Load for .45 Colt???

M29

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I just got a 625-6 and am wondering what would be a hot, but safe load with 250gr cast bullets. Any powder or load.
thanks,
Marsh
 
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I like 9 grains of Universal Clays under a cast Keith semi-wadcutter. I can go hotter for my 25-5, I suppose, but I prefer not to in a Smith. The only thing hotter gets me is a flatter trajectory. 260 grains at over 900 fps is all the power I need out of a sixgun.


Cat
 
I just got a 625-6 and am wondering what would be a hot, but safe load with 250gr cast bullets. Any powder or load.
thanks,
Marsh

Sir, if you're interested in truly big loads, Google John Linebaugh and .45 Colt.

For something less scary, Unique is the classic .45 Colt powder and still a good choice. Alliant lists a max of 9.5 grains of Unique with a cast 250, which is fairly stiff. Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

FWIW, I won't go over 9.0 grains of Unique with a cast 250 in my Smith.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
Ron, I was thinking of 8grs of Unique, but wonder if you know the muzzle velocity of 9 grs would be.
What about some Blue Dot?
Marsh
 
Ron, I was thinking of 8grs of Unique, but wonder if you know the muzzle velocity of 9 grs would be.
What about some Blue Dot?
Marsh

Sir, 8.0 grains of Unique with a cast 250 is a mild load, very smoky and somewhat dirty. 8.5 is much cleaner and is what I shoot most of the time. 9.0 grains should give 900 fps, give or take a little. (I haven't chronographed any of these.) From what I can tell, Unique seems to do better toward the top of the data than the bottom--cleaner and more accurate.

I haven't fooled with Blue Dot, so can't help there.

I have tried HS-6 and don't care for it. Accuracy was only so-so, and I hit the published max before it even hinted at burning clean. I imagine it's fine for higher pressure cartridges or "Ruger only" loads, but I don't like it at standard .45 Colt pressures.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
Marsh;
Here is a link to a partial issue of the Handloader #246. It has excellent information on three power levels of .45 Colt revolvers with the RCBS 45-270-SAA bullet. I use this bullet with 12.5 grs. of Blue Dot for a velocity of 950+ with my own cast 45-270-SAA (actual weight of 285 grs). This is about at the limit for a SAA .45 Colt (within the SAAMI standard of 14,000 psi) well within the limits of the 625 .45 Colt:

Wolfe Publishing Company

Answering your specific question for a 250 gr Keith in an S&W model 25 or 625:

John Linebaugh regularly carries a Smith Model 25 and his loads with the 250-260 gr bullets are safe and reliable. Here is an excellent article on the strength limitations of a Smith and reloading data:

For some reason the link refuses to work. I'll send it to you by attachement.

Dale53
 
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I like to use 2400 in the 45 Colt. I know alot of guys like the faster powder. They can get alot more loads per pound from powders like Unique, but I do not like those powders. IMO they are dangerous to use. I do not load with any powder that can be easily double charged and is not visibly easy to see, or will not overfill the case. It is just not worth the chance to me. How many revolvers do you see blown apart because of double charges?? Way too many IMO. It is cheaper to use those powders, but I can afford a little extra powder, for me safety is paramount. And it is not possible to double charge 2400-it would flow over the sides.

I shoot too much. I pay attention to my reloading, but it only takes one mistake. I prefer not to open myself up to that can of worms.

I also believe a full case is better for accuracy. You do not have to worry about powder position in the case. Just make sure whatever you are shooting is burning what load you use.

For my 45 Colt's I load between 18 and 20 grains of 2400. This is a revolver, single shot, and rifle load. I shoot this powder with the bullets that I cast. Normally a 255 Keith Style RCBS bullet. I also think the 45 Colt requires a good heavy crimp. Tom.
 
I like to use 2400 in the 45 Colt. I know alot of guys like the faster powder. They can get alot more loads per pound from powders like Unique, but I do not like those powders. IMO they are dangerous to use. I do not load with any powder that can be easily double charged and is not visibly easy to see, or will not overfill the case. It is just not worth the chance to me. How many revolvers do you see blown apart because of double charges?? Way too many IMO. It is cheaper to use those powders, but I can afford a little extra powder, for me safety is paramount. And it is not possible to double charge 2400-it would flow over the sides.

I shoot too much. I pay attention to my reloading, but it only takes one mistake. I prefer not to open myself up to that can of worms.

I also believe a full case is better for accuracy. You do not have to worry about powder position in the case. Just make sure whatever you are shooting is burning what load you use.

For my 45 Colt's I load between 18 and 20 grains of 2400. This is a revolver, single shot, and rifle load. I shoot this powder with the bullets that I cast. Normally a 255 Keith Style RCBS bullet. I also think the 45 Colt requires a good heavy crimp. Tom.

Sir, you make a good point. As big as the .45 Colt case is, it would be relatively easy to miss a double charge of some very dense powders such as Bullseye or 231. I avoid these powders in .45 Colt for this very reason.

Unique I'm not worried about. It's a fairly bulky powder. True, a double-charge won't overflow the case, but it's immediately apparent if you actually look at the powder charge (as you should with any powder) before seating the bullet.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
Are you shooting that 20gr 2400 load in a smith?


No. That is the load I shoot in my Winchester Low Wall. And yes, you are correct, I definitely should have been more specific, and for that I apologize. And thank you for pointing that out.

That load probably is a little too stout for the Model 25.

I also have some lighter loads that I shoot that are in the 16 grain range. For a Smith I should have been more specific, so please once again, I should have paid more attention since the OP was talking about a S&W, and I was talking about the 45 Colt in general.

