.45 COLT AMMO

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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 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.
 
Ivan the Butcher said:
I had been reloading since 1979 and model 25-5's were my weakness!

Ivan
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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.
 
Hair Trigger said:
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.
Click to expand...
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.
 
Hair Trigger said:
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
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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Ivan the Butcher said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
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.
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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.
 
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. :rolleyes: However, I dearly love the S&W N-frames in that caliber. I currently have 4 of them plus a Navy Arms/Uberti Schofield. :D
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.

yQswDjG.jpg
 
jimmyj said:
255 grain bullet at 900 FPS ??
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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
 
My standard 45LC load is my cast 250 gr SWC pushed by 8.5grs of Unique. Works well in all my 45LC pistols and rifles. I too have ton or so of WW's and powder and primers that were bought cheap and stacked deep. Plus on my personal range I have mined the berm and recovered lead to make into new bullets........Some of that lead has been down the barrels several times.
 
Ivan the Butcher said:
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
Click to expand...

I have quite a bit of W231 too but not 24lbs. I have been using it up and have only 10lbs and an almost full 11th pound in use. I use it in most of my range handgun cartridges like the 32 Auto, 38 S&W, 9mm, .38 Special, the 45 ACP and maybe others I can't think of right now.

I'm down to only 4lbs of HS-6 so I will have to be careful going forward. I don't load shotgun ammo but I've heard HS-6 works extremely well in heavy field loads and buchshot loads. I might be switching over to W572 to replace HS-6 but I will need to do more testing before I dive in. It does work well in the 45 Colt but I have yet to put W572 and HS-6 head to head in the 45 Colt.
 
A year or two back I found a 4lb jug of W572 on the shelf at a local shop. It was priced @ $64.

I didn't know much about it, but saw the burn rate was in my range. Paying cash, $64 brought it home with me. I've been quite pleased with its performance in everything I've loaded.

I hope to see more data become available. I contacted Hodgdon. They were polite enough, but basically told me not to expect expanded data for W572 anytime soon.
 
Cdog said:
A year or two back I found a 4lb jug of W572 on the shelf at a local shop. It was priced @ $64.

I didn't know much about it, but saw the burn rate was in my range. Paying cash, $64 brought it home with me. I've been quite pleased with its performance in everything I've loaded.

I hope to see more data become available. I contacted Hodgdon. They were polite enough, but basically told me not to expect expanded data for W572 anytime soon.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised since Hodgdon usually tries to pump out the data for their new powders so that they catch on. I sometimes see W244 and W572 on the shelves recently whereas there is no W231 or W296. They seem to concentrate on the newer powders of course to get them known. The newer powders are cleaner and easier to manufacture and burn cleaner too. I wouldn't be surprised if in the future W244 replaces W231 and W572 replaces W540 (HS-6). Mind you, I'm not saying that will happen anytime soon.
 
As Alwslate mentioned above , Brian Pearse has published a ton of .45 Colt data at multiple pressure levels . Many of his SAAMI level loads exceed 900fps ( with cast 255 & 270 ).

Unique is a classic powder for
45 Colt . But there are other powders that can duplicate the performance of the heavier Unique loads at lower pressures .

7.1 to 7.2 of 231 is a good load , that essentially duplicates the ( non- Cowboy) factory loads of +/- 850 fps .

572 is similar to Blue Dot .
 
I have two revolvers chambered in .45 Colt. One is a S&W 25-9 and the other is a Colt Model 1909 U.S. Army. For both I use 5.6 grains of Bullseye with a 250 grain cast slug. Being that the 1909 is 113 years old I shoot that load so as not to overstress the gun, also the load works well in the S&W.
 
Grayfox said:
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. :rolleyes: However, I dearly love the S&W N-frames in that caliber. I currently have 4 of them plus a Navy Arms/Uberti Schofield. :D
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.

yQswDjG.jpg
Click to expand...

Agreed. I've loaded 250 gr bullets to 1500 fps Model 92 carbines before, and it'll deliver 1060 fps and 625 ft pound and 150 yards with a +/-4" trajectory, but the recoil is a bit fierce and the case life is very short.

.45 Colt is a black powder era cartridge and Colt designed it for maximum capacity and performance in their SAA revolver. Since it used a rod ejector and they never p,Anne's for it to be used in a lever action, they didn't use the normal tapered and slightly bottle necked case you see on the .44-40, .38-40, etc.

Those features were used on those other rifle/pistol cartridges to facilitate extraction from a black powder fouled chamber. The bottle necked helped seal the case against the chamber sooner to reduce fouling and the tapered case body meant the entire case was out of contact with the chamber as soon as the case moved back at all.

They didn't bother with that on the .45 Colt as capacity was the priority and with rod ejection fouling wasn't supposed to be a big concern.

However, Colt ultimately cut a .007" taper in the chamber to create the same effect as a tapered case, suggesting fouling was a bigger deal then they'd anticipated.


That .007" taper is still found in modern .45 Colt chambers. With high pressure loads, brass life can be very short. With 32,000 psi loads you'll start to see spider cracks after 4-5 shots in a case. At 21,000 psi you might get 7-8 shots.

The lower the pressure, the longer the brass will last, so if you don't need the velocity, why load it that hot?

Besides a 250 gr bullet at 1200 fps in a Blackhawk isn't pleasant to shoot, while 800 fps is pretty enjoyable.
 
BB57 said:
Agreed. I've loaded 250 gr bullets to 1500 fps Model 92 carbines before, and it'll deliver 1060 fps and 625 ft pound and 150 yards with a +/-4" trajectory, but the recoil is a bit fierce and the case life is very short.

.45 Colt is a black powder era cartridge and Colt designed it for maximum capacity and performance in their SAA revolver. Since it used a rod ejector and they never p,Anne's for it to be used in a lever action, they didn't use the normal tapered and slightly bottle necked case you see on the .44-40, .38-40, etc.

Those features were used on those other rifle/pistol cartridges to facilitate extraction from a black powder fouled chamber. The bottle necked helped seal the case against the chamber sooner to reduce fouling and the tapered case body meant the entire case was out of contact with the chamber as soon as the case moved back at all.

They didn't bother with that on the .45 Colt as capacity was the priority and with rod ejection fouling wasn't supposed to be a big concern.

However, Colt ultimately cut a .007" taper in the chamber to create the same effect as a tapered case, suggesting fouling was a bigger deal then they'd anticipated.


That .007" taper is still found in modern .45 Colt chambers. With high pressure loads, brass life can be very short. With 32,000 psi loads you'll start to see spider cracks after 4-5 shots in a case. At 21,000 psi you might get 7-8 shots.

The lower the pressure, the longer the brass will last, so if you don't need the velocity, why load it that hot?

Besides a 250 gr bullet at 1200 fps in a Blackhawk isn't pleasant to shoot, while 800 fps is pretty enjoyable.
Click to expand...


My loading is from the War Department contract for the 1909's. They wanted a 250 grain bullet at 750 FPS.
 
Palmetto State Armory has Ammoinc .45 colt for 39.99, l bought two boxes under a hundred delivered. About 93.00 if l recall. Thats the cheapest l seen.
 
I shoot 250gr RnFp cast in RCBS mold & 242gr BNWC cast in Lyman mold.
Both with 8.0gr of Unique. I cast the bullets soft 20:1 lead-tin. I can see no reason to go hot rodding 45Colt. Especially in DA revolvers.
They are much more pleasant to shoot than magnums and are plenty for anything but big bears. They will shoot through the average deer at 50yds
with either of above loads.
 
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