Heavy Bullet .45 Colt loads for 625-6

[akjaeger]

I'm interested in loading some 270 to 300 gr bullets for my 625-6 mountain gun.
I'm hoping to achieve 1000fps with a load that's not hard on the gun.

The bullets I want to try.
270gr RCBS Keith SWC
280gr WFN
300gr WFN
300gr Speer PSP

Do you guys have any loads you'd care to share?

 

[pinkymingeo]

I don't even want to be in the same county when you try to get 1000fps with a 300gr bullet in a 4" 625, or even a 270gr.

 

[JeffR]

I can't comment on the 300gr bullets, but I do load the RCBS 270 Keith style SWC in my 625-9 MG.

You might take a look at the April 2007 Handloader magazine. Brian Pearce lists several loads in the 20k psi range pushing the RCBS bullet at around 1000 fps.

I've tried working up to his loads with HS-6 and 2400. Never noticed any of the 'typical' high pressure signs but, arguably, with 45 Colt you'll turn your gun into a grenade before you see any signs of pressure. 270-285 gr @ 1000 fps is pretty stout.

 

[steveno]

for the past 100+ years the 45 Colt has done just fine with a 255 gr bullet at about 850 fps. that will handle just about anything that needs to be shot with a 45 Colt.

 

[DJINCO]

Honestly, I would suggest a Ruger for that load. I had a 625 in 45 Colt and wasn't comfortable with a 625 and heavy loads.

 

[okie john]

There's some interesting reading at
http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12

Basically, John Linebaugh--the inventor of the 475 and 500 Linebaugh cartridges--says that a 260-grain bullet at around 900 fps will "...consistently shoot length ways and exit on mule deer and antelope at 100 yards."

I don't see the need for much more velocity or bullet weight than that.


Okie John

 

[NiklasP]

I loaded up some 300 grainers many years ago for usein 45 Colt Ruger Vaquero with 4,5 inch barrel and factory fixed sights. Used 20+ grains H110 and got some of best grouping at 100 yards loads I ever shot in this gun. HOWEVER, POI was way high, like 12+ inches at 50 yards and still required bottom hold on 12 inch bullseye at 100 yards. Decidedly not a good load for fixed sighted guns. Also not a good load for rapid second and especially 3rd shots.

I would stick with 250-260 grain cast bullets at 900-1000 fps, especially in fixed sight gun or in gun you might also be shooting ligher or lower velocity loads from.

Niklas

 

[fredj338]

I too wouldn't push 300gr that fast in a M625. I think you can safely get 270grLSWC to 950fps using 2400. I run them in my 4 5/8"RBH @ 1000fps using 16.5gr. I understand the M625 will take loads inbetween Colt & Ruger. Work carefully, a chronograph will help.

 

[1x2]

akjaeger,

you'll have to work up your own load for that revolver. For the 300gr WFN I'd start with 17.8gr of 2400 or 19gr of H110. I'd not be at all surprised if the H110 is more accurate.

1x2

 

[Beaver]

I have reloaded the 45 Colt per Brian Pearce, with good success. I use the RCBS SAA-270 bullet that drops at about 280-285 grains. I size them to .451 which will just hold the bullet in the chamber, and will push through with a little pressure, an old Elmer technique I use when loading revolvers. I use 8.5 gr. of PowerPistol or 8.0 gr. Unique for 900 to 950 or so. I'm sure it would go faster if more powder was used. My gun is an old 29 custom made into a 45 colt and is a real treasure. Because of thin cylinder walls I try to be civil with the piece. I shot a ferral pig at 25 yds two weeks ago through the shoulders and the piggy's four little feet went to the sky. Probably a 200 pound pig. With a 625 I would think >1000 fps would be easy to attain. Ask yourself what you need. You can load the 45 Colt to be a firebreather, but you still have to control the gun. Brian Pearce's article in Handloading Magazine will help you immensely. Good luck.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I second what bwienert has posted about loading per Brian Pearce's articles from Handloader. One classic load for the 45 Colt even in post-WWII Colt SAAs is 20.0gr 4227 and a 250gr LSWC. This can be safely upped to an RCBS 45-270SAA bullet weighing in at about 282 gr. In my 25-13 Mountain Gun, this chronos at 945fps. In my 625-6, not a Mountain Gun but one of the Performance Center 6" weighted slab barrel versions, it does 973fps. The later gun has fired up to about a thousand rounds of this load, it still maintains <2" accuracy [with a Holosight) at 50 yards and is as tight as ever. It is a bit of a specially made gun though and has a front locking detent. You can go "a tad" higher on the 4227 but know what you are doing. For the most part the gain is only marginal and not really necessary for field situations. These guns can easily and consistently handle 23Kpsi loads, same as the 45ACP+P. No need to push it for small gain.

