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. This prevents bullets from being sized down when seated into an overly tight case. I didnt think I could shoot this well! With the 45 Colt, IMR 4227 is almost magical in being able to provide excellent accuracy when other powders will not. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, State Agency: It is a good choice for self-defense, long-range shooting, hunting everything on four legs, and just plain fun shooting. 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. My loading dies are from Lee, Lyman, and RCBS, and all of them give excellent service. Bad Idea! 275 grain 45 colt load - The Firing Line Forums Purchase A PDF Download Of The GUNS Magazine February 2021 Issue Now! * 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. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. 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. Copyright. I would think that the load you are using would be safe. Then comes the Freedom Arms Model 97, the original Ruger Vaquero, Ruger Blackhawk, Ruger Redhawk, and the Ruger Super Redhawk. take the .45 Colt as my game and defense cartridge. It is noteworthy that this statement was made 20 years after the development of the .357 Magnum, a cartridge Keith also tested and used in the field. American Handgunner Favorite 45 Bullets - American Handgunner Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, State Agency: Dropping down to 30 grains results in an easier-shooting 835 fps and a group of 1.13 inches. When loaded in the Colt Single Action Army at around 850 fps, it is a most powerful everyday working load. It is impossible to go wrong with the 45 Colt. At 1,400 fps it is an excellent hunting bullet. Note that the "Ruger New Vaquero" uses a smaller frame and cylinder like original Colts. Marlin and Winchester 1894s will both handle heavier-than-standard .45 Colt loads but 1860, 1866 and 1873 replicas are for standard loads only! Give a Gift 458 is a rifle bullet. .45 Colt Rifle Data (Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition) West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, State Agency: 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. and other smokeless cartridges were introduced. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: RCBS also offers an excellent bullet of standard weight with the #45-255KT that has a better crimping groove than the Keith bullet. Nonetheless, the 30-grain charge with a 250-grain bullet reached around 850 fps from a 7.5-inch barrel. Handgun Data. But the 45 Colt is a survivor. 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. It has many additional virtues, primarily its big-bore performance and reliability. All Rights Reserved. I found the following heavyweight bullets all would work through both the Winchester and Marlin actions: NEI 310 Keith, NEI 325 Keith, Lyman #454629GC 300-grain FN, RCBS #45-270 SAA weighing around 284 grains with my alloy, and I also checked the #454490GC design by Ray Thompson, which is a 255-grain Keith-style gas-checked bullet. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. In guns with .452-inch throats, the Magma designed 250-grain RNFP offered by most commercial cast bullet companies (Oregon Trail used here) can be surprisingly accurate. 5, No.7, No. Loading the .45 Colt for Rifles - CHUCKHAWKS.COM Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance. LYMAN Reloading Products A trusted Brand since the 1800?s. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. However, it cannot be approached the same as smokeless. About the same time the Winchester Trappers arrived, Marlin had a very limited run of 500 each of .44 Magnum and .45 Colt Trappers. The availability of all of these bullets is dependent on how much time I have to cast my own. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, State Agency: I didnt realize how many different powders from Hodgdon I use in loading the 45 Colt until I began putting this article together. Contest void where prohibited by law. Beginning in the early 1980s both Winchester and Marlin began offering .45 Colt leverguns. The 45 Colt rim is smaller than the rim on a 45 Auto Rim. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Some people have tried to load the .45 Colt to levels of the .44 Magnum. Bob Meinert, FN Marketing Director, introduces FN's first commercial pistol suppressor, the FN Rush 9Ti. Not only do the Hodgdon folks offer excellent powders, but also they are simply some of the nicest folks in the industry. It has never failed me. 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. 11; firearms used: Universal Receiver & Ruger Blackhawk; barrel length: 7 1/2"; twist: 1-16"; groove dia. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Because case capacity is large, trying to produce lighter loads with slow-burning powders can give very poor results. The 45 Colt also predates the 38 Special, the 44 Special, and the 45 ACP, and not only is it more than 80 years older than the 44 Magnum, but it also has more case capacity and in the proper sixguns can outrank the 44 Magnum. The 45 Colt brass was up to the task. A roll crimp is generally preferred and should be applied as heavily as the bullets crimp groove or cannelure will permit. I use WLP primers. Checked and verified, page 285, 4th Ed.Lyman cast bullet handbook. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, State Agency: check out the. There are some excellent jacketed bullets available for use in the 45 Colt, including the Sierra 240-grain JHP, Hornady 250-grain XTP-JHP, and the Speer 260-grain JHP, all of which I prefer for deer-sized game. The minimum load for a 200 gr cast SWC in 45 Colt is listed as 8.6 gr Unique for 918 fps. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Moving up to the second level, loads at around 1,000 fps with the same-weight bullet are used in the Colt New Frontier, Smith & Wesson Model 25/625, Ruger Flat-Top New Model, and the Ruger New Vaquero. These figures correspond with the many other pre-World War II guns that I have slugged. Space constraints keep me from looking at all of these powders in depth, but I can cover a few. For several reasons they should not be used. 