However I still would recommend 2400 for the S&W for better case fill. Just making sure that you use a heavy crimp.

I also use the 2400 for my 44 magnum loads in all my S&W 44 magnums. Even in my 329PD. But I shoot a 44 Special level load in that 329PD with a 240 that I cast.

I am by no means a powder expert. But I have read in several places that the older 2400 is a slightly different formulation than the new 2400. I have no facts to prove that. But I have read it in several places. And if you notice most of the newer recommended loads for 2400 are about 10% lower than some of the older posted max. loads. I have a few reloading manuals that show 2400 max. loads in the 22-23 grain range. But again this is in the older manuals. In the newer manuals you normally see the max. in the 20-20.5 grain range. That lends some merit to the two different formulations, but then I have noticed that on several of the Hodgdon powders also, and in the Hodgdon manuals. Maybe that is because most of the Hodgdon comes from Australia now?? Who knows?? Tom.
 
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I just got an M25 -7 a few months ago. I too have been working on loads for it. Before getting it though, I acquired a Ruger 45 Convertible, ACP and Colt.

Now, that thing is a beast and has taken some pretty heavy loads. More like 44Mag as a matter of fact. With a 240gr LSWC I have had loads in the 1400fps range from it! A healthy dose of H110/W296 and it is easily attainable. That load is under the bullet weight but over the powder charge of what Linebaugh suggest though. His loads all revolve around the 45-270-SAA bullet, I think. Something in the 260gr+ range anyway.

I do have a mould that casts that bullet in either the HP or solid version. It is an awesome bullet. While Linebaugh and Brian Pearce both say that the Smith can take those loads, I am having a hard time putting them in it! I have run them in my Puma rifle though, man, those things really zing!

At present, the load I have decided on has been 9.0gr of Unique under a 240gr LSWC from an H&G #502 mould. They are cast from straight wheel weights and lubed with White Label Carnuba Red.

Here are some results with the 45Colt that I posted here:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/144872-45-colts-like-who-needs-magnum-anything.html
 
My .45 Colt rounds when using a 250gr LRN or 255gr SWC are:

7.0gr to 7.2gr W231/HP-38 (900 fps from a 5.5" Vaquero)
10.6gr HS-6 (good "working" load, 940 fps from a 5.5" Vaquero)

I loaded ups some ammo using 7.6gr Universal, 7.8gr Universal and 8.0gr Universal but haven't gotten to the range to try them yet.
 
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7.0gr to 7.2gr W231/HP-38 (900 fps from a 5.5" Vaquero)
10.6gr HS-6 (good "working" load, 940 fps from a 5.5" Vaquero)

I loaded ups some ammo using 7.6gr Universal, 7.8gr Universal and 8.0gr Universal but haven't gotten to the range to try them yet.

I'm eager to chrono those HP-38 loads out of my own gun. I shot the 7.1 gr load out of my Blackhawk (4.5" barrel) and Mountain Gun (4" barrel) and they seemed pretty light. The other HP-38 load I tried was the Linebaugh load of 8.0 grains, which he claims does 900 fps. That was a stouter load, but still easy to shoot. If you're saying the 7 gr. load does 900 out of a 5.5" gun, I'm wondering what the reason is for the discrepancy.

I also tried the 13 gr. load of HS-6. That is a winner in my Blackhawk, and it is a handful in the lighter Mountain Gun. It's also really nice in my Rossi Model 92 lever action. Would be an excellent hunting load.

I've tried all the Universal loads you mentioned. 7.5 grains is a sweet load, does low 800's out of my 4.5" Blackhawk, and shoots into 1.5" at 25 yards off a rest. 8.5 grains feels more like a standard 900 fps load, though I haven't chrono'd it. Also shoots under 2 inches. 9.0 grains is probably the load I'd choose for the field. No chrono data, but it shoots under 1.5" for me and definitely has some punch.
 
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Any one tried Blue Dot? It makes a good mild .44 mag load.
Marsh

I tried Blue Dot a long time ago. I thought it would make a good magnum powder and fit in with my other Alliant powder choices. The only problem I found was that up here in the great white north, it gets too cold for Blue Dot to work properly.

It is inversely affected by temperature. The colder it gets, the more pressure it generates! No thanks!

I went to the powders mentioned above and have no problem now.
 
8.5 grains of Unique under a 250 grain bullet in .45 Colt, a 200 grain bullet in .44-40 or a 180 grain bullet in .38-40 have worked fine for me for many years.

The original loading of 40 grains of FFFg is really accurate, but somewhat dirtier than Unique. The fouling would likely tie up the works after a couple dozen rounds.
 
I don't have a Smith in 45 but I have 2 single actions that I reload for. My black Hawk likes a 270 gr. swc with 6 grs. of red dot best. Since I got my BFR thats all I shoot in my Black Hawk.
 
I'm eager to chrono those HP-38 loads out of my own gun. I shot the 7.1 gr load out of my Blackhawk (4.5" barrel) and Mountain Gun (4" barrel) and they seemed pretty light. The other HP-38 load I tried was the Linebaugh load of 8.0 grains, which he claims does 900 fps. That was a stouter load, but still easy to shoot. If you're saying the 7 gr. load does 900 out of a 5.5" gun, I'm wondering what the reason is for the discrepancy.
It was the 7.2gr load that did just a hair under 900 fps but my Vaquero seems to run a little higher in velocities than my buddy's .45 Colt. The additional barrel length helps too although if you really want good velocity a 7.5" barrel is best. (as I'm sure you know)
 
Good ol' Unique with 8.5-9 gr behind a 255 gr Keith SWC. It don't get much better with the 45 Colt.
 
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