45 Colt, what's a "standard" load??

Rule3 · Jan 8, 2011

I finally found a SW M 25 Mt Gun 45 Colt. It needs to wait it's 30 days in the hole (Pawn shop trade in law) So I need to gear up and get brass, bullets, dies.

I only kill paper so need to know what cast bullets to get.
With a range of 180gr to 300gr it's hard to tell.

I do have some 200gr RN with a cannelure that I use in 45 Auto(they feed in the SA XD's)

So is there a "traditional" weight bullet used in these guns?
I was thinking the soft (BHN 12) 250 gr RNFP, Cowboy action #1 bullet listed here:

Missouri Bullet Company

But any good loads/weight you guys have appreciated.

Thanks

mfoley · Jan 8, 2011

My Standard 45 Colt Load for 25-13

I searched for loads and found that there was a very old standard load of
8.0 grains of Unique behind a 255 gain SWC.

This is with a standard large pistol federal primer in Starline nickle cases.

I did some testing with my 25-13 and found that the 8.0 grains of Unique with the 255 grain SWC had the lowest Extreme Spread and Standard Deviation in my gun.

It runs about 875 feet per second out of my gun.

It works well for me.

Gun 4 Fun · Jan 8, 2011

For paper punchin' the load above is hard to beat. I would also throw in the Mt. Baldy Bullet Co.'s version of the RCBS 270 SAA. They will weigh more like 280 grains as a rule, but that depends on the particular alloy. The editor of Handloader (Dave Scovill) designed that bullet just for the Colt SAA and its shallow rifling, but it has turned out to be exceptionaly accurate in almost any gun, regardless of the rifling type or depth. Being slightly longer than a standard 250-255 grain bullet (and even a bit longer than the 454424 Lyman) helps keep it ligned up in the throats, and in turn with the bore. It will normally shoot to the point of aim in fixed sighted guns, and since yours will have adjustable sights, you shouldn't have any trouble either, though sometimes the rear sight blade on S&W 25/625 series guns needs to be filed/stoned down some on the top to get it to zero low enough at 25 yards. They have the .126" blade from the factory, but if you have any trouble with getting your gun to hit to POA, you can install a .106" blade. I ordered one for my 4" 25-5 several years ago, but while I was waiting for it to arrive, I stoned the top of my blade a few thousandths and also the bottom of the notch, and was able to zero it without having to switch blades.

Mt. Baldy Bullets

Rule3 · Jan 8, 2011

So the 255 gr SWC would be a better choice?

Gun 4 Fun · Jan 8, 2011

OCD1 said:
So the 255 gr SWC would be a better choice?

Not necessarily. What I was talking about above applies to any bullet weight when you start to deviate from the old factory load of a 255 at 725- 800 fps. (which most actually run across the chrono)

If you never plan to use any other bullet weight or velocity, then yes, I'd stick with the 250-255's.

Skip Sackett · Jan 8, 2011

Tell you what I am gonna do, just for you Roy!

PM me your address again and you are going to get THE 45 Colt bullet!
Well, at least it is in it's name RCBS 45-270-SAA. Mine is a Miha copy and has some hollow point options to it.

I will have to check to see if I have any solids. The round HP is almost nonexistent but weights 265gr or so.

Here is what they look like in their pentagonal HP configuration:
(Forgive the photo quality, from my phone!)

8-9gr of Unique is going to be a pussy cat with these bullets. You may not be able to get the POI and POA to match, I couldn't in my M25 -7. You just have to aim lower or "adjust" the rear sight accordingly. (I used a file and took off .030" and deepend the groove again. Used cold bluing to cover.)

Skip Sackett · Jan 8, 2011

It's all your fault!

Now you got me started! The 45 Colt has turned into one of my favorite calibers to load for. Simple and it can be made very effective for almost anything here in North America!

I forgot, I also have a 240gr LSWC bullet that works super in the 45 Colt. It is designed for the 45AR but works well in it's big brother. It is from an H&G #502 mould.

Take a look at the thumbnail:

Rule3 · Jan 8, 2011

Gun 4 Fun said:
Not necessarily. What I was talking about above applies to any bullet weight when you start to deviate from the old factory load of a 255 at 725- 800 fps. (which most actually run across the chrono)

If you never plan to use any other bullet weight or velocity, then yes, I'd stick with the 250-255's.

Well, never say never

But pretty much I would just be putting big holes in paper. I do mess around with different bullet weights and powder with all my other calibers but what you said, "the old factory load of 255" I guess that's what I was asking, as the original if you will standard load for this caliber.
Thanks!

Rule3 · Jan 8, 2011

smith crazy said:
Now you got me started! The 45 Colt has turned into one of my favorite calibers to load for. Simple and it can be made very effective for almost anything here in North America!

I forgot, I also have a 240gr LSWC bullet that works super in the 45 Colt. It is designed for the 45AR but works well in it's big brother. It is from an H&G #502 mould.

Take a look at the thumbnail:

Skip,

As always, Thanks. I sent you a PM to your request. (Just being my wacko self

)

I will let you know when I pick up the gun. Need to get dies first and figure a way to sneak this purchase past the boss or as in the other thread. "SWMBO" I love it!

max · Jan 8, 2011

250 grains is pretty typical for this caliber. However, you can use your 200 grain bullets and 7.0 of Unique. I have loaded a number of cast bullets that were meant for the ACP in my 45 Colt.

