I have used them to take big game, including mule deer and bears. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, State Agency: * 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. Here is what Lyman #4 has to say on 45 Colt, maximum Unique , standard pressure loads: Lee 452-200-RF , 200 gr. Cartridge Filter By Bullet Weight Powder Type Recipes check out the. California Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders. Bad Idea! The .45 Colt is a grand cartridge that has survived because it is so good. 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. For the .45 Colt my standard load is 5.5 grains of Clays, which gives from 780 fps to 840 fps depending upon the sixgun used. 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. A Redding Dual Ring Carbide sizing die was used to develop handload data. Contest void where prohibited by law. At 1,400 fps it is an excellent hunting bullet. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. The 45 Colt brass could handle the pressures, but standard sixguns could not. The same load in a Jim Stroh custom 5-1/2 Bisley has the same accuracy with more . (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. When he died in 1862, the company was dedicated to producing the same percussion revolvers. Wolfe Publishing Company | 2180 Gulfstream Suite A | Prescott, AZ 86301. .45 Colt - Published Manufacturer Loading Data Shellholders: Lee #11 Lee #14 Lyman #11 RCBS #20 Recipe Type: Pistol Ruger, Freedom Arms & Thompson / Center only 30,000 PSI-HIGH PRESSURE LOADS 14000 PSI-STANDARD LOADS Ruger and Contender Only Cowboy Bullet Weight: ALL 135 gr 160 gr 180 gr 185 gr 200 gr 210 gr 215 gr 225 gr 230 gr 240 gr 250 gr To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. That is, until I tried IMR 4227 with Lymans #452424 and a 20.0-grain load, and that combination produced one-hole groups. 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. When time is a problem, actually when sometimes my own energy is the problem, I look to Oregon Trail Bullets. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. (I) Giveaway ends April 30, 2023. Smith & Wesson revolver throats have varied significantly. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. 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. Contest void where prohibited by law. 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. The Smith & Wesson Model 29 is the sixgun by which all other .44 Magnums are judged. 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. 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. 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. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, State Agency: The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) has established the maximum average pressure for .45 Colt at 14,000 psi (commonly referred to as standard pressure), which should only be used in guns originally designed for smokeless powder ammunition. Not interchangeable. Pet Loads and Handloader are registered trademarks of Wolfe Publishing Company. Elmer Keith was way ahead of his time in developing everyday working and hunting loads. Cast bullets in both plain-based and gas check versions are available from 260 grains to 325 grains. With their 16 barrels the Winchesters weigh right at 6 lbs. 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. In 1935 we entered the Magnum Sixgun Era with the arrival of the 357 Magnum; however, long before that we had the 45 Colt. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. The .45 Colts origins started in 1871 when Colt began designing a new sixgun specifically to house metallic cartridges. A bullet with a copper gas check or copper plating is best for INDOOR ranges to keep lead vapors out of the air. 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. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, State Agency: Not only do the Hodgdon folks offer excellent powders, but also they are simply some of the nicest folks in the industry. like original Colts. However, none of these loads should be taken for granted and should be worked up very carefully. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. The final level includes custom five-shot Rugers and the Freedom Arms Model 83. 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. It's always had a great reputation as a man stopper. 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. Some of my most accurate loads are as follows: The Lyman/Thompson #454490 GC over 20.0 grains of #42274 gives a group at 1,275 fps or 20.0 grains of #2400 for 150 fps more velocity and a group just over 1. Others are the New Model Blackhawks, the Bisley Model, the Redhawk, and the Super Redhawk. 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. 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. I normally stay under 900 fps with a 250-grain bullet in Colt Single Action Army revolvers and its replicas. A gun is like a parachute: If you need one and don't have one, you won't be needing one again. Contest open to U.S. residents 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. This lets it feed in many cowboy-action guns and use common 45 ACP load data. rifling. This load will certainly handle deer-sized game. Discussion: The old Western Style COLT normally uses big, heavy and slow lead bullets. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Quality 300-grain jacketed bullets are also offered by all three of these manufacturers. sets maximum standards for cartridges; this standard must be set at a level safely usable in the weakest common denominator. When crimped in its cannelure, the overall length still exceeds industry specifications at 1.652 inches. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. The .45 Colt operates at notably less pressure, produces a slower, more. 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. 2020, Lyman Products Corporation, printed in U.S.A. All other trademarks in this catalog are the property of their respective owners. RNFP), 1007 MAX+ (Actual in 7 1/2 bbl 255 gr. 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. Sam Colt became a millionaire producing percussion revolvers. 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. Bullet is .452 diameter. They are my choice for everyday use and also for hunting larger, tougher game. I was fortunate to find one of each. This was achieved with 40 grains of black powder. www.hodgdonreloading.com Broc NES Member Rating - 100% 15 0 0 Joined Sep 18, 2010 It didnt take long for manufacturers to offer heavier bullets, and two of the best came from NEI. The company also distributes IMR and Winchester powders as well as Goex black powder. For loading black powder 45 Colt loads, I use Goex as well as Pyrodex and Triple Seven. 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. ), RCBS #45-270SWC (284 gr.). After that date bore diameters were reduced to .451-.452 inch, the same as the .45 Auto. I can only assume the above statement of bore diameter was intended to indicate groove, diameter. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. I chose the Herco powder to utilize as much case capacity as possible. (See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.) Powders include Addeddate 2019-02-27 13:08:05 Identifier LymanReloadingHandbook48thEdition2002Ocr_201902 Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t9093sd5t Ocr ABBYY FineReader 11.0 (Extended OCR) 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. Make sure your gun can handle it before Then comes the Freedom Arms Model 97, the original Ruger Vaquero, Ruger Blackhawk, Ruger Redhawk, and the Ruger