Load recipes for 45 Colt

[OldSmiths357]

I searched and did not, but am looking for some load data for 45 Colt as I have not reloaded for it before. I have 4 different manuals to choose from but wanted some expertise from the group. Will be shot of a 4 inch model 25-5 and 6 inch model 25.

Current items:
Bayou Bulltets 250 Grain RNFP coated bullets
Unknown, 200 grain bullet measures .452 (pic below)
Starline and Mixed headstamp brass
winchester WLP Primers
Bullseye, HP38, Blue Dot and a small amount of unique left (wish i could find more)

Thanks all

 

[max]

7 to 10 grains of Unique or 7.0 of the HP-38.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

250 Grain RNFP coated bullets I would go 5.8 to a max of 7.1 with HP38.

Unknown, 200 grain bullet I would go 5.9 to a max of 8.0 with HP38.

I prefer Unique but sometimes we have to have a Plan B.

 

[AJ]

Is this for?? I bought a Colt M1909 U.S.Army in .45 Colt a few years ago. I read in an article that the War Department's required load for these was a 250 grain bullet at 750 FPS. I figured that was good enough for me as that was the combat loading at the time. A friend worked up about 20 different loadings to equal that War Department requirement. I used 5.6 grains of Bullseye with a 2450 cast RN bullet. I used it in my 1909 and my S&W 25. It will be used in my Vaquero when I take it to the range. If it was a good enough loading for the military to poke holes in their opponents, then I can punch paper and whatever with it.

 

[SlamFire]

The best powder I ever used in the 45 LC was Unique. My load was a 250-255 LWC/LRN 8.5 grains Unique, any case, and primer. My targeted velocity was 850 fps out of a five inch barrel. Shoots great.

There is a continuing problem we reloaders have, two different cans, two different prices, and same powder inside both. HP38 is one of those powders that is a copy of another: W231. HP38/W231 is a great powder for the 45 LC. I only chronographed one load of W231 7.3 grs with a 255 LWSC with Federal 150 primers, it was cold, 55 F, and the velocity was low:804 fps. Of the powders you have, I think HP38 is the best.

I did chronograph Bullseye Pistol powder. A 255 LRN 6.3 grs Bullseye Pistol WLP Powder gave me 776 fps. It shot well, but that's about as much as I would push Bullseye pistol powder. The powder is great for target loads, but burns too fast to up the velocity.

I would not use Blue Dot in the 45 LC. I tried it, and what I saw over my chronograph were huge, that is extreme spreads in several hundreds of feet (one 338 fps). Unique is generally around 100 fps I don't feel comfortable with pressure curves varying 200 + fps.

If you can find AA#5, try that. It is a ball powder, 10.5 grs with a 250-255 L will go around 850 fps. Shoots well.

Blast from the past:

notice how few choices in gunpowders we had back then, and nothing is pressure tested!

 

[D Brown]

You didn't list this powder, but my favorite load for .45 Colt is 250-255 grain cast bullet and 5.5 grains of Red Dot. Accurate in every .45 I've ever tried it in and hits to point of aim.

Best of luck!

 

[alwslate]

Brian Pearce is a big fan of the .45 Colt and has written many articles in Handloader magazine about it. With a 250 gr bullet use 7.0 grs of Bullseye if you want to achieve the listed velocity for the .45 Colt of 870 fps out of a 4&3/4" Single action Colt. If you want a lighter target load use 6.5 grs. He pressure tests all of his handloads and his standard pressure .45 colt loads do not exceed 14,000 psi. The latest issue of Handloader has a lot of loads listed at standard pressure for use in rifles. Various powders and bullet weights and the loads could also be used in handguns of course. The old Colt ctg performs very well at only 14,000 psi so there is no reason to load squibs as many do unless you just want to. Issue is 12-24 #353.