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. Do Pistols Benefit From Popular Aftermarket Modifications? The Colt Single Action Army, Colt New Frontier, Ruger New Model Flat-Top, Ruger New Vaquero, and Smith & Wesson Model 25/625 are all very close strength-wise. I prefer to use 250-grain jacketed bullets in conjunction with +P loads, which is a subject for another day. The original .45 Colt bullet profile is known as a truncated cone or round nosed flat point (RNFP). Over the nearly 15 decades since its arrival, there have been many attempts to pronounce it dead. .45 Colt Handgun Data (Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition) Warning! 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. barrel differ from a 4 4/5 revolver by Make sure your gun can handle it before No purchase necessary. Caliber .45 Colt| Reloading Data To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Taffin Test the .45 Colt (Note: These are near maximum loads, you should use 10% less to start, unless it is lesser of several loads or other indications like mild or cowboy etc.) Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, State Agency: Starting load is 12.4 grains and top load is 15.4 grains of Blue Dot. Due to their reduced velocity combined with greater resistance in the bore, I dont recommend loads that produce less than 750 fps because there is a significant chance of sticking a bullet in the bore. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. 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. Below you'll find some basic data for each cartridge to help get you started. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, State Agency: 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. It takes at least two rounds to be able to see if the rounds are too long to accomplish both operations. For developing the accompanying data, a 1970 vintage (second generation) Colt New Frontier SAA with 5.5-inch barrel was. Pyrodex P is the equivalent of Triple-F or FFFg black powder. youd need for most critters in the lower 48. That is, if the loading table calls for 40 grains of black powder, then one uses a 40-grain volume powder measure for the same amount by volume of Pyrodex. Meet the all-new Taurus Judge Executive Grade, a revolver featuring a hand-polished satin finish, presentation-grade wood grips, a brass rod front sight and an exceptional hand-tuned trigger. Note: Powder Mfgs. The .45 Colt is a grand cartridge that has survived because it is so good. 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. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, State Agency: The availability of all of these bullets is dependent on how much time I have to cast my own. Need 45 Colt Revolver Loads | 1911Forum H110 works well for heavy bullet loads in the .45 Colt levergun. They are my choice for everyday use and also for hunting larger, tougher game. Pet Loads and Handloader are registered trademarks of Wolfe Publishing Company. Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th edition. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Here is what Lyman #4 has to say on 45 Colt, maximum Unique , standard pressure loads: Lee 452-200-RF , 200 gr. 45 Colt Load Data - HunterHub Guns with larger throats will usually produce improved accuracy when loaded with bullets that measure .454 to .456 inch. The original conical bullet found in black powder 45 Colt loads from the 1870s is very close to the Lyman #454190 and the RCBS #45-255 FN. His 45 Colt bullet was #454424 and was available for decades from Lyman. The Lee bullet works well in my Winchester (Miroku) 1873. After all the work and expense, it turned out to be a somewhat mediocre performer. The .44 Magnum is a great cartridge that offers a flatter trajectory and helps to make hits easier at longer distances; however, this added performance comes at the cost of greater pressures, heavier guns, increased recoil and muzzle report. For loading black powder 45 Colt loads, I use Goex as well as Pyrodex and Triple Seven. In my opinion, throats that measure .452 inch are generally ideal with a variety of bullets. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. On paper, the 357 Magnum was the first cartridge to exceed the 45 Colts muzzle energy, but many knowledgeable sixgunners, Elmer Keith included, believed the 45 Colt actually offered more practical power than the First Magnum. Today, it remains one of our most popular sixgun cartridges. N340 handgun powder - Vihtavuori considered more the norm. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. Load data for the 45 colt rifle | The Firearms Forum If cast soft enough they can also slug up to create a gas seal, which helps reduce fusion and barrel leading. 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. Bullet sizes vary from .450 for jacketed to .454 for some lead in diameter. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. Space constraints keep me from looking at all of these powders in depth, but I can cover a few. 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. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM March 2022, P.O. So if one used 40 grains by weight of Pyrodex when the chart called for 40 grains of black powder, the result would be an overloaded charge. The original Winchesters, whether chambered in .44 Rimfire or .44-40, all used cast bullets as jacketed bullets did not start appearing until the early part of the 20th century. Then something dramatic happened in 1869: Smith & Wesson brought forth the 44 American sixgun that used fixed ammunition. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Reddings excellent Dual Ring Carbide sizing die was used to prep cases as it works the case less, results in longer case life, seems to improve accuracy and eliminates the Coke bottle shape forward of the head. For the 45 Colt this is the Single Action Army revolver. One problem inherent with the original #454424 was the fact that when sized to 0.451 to 0.452 inch, the crimping groove almost disappears. We were soon shooting 300-grain bullets at 1,200 fps from a 7.5-inch-barreled Ruger revolver. However, the first known commercial listing is found in the 1880 UMC catalog. The 45 Colt brass could handle the pressures, but standard sixguns could not. 45 Colt is a pistol round. Basic Load Data Hornady Manufacturing Company develops and publishes reloading data for the Handbook of Cartridge Reloading. The Smith & Wesson Model 29 is the sixgun by which all other .44 Magnums are judged. Pyrodex P is the equivalent of Triple-F or FFFg black powder. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: I clocked 9.2, 9.5 and 10 grains. 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. When time is a problem, actually when sometimes my own energy is the problem, I look to Oregon Trail Bullets. The weight would more properly be closer to 32 grains. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Actually, we can divide 45 Colt sixguns into several reloading levels, and I have moderated these somewhat over the past several years, with the first two levels being very close together. Shooter's Reference Load Data for .45 Colt PDF The Future of Reloading One problem inherent with the original #454424 was the fact that when sized to 0.451 to 0.452 inch, the crimping groove almost disappears. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. 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. Nitro 100, No.2, No. Your load at 6.0 gr Unique is dangerously unsafe. .449 inch to .460 inch, and Smith & Wessons from .451 to .458 inch. 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. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. With my alloys this bullet runs around 280 to 285 grains while at the same time having a slightly shorter nose than the original Keith design so it fits in all Colt cylinders. His 45 Colt bullet was #454424 and was available for decades from Lyman. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. The .45 Colt was developed in 1872 and first chambered for the Colt Single Action Army revolver in 1873. These Smith & Wesson .45 Colts include a (1) Model 25-5 with 838-inch barrel, (2) Model 25-5 with 6-inch barrel, (3) Model 25-5 with 4-inch barrel and a (4) Model 625-6 Mountain Gun with a tapered 4-inch barrel. Addeddate 2019-02-26 16:21:01 Identifier Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: This load will certainly handle deer-sized game. With my alloys this bullet runs around 280 to 285 grains while at the same time having a slightly shorter nose than the original Keith design so it fits in all Colt cylinders. After a long days work on our remote cattle ranch, I would cast bullets and handload ammunition in the evening so that I could continue shooting the next day. With the coming of Rugers Blackhawk chambered in 45 Colt in the early 1970s, we finally had a sixgun that could tap the tremendous potential of the 45 Colt cartridge. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. 45 LC load with Titegroup? | Ruger Forum Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. - 9.4 grains Unique Lyman 452460 , 200 gr. Their 10mm Devastator (Lyman #401638 HP) has a listed weight of 155 grains, and is a HP version of their very accurate 175 grain TC design. It basically started in the early 1870s as a round-nosed bullet given a slight flattened nose. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. My gun was a new model Bisely blackhawk long barrel. Alas, the days of gun departments in grocery stores, department stores and drugstores are long gone. Loading the .45 Colt It's vital to understand today's loading manuals typically include .45 Colt loads at two different power levels: under 14,000 CUP and under 29,000 PSI. Powders include For the 45 Colt, I especially prefer the 250-grain RNFP and the 255-grain SWC. For several years Smith & Wesson cut throats at 0.455 inch or even larger, but now they seem to be running at a more proper 0.451 to 0.452 inch. Survival, Banned, Training, Load, reloading, powder Collection folkscanomy_defense; folkscanomy; additional_collections Language English. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (when required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. top notch work!! Contest void where prohibited by law. When he died in 1862, the company was dedicated to producing the same percussion revolvers. Improving the Keith Bullet Keith's #454424 was an excellent bullet, however it has been improved by Dave Scovill and is offered by RCBS as #45-270SAA. Deployed military should use stateside address. What the John Wick is 9mm Major, Anyway. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Lyman 49 says reloader 7 has been a long time favorite for .45-70. USE THIS DATA WITH ALLIANT BRAND POWDERS ONLY. There are some excellent jacketed bullets available for use in the 45 Colt, including the Sierra 240-grain JHP,Hornady250-grain XTP-JHP, and the Speer 260-grain JHP, all of which I prefer for deer-sized game. Be very careful using the loads for Ruger and T/C (Thompson Contender) as these are maximum loads, even for these strong guns. rifling. Next we will look at jacketed bullets in .45 Colt leverguns. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Alaska Department of Fish & Game, State Agency: It's like shooting a .38 special in a gun chambered for .357 magnum. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: selected. This Colt SAA .45 was manufactured in 1893 and saw extensive use on the frontier prior to being professionally restored. [See page on powder location in case affecting FPS elsewhere on pages] In fact, an axiom with me is, When all else fails, try IMR 4227 before giving up. Years ago, after tiring of oversized 45 Colt chambers in Colt Single Action Army revolvers and New Frontiers, I started with a 357 Magnum New Frontier, had the cylinder rechambered properly and tightly to 45 Colt, and then had a new 4.75-inch Colt New Frontier barrel fitted.
Barefoot Cafe Gunwalloe, Gorsline Runciman Williamston Obituaries, Honey Glue Strain, What Is The Advantage Of Suspense Over Surprise?, Scottie Pippen Stats Without Jordan, Articles L