VAdoublegunner · Jan 8, 2011

My 25-13 loads

My 25-13 really prefers a load using a RCBS 45-270-SAA pushed with [published max 18.0gr 2400] and a WLP. It is tackdriving accurate at 50 yards and has enough punch to take care of whatever needs to be done for most situations in the lower 48 (except perhaps really big bears.)

For a great plinking load also in 'standard' load range, I have been using the Speer 230gr LRN with 11.5gr WSF and a WLP or Fed 100 primer, finished to an OAL of 1.60-1.62" with a heavy roll crimp. This load is also superbly accurate in the gun and will not lead. It runs around <950fps in most guns. They work great in my Ruger Vaqueros as well.

A lot of folks like Unique and report success with it. I have never been able to find a decent Unique load to surpass these for accuracy, or that didn't leave leading. Perhaps it is a matter of hardness for the 255gr bevel based cast bullets I'm using, which are very hard, or some other issue, but I've largely sworn off of Unique in the 45 Colt.

CORRECTION: As Gun 4 Fun has correctly pointed out below, the original charge weight I listed for 2400 and the RCBS 45-270-SAA, while having been used and found safe in my particular firearm, is a bit high based on information published by Brian Pearce in Handloader #246 for that particular bullet at the 20Kpsi level. Therefore, I am revising the max charge load data @ the 20kpsi range accordingly. Thanks for pointing that out, G4F!

Skip Sackett · Jan 8, 2011

This is why I love reloading!

VAdoublegunner said:
but I've largely sworn off of Unique in the 45 Colt.

This is exactly the opposite from what I do. Not wrong nor right, just opposite.

I use Unique for ONLY 45 Colt loads!

9.0gr under the 45-270-SAA is my normal plinking load. I have some that are much stouter for the Ruger and Puma rifle. Not going to post them here either!

Gun 4 Fun · Jan 8, 2011

Hey VA,

Haven't seen you here lately. Glad your back.

I have never had much luck with the BB designed 255's with any powder.

For general purpose loads in my .45 Colts (in my 25's anyways), I like the old Keith load of 18.5 grains of 2400 under the Lyman 454424. Mine weigh in right at 265 cast, sized and lubed. They really shoot well in any of my .45 Colts, regardless of whose name is rolled on the barrel. In my 4" 25-5 they give 1080 fps @15', and a small handful more FPS in my 5" 25-7.

I have burned an enormous amount of Unique in my .45's over the years, (mostly 8-9 grains) under 250-265 grain bullets. It's just hard to beat (for me anyway).

VA, you've got a PM.

ArchAngelCD · Jan 8, 2011

I use mostly 250gr LRN and 255gr SWC bullets in the 45 Colt with W231. I also at times use Trail Boss, HS-6 or Universal to change things up.

Gun 4 Fun · Jan 8, 2011

ArchAngelCD said:
I use mostly 250gr LRN and 255gr SWC bullets in the 45 Colt with W231. I also at times use Trail Boss, HS-6 or Universal to change things up.

AA-

I know you like HS-6, and so do I for several of my guns, including the .45 Colt.

12.5 grains of HS-6 under a 255 cast swc gives me right at 1000 fps from my 4" gun, and it's a bit milder feeling than the 18.5 gr load of 2400 I mentioned above.

ArchAngelCD · Jan 8, 2011

Gun 4 Fun said:
AA-

I know you like HS-6, and so do I for several of my guns, including the .45 Colt.

12.5 grains of HS-6 under a 255 cast swc gives me right at 1000 fps from my 4" gun, and it's a bit milder feeling than the 18.5 gr load of 2400 I mentioned above.

I think you're right, for some reason HS-6 doesn't have the same felt recoil as some other powders while delivering the same velocity. I think it's because it generates less pressure than most other powders with a similar burn rate while somehow delivering the same velocities...

Gun 4 Fun · Jan 8, 2011

I dunno, but it does seem to be so. I kinda think that maybe it's because the peak pressure may come a bit later (farther down the bore) than others in the same class. Whatever the reason, it works exceptionally well in many rounds. I use it for mid-range loads in my .475 Linebaugh as well.

Rule3 · Jan 8, 2011

I was shooting my 4" 629 yesterday with 240 gr bullets and 9.8 grs of Unique. It shot well but certainly did not feel like a "Magnum" round to me. The other loads I had of 18.5 grs of 2400 with the same bullet gave that magnum punch but not brutal.

I am moving back to more revolver shooting as I am getting tired of searching for my brass. I have a homemade brass catcher net which works well but the ones that bounce off the concrete pad end up in the limestone parking lot and are a pain to find.

Skip Sackett · Jan 8, 2011

Just put the Christmas gift into the ole' XL650 today, well, one of them anyway, the 45 Colt caliber conversion. The wife got that and the 44Mag one for me. All I had to do is circle that in the Dillon magazine about a month before Christmas. Works every year!

At any rate, I loaded my "working" load and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. 9gr of Unique under the 45-270-SAA round pin hollow point version, around 265gr. Firm roll crimp and Wolf standard large pistol primers and about 20 minutes later, I had all of my empty cases full. About 200 done. Not blistering speed but, good nonetheless. Had to do the setup too and that entailed a primer change too.

Now, when it warms up a bit and the snow stops, I will venture out to make a few bangs!

VAdoublegunner · Jan 9, 2011

I'd be interested to know how well the 45-270-SAA shoots with the Unique load, smith crazy, and what sort of velocities you are getting. As I mentioned, after having bad luck with it in most applications for 45 Colt, I never got around to trying it with that powder. It may be worth a relook.

45 Colt, what's a "standard" load??

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