also is a most versatile powder as it can be used for standard loads for the Colt SAA and heavy loads for the Blackhawk. Missouri Deptartment of Conservation, State Agency: Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. On the other end are the Ruger Only loads. I can not find any reliable load data for Blue Dot with cast bullets. The Lee bullet works well in my Winchester (Miroku) 1873. Again, a groove diameter of .451 to .452 inch remains standard by all manufacturers. A favorite pastime of many dedicated sixgunners is sitting around a campfire arguing the merits of their particular choice of caliber. For loading black powder 45 Colt loads, I use Goex as well as Pyrodex and Triple Seven. Contest void where prohibited by law. I seat and crimp just over the bullet radius. For the 45 Colt this is the Single Action Army revolver. However, it cannot be approached the same as smokeless. Elmer Keiths custom Colt single action was used to develop his heavy 44 Special loads in the late 1920s, and for a long time the 45 Colt cartridge was accused of being weak. .45 Colt Rifle Data (Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition) reloading data with 0 loads. Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders. REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD. . This same bullet can be loaded to much higher velocity in Rugers large-frame single- and double-action sixguns. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. However, when using versions that weigh 250 grains, it is sometimes difficult to reach high enough velocities to achieve reliable expansion while staying within industry pressure guidelines. Over the nearly 15 decades since its arrival, there have been many attempts to pronounce it dead. The other problem, that of cylinder throat diameters, centers around the fact that they vary considerably. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. With my alloys this bullet runs around 280 to 285 grains while at the same time having a slightly shorter nose than the original Keith design so it fits in all Colt cylinders. Oregon Trails 250-grain RNFP over 8.0 grains of W231 clocks out just under 1,100 fps with three-shot groups of 1" or less. There are some excellent jacketed bullets available for use in the 45 Colt, including the Sierra 240-grain JHP, Hornady 250-grain XTP-JHP, and the Speer 260-grain JHP, all of which I prefer for deer-sized game. Powders include Deployed military should use stateside address. S.A.A.M.I. This database has 6400 loads for cast bullet loads. Any time I have a 45 Colt that doesnt shoot the way I think it should, I dont give up until I try this load of IMR 4227 with Keiths bullet. Contest open to U.S. residents only.
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