I haven't tried 300s in either, not really seeing the need since the 270SAA is such a great performer. The 270SAA is such a good load that I even use it in my Rugers, having long since found out that the heavier Ruger loads just aren't necessary to work any better. I also use a load that will push jacketed 250s over 1000fps based on Blue Dot. Although Unique works for some of these loads, I really don't like it for applications up that high, too erratic but, hey, some folks don't like Blue Dot either. Power Pistol and HS6 are good alternatives.

In addition to Linebaughs articles on it, every handloader who loads 45 Colt owes it to him or herself to get the June 2002 issue of Handloader solely for the article "Understanding the 45 Colt" by Pearce. There have been many mentions of loads that are good in subsequent issues, but this lays the foundation. He always lays out a very sound approach to such loads and has testing to back him up.

 

[akjaeger]

Thanks for the replies.
I'm a big Handloader/Brian Pearce fan myself, that's probably what got me started on this project. I just dug through all my old copies to reread after I got this 625-6. That Article in #217 is excellent.
The 270SAA bullet is the one particular bullet that I want to try in this revolver, have some on order now. If they work out as well as they did for you fellas, I'll get a mold.
I'm not trying to hot rod the 625-6, I've got a Ruger and a Freedom Arms .454 with the extra .45 Colt cylinder. I've been down that road. Did a lot of loading for the F.A. years ago. Settled on a 325gr LFN GC over 25gr of 296 as my "Hot Rod" .45 Colt Load. I managed to shoot a 3 shot 1" group with this load at 100 yds once. The gun will keep a cylinder full of these in 3" @ 100yds.
I've never had very good accuracy with the "old model" Ruger I have, no matter what load I tried.
I have a 629-2 Mountain Revolver that I shot about 15,000 rounds through before the trigger stud started to work loose.At least 12,000 of those were 250gr SWC over 8.5 Unique, not really a hot load, the rest were 250-280gr loads over 2400 or 296 at or near the .44 Magnum's potential. It's back at the factory now. So I know firsthand what a lot of shooting will do to a S&W.
I ran a few loads over my Chrony yesterday. The most accurate were.
Nosler 250 gr JHP over 9.5 Unique 930fps
Speer 300 SP over 18.0 Lil' Gun 960fps

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
After some experience with SSK Ramslamers
[320gr hard cast 44mag], I have concluded that
unless you are in big bear,or moose country
that the extra heavy bullets are a wast of lead.
There is not enough deer, or lesser game to
require them.
Kelly of Magnaport took an elefont through the head with a 7 1/2 in 44 super blackhawk.
with a hard cast Ramslamer.
I think we would be better served with
the correct nose on our bullet at a normal weight at top speeds.

 

[akjaeger]

Hey Groo01,
Good point about heavy bullets being wasted on deer.
I do some guiding in Alaska, hence the akjaeger handle. I get to shoot some of those big bad boys.
I like heavy for caliber bullets at moderate speeds because they tend to be more accurate and and easier for me to control. More of a boom and a push, not the crack and slap fast bullets give you. Plus the extra penatration is always there in case I need it.
some of my favorites are,
280 WFN at about 1300fps in the .44 mag
380gr WLN at about 1300 fps in the .454 Casull
But I gotta say I shoot a lot more 250 SWC's at 950fps than anything else.
What I want to get out of my 625 is a big flat point bullet at about the same 950fps.

