In the event that a bullet walks out of the case slightly from recoil, Brian suggests an overall cartridge length that is at least .010 to .015 inch below flush with the end of the cylinder. However, a tight-chambered 45 Colt cylinder may require tolerances offered by a 454 Casull full-length sizing die. Both of these are plainbased Keith-style bullets, and their numbers are #310.451 and #325.454, with the first three digits giving the approximate bullet weight. Knowing this measurement for a given revolver is critical to select the correct components to achieve accuracy. I didnt realize how many different powders from Hodgdon I use in loading the 45 Colt until I began putting this article together. 45 Colt is a pistol round. Be very careful using the loads for Ruger and T/C (Thompson Contender) as these are maximum loads, even for these strong guns. 45 LC load with Titegroup? | Ruger Forum The revolver and ammunition were officially adopted for service in 1873. North Dakota Game & Fish Department, State Agency: 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. 2020, Lyman Products Corporation, printed in U.S.A. All other trademarks in this catalog are the property of their respective owners. And about 1450+fps out of the 20" 454 Puma Levergun. It didnt take long for manufacturers to offer heavier bullets, and two of the best came from NEI. A favorite pastime of many dedicated sixgunners is sitting around a campfire arguing the merits of their particular choice of caliber. 9 with 15 gr. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: There are many good jacketed bullets for the .45 Colt. and how they grouped at ther yrds. When using a revolver with large throats, there are solutions to improve accuracy. All Rights Reserved. Jacketed bullets are also more difficult to push down the bore and therefore produce less velocity than a cast bullet of equal weight. For testing I go with three shots at 45 yards. youd need for most critters in the lower 48. Alaska Department of Fish & Game, State Agency: I shot all kinds of bullets and powders from my 45 colt from 200gr to 350 gr trying to find something that was better than the other. 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 older was slower Fast-burning in pistol calibers. It has never failed me. FWIW Dale53 #Permalink 1 0 The Judge has been promoted! 1,578 fps from a 24" universal receiver (all use rem brass and rem 9-1/2 primer). Over the nearly 15 decades since its arrival, there have been many attempts to pronounce it dead. .45 Colt (Pet Loads) | Handloader Magazine Low Recoil Loads | Hodgdon Reloading Handloading allows the flexibility to adjust load ballistics for a particular purpose. The 1894 Winchester Trappers have a long, strong action and even though the chambers are somewhat over-size, they will handle any load you can normally load in a .45 Colt case for use in sixguns with six-shot cylinders. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. That is black powder loads or Black powder level only. However, it cannot be approached the same as smokeless. If your Hornady book says 45 Colts use a 458 bullet, they are wrong. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (when required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. A Modern rifle should handle these loads equally as well, such as the Winchester Model 94. The performance level is pretty close to the original Black Powder load but far more effective due to the bullet I use. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, State Agency: Bob Meinert, FN Marketing Director, introduces FN's first commercial pistol suppressor, the FN Rush 9Ti. Blue dot and 45 colt | Graybeard Outdoors Pyrodex P is the equivalent of Triple-F or FFFg black powder. Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. If reliable expansion is desired, consider 230-grain JHP bullets designed for the .45 ACP or the Hornady 225-grain FTX, which can be pushed close to 1,000 fps while staying within pressure guidelines. 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. 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. (I) Giveaway ends February 28, 2023. 9, #5744, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company. 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 individual accessing this site assumes the risk of safe loading practices. With multiple powder charge weights there has been considerable confusion on this subject. Load Data - Castpics Lyman Reloading Products | Titan Reloading Equipment within an inch or 2 of each other at 50 yards. rifling. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, State Agency: Contest void where prohibited by law. I have found two things necessary gas checks and hard alloys, also in most cases muzzle velocities over 1,200-1,300 fps. Heavy loads that are safe for use in the Ruger Redhawk would destroy a fine Colt SAA. It's always had a great reputation as a man stopper. When the Marlin and Winchester Trappers first arrived in the early 80s, the #1 45 Colt bullet was still Elmer Keiths #454424 weighing about 260 grains from my alloy. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM Old West 2023, PO Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. When he died in 1862, the company was dedicated to producing the same percussion revolvers. Loading the .45 Colt It's vital to understand today's loading manuals typically include .45 Colt loads at two different power levels: under 14,000 CUP and under 29,000 PSI. Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, State Agency: Chris Johnson, FN Senior Product Manager, walks us through two new FN striker-fired pistols at SHOT Show 2023: the FN 510 Tactical, chambered in 10mm Auto, and the FN 545 Tactical, chambered in .45 ACP. Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. There simply is not much that cannot be accomplished with the 45 Colt. This was achieved with 40 grains of black powder. The .45 Colts origins started in 1871 when Colt began designing a new sixgun specifically to house metallic cartridges. Dropping down to 30 grains results in an easier-shooting 835 fps and a group of 1.13 inches. Technical Specifications (based on the respective safety standard - see more details in tab "Datasheet" if available) Caliber: .45 Colt. But keep in mind, both Lyman and Alliant publish only standard pressure loads for the 45 Colt. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. I seat and crimp just over the bullet radius. Their 10mm Devastator (Lyman #401638 HP) has a listed weight of 155 grains, and is a HP version of their very accurate 175 grain TC design. 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. I have found HS-6, Universal, and W231 powders work very well for standard loads, while IMR 4227 bulks up nicely in 45 Colt brass. I was fortunate to find one of each. Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, State Agency: That is, until I tried IMR 4227 with Lymans #452424 and a 20.0-grain load, and that combination produced one-hole groups. They often equal or surpass the accuracy from my carefully tailored hand-cast bullets. Most of these are custom, tuned and have accounted for several head of big game. If I had to shoot only one factory ammunition the rest of my life, I would. Quality 300-grain jacketed bullets are also offered by all three of these manufacturers. They are my choice for the heaviest loads especially with cast bullets weighing 300 grains and heavier. I did find a 225 grain jacketed bullet. 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. During my early teenage years I acquired a beautiful pre-World War II Colt SAA .45 that was customized by one of the masters during the 1920s. Elmer Keith was way ahead of his time in developing everyday working and hunting loads. USE THIS DATA WITH ALLIANT BRAND POWDERS ONLY. Starting load is 12.4 grains and top load is 15.4 grains of Blue Dot. 5, No.7, No. sure they will feed and chamber through levergun actions. 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. Unique Max Loads for .45 Colt? - Gunloads.com 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. Contest void where prohibited by law. The same load in a Jim Stroh custom 5-1/2 Bisley has the same accuracy with more . Custom five-shooters built on the Ruger Blackhawk, the Ruger Redhawk, and the Freedom Arms Model 83 top the list. A favorite pastime of many dedicated sixgunners is sitting around a campfire arguing the merits of their particular choice of caliber. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Those first Winchesters were 16 Trapper Models, with mine being purchased in 1985. Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: Western Powders (Accurate and Ramshot) are about the only ones publishing higher pressure 45 Colt cast bullet data. It is my most used powder both in cap-and-ball and cartridge-firing sixguns when black powder loads are desired. When he died in 1862, the company was dedicated to producing the same percussion revolvers. .45 Colt (180-200 grain bullets) .44 Mag (180-200 grain bullets) .38-40 (180 grain bullets) I had hangfires in the .45 Colt with less amount of Reddot. im leaning towards the ruger blackhawk bisley 45 long cot 5.5 barrel. Target loads in .45 Colt - Cast Bullet Forum State Agency: Subscriber Services. Recommendations for 45lc 250 gr bullet using Unique Powder? Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. These will still work in the vast majority of sixguns with the exception of the old short cylinder Smith & Wesson N-frames produced prior to 1978 and a couple of others not commonly encountered. Reloader 7 - 37.0 grains start, 39.0 grains max. 2021. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. It has many additional virtues, primarily its big-bore performance and reliability. The key for best shooting is to size cast bullets accordingly and open the throats if necessary. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. These two examples were produced in 1875 (left) and 1887 (below). Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. : .451" Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data. Colt single actions are right around 0.454 inch. His 45 Colt bullet was #454424 and was available for decades from Lyman. It should be crimped over the ogive and seated to an overall cartridge length of around 1.575 inches, which helps reduce case capacity and results in lower extreme spreads with powders that tend to be position sensitive. so when i find my gun,,i can get busy asap with this . The standard groove diameter for the .45 Colt is .451 inch minimum and .452 inch maximum. A quote from Lyman Reloading Handbook, 49th Edition states, The grooves of pre-World War II revolvers normally measure .454 in diameter. .45 Colt Rifle Data (Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition) Make sure your gun can handle it before 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. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. I clocked 9.2, 9.5 and 10 grains. Over the nearly 15 decades since its arrival, there have been many attempts to pronounce it dead. In preparation for this article, I pulled from my personal collection a Colt SAA with serial number 16xxx (1875) that slugged an average groove diameter of .450 inch. It is impossible to go wrong with the 45 Colt. We are blessed to have many excellent cartridges and sixguns available to us, but it would be hard to find any cartridge that is as versatile as the old 45 Colt. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. The vast majority of my 45 Colt handloads over the last 60 years, however, has been put together with cast bullets. Sam Colt became a millionaire producing percussion revolvers. Instead of being overly large, Rugers have been way too tight, with some measuring around 0.449 inch, but now Ruger is cutting all cylinder throats at 0.451 to 0.452 inch. Your load at 6.0 gr Unique is dangerously unsafe. The powder is Herco. The original loading was a bullet of approximately 255 grains with a muzzle velocity of somewhere around 850 to 900 fps. What Happened to the Trail Boss Load Data? The minimum load for a 200 gr cast SWC in 45 Colt is listed as 8.6 gr Unique for 918 fps. Facing off in a handgun challenge featuring the smallest professional-grade enclosed red dot sight on the market, Eric and Tom put the Acro P-2 to the distance test by doing a walk-back challenge. Contest open to U.S. residents only. I have been pleasantly surprised by the Marlin Trapper. Colt single actions are right around 0.454 inch. My gun was a new model Bisely blackhawk long barrel. Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6, HS7 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. 458 is a rifle bullet. Sam Colt became a millionaire producing percussion revolvers. At 1,400 fps it is an excellent hunting bullet. Keiths #454424 was an excellent bullet, but it has been improved by Dave Scovill and is offered by RCBS as #45-270SAA. As I have gotten older and my hands have become more tender, I find myself moderating my everyday shooting loads. Rifle Data Here you will find load data for some of the most recent cartridges on the market, with more being added each week. When crimped in its cannelure, the overall length still exceeds industry specifications at 1.652 inches. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Rifle Data - Speer California Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: 45 Colt Load Data - HunterHub As I have gotten older and my hands have become more tender, I find myself moderating my everyday shooting loads. About 1200+ fps in the 7.5 SBH, 1150fps out of the 4" Redhawk. American Handgunner Favorite 45 Bullets - American Handgunner Lyman 49 says reloader 7 has been a long time favorite for .45-70. Keith bullet, the Lee 452-255-rf 250gr bullet and the RCBS 45-270-SAA for .45 Colt. Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. Additional evidence can be found in Colt-published specifications dated June 1924 that list the .45 Colt with a groove diameter of .451 inch minimum and .452 inch maximum (with bore diameter being .444 inch minimum and .445 maximum). Most manufacturers have recognized the need to offer revolvers with correct throat dimensions including Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Uberti, USFA and others, but not Colt. In 1935 we entered the Magnum Sixgun Era with the arrival of the 357 Magnum; however, long before that we had the 45 Colt. The only 456 bullet I am aware of is a conical made for Ruger Old Armys, so Lyman saying that is the right bullet for 45 Colt makes no sense. Although far from perfect, the old Taylor Knock Out (TKO) formula, which is caliber x bullet weight x velocity 7,000, is far more accurate. A check of Hodgdons loading manuals shows these two powders using the same charge weight produce the same velocities and pressures. Treat it like one. 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 However, none of these loads should be taken for granted and should be worked up very carefully. For the 45 Colt this is the Single Action Army revolver. Reference to Powder UP and Powder DOWN is to actually shake the gun in an up or down position before firing each round and gently bring the gun to the horizontal and shooting. Cast bullets in both plain-based and gas check versions are available from 260 grains to 325 grains. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. We switch now from the use of PC (Powder Coated) bullets to cast bullets. In part one of this series we saw the history of .45 Colt leverguns, which turned out to be quite recent, beginning in the early 1980s. Handgun Data. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Not only do the Hodgdon folks offer excellent powders, but also they are simply some of the nicest folks in the industry. However, the first known commercial listing is found in the 1880 UMC catalog. That is, until I tried IMR 4227 with Lymans #452424 and a 20.0-grain load, and that combination produced one-hole groups. New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, State Agency: Even with their short barrels, they still carry nine rounds in the tubular magazine. Marlins from the era have Micro-Groove rifling which may or may not work with cast bullets. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, State Agency: PDF The Future of Reloading They do provide identical results of muzzle velocities and pressures using the same charge weights, and I use them interchangeably. 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. Handgun Data. take the .45 Colt as my game and defense cartridge. It is noteworthy that this statement was made 20 years after the development of the .357 Magnum, a cartridge Keith also tested and used in the field. Nevada Department of Wildlife, State Agency: A check of Hodgdons loading manuals shows these two powders using the same charge weight produce the same velocities and pressures. Pyrodex is cleaner burning than black powder and results in less fouling of the barrel. now im looking for top performance load data to ass to my load data book for this caliber. The Smith & Wesson Model 29 is the sixgun by which all other .44 Magnums are judged. This database has 6400 loads for cast bullet loads. sets maximum standards for cartridges; this standard must be set at a level safely usable in the weakest common denominator. Incidentally, the U.S Cartridge Company first listed a 255-grain bullet with 35 grains of black in 1882, but. 