(III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Again using 255-grain factory loads at 860 fps, the .45 Colt reaches a factor of 14.09, while select standard-pressure handloads containing 280-grain bullets pushed to 950 fps factor at 17.17. Over the past 35 years all four of these leverguns have shot extensively with both jacketed and cast bullets. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM Old West 2023, PO Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. The vast majority of my 45 Colt handloads over the last 60 years, however, has been put together with cast bullets. Again, a groove diameter of .451 to .452 inch remains standard by all manufacturers. It is an excellent compromise between the 250- and 300-grain cast bullets. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. John with the Winchester Trapper in .45 Colt; the neckerchief is Contest void where prohibited by law. rifling. Marlin and Winchester 1894s will both handle heavier-than-standard .45 Colt loads but 1860, 1866 and 1873 replicas are for standard loads only! References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders Guide (1995) Hodgdons Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) Speer Reloading Manual, #12 Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. I load 7.5gr of HP38 in Starline brass and crimp in the crimp groove of each of these bullets. Its also a good choice for hunting. I have found HS-6, Universal, and W231 powders work very well for standard loads, while IMR 4227 bulks up nicely in 45 Colt brass. Deployed military should use stateside address. No purchase necessary. It is my most used powder both in cap-and-ball and cartridge-firing sixguns when black powder loads are desired. It has never failed me. A check of Hodgdons loading manuals shows these two powders using the same charge weight produce the same velocities and pressures. A pair of Old Model Blackhawks with 4-5/8 and 4-3/4 barrels put five rounds in 1 at 20 yards while traveling at about 800 fps. Elmer Keiths custom Colt single action was used to develop his heavy 44 Special loads in the late 1920s, and for a long time the 45 Colt cartridge was accused of being weak. It is superbly accurate and will often shoot well in sixguns that are cranky about shooting plain-based bullets. Weights in parenthesis are as-cast from wheelweights. The charge weight is 9.2 grains. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. While there were multiple experiments with different cartridges, the .45 Colt was a joint development between Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and Union Metallic Cartridge Company. SWC), 853 (Powder UP see note) (Hi=872.5 Lo=827.5 Spread=45 fps)(some unburned powder), 802 (Powder DOWN see note) (Hi=809.2 Lo=792.6 Spread=16.6 fps). So both the up and down positions were closer in speeds and the spreads were noticeably closer. 2021. The minimum load for a 200 gr cast SWC in 45 Colt is listed as 8.6 gr Unique for 918 fps. The 9mm/.38 Lyman #356637 HP is nominally a 124 grain HP version of their excellent 147 grain RNFP for the 9mm Parabellum. This prevents bullets from being sized down when seated into an overly tight case. It follows Keiths original idea of three equally sized driving bands, one forming the base, the middle one serving as the top of the grease groove, and the front driving band helping true up the bullet in the cylinder and is located above a generous crimping groove. patterned after the one worn by Theodore Roosevelt. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, State Agency: As I have gotten older and my hands have become more tender, I find myself moderating my everyday shooting loads. Colt191145. The .45 Colt was developed in 1872 and first chambered for the Colt Single Action Army revolver in 1873. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. and while they do not have the slick action of the slightly smaller Model 1892, they are fast handling and come up to the shoulder quickly. Elmer Keith was way ahead of his time in developing everyday working and hunting loads. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. If I had to shoot only one factory ammunition the rest of my life, I would. The Oregon Trail 250-grain RNFP bullet should be seated with an overall cartridge length of 1.570 to 1.580 inches, depending on case length. Most of the accompanying handloads are within industry overall length guidelines at 1.600 inches or less; however, a few loads exceed that length (including Hornadys FTX factory load). The new 9mm suppressor can mount easily to any pistol barrel threaded x28 inches and doesn't compromise on sound suppression, gas blowback or recoil. Load data for caliber ".45 Colt". Load up some Low Recoil handloads. I certainly dont know of anything in the lower 48 that cannot be handled with this load. 310 Tong Tool. That brings us to the next level, which includes 45 Colt revolvers built on the Ruger Super Blackhawk frame and the Ruger Old Model Blackhawk, the arrival of which led to two separate load sections showing up in loading manuals. Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, State Agency: Pet Loads and Handloader are registered trademarks of Wolfe Publishing Company. replacement barrels from the 1930s, each slugged between .451 and .4515 inch. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Note that the Ruger New Vaquero uses a smaller frame and cylinder My loading dies are from Lee, Lyman, and RCBS, and all of them give excellent service. There are now 25 states with so-called Constitutional carry and Florida appears to be approaching permitless carry, which translates to more citizens S&W Set The Bar For Magnum Handgun Performance 50 Years Ago. For example, the most recent Speer Reloading Manual Number 15 states, Prior to 1945, most .45 Colt revolvers had a bore diameter of .454 inch. * which is just a little over maximum Colt loads (but mild for Ruger) shot an average of 880.2 fps pointing up and 708.0 fps pointing down, but the spread between shots was 146 fps and 235 fps respectively. It is often associated with its vital role in settling the western frontier, where it found favor with lawmen, outlaws and anyone that needed a potent sixgun. For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. Lyman has a 255 grain .45 Colt gas-checked bullet, #454490GC, that was designed by Ray Thompson who also brought forth the .357 Magnum #358156GC and the .44 Magnum #431244GC. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: All of the Keith-style bullets mentioned feed and chamber even though they have shoulders in front of the case. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, State Agency: With these bullets sized .452" and cast of 16 parts lead to 1 part tin, try this loading with 19.0 grains of WW-296 or 19.5 grains of H-110 in Star-line cases with Fed 155 primers and Bubba lube, or Javelina or NEI pistol lube. This significantly improved its accuracy when compared to the original cylinder with its typical oversized throats, and resulted in increased velocity. Do Pistols Benefit From Popular Aftermarket Modifications? New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: The smaller case-capacity means better performance with light loads, which is why I am interested in it. This is a plain base bullet and I found out very quickly it was not very accurate in either rifle. Unique and Universal still dont fill the case up as much as a yet slower powder (like No.9, AA5724, H-110/W296, AA5744, and Alliant 2400). When the new 454 Magnum revolvers (as they were first called) arrived, however, the brass was lengthened so it could not be used in standard 45 Colt sixguns. His 45 Colt bullet was #454424 and was available for decades from Lyman. As I have gotten older and my hands have become more tender, I find myself moderating my everyday shooting loads. The .45 Colt was soon loaded with smokeless powders with loads eventually standardized with 250- and 255-grain lead hollowbase bullets from Remington and Winchester, respectively, at around 870 fps, but today are listed at 860 fps. It would also be excellent for a defense load. In preparation for this article, I pulled from my personal collection a Colt SAA with serial number 16xxx (1875) that slugged an average groove diameter of .450 inch. Contest open to U.S. residents only. As always there are occasional exceptions, including two guns manufactured in 1900 and 1902 that slugged .458 and .453 inch, respectively, but they seemed to be more out-of-spec than the normal. When time is a problem, actually when sometimes my own energy is the problem, I look to Oregon Trail Bullets. And about 1450+fps out of the 20" 454 Puma Levergun. Keiths #454424 was an excellent bullet, but it has been improved by Dave Scovill and is offered by RCBS as #45-270SAA. (I) Giveaway ends December 31, 2022. Deployed military should use stateside address. In contrast, Ruger only revolver data uses slower powders like IMR 4227, Win 296 and 2400, and 250 gr velocities in the 1350-1450 fps range. I didnt realize how many different powders from Hodgdon I use in loading the 45 Colt until I began putting this article together. Heavy loads that are safe for use in the Ruger Redhawk would destroy a fine Colt SAA. Survival, Banned, Training, Load, reloading, powder Collection folkscanomy_defense; folkscanomy; additional_collections Language English. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. All right are Reserved Reload Ammo, Reloading The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), Hi=670, Lo=521, ES=148 (too slow, wide spread), Hi=677, Lo=594, ES=8.3 (too slow, but good spread), Hi=673, Lo=594, ES=80 (too slow)(old formulation), 833 Hi=873, Lo=783, ES=90 (old formulation), 866 Hi= 890 Lo=855 ES=35 (good Cowboy load), 836 fps (powder pointing UP) (Hi=877.7 Lo=803.0 Spread=74.7 fps), 771 fps (powder pointing DOWN) (Hi=783.1 Lo=760.3 Spread=22.8 fps), Hi=622, Lo=491, ES=131 (WAY too slow-stuck bullet possible)(old formulation), Hi=750, Lo=735, ES=15 (good spread, should have used more powder), use 6.1 to 6.8 for normal Colt 45 loads (old formulation, use 7.7 to 8.6* for +P Ruger and T/C Only (old formulation, 871 Hi=938 Lo=797 ES=141 (Colt Anaconda 6), 1024 MAX+ (Actual in 7 1/2 bbl 250 gr. Some time in the early part of the 20th century wadcutter bullets arrived. Lyman 49 says reloader 7 has been a long time favorite for .45-70. VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. After all the work and expense, it turned out to be a somewhat mediocre performer. (See note on NEW Nitro 100 powder at bottom of page). However, Dick Casull started with the 45 Colt single action and the weak 45 Colt case to come up with his cartridge, which eventually became the 454 Casull. I didnt realize how many different powders from Hodgdon I use in loading the 45 Colt until I began putting this article together. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. A favorite pastime of many dedicated sixgunners is sitting around a campfire arguing the merits of their particular choice of caliber. For several reasons they should not be used. For loading black powder 45 Colt loads, I use Goex as well as Pyrodex and Triple Seven. I can not find any reliable load data for Blue Dot with cast bullets. They do provide identical results of muzzle velocities and pressures using the same charge weights, and I use them interchangeably. The top of the can says NOT FOR HANDGUN LOADS. But the 45 Colt is a survivor. When he died in 1862, the company was dedicated to producing the same percussion revolvers. More than 45 years of shooting and slugging the barrels of hundreds of Colt SAAs suggests differently. H110 works well for heavy bullet loads in the .45 Colt levergun. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. My brass of choice is Starlines excellent 45 Colt brass with CCI 300 Large Pistol primers for all powders, except I switch to CCI 350 Magnum Pistol primers with IMR 4227, H110, W296, and all black powder and black powder substitutes. Instead of being overly large, Rugers have been way too tight, with some measuring around 0.449 inch, but now Ruger is cutting all cylinder throats at 0.451 to 0.452 inch. The Colt fanciers had .45's, usually in the New Service model, unless they were cowboy fans who had SAA's. The guys that worked in the paper mills and machine shops had 1917's. If you want-ed a handgun with power, the GI surplus .45 ACP in the 1917 was the only thing you could afford to shoot as reloading "ca'tridges" was unknown. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Handgun Data. Bob Meinert, FN Marketing Director, introduces FN's first commercial pistol suppressor, the FN Rush 9Ti. (I) Giveaway ends May 31, 2023. 458 is a rifle bullet. Use a COL at 1.572". It's always had a great reputation as a man stopper. Everyone who has a Ruger Blackhawk or Freedom Arms single-action revolver realizes the roots of these modern guns go back to the Colt Single Action Army. However, there are two problems associated with it: case capacity and cylinder throat diameters. Be very careful using the loads for Ruger and T/C (Thompson Contender) as these are maximum loads, even for these strong guns. Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6, HS7 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. 5, No.7, No. I shoot the .44 and .45 in rifles and pistolas, but I have only a rifle in .38-40. Idaho Department of Fish & Game, State Agency: SAAMI pressures for STANDARD .45 Colt is 14,000 PSI MAXIMUM, but for Ruger Blackhawk and T/C, levels in the 20,000 to 25,000 range are considered more the norm. Starting load is 12.4 grains and top load is 15.4 grains of Blue Dot. Note that the "Ruger New Vaquero" uses a smaller frame and cylinder like original Colts. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Here is what Lyman #4 has to say on 45 Colt, maximum Unique , standard pressure loads: Lee 452-200-RF , 200 gr. The new big bore pistols feature industry-first capacity, with a standard 15-round capacity and 22+1 rounds of 10mm or 18+1 rounds of .45 ACP from the extended magazines. Discussion: The old Western Style COLT normally uses big, heavy and slow lead bullets. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. My powders of choice are Clays, HP-38, HS-6, Universal, Trail Boss, H110, IMR 4227, W296, and W231. When crimped in its cannelure, the overall length still exceeds industry specifications at 1.652 inches. like original Colts. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Technical Specifications (based on the respective safety standard - see more details in tab "Datasheet" if available) Caliber: .45 Colt. Deployed military should use stateside address. When tactical lights first came out, we all thought the 50 lumens they offered was astounding and could never get better. I especially like the 260-grain Keith gas-check bullet which shoots exceptionally well using #4227, 20.0 grains is 1,115 fps for 5/8 and then it gets even better! | John makes up dummy loads using available cast bullets to make A huge hit among hunters, it remained popular in deer camps long after the .30-30 Win. When Ray Thompson was designing his line of bullets, he did not neglect the 45. We are currently populating the cartridge drop-down menu with updated cartridge renderings, new propellants and bullets, and links to complimentary product pages. Both of these are plainbased Keith-style bullets, and their numbers are #310.451 and #325.454, with the first three digits giving the approximate bullet weight. However, my first test with OLD Nitro 100 were very light, too light. In ranking the various 45 Colt sixguns now in production from the least strongest to that capable of a handling the heaviest loads, I would set the following order. For loading black powder 45 Colt loads, I use Goex as well as Pyrodex and Triple Seven. Nonetheless, the 30-grain charge with a 250-grain bullet reached around 850 fps from a 7.5-inch barrel. There were no 45 Colt heavyweight bullets available at the time, so we sized down 300-grain 45-70 bullets in several stages, going from around 0.460 inch to 0.452 inch. These will still work in the vast majority of sixguns with the exception of the old short cylinder Smith & Wesson N-frames produced prior to 1978 and a couple of others not commonly encountered. This load will certainly handle deer-sized game. However, when using versions that weigh 250 grains, it is sometimes difficult to reach high enough velocities to achieve reliable expansion while staying within industry pressure guidelines. Those first Winchesters were 16 Trapper Models, with mine being purchased in 1985. The Hornady 225-grain FTX bullet should be loaded in cases trimmed shorter than the industry standard of 1.215 inches. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. New York Department of Environmental Conservation, State Agency: Here you will find load data for some of the most recent cartridges on the market, with more being added each week. I advise staying away from loads intended for custom sixguns with five-shot cylinders and it has also been proven the lever-action is not strong enough for .454 loads. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. For example, No. Incidentally, many jacketed bullet loads will produce higher velocities in revolvers with shorter barrels. In the event that a bullet walks out of the case slightly from recoil, Brian suggests an overall cartridge length that is at least .010 to .015 inch below flush with the end of the cylinder. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. With Accurates 5744 the speeds with 17.0 were 853 fps UP and 802 DOWN, but spreads were much better at 45 fps and 16.6 fps respectively. His #452490GC was originally made for the 45 Auto Rim cartridge for use in the Smith & Wesson 1950 Target revolver, but I also use the Thompson design, which weighs around 255 grains, for heavy-duty loads approaching the energy of the 44 Magnum in the Ruger Blackhawk. In part one of this series we saw the history of .45 Colt leverguns, which turned out to be quite recent, beginning in the early 1980s. For testing I go with three shots at 45 yards. I shot all kinds of bullets and powders from my 45 colt from 200gr to 350 gr trying to find something that was better than the other. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. It is impossible to go wrong with the 45 Colt. California Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. All Freedom Arms cylinders are held to very tight tolerances and whether using 45 Colt or 454 Casull brass, I size with a special 454 die. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. For example, Lyman mould No. Make sure your gun can handle it before you use any of these loads listed below with STARS (*). Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. The Lyman family of brands including Pachmayr, Mark 7 Reloading, TacStar, A-Zoom, Trius, Butch's, and Targ-Dots offers products to meet the needs of shooters and reloaders. The original loading was a bullet of approximately 255 grains with a muzzle velocity of somewhere around 850 to 900 fps. your comments are very greatful. I normally stay under 900 fps with a 250-grain bullet in Colt Single Action Army revolvers and its replicas. The company also distributes IMR and Winchester powders as well as Goex black powder. They are my choice for the heaviest loads especially with cast bullets weighing 300 grains and heavier. SCCY DVG-1 Sub-Compact Striker-Fired Pistol: Full Review, Buyer Beware: Buying 'Bargain' Guns Can Be Risky. IMR Trail Boss, 4227, IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. Cartridge Type: Pistol/Revolver. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. This revolver is fitted with a new line-bored cylinder that is tightly chambered with .452-inch throats, a .003-inch barrel/cylinder gap and the forcing cone cut to 11 degrees. Soon after smokeless powder came into use, throats were increased to .4555 inch (according to Colt specifications), which worked fine with .456-inch lead hollowbase bullets contained in Remington and Winchester ammunition. 