 

[OU812]

I use the Hornady 300g XTP with a heavy dose of H110. Its a fine stopping load but a bit much for everyday use. I shoot these an older Ruger Vaquero and feel this load would stop just about anything.

 

[akjaeger]

I got a box of Leadheads 270 gr SWCs and tried out a bunch of different loads.
My favorite so far is 17.0 gr of 2400 and CCI 350 primers. It shoots around 1000fps in my mountain gun.

 

[Paul5388]

I suppose that's another reason I appreciate the .45 ACP version. I can about duplicate what you're doing with 13.0 gr of 2400 with a standard LP primer. I get 960 fps with a long nosed 270 gr bullet (seats pretty shallow 1.361" OAL).

I can see why it's a favorite for you, because it does shoot good!

 

[MTAustin]

Attaboy, AK. You've clearly already considered everything that's been said to you.

I'm curious to hear what you come up with. I spend a lot of time in the MT mountains, and I've also become a fan of the .45 Colt using RCBS-270-SAA (18.5 grains of 2400 and this bullet dropped about 285 grains). I ended up buying a Ruger BH to load up, because it was half the money of a 625MG (and I could actually find one). However, I've decided I want to get into a Smith, as I just shoot Smiths better. I'm sure you know Linebaugh says the 625 cylinder has the exact same dimensions as the Ruger BH; the only limitation is frame strength.

I'm guessing you won't find much info here on hotrodding the 45 Colt with the bullets you're talking about- I had to scour the internet for this info, and the best I came up with is Brian Pearce's article and a couple of John Linebaugh's articles off his website.

 

[akjaeger]

I got in some more bullets from Montana Bullet works, tried them out today.
His bullets from the RCBS 270 SAA mold weigh about 288 gr.

The loads I shot today, all loaded in Starline brass, CCI 350 primers.

270 SAA-16.5 gr 2400=1020 fps
270 SAA- 18.0 gr LilGun = 1050 fps

300 WFN- 16.5 gr 2400 = 980fps
300WFN - 18.0 gr LilGun = 1020 fps

The 270 SAA load over 18 gr of Lilgun was the most accurate load at 50 yds. Velocity spread was less than 40 fps for 6 shots. This is the kind of performance I've been looking for with the RCBS 270 SAA. I'm going to fine tune this load.
The 300WFN load over 18.0 gr of Lilgun was very accurate at 25 yards and showed the least velocity variation shot to shot. However at 50yds the groups opened up considerably, this velocity may not be enough to stabilize this bullet.
I'm very happy with Lilgun in the 45 Colt, at these pressures velocity spreads are much less than with 2400.
I'm going to load up 50 of each the above loads and shoot them at longer ranges while checking for cumulative leading.

 

[akjaeger]

Hey everbody, thanks for the replies!

I got a lot of good info from you guys.

I did some longer range shooting today with the 625-6 Mountain Gun and the 270 SAA bullets from Montana Bullet works.
I shot several 100 yd groups today that had four out of six shots in 6". Total group size was 10-14"
A sight setting that's 1" high at 25 yds, shoots to point of aim at 50 yds and puts them about 6" low at 100.

I think I'm gonna stick with this load.
270SAA
18.0 gr. LilGun
CCI - 350 primers
Starline Brass.

LilGun left a lot of unburned powder residue until I worked up to 18 grains. Then it cleaned up and velocity got a lot more consistent.
The latest Hodgon manual shows 18gr LilGun under a 300 Speer PSP as a 24,500 psi load.

Now I have to get the mold and try to make them myself. Probably take me a long time to cast bullets that will compare to Dave's.

I tried the 300 gr WFN at longer ranges, the results were dismal. I don't think it's moving fast enough to stabilize.
I even tried this load in my Freedom Arms .45 Colt. Same results. I know when I run the WFN's faster in the Freedom Arms they work great.

Paul, I'll have to try that load in my .45 ACP Mountain Gun.