Reloading for my custom Ruger Bisley 45 Colt

[keithherrington]

A few months ago I took delivery of a custom Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt. John Linebaugh built it using a Wilson match grade barrel blank.

Although I shot the gun quite a bit in Wyoming when I first received it and later at home, I'd only been able to use ammo I had made for other 45 Colt guns. None of these ammo types performed to my standards so I started to develop loads specifically for this gun using LBT and NEI style bullets obtained from Montana Bullet Works. The gun was built for me to shoot high performance 45 Colt loads rather than the loads I'd traditionally used in my S&W Model 25-5s. Those loads were usually 250 grain RNFP bullets over 8.5 grains of Unique at about 950fps out of a 4" barrel. The loads for the Ruger were substantially stiffer: 300 and 315 grain LBT bullets over 13.0 grains of HS-6 (~1000fps), and a 345 grain NEI over 21.5 grains of H-110 (~1130fps). The 345 over H-110 load was a poor performer in terms of accuracy, and frankly the recoil was a bit stiff for me. However, both LBT loads worked to perfection:

The custom grips John made for my extra large hands bear mentioning. Combined with how he relieves the grip frame behind the trigger guard, they make the gun extremely comfortable to shoot.

Keith

 

[ontargetagain]

Very nice groupings and a good indicator of how things change at distance and different bullet design.
What length barrel is your custom gun?
I recently picked up a Ruger Bisley Colt 45 7.5in revolver, love it!
Karl

 

[Mehutch]

Would a stout load like that 300gr. work in a S&W 25-7 45 Colt? 5inch barrel?

 

[keithherrington]

Very nice groupings and a good indicator of how things change at distance and different bullet design.
What length barrel is your custom gun?
I recently picked up a Ruger Bisley Colt 45 7.5in revolver, love it!
Karl

The barrel is 4 3/4" overall.
Keith

 

[cowboy4evr]

Mehutch ,
John Linebaugh wrote several articles about the 45LC which he addressed using the S&W 25 with heavy bullets and heavy powder loads.
He feels that the S&W 25 is a 32,000psi MAX gun (quoting him ) and that his std everyday load is a 260gr Keith @ 900fps . When he goes into the hills he loads up a 310gr NEI Keith over 23 grs of H-110 which gives his 1080fps velocity and all the punch he needs . Read his article on heavy weight bullets . At the end he addresses the Model 25 exclusively .
One other point to remember , Mr Linebaugh is a top notch gunsmith .
He doesn't need the factory to fix or tighten up his gun .

 

[keithherrington]

Would a stout load like that 300gr. work in a S&W 25-7 45 Colt? 5inch barrel?

Some believe that the 300 over 13.0 grains of HS-6 is fine in a Model 25-5 or 25-7. I do not. My standard is whether the empty case falls out of the chamber of its own weight. If not, then the load is too stiff. The 300/315 with 13.0 of HS-6 is well within the Ruger's limit, but too much for the S&W IMO. Others are more than welcome to use it in their S&Ws, but they do so at their own risk.
Keith

 

[keithherrington]

Mehutch ,
John Linebaugh wrote several articles about the 45LC which he addressed using the S&W 25 with heavy bullets and heavy powder loads.
He feels that the S&W 25 is a 32,000psi MAX gun (quoting him ) and that his std everyday load is a 260gr Keith @ 900fps . When he goes into the hills he loads up a 310gr NEI Keith over 23 grs of H-110 which gives his 1080fps velocity and all the punch he needs . Read his article on heavy weight bullets . At the end he addresses the Model 25 exclusively .
One other point to remember , Mr Linebaugh is a top notch gunsmith .
He doesn't need the factory to fix or tighten up his gun .

I talk with John often. The 300/315 over 13.0 of HS-6 is his go-to load. In his opinion it will take anything on two legs or four.
Keith

 

[cowboy4evr]

I would like to add that I have several model 25's . They are not loaded to such a high pressure . I consider about 24-25 KPSI my max . Brian Pearce wrote a great article on the 45LC in Handloader magazine ( I think that's it ) giving 3 levels of loads . The std 14Kpsi loads , loads up to about 24kpsi and then the high level loads @ about 32kpsi .
I respect Mr Linebaughs opinions and his credentials . I'm just not the gunsmith that he is so in order to prolong the longevity of my 25's I use Brian Pearce's level 2 loads as my max and don't use them continually . I do have an old model ruger vaquero built on the 44 magnum frame that would suffice for the level 3 loads . Truthfully I just don't see a need for them , yet . I have the H&G mold #501 ( I think that's it ) for the 255-260 Keith swc . My everyday load is that bullet sitting on top of 8.0 grains of Ramshot Zip .
Just google John Linebaughs articles and they will provide anyone with some great reading .

 

[USSR]

I would like to add that I have several model 25's . They are not loaded to such a high pressure . I consider about 24-25 KPSI my max .

I also restrict my 25-5 to sub-25k psi loads. John's load of a 260gr SWC with 13.0gr of HS-6 is a good one and falls in that category.

Don