 

[pantannojack]

I am seeing loads that are way hot in my Taylors Smoke Wagon. A 231 of 7g cci 300 coughed, then went WHAM, std primer. I have learned to go mag pistol primer to heat the enormous air space within the cartridge.
8.5g AA#7 with hard 255g lead sized .450 and CCI 350 mag are all i want to do now, also 7g unique, mag primer, but the container is dated 1994.
I cast a Ruger Old Army mold of 220g, .456 dia but size to .450 and 6.5g Red Dot std primer.
My Crony must have gone bad for the wide range of velos I see., tho I weigh every charge. Any one with similar stories?

 

[StrawHat]

I am seeing loads that are way hot in my Taylors Smoke Wagon. A 231 of 7g cci 300 coughed, then went WHAM, std primer. I have learned to go mag pistol primer to heat the enormous air space within the cartridge.
8.5g AA#7 with hard 255g lead sized .450 and CCI 350 mag are all i want to do now, also 7g unique, mag primer, but the container is dated 1994.
I cast a Ruger Old Army mold of 220g, .456 dia but size to .450 and 6.5g Red Dot std primer.
My Crony must have gone bad for the wide range of velos I see., tho I weigh every charge. Any one with similar stories?

You are sizing to .450? That seems rather small. Most size to .452 or .454.

Kevin

 

[pantannojack]

You are sizing to .450? That seems rather small. Most size to .452 or .454.

Kevin

I started with .452 and got such ridicules velo disparity (150 fps or more) and pressure spikes I decided to look for lower pressure. I milked a salvage bullet and measured .450. I called Taylors and asked about bore dia, he said .45, for what that is worth. A .450 bullet resist the plunk test, but not by much. I have hand loaded more than 40 years, .45 colt in Ruger Blackhawk at 8- 10 g Unique with no issues. This one acts different.

 

[Nightowl]

The 200 grain bullet does not have a crimping groove, so it is made as a target bullet for the .45 ACP. Personally, I would not load them in a revolver cartridge. Missouri Bullet has 200 grain bullets that have a crimping groove.

 

[OldSmiths357]

The 200 grain bullet does not have a crimping groove, so it is made as a target bullet for the .45 ACP. Personally, I would not load them in a revolver cartridge. Missouri Bullet has 200 grain bullets that have a crimping groove.

Thank you. I was not sure what they were. They were part of a package deal from a reloader who passed that I purchased from the family. I measured and weighed every one of them. Took a while. lol. Had about 1k of copper jacketed FMJ's as well that are 230 grain and measure .451.

I have looked at Missouri Bullet Co but have never bought from them. Usually Bayou Bullets. I will check them out.

 

[OldSmiths357]

250 Grain RNFP coated bullets I would go 5.8 to a max of 7.1 with HP38.

Unknown, 200 grain bullet I would go 5.9 to a max of 8.0 with HP38.

I prefer Unique but sometimes we have to have a Plan B.

Thank you. I have not been able to find Unique in the last two years.

 

[470Evans]

My favorite bullet for the 45 Colt is the old Lyman .45424. I size it to the throat diameter of the gun I'm shooting it in.

The best powder in most of my guns has been HS-6. I have also had some success using Titegroup, Power Pistol and True Blue. When I'm playing with a new gun in 45 Colt I will reach for the 454424 and HS-6 first.

I used to cast my bullets but now I buy the 454424 unsized and powder coated from Matt's bullets.

 

[rockquarry]

I got rid of all my .45 Colts, much preferring the .44 Special, but I loaded for various .45 Colt revolvers, a rifle and a carbine for many years. I usually used the Lyman #454424 design at about 260 grains and Unique powder, but in later years discovered slightly better accuracy with HS-6.

 

[max]

I crimped them in the top grease groove and they worked fine. You just had to watch as they could be too long for some cylinders.


TE=Nightowl;142116238]The 200 grain bullet does not have a crimping groove, so it is made as a target bullet for the .45 ACP. Personally, I would not load them in a revolver cartridge. Missouri Bullet has 200 grain bullets that have a crimping groove.[/QUOTE]

 

[Marlin57M]

My 1979 Ruger likes 9 gr of Unique for standard pressure loads and Blue Dot for Ruger-only loads. I’ve not experienced any significant deviation issues using Blue Dot for Ruger-only loads shooting Hornady 250 grain bullets.