What is your favorite 45 Colt load?

[andyo5]

I'd like to hear about some of your favorite 45 Colt loads using jacketed or plated bullets in 200 to 270 grain weight range. Please define your load so as it can be duplicated. Specifically, bullet weight, style, diameter, and manufacturer. Power name and charge weight. Overall cartridge length. And anything else you think would be relevant. I am looking for accurate target loads, not high powered or hunting loads.

Thanks!

 

[The Norseman]

45 Colt Reload

The powders that I like are, 1st choice is Unique,
Alliant Red Dot, Alliant Bullseye, American Select,
and Long Shot (for my Bear Load). Trail Boss (last place).

For Bullets I'm using Oregon Bullets Laser Cast.
They have been accurate in my 45Colt, 44Mag,
44Spl, and 357Mag. I usually run them about
850 fps (some where in that range).

My current 45 Colt reload is:
250gr RNFP round nose flat point Oregon Trail,
SWC semi wad cutter works also the same.
6.0 grs Alliant Red Dot.
CCI LP large pistol.
Medium roll crimp (what I think is medium).
Approx. 800fps. An accurate reload for me.
From Brian in Handloading Magazine.

For Lead free performance I Tumble Lube bullets with
Ben's Liquid Lube formula (Topic over on Castboolits).

Good luck in your endeavors.

 

[msauter]

I use Xtreme’s 255 gr plated flat point, they are marketed as .451 diameter, but measure a consistent .452

I load them over 7.5 gr of BE-86.

 

[Bakebfr480]

I shoot only cast bullets but I load 20.5 grains of 2400 and Elmer's 255 grain SWC in my Blackhawk convertibles and Redhawk.........excellent accuracy!

 

[BigMuddy]

My favorite load is my cast bullet, Lyman 454190 and 8.5 grains of Unique. OAL is 1.580. Not sure of any commercial bullet maker selling this bullet. The Missouri Bullet 250 RNFP works about as well. I crimp in the crimp groove and don't know what the OAL would be.

Loading target level loads with jacketed bullets in the 45 colt is in my opinion a real waste of money.

I load the 45 Colt to three different levels, but the 8.5 Unique load seems to be at the level you requested. I've shot thousands of the em!

Dan

 

[amazingflapjack]

255 gr LRNFP over 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 gr of Unique. I load 45 Winchester magnums the same, and shoot them out of a 25-5 with moon clips.

 

[Imissedagain]

For those who have a Rifle (16”-24” barrel) as well as a Handgun in 45 Colt ...... do any of these loads work well in both?

Reading up on 45 Colt load data, as barrel length increases, 2400 deserves a look based on Lyman’s 49th with 200g-250g jacketed bullets.

Nice to have target loads and hunting loads for both firearms.
Minimum loads of Unique.... with 185g/8g and 200g/8.6 XTPs, in a 24” Winchester 92, felt like a galley gun in 22 short......
almost.
Don’t have the OAL at hand.

When the hunting grounds change from Coral Reefs to the Rockies and Sierras...... so do the tools.

I might run some 45 Colt loads thru the M460 Carry but based on the 50 Remington factory loads, out past ten yards, not many holes in the large paper target.

Hard Cast will be our main bullet material but I only have XTPs on hand in 45 caliber other than swagged Zeros for the 1911s.

 

[chief38]

I reloaded and shot plenty of .45 Colt when I competed in Cowboy Action SASS Matches. My standard load for use in both my Colt SAA revolvers and my Marlin 1894S was and still is:

A RNFP 250 grain cast bullet over 8 grains of Unique. This load is accurate, easy to shoot, mild, and will still reliably knock down steel targets required on some scenarios in CAS events. Works quite well in both the Colts and Marlin Rifle.

These loads are by no means meant to be defensive loads as they are low velocity. I don't remember what they choreographed at, but probably in the low to mid 700 fps range. I never concerned myself with self defense loads in caliber .45 Colt, as I never rely on those firearms for that purpose.

 

[andyo5]

I recently found that my blood test revealed an elevated lead level. That, plus the increased difficulty of clean up after shooting lead; is what has made me decide to avoid it.
Here are two results that I got today with Ranier bullets in my Uberti SAA, plus one from my Ruger Bisley:

 

[DWalt]

A 200 grain Cowboy bullet and 6.5 grains of Bullseye works very well for me. I don't like heavy bullets and heavy loads for anything.

 

[max]

I use cast 250gr swc's over 7 or 8 grains of Unique. I have also loaded 200gr swc's made for the acp. They can be too long for some cylinders.