Loads for the .45 Long Colt

Texas Roots · Mar 10, 2009

Hey folks, I've loaded handgun cartridges for the last 35+ years, but never for the .45 Long Colt. I've never owned a handgun chambered for this cartridge until just this week.

I've purchased an excellent Ruger Blackhawk Three-Screw Convertible in .45 with the 7 1/2" bbl. and need some suggested loads for the Long Colt.

I don't care about the upper end loads, just some fairly accurate loads with a 245 to 255 grain bullet pushed to around 900 to 950 fps.

Many thanks in advance for your time.

Texas Roots · Mar 10, 2009

Hey folks, I've loaded handgun cartridges for the last 35+ years, but never for the .45 Long Colt. I've never owned a handgun chambered for this cartridge until just this week.

I've purchased an excellent Ruger Blackhawk Three-Screw Convertible in .45 with the 7 1/2" bbl. and need some suggested loads for the Long Colt.

I don't care about the upper end loads, just some fairly accurate loads with a 245 to 255 grain bullet pushed to around 900 to 950 fps.

Many thanks in advance for your time.

R Cubed · Mar 10, 2009

I load 7g of Unique to push a 200gn RN at ~760fps out of a 5" barrel Vaquero. The bullet is a little lighter than your request however this can give you a reference point for comparison.

These round out of a 2" Bond Arms derringer run at ~532fps - I wonder if your added barrel length will give the Mv you want from these rounds?

Gun 4 Fun · Mar 10, 2009

I own several .45 Colt chambered revolvers. I load 8.5-9 gr. of Unique behind a 265 gr. Keith (the real design) for right around 900-950 FPS depending on barrel length. Mild and easy to control. Try it, you'll like it. Unique isn't any dirtier than any other powder any more. They cleaned it up several years ago. You will have to clean your gun no matter what powder you use, when firing lead bullets.

Another good load is 16 gr. of 2400 with the same bullet. If you have 255's it works just as well, and velocities seem to run about the same in my guns as the heavier bullet, due to the fact that while they are lighter, they have less resistance to build up higher pressure, so the speed seems to remain about the same. In your 7.5" barrel, you should see right around 1,000 FPS with this load.

2000Z-71 · Mar 10, 2009

Check out Hogdon's cowboy manual. It has quite a bit of data for .45 Colt with lead loads for less than 1,000 fps.

Texas Roots · Mar 10, 2009

Thanks guys for the replies....all good suggestions. I do like Unique as I use it in my .44 Specials and Magnums, the .45 ACP and the AR as well. So I'll surely give it a try in the .45 Colt. I also like 2400 in my .44's as it is about my favorite powder. I'll, for sure, try it too. Hogdon's powders are good too, and I completely forgot I do have a copy of that cowboy manual. thanks 2000Z-71

Snapping Twig · Mar 10, 2009

7.5g W231 is also mighty fine with a 255g LSWC.

The gold standard is 8 ~ 9 grains Unique with the same bullet.

Is is a coincidence that 8g gives you 800fps, 8.5 gives you 850fps and 9g gives you 900fps, or is the good Lord trying to tell us something?

Houndog2 · Mar 10, 2009

8.5 grains of Unique with most any lead bullet in the 250 gr. range (240-260)......for my Uberti it's all I load. Works perfectly.
HD2

Ron H. · Mar 10, 2009

Sir, FWIW, the vast majority of my .45 Colt loading has been with 8.0 or 8.5 grains of Unique and a cast 250, either roundnose flatpoint or semi-wadcutter. Accuracy's good, report and recoil are mild, yet it smacks things with authority. I'll have to chronograph those loads one day, maybe this spring.

I've gone as high as 10.0 grains of Unique with cast 250s in a Ruger. That load was quite accurate, but too stiff for much other than hunting IMHO.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

Texas Roots · Mar 11, 2009

Ron, Snapping, and Hounddog, hey thanks a million guys. Can't wait now to load some of your suggestions.

redlevel · Mar 12, 2009

Hey, has anyone mentioned 8 to 10 grains of Unique behind a 250 grain SWC? If not, that is a good combination to try.

Seriously, I bought a gun like yours, except without the ACP cylinder, in 1973, and that combo has been working well since then.

btruman · Mar 13, 2009

my two most used loads in .45 Colt is 8.5 grs of Unique under any good 250 or 255 gr bullet, or the same weight bullet over 8.5 grs of Universal Clays. Actually Universal Clays is a bit easier to meter than Unique and burns a bit cleaner too.

Uncle Larry · Mar 13, 2009

Originally posted by btruman:
my two most used loads in .45 Colt is 8.5 grs of Unique under any good 250 or 255 gr bullet, or the same weight bullet over 8.5 grs of Universal Clays. Actually Universal Clays is a bit easier to meter than Unique and burns a bit cleaner too.

Any idea of how the burn rates compare?
I've used a ton of Universal Clays for trap loads and just happen to have about 2 or 3 lbs hiding around somewhere.

btruman · Mar 13, 2009

Uncle Larry, the burn rates are very close but not identical. Universal Clays is also my favorite powder in lighter .44 mag loads.

andyo5 · Mar 13, 2009

If you'd like to try a slower powder, I like 13.5g of Blue Dot. This is a +P load, but not magnum. If you want to stay within SAAMI, try 13.0g of Blue Dot.
By thwe way, if you want a really good article about loading the 45 Colt, send away to Wolfe Publishing for the June 2002 issue (#217) of Handloader magazine. It contains an excellent article by Brian Pearce.

8emem · Mar 13, 2009

I have had great results with a 255gr semi-wadcutter and 6.0 Bullseye or AA#2, 7.0 W231 or HP38, and 8.0 Unique. Primer is Remington 2 1/2 LP. These velocities are a bit lower than you are looking for, but the accuracy will not disappoint. I have also put the same charges under a 200gr semi-wadcutter normally fired in .45 ACP. I seat the full bullet diameter flush with the case mouth and roll crimp just a hair over the shoulder. Looks a little weird because only the bullet cone sticks out. You have to see the accuracy to believe it. Near 1" groups bench-rested at 25 yards in a 25-5, Anaconda, and Blackhawk. I have also tried 230gr lead round nose and FMJ but have not had nearly as much success as the 255 or 200gr loadings.

ArchAngelCD · Mar 13, 2009

I've loaded W231, HS-6 and Unique in the .45 Colt. With a 250/255gr bullet I like W231 for target loads and HS-6 for working loads. Unique also works fine but it doesn't meter well and it's dirtier than the other 2 powders.

11e40 · Mar 14, 2009

i have been loading for the .45colt for over thirty years. the best powders i have found are hs-6, unique & 231. be sure to ck in manuals for data. hth.

m657 · Mar 15, 2009

for SASS events I've come to prefer by far the virtues of 200g cast lead & about 6.2 grains of Trail Boss. Gives around 850fps. I've used it in hotter loads, and in 41 & 44 mag. Prefer the moderate pleasure of a moderate load. Plenty accurate for my use.

Texas Roots · Mar 15, 2009

Hey, thanks again guys for all your suggestions. As I said in my original post, I will soon take delivery of an old 3-screw Ruger .45 Convertible. Those of you who have one, does it shoot as good with the .45 ACP cylinder as it does with the .45 Colt cylinder?

Loads for the .45 Long Colt

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