9 with 15 gr. Share to Reddit. Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Because case capacity is large, trying to produce lighter loads with slow-burning powders can give very poor results. We are blessed to have many excellent cartridges and sixguns available to us, but it would be hard to find any cartridge that is as versatile as the old 45 Colt. This Colt SAA .45 was manufactured in 1893 and saw extensive use on the frontier prior to being professionally restored. The .45 Colt is a grand cartridge that has survived because it is so good. It is loaded not by weight, but by volume. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. so when i find my gun,,i can get busy asap with this . In 1898, Colt made the necessary changes to permit its guns to be used with smokeless powders; however, it wasnt until 1900 (revolvers with serial number 192,000 or higher) that Colt began to officially warrant its guns for such. Not only do the Hodgdon folks offer excellent powders, but also they are simply some of the nicest folks in the industry. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, State Agency: Bullet is .452 diameter. Pyrodex P is the equivalent of Triple-F or FFFg black powder. All Rights Reserved. SWC - 9.6 grains Unique Lyman # 454190 , 250 gr. The (top) Model 25-5 has .458-inch throats while the (bottom) Model 25-5 has .451-inch throats and is far more accurate. The same load in a Jim Stroh custom 5-1/2 Bisley has the same accuracy with more . Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (when required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. RF - 8.2 grains Unique Now we are all confused! In actual weight, Pyrodex is lighter than black powder, being about 80 percent of the weight of black powder. It has many additional virtues, primarily its big-bore performance and reliability. REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD. Incidentally, the U.S Cartridge Company first listed a 255-grain bullet with 35 grains of black in 1882, but. The 45 Colt brass could handle the pressures, but standard sixguns could not. Powders include Moving up to 22.0 grains increases the muzzle velocity to 1,300 fps and then 24.0 grains is right at 1,400 fps with both putting three shots in at 45 yards. The final level includes custom five-shot Rugers and the Freedom Arms Model 83. In addition to outstanding terminal performance and accuracy in guns with correct internal dimensions, it offers low pressures, mild muzzle report and controllable recoil, all of which make it especially practical for an outdoorsman who uses a sixgun daily. Jacketed bullets are also more difficult to push down the bore and therefore produce less velocity than a cast bullet of equal weight. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. At 1,400 fps it is an excellent hunting bullet. Subscriber Services. Although far from perfect, the old Taylor Knock Out (TKO) formula, which is caliber x bullet weight x velocity 7,000, is far more accurate. Chris Johnson, FN Senior Product Manager, walks us through two new FN striker-fired pistols at SHOT Show 2023: the FN 510 Tactical, chambered in 10mm Auto, and the FN 545 Tactical, chambered in .45 ACP. Alas, the days of gun departments in grocery stores, department stores and drugstores are long gone. Cast RCBS 45-270-SAA bullets are generally loaded to an overall length of 1.650 inches to not over 1.655 inches, utilizing the full length of the Colt cylinder. Oregon Trails 250-grain RNFP over 8.0 grains of W231 clocks out just under 1,100 fps with three-shot groups of 1" or less. This one is from Lyman 48th addition Reloading book. With their 16 barrels the Winchesters weigh right at 6 lbs. El Hombre Sin Nombre Members 6.3k Gender:Male Location:Oakland, CA SASS# 101096 Richmond Roughriders, Coyote Valley Cowboys, Faultine Shootist Society,Two Rivers Posse, River City Regulators Posted February 18, 2017 Pyrodex is cleaner burning than black powder and results in less fouling of the barrel. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. Use 10% UNDER any values you see here for N-100. sets maximum standards for cartridges; this standard must be set at a level safely usable in the weakest common denominator. Custom five-shooters built on the Ruger Blackhawk, the Ruger Redhawk, and the Freedom Arms Model 83 top the list. Handgun Data. The original .45 Colt bullet profile is known as a truncated cone or round nosed flat point (RNFP). Note: Powder Mfgs. Then comes the Freedom Arms Model 97, the original Ruger Vaquero, Ruger Blackhawk, Ruger Redhawk, and the Ruger Super Redhawk. A gun is like a parachute: If you need one and don't have one, you won't be needing one again. You may even have bullets stopping partway in the barrel with that light of a charge. For the 45 Colt this is the Single Action Army revolver. Today the throats of most Colt revolvers measure .457 to .458 inch, which is the same dimension used by Smith & Wesson during the late 1970s, Uberti and others.
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