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. The Lee bullet works well in my Winchester (Miroku) 1873. Shooter's Reference Load Data for .45 Colt and while they do not have the slick action of the slightly smaller Model 1892, they are fast handling and come up to the shoulder quickly. Basic Load Data Hornady Manufacturing Company develops and publishes reloading data for the Handbook of Cartridge Reloading. For the .45 Colt my standard load is 5.5 grains of Clays, which gives from 780 fps to 840 fps depending upon the sixgun used. The Freedom Arms Model 97 also is in this group. considered more the norm. Incidentally, many jacketed bullet loads will produce higher velocities in revolvers with shorter barrels. Then comes the Freedom Arms Model 97, the original Ruger Vaquero, Ruger Blackhawk, Ruger Redhawk, and the Ruger Super Redhawk. Copyright. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, State Agency: The Colt fanciers had .45's, usually in the New Service model, unless they were cowboy fans who had SAA's. The guys that worked in the paper mills and machine shops had 1917's. If you want-ed a handgun with power, the GI surplus .45 ACP in the 1917 was the only thing you could afford to shoot as reloading "ca'tridges" was unknown. The original Winchesters, whether chambered in .44 Rimfire or .44-40, all used cast bullets as jacketed bullets did not start appearing until the early part of the 20th century. It is a good choice for self-defense, long-range shooting, hunting everything on four legs, and just plain fun shooting. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM April 2023, P.O. The company also distributes IMR and Winchester powders as well as Goex black powder. ok 45 long colt lovers,,ring out ,lets hear from you,,the more the merry. flatpoint Keith-style bullets. Handgun Data - Speer Most are either .451 (jacketed) or .452 (lead) and Sierra even makes jacketed bullets for the Colt SAA that are .4515 splitting the difference. In spite of the above factory loads featuring the old Government bullet profile with a relatively small meplat, they are still effective. For example, Lyman mould No. Some of my most accurate loads are as follows: The Lyman/Thompson #454490 GC over 20.0 grains of #42274 gives a group at 1,275 fps or 20.0 grains of #2400 for 150 fps more velocity and a group just over 1. It has never failed me. For the 45 Colt, I especially prefer the 250-grain RNFP and the 255-grain SWC. Load up some Low Recoil handloads. 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. It is an excellent compromise between the 250- and 300-grain cast bullets. It was submitted to the U.S. Army in 1872 and would become known as the Colt Single Action Army, Model of 1873, Peacemaker, Model P, Thumb Buster and a host of other affectionate names. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Rhode Island Department of Fish & Wildlife, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, Minnesota Deptartment of Natural Resources, Michigan Deptartment of Natural Resources, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. SWC - 9.6 grains Unique Lyman # 454190 , 250 gr. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. However, it cannot be approached the same as smokeless. (NOTE: Sections marked Ruger Only are not for the New Model Blackhawk Flat-Tops or the New Vaquero!) Members 4.5k Gender:Male Location:Dolores, Colorado Interests:All types of shooting, hunting, fishing, camping. New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. and other smokeless cartridges were introduced. 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 Addeddate 2019-02-27 13:08:05 Identifier LymanReloadingHandbook48thEdition2002Ocr_201902 Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t9093sd5t Ocr ABBYY FineReader 11.0 (Extended OCR) Lyman has been an important name for shooters for well over 100 years. These Lyman loads are conservative made for older guns. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2021. Guns with larger throats will usually produce improved accuracy when loaded with bullets that measure .454 to .456 inch. This Colt SAA .45 was manufactured in 1893 and saw extensive use on the frontier prior to being professionally restored. VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. I use my Winchester and Marlin Trappers for relatively close-range shooting. Box 502795, San Diego, CA 92150-1377. However, in those long-gone days I was able to find two Winchester Trappers both in .45 Colt and the Marlin versions in both calibers mentioned. SCCY DVG-1 Sub-Compact Striker-Fired Pistol: Full Review, Buyer Beware: Buying 'Bargain' Guns Can Be Risky. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Ruger's multi-role small frame autoloading rifle - Sear - combines AR-10 power with AR-15 Portability. The final level includes custom five-shot Rugers and the Freedom Arms Model 83. Make sure your gun can handle it before you use any of these loads listed below with STARS (*). (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (when required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Both of these are plainbased Keith-style bullets, and their numbers are #310.451 and #325.454, with the first three digits giving the approximate bullet weight.