Going to start reloading for 45 Colt as soon as my 25-5 shows up next week. It has the good throats/.452”-.453”, 4”bbl. I have 8-10 lbs Bullseye on hand, so I’m looking for some good range loads, accurate and light. Am open to bullet weights, was looking towards 250/255gr SWC. Also, has anyone heard of having problems with sight adjustment and light loads ratio, on the 25-5? Previous owner was saying he ran out of elevation adjustment, until he stepped up his loads around the 850-900fps mark? I never heard of anything like that, but never owned a 45 Colt either. Thanks.
45 Colt Bullseye Loads
- Thread starter 342ti
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2005
- Messages
- 8,898
- Reaction score
- 10,967
I've been shooting various .45 Colt revolvers, rifles, and a carbine for more than forty years, mostly with the Lyman #454424, about 255- 260 grs. I thought I had tried Bullseye at one time, but cannot find it listed in my notes.
That's a huge case for such a fast powder, though it may work fine. However, I'd attempt to locate published data from a reputable source before I would rely on Internet suggestions. Check the Alliant paper manual (or perhaps the website) and the Speer book. Speer often uses powders other manuals neglect. There are likely other sources.
I don't shoot .45 Colt much anymore. I used Unique for many years but found HS-6 to be a slightly better .45 Colt powder. As for elevation adjustment, my two 25-5s, a 4" and 6", always shot high (about 3"-4" at 25 yards with the elevation adjustment all the way down. This was with muzzle velocities of around 800 fps with the 4" and 850 fps with the 6". A higher velocity will correct the problem, but with noticeably increased recoil.
I doubt you'll be able to get 900 fps with a heavy bullet using Bullseye powder and stay within standard pressure parameters, but that's only a guess on my part. People load these guns hot, but I wouldn't do it.
That's a huge case for such a fast powder, though it may work fine. However, I'd attempt to locate published data from a reputable source before I would rely on Internet suggestions. Check the Alliant paper manual (or perhaps the website) and the Speer book. Speer often uses powders other manuals neglect. There are likely other sources.
I don't shoot .45 Colt much anymore. I used Unique for many years but found HS-6 to be a slightly better .45 Colt powder. As for elevation adjustment, my two 25-5s, a 4" and 6", always shot high (about 3"-4" at 25 yards with the elevation adjustment all the way down. This was with muzzle velocities of around 800 fps with the 4" and 850 fps with the 6". A higher velocity will correct the problem, but with noticeably increased recoil.
I doubt you'll be able to get 900 fps with a heavy bullet using Bullseye powder and stay within standard pressure parameters, but that's only a guess on my part. People load these guns hot, but I wouldn't do it.
DWalt
Member
For many years, my only .45 Colt load is 6.5 grains of Bullseye and a 200 grain flat nose lead (Cowboy) bullet. Good accuracy and about 900 fps MV.
cowboy4evr
Member
Going from 5.0-7.0 grs in .5 increments you should find the load that you are looking for . 6.0-6.5 seems to be what many have used in the past .
????Odd
Slower bullet tend to print higher, ='s lowering the rear sight.
Heavier bullets tend to print higher, ='s lowering the rear sight.
A chart showing the correct rear sight height.
A formula to use to figure out your sight height/lowering adjustments.
Example:
I do a test load with a revolver and it's hitting 6" high @ 25yds.
9" x (6"/300)
9" is the distance between the front and rear sight
6" is how high (could be low/left/right also) the load is hitting
300 is how many inches the load was tested @ 25yds ='s 300"
6" divided by 300" ='s .02" or 2/100th's of an inch
9" x .02" ='s .18" or 18/100th's of an inch
If I want that load that's hitting 6" high to hit the poa. I have to lower the rear sight .18" (18/100th's of an inch).
cowboy4evr
Member
The only time I ever ran out of sight adjustment was with a 25-10 , 6" barrel . Using 255 gr cast bullets with the rear sight all the way down wasn't enough . I had to have a higher front sight installed . There was a rumor that those particular 45's had been sighted to shoot 185 gr . My 25-5 has no problem with 255gr bullets to 300 gr for sight adjustment . I have shot loads from " mild to wild " . Maybe , someone in the past changed out the front sight to a lower one . Buying used guns can be a challenge as we don't always know what was done in the past . Hope this helps , Paul
My 25-5 shot ~6" high with a 255 gr bullet @ ~800 fps. Looking closely, it appeared to me Smith used the same one piece barrel and sight that they used for the Model 29, just a different bore. Registered for the 29, shooting a lighter bullet much faster than Colt 45, it would leave the 25 shooting high. It was too high even for 6 o'clock hold on a 25 yd target.
I had to mill off the front sight blade and install a .043" taller one to hit point of aim and leave some room for both up and down elevation adjustment at the rear sight.
I had to mill off the front sight blade and install a .043" taller one to hit point of aim and leave some room for both up and down elevation adjustment at the rear sight.
Last edited:
I have a model 25-5 just like yours. Using any brand 45 Colt brass, 8.5 of Unique, 240 to 250 gr cast bullet, and most importantly use a Remington large pistol primer, 2-1/2 as I recall. I experimented and found 454 diameter bullets shoot better than 452. Gary
GypsmJim
Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2009
- Messages
- 4,061
- Reaction score
- 7,081
I have several 45 Colts, including a 25-5. When the powder shortage hit a couple years ago I tried to convert all my handguns to Bullseye, since I had an ample supply.
I ended up switching back to Unique when I was able to get some. 45 Colt, 41 Mag and 357 Mag will work with Bullseye, but they simply work better with Unique.
I ended up switching back to Unique when I was able to get some. 45 Colt, 41 Mag and 357 Mag will work with Bullseye, but they simply work better with Unique.
I’ve only had 4-inch versions of the 25s, a couple of 25-5s and a 25-9. They all shot high with my handloads using a 260 gr Keith bullet and Unique or 800X. With that in mind, I’d think using a lighter weight bullet, as D Walt suggests, would be a good idea. His Bullseye load sounds like an ideal starting place, but I haven’t tried it. I just might! 
cowboy4evr
Member
My favorite Bullseye load is 7.0 grs using the " Keith " 255 gr swc (HG 501). It was very accurate and pleasant to shoot for me in my 25-5 , 4" barrel . I tried backing it down some , but came back to 7.0 grs . Regards, Paul
Bullseye
Bullseye will work just fine in 45LC. I load 280 grain full wadcutters and 238 gr HBWC’s over bullseye. They are quite accurate and have plenty of steam downrange. I have a couple 25-5’s and shoot them with either the 255 gr SWC or the WC. I have never had any kind of sight issues with any of my loads.
Bullseye will work just fine in 45LC. I load 280 grain full wadcutters and 238 gr HBWC’s over bullseye. They are quite accurate and have plenty of steam downrange. I have a couple 25-5’s and shoot them with either the 255 gr SWC or the WC. I have never had any kind of sight issues with any of my loads.
Last edited:
