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When crimped in its cannelure, the overall length still exceeds industry specifications at 1.652 inches. Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: You may even have bullets stopping partway in the barrel with that light of a charge. S.A.A.M.I. 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. 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. In 1935 we entered the Magnum Sixgun Era with the arrival of the 357 Magnum; however, long before that we had the 45 Colt. Missouri Deptartment of Conservation, State Agency: However, in those long-gone days I was able to find two Winchester Trappers both in .45 Colt and the Marlin versions in both calibers mentioned. I didnt realize how many different powders from Hodgdon I use in loading the 45 Colt until I began putting this article together. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, State Agency: 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. Basic Load Data Hornady Manufacturing Company develops and publishes reloading data for the Handbook of Cartridge Reloading. With the 45 Colt, IMR 4227 is almost magical in being able to provide excellent accuracy when other powders will not. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. A favorite pastime of many dedicated sixgunners is sitting around a campfire arguing the merits of their particular choice of caliber. The 45 Colt brass was up to the task. (I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. Make sure your gun can handle it before Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, State Agency: Wolfe Publishing Company | 2180 Gulfstream Suite A | Prescott, AZ 86301. The proud tradition and history of Lyman Products began simply in the late 1800?s when William Lyman, an avid outdoorsman and inventor, created a product that resolved problems with gun sights of his day. This brings us to powders, and I use a lot of Hodgdon powders. A quote from Lyman Reloading Handbook, 49th Edition states, The grooves of pre-World War II revolvers normally measure .454 in diameter. By the standards of the day when it arrived in 1873, and even to this day, the 45 Colt was and is a powerful cartridge. It should be crimped over the ogive and seated to an overall cartridge length of around 1.575 inches, which helps reduce case capacity and results in lower extreme spreads with powders that tend to be position sensitive. USE THIS DATA WITH ALLIANT BRAND POWDERS ONLY. Elmer Keith was way ahead of his time in developing everyday working and hunting loads. 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. After all the work and expense, it turned out to be a somewhat mediocre performer. I was fortunate to find one of each. 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. Then something dramatic happened in 1869: Smith & Wesson brought forth the 44 American sixgun that used fixed ammunition. Custom five-shooters built on the Ruger Blackhawk, the Ruger Redhawk, and the Freedom Arms Model 83 top the list. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. For testing I go with three shots at 45 yards. HS7 is slowest of the group (Similar to 2400) Handgun Data. Before I discuss handloads for the 45 Colt, we have to acknowledge there exists such a wide range of revolvers accepting the 45 Colt that great care must be used in assembling loads and choosing which guns will safely accept them. I have found 5.0 grains of Clays under a 250-grain bullet delivers a very pleasant-shooting load at 725 fps and will group all its shots in 0.63 inch at 20 yards. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, State Agency: If cast soft enough they can also slug up to create a gas seal, which helps reduce fusion and barrel leading. models. When loaded in the Colt Single Action Army at around 850 fps, it is a most powerful everyday working load. Marlin and Winchester 1894s will both handle heavier-than-standard .45 Colt loads but 1860, 1866 and 1873 replicas are for standard loads only! 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. your comments are very greatful. Cartridge Type: Pistol/Revolver. If I had to shoot only one factory ammunition the rest of my life, I would. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. 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 revolver and ammunition were officially adopted for service in 1873. . John with the Winchester Trapper in .45 Colt; the neckerchief is The performance level is pretty close to the original Black Powder load but far more effective due to the bullet I use. Many early black-powder-era Colt revolvers (1873-1898) feature .449- to .452-inch throats that corresponded reasonably with .450- to .452-inch barrel groove diameters. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Contrary to what has been traditionally published, records indicate that early loads from Frankford Arsenal contained a copper case loaded with a 250-grain, roundnose flatpoint lead bullet pushed with 30 grains of black powder, with additional charge weights soon added. 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. Be very careful using the loads for Ruger and T/C (Thompson Contender) as these are maximum loads, even for these strong guns. About 1200+ fps in the 7.5 SBH, 1150fps out of the 4" Redhawk. Copyright. 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. The .45 Colt is rapidly approaching 150 years in existence, and it remains one of our finest, most useful, versatile and handloaded sixgun cartridges. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. I found both of these on the shelf of a little gun store, actually a small gun department, in a local grocery store. Failure to do so could result in severe personal injury (or death) and/or property damage. This is a plain base bullet and I found out very quickly it was not very accurate in either rifle. We are currently populating the cartridge drop-down menu with updated cartridge renderings, new propellants and bullets, and links to complimentary product pages. It is my most used powder both in cap-and-ball and cartridge-firing sixguns when black powder loads are desired. SCCY DVG-1 Sub-Compact Striker-Fired Pistol: Full Review, Buyer Beware: Buying 'Bargain' Guns Can Be Risky. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. Quality 300-grain jacketed bullets are also offered by all three of these manufacturers. It is loaded not by weight, but by volume. The availability of all of these bullets is dependent on how much time I have to cast my own. youd need for most critters in the lower 48. For the 45 Colt, I especially prefer the 250-grain RNFP and the 255-grain SWC. However, when using soft swaged-lead bullets, an expander ball around .002 inch smaller than bullet diameter is preferred. Originally loaded with 40 grs. For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. bullet type,style,powder ,amount,col.,primeres,and if possable fps. 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. My maine load is the Lyman 454190 cast of ww + 2% tin. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. However, due to their heavier weights and increased barrel time, many fixed-sighted sixguns may group high. The accompanying data was developed using Starline cases that are strong, offer long life and are available factory direct. Contest open to U.S. residents only. I use my Winchester and Marlin Trappers for relatively close-range shooting. 310 Tong Tool. www.hodgdonreloading.com Broc NES Member Rating - 100% 15 0 0 Joined Sep 18, 2010 However, it cannot be approached the same as smokeless. This prevents bullets from being sized down when seated into an overly tight case. It has never failed me. They are my choice for everyday use and also for hunting larger, tougher game. 454190 (255 grains) shares a similar profile as the original Government bullet but is a plainbase design that is generally very accurate and can be sized to around .454 to .455 inch for guns with larger throats. They are my choice for everyday use and also for hunting larger, tougher game. Cast bullet loads in the Marlin .45 Colt all the power and accuracy For developing the accompanying data, a 1970 vintage (second generation) Colt New Frontier SAA with 5.5-inch barrel was. A huge hit among hunters, it remained popular in deer camps long after the .30-30 Win. Space constraints keep me from looking at all of these powders in depth, but I can cover a few. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not . However, this approach causes some bullet deformation by being shortened, then sized down in the barrel, which still leaves accuracy potential on the table. The standard groove diameter for the .45 Colt is .451 inch minimum and .452 inch maximum. Bullseye is a bit fast for this big cartridge and I dont especially recommend it, but it will work. Contest open to U.S. residents only. As I have gotten older and my hands have become more tender, I find myself moderating my everyday shooting loads. 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. It is clear why the .45 Colt had such a stellar reputation as a man stopper and for its effectiveness on game. of blackpowder, the .44-40 . Idaho Department of Fish & Game, State Agency: Any time I have a 45 Colt that doesnt shoot the way I think it should, I dont give up until I try this load of IMR 4227 with Keiths bullet. 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. It takes at least two rounds to be able to see if the rounds are too long to accomplish both operations. The weight would more properly be closer to 32 grains. Not only do the Hodgdon folks offer excellent powders, but also they are simply some of the nicest folks in the industry. A check of Hodgdons loading manuals shows these two powders using the same charge weight produce the same velocities and pressures. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. Jacketed bullets are also more difficult to push down the bore and therefore produce less velocity than a cast bullet of equal weight. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. The .45 Colt was developed in 1872 and first chambered for the Colt Single Action Army revolver in 1873. Arizona Game & Fish Department, State Agency: 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. When Ray Thompson was designing his line of bullets, he did not neglect the 45. The minimum load for a 200 gr cast SWC in 45 Colt is listed as 8.6 gr Unique for 918 fps. SAAMI pressures for STANDARD .45 Colt is 14,000 PSI MAXIMUM, but The new RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol from Rock Island Armory features a patented RVS Recoil system that maximizes barrel mass and linear movement to give shooters super soft recoil. When loaded in the Colt Single Action Army at around 850 fps, it is a most powerful everyday working load. (I) Giveaway ends May 31, 2023. for Ruger Blackhawk and T/C, levels in the 20,000 to 25,000 range are Note: Powder Mfgs. I seat and crimp just over the bullet radius. 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. More than 45 years of shooting and slugging the barrels of hundreds of Colt SAAs suggests differently. I have found two things necessary gas checks and hard alloys, also in most cases muzzle velocities over 1,200-1,300 fps. 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. 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. While only sporadically available as a component, the Remington .456-inch 250-grain lead hollowbase bullet will obturate to minimize bullet tilting. Contest void where prohibited by law. However, there are two problems associated with it: case capacity and cylinder throat diameters. 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. My powders of choice are Clays, HP-38, HS-6, Universal, Trail Boss, H110, IMR 4227, W296, and W231. Exactly when the .45 Colt factory load containing 250-grain bullets propelled by 40 grains of black powder was first offered is unknown, but it was probably assembled at the Colt factory. Some time in the early part of the 20th century wadcutter bullets arrived. 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. Subscriber Services. The 1894 Winchester Trappers have a long, strong action and even though the chambers are somewhat over-size, they will handle any load you can normally load in a .45 Colt case for use in sixguns with six-shot cylinders. The top of the can says NOT FOR HANDGUN LOADS. 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. These two bullets in a custom five-shot Blackhawk or Freedom Arms Model 83 five-shooter can be driven to 1,450 fps with W296 or H110. Not only do the Hodgdon folks offer excellent powders, but also they are simply some of the nicest folks in the industry. 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! The Lyman bullet 452651 GC will cast 20-1 at about 325 grains including gas check. It is an excellent compromise between the 250- and 300-grain cast bullets. 