priced a 50 round box of .45 Colt ammo at my Gunsmith $76.95 !!!
Reloading is in my future !
Reloading is in my future !
.45 COLT AMMO
- Thread starter jimmyj
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venomballistics
Member
at some point im sure ... if you're late to the party, good luck
Brass
I hope you have saved ALL your brass over the years? ! ? That's one big expense you won't need to spend!
Good luck, jcelect
I hope you have saved ALL your brass over the years? ! ? That's one big expense you won't need to spend!
Good luck, jcelect
Beemer-mark
Member
45 Colt was never cheap. Last time I looked at prices, and this was years ago, it was $50 a box.
The OK Corral shoot out would require a bank loan these days!
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I started shooting SASS in the mid 90's and a box of New (not reload) 200 RNFL Cowboy 45 colt (700 FPS) was $9.95+tax (takes 120 rounds per outing), By 2000, Y2K had the price up to $22.50 a box.
I had been reloading since 1979 and model 25-5's were my weakness! So I had a little over 2000 cases. A common door prize at a cowboy shoot is cases that fell in front of the bench, and venders often sold used brass, By 2004, I had 5500 45 Colt brass. Load it all up in the winter, and again around July 4th. My family shot 45 S&W, 44WCF, 38/357. 44 Special & 44 Russian also. Depending on how many and how often they shot with me I went through 20,000 rounds of cowboy ammo a year, and 5000 45 ACP. I bought WLP and WSP 10 to 20 thousand at a time (and thought nothing of it. Prices were Primers $12.00- $15.00/ 1000, large bullets were $16.00-$22.00/ 1000. Powder (WW231) was about $9.00 a pound in 8 and 15 pound kegs! My load used 6.7 grains in 45 Colt and 5.5 in 45 ACP using the same 200 grain RNFP bullet)
My favorite bullet in 45 Colt was Starr (of Indianapolis), 185 gr SWC/HP over 6.7 of 231, They flattened to about 1/8" thick and 1 1/2 diameter when the hit a steel plat almost square. Sadly, that firm is long gone, and I have only 1700 of those bullets left!
Ivan
I had been reloading since 1979 and model 25-5's were my weakness! So I had a little over 2000 cases. A common door prize at a cowboy shoot is cases that fell in front of the bench, and venders often sold used brass, By 2004, I had 5500 45 Colt brass. Load it all up in the winter, and again around July 4th. My family shot 45 S&W, 44WCF, 38/357. 44 Special & 44 Russian also. Depending on how many and how often they shot with me I went through 20,000 rounds of cowboy ammo a year, and 5000 45 ACP. I bought WLP and WSP 10 to 20 thousand at a time (and thought nothing of it. Prices were Primers $12.00- $15.00/ 1000, large bullets were $16.00-$22.00/ 1000. Powder (WW231) was about $9.00 a pound in 8 and 15 pound kegs! My load used 6.7 grains in 45 Colt and 5.5 in 45 ACP using the same 200 grain RNFP bullet)
My favorite bullet in 45 Colt was Starr (of Indianapolis), 185 gr SWC/HP over 6.7 of 231, They flattened to about 1/8" thick and 1 1/2 diameter when the hit a steel plat almost square. Sadly, that firm is long gone, and I have only 1700 of those bullets left!
Ivan
GypsmJim
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I have a lifetime supply of lead, accumulated back in the 1990's, so I consider my boolits to be free. My last Primers from March 2020 cost $28. I also bought powder on the cheap and have a lifetime supply.
My box of 41 mag or 41 spl cost about 2 bucks.
Maybe luck, maybe planning for retirement, maybe just remembering past shortages, maybe just having a few bucks to blow. I dunno. Nevertheless, I'll still be shooting for a long time.
My box of 41 mag or 41 spl cost about 2 bucks.
Maybe luck, maybe planning for retirement, maybe just remembering past shortages, maybe just having a few bucks to blow. I dunno. Nevertheless, I'll still be shooting for a long time.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
What muzzle velocity do you load your M25-5 to? I also have one, with a 4" barrel, and try to keep it around 800 fps, but wonder just how much the gun can handle. Hornady gives load data for stuff like older SAA's and another set for guns like Redhawks and Thompson Contenders, and say not to use those in older guns. I know my M25 isn't made for the hotter loads the Redhawk and Contender use, but woder if I can go as high as 1000 fps, using a 250 grain plated or JHP. Really, the 800 fps loads are a joy to shoot, and the gun is pretty accurate.
I've run some 255 coated lead a little over 1000fps out of a 4" m25 with no problems but see no need to. I'm sure long term loads like that would take a toll. With a Freedom Arms, you can push that same bullet 1250-1300fps with no worries with the gun, but your wrist will tell you to stop. A fun load is about 4gr Bullseye with a 230 or a 250 Lead bullet.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I don't remember what I loaded the 25-5 reloads with or to what estimated velocity was. The Federal 225 LSWCHP was at 1025 fps Factory, and Win STHP's are 225 @ 1025. So that should be a good ceiling to stay below.
Like I said above 6.7 of WW231 with 200 to 230 RNFP cast bullet is accurate and hard enough hitting for anything smaller than a bear!
Ivan
OP
255 grain bullet at 900 FPS ??
