Has anyone done load development for 250gr 45 Colt with CFE Pistol in the Ruger only pressure range? I know there are better powders, but I have ton of this one. If you have experience with this powder doing this deed, please share your discoveries. What charge weights did you use, and what performance did it yield?

Hodgdon reloading has a recipe with CFE-P for 250gr bullets, but they way down sonic barrier. Any particular reason going supersonic ?

I use CFE Pistol for standard pressure 45 Colt loads.

I'd advise against trying to turn the 45 Colt into a 44 Magnum.
I don't care who says it's safe, and yes I've read his webpage from Wyoming.

There's just no reason to do that. If you need 44 Magnum power and velocities, then get a 44 Magnum.

CFE Pistol is an excellent powder for the 45 Colt, but stay within the boundaries of the standard pressure 45 Colt load data.

Forget that "Ruger only" stuff.


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LOL I was going to ask about that very thing. There's a number of different manufacturers out there...including S&W. There's a Model 29 N-Frame which handles .44 magnum pressure levels...so why can't the Model 25 handle the so-called "Ruger Only" .45 Colt loads? FWIW the whole "Ruger Only" theme came by way of the Ruger Blackhawk's "Flat-top" strength superiority over the original Colt 1873 SAA design. It never was supposed to imply all Ruger weapons were stronger than all other brands and designs.

Hey...maybe I just answered my own question.

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Smith. And Wesson. And Me!

"Forget the Ruger only stuff!"

I have a T/C Contender that I load and ol load from Barns Bullets for the "Original" 300 grain 44. Their load will destroy a Super Blackhawk in 50 to 100 rounds. It was developed for hunting Lions with an O.M.Mossberg 44 mag. revolver in the early 70's. Out of my ported Super 14, it is pretty rough on me firing it! I keep these loads very far from my two Model 29's! (never even considered trying them in a Marlin either!)

Ivan

Did I miss something ??

Did 45 go +P+ or MAJOR in the shooting games ?? !!

Look at the cylinder wall thickness and the forcing cone barrel thickness! ! ! !
jcelect

It seems like an easy answer - look up the powder load recommendation for .45 Colt, 250 gr that makes it to 1130 fps, and if one exists the pressure at which it operates.

Whether such a load is safe for a model 25 is debatable, but I think S & W answered the question with the 460 .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

This argument about not using Ruger only loads in 25-5's because they supposedly can not handle the pressure comes up every so often. The 45 Colt SAAMI pressure is 14000 psi. The 25-2's in 45 ACP handle the 45 ACP +P rounds at 21000 psi. Many 25-2s have been converted to use 45 Super rounds which are 28000 psi. Also to consider are the many Model 25's converted to handle the 460 Rowland which generates 40,000 psi.

Constantly using heavy loads will take it's toll on any weapon. Some will show signs of wear sooner than others. The Ruger tier 2 loads I would think using 45 Colt loads in the 20000 - 27000 psi range every so often wouldn't be a problem in a 25-5.