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. 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. None of these loads will work through the action of my Rossi .45 Colt Model 92. I soon developed an appreciation for reliable performance on game using. The original loading was a bullet of approximately 255 grains with a muzzle velocity of somewhere around 850 to 900 fps. Low Recoil Loads | Hodgdon Reloading Handloading allows the flexibility to adjust load ballistics for a particular purpose. These figures correspond with the many other pre-World War II guns that I have slugged. In actual weight, Pyrodex is lighter than black powder, being about 80 percent of the weight of black powder. That is, until I tried IMR 4227 with Lymans #452424 and a 20.0-grain load, and that combination produced one-hole groups. When using bullets designed for the .45 ACP that dont have a crimp cannelure, a taper crimp applied after bullets are seated to the correct overall length is the best option. Most manufacturers have recognized the need to offer revolvers with correct throat dimensions including Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Uberti, USFA and others, but not Colt. Reloader 7 - 37.0 grains start, 39.0 grains max. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. It's always had a great reputation as a man stopper. SWC - 9.6 grains Unique Lyman # 454190 , 250 gr. Bad Idea! These two bullets in a custom five-shot Blackhawk or Freedom Arms Model 83 five-shooter can be driven to 1,450 fps with W296 or H110. The powder that has the lowest velocities are produced by Trailboss which also has the advantage of filling up the 45LC case. The on-line Hogdon load data shows the following for TiteGroup and a 255 gr LSWC: Starting load of 5.0 gr for an approx 716 feet per second and a pressure of 7.6K cup. The final level includes custom five-shot Rugers and the Freedom Arms Model 83. Cast bullets in both plain-based and gas check versions are available from 260 grains to 325 grains. The 9mm/.38 Lyman #356637 HP is nominally a 124 grain HP version of their excellent 147 grain RNFP for the 9mm Parabellum. My gun was a new model Bisely blackhawk long barrel. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Wyoming Game & Fish Department, State Agency: The same load in a Jim Stroh custom 5-1/2 Bisley has the same accuracy with more . But the 45 Colt is a survivor. FWIW Dale53 #Permalink 1 0 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. It is a good choice for self-defense, long-range shooting, hunting everything on four legs, and just plain fun shooting. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM May 2023, P.O. 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. There are many outstanding cast bullets for the .45 Colt. RCBS also offers an excellent bullet of standard weight with the #45-255KT that has a better crimping groove than the Keith bullet. (I) Giveaway ends December 31, 2022. Members 4.5k Gender:Male Location:Dolores, Colorado Interests:All types of shooting, hunting, fishing, camping. Deployed military should use stateside address. The .45 Colt is rapidly approaching 150 years in existence, and it remains one of our finest, most useful, versatile and handloaded sixgun cartridges. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (when required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. N340 is a tubular powder type with grain dimensions of 1,0mm length and 0,8 mm diameter. When tactical lights first came out, we all thought the 50 lumens they offered was astounding and could never get better. 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. When the Marlin and Winchester Trappers first arrived in the early '80s, the #1 45 Colt bullet was still Elmer Keith's #454424 weighing about 260 grains from my alloy. 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. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. I have dozens of references from credible sources that state pre-World War II Colt revolvers feature a barrel groove diameter of .454 inch while postwar guns measure .451 to .452 inch. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. That is, until I tried IMR 4227 with Lymans #452424 and a 20.0-grain load, and that combination produced one-hole groups. A gun with these internal dimensions offers a much fairer assessment of the accuracy potential of all data. 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. 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. I didnt think I could shoot this well! 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. (I) Giveaway ends April 30, 2023. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. I would conclude this powder is much more consistent in speeds than others that I have tried in the .45 Colt. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. I have been pleasantly surprised by the Marlin Trapper. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. It is an excellent compromise between the 250- and 300-grain cast bullets. (I) Giveaway ends February 28, 2023. 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 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. What has varied significantly is the throat diameter (ball end, chamber mouth, etc.) The 45 Colt rim is smaller than the rim on a 45 Auto Rim. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. and how they grouped at ther yrds. 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. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. Quality 300-grain jacketed bullets are also offered by all three of these manufacturers. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, State Agency: 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. flatpoint Keith-style bullets. Published .45 Colt rifle data tends to use the same medium burning powders as non Ruger .45 Colt revolver data, with 255 gr bullet velocities around 1100 fps - about 200 fps faster than in a revolver. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2021. 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. 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. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: This one is from Lyman 48th addition Reloading book. Cartridge Filter By Bullet Weight Powder Type Recipes It is my most used powder both in cap-and-ball and cartridge-firing sixguns when black powder loads are desired.