I have been shooting .45 Colt since 1973. As I recall, I paid $100 for my Old Model Blackhawk, plus about $7.50 for a box of ammo. I still have my Speer #9 Manual with the special page for "Contender and Blackhawk only." I accumulated brass over the years, and for some reason, just before everything went out of sight, bought 1000 rounds of Starline brass. I already had several thousand pieces of once or twice fired pieces. I had bought up a bunch of Unique, and about 10,000 large pistol primers. I gave a friend my Dillon SDB loader, with the stipulation that he load me 4000 rounds of .38 Sp, and 3000 rounds of .45 Colt, using my components. I had developed arthritis in my hands, and it was painful for me to use the loader. Anyhow, he fulfilled his promise, and I am pretty well set. My 92 Rossi and my Vaquero have plenty of ammo available for plinking and more serious purposes. Load is about 8.8 grains of Unique with 250 grain swc, and round flat nose lead. Will hole a 150 pound Ga Whitetail coming and going.
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ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I load a 250/255gr cast bullet over 7.1gr W231 and its accurate for me in a 5.5" Ruger Bisley Vaquero.
I used nothing but W231 for many years until I tried HS-6 and now that's my go to 45 Colt powder with a WLP primer.
.45 Colt ammo has gotten so expensive and hard to find that I finally bit-the-bullet and got a new .45 ACP cylinder fitted to my old Colt SAA. Now I can find somewhat reasonably priced ammo in many different loading.
Cdog
Member
I've been loading for .45 Colt several decades. Obviously the ridiculous price of primers has driven cost up, but the brass has skyrocketed too.
Not too long ago I bought new .454 Casull brass for less $$$ than the same company sells .45 at.
As posted above, I hope you've saved your brass over the years. Low pressure loads brass can have a long usable lifespan.
I've got a 3rd generation SAA that I load 250gr - 255gr cast @ around 800fps.
Handloading has allowed me to own and shoot firearms that I would have otherwise avoided due to ammo costs and availability. .41 Remington Mag gave me the nudge I needed.
Not too long ago I bought new .454 Casull brass for less $$$ than the same company sells .45 at.
As posted above, I hope you've saved your brass over the years. Low pressure loads brass can have a long usable lifespan.
I've got a 3rd generation SAA that I load 250gr - 255gr cast @ around 800fps.
Handloading has allowed me to own and shoot firearms that I would have otherwise avoided due to ammo costs and availability. .41 Remington Mag gave me the nudge I needed.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I bought my first can of HS-6 a few weeks ago for a 12 gauge No 4 Buckshot load. I'm still sitting on 24 pounds of WW231. I the last shortage I bought a 8 pounder, but had forgot about the 15 pound cardboard keg I already had. Good thing I like it, because I'm set for life!
Ivan
I have a pair of blue 5.5" Bisley Vaquero's, a pair of Stainless 4" Regular Vaqueros, a pair of clone SAA's, a Marlin 1894 CB, and 2 Rossi 92's. That outfits 2 of the sons and I.
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lots of good data in Handloader magazine by Brian Pearce on loading the 45 Colt to different pressure and velocity levels for different guns.
Grayfox
US Veteran
I fell in love with the .45 Colt cartridge some 30+ years ago. Unfortunately, the classic Colt SAA style guns don't get along with me. 
However, I dearly love the S&W N-frames in that caliber. I currently have 4 of them plus a Navy Arms/Uberti Schofield. 
The classic .45 Colt load is a 250-255 gr lead bullet over 8.0-9.0 grains of Unique. This generally runs in the 800 to 900 fps range. I loaded 8.5 for many years, but due to my age and powder availability have cut back to 8.0 now. There's still plenty of power there for whatever your needs may be.
The Model 25 is stronger than most people think. While I caution against magnumizing the .45 Colt, the Model 25 can handle loads up into the +P range quite well. I have loaded some pretty heavy bullets to 1000 fps without any ill effects.
But then considering that the standard velocity .45 Colt will go completely through the average whitetail deer, I see no reason to push my .45 Colt loads anymore.
However, I dearly love the S&W N-frames in that caliber. I currently have 4 of them plus a Navy Arms/Uberti Schofield. The classic .45 Colt load is a 250-255 gr lead bullet over 8.0-9.0 grains of Unique. This generally runs in the 800 to 900 fps range. I loaded 8.5 for many years, but due to my age and powder availability have cut back to 8.0 now. There's still plenty of power there for whatever your needs may be.
The Model 25 is stronger than most people think. While I caution against magnumizing the .45 Colt, the Model 25 can handle loads up into the +P range quite well. I have loaded some pretty heavy bullets to 1000 fps without any ill effects.
But then considering that the standard velocity .45 Colt will go completely through the average whitetail deer, I see no reason to push my .45 Colt loads anymore.
venomballistics
Member
We have to load for a little while before we figure these things out.
What you have there might be something of a mild Elmer Kieth sort of load.
Would do everything well enough, though some things might be better served with something else.
200 - 220 @ about 1000 might be a bit more economical on the projectile side of things.
Where Keith lived "If you could have only one (Fill in the blank)", we dont have to. though there is a lesson in simplicity
OP
250 grain LRN with 8.0 grains Unique is whatI have loaded up to fire at the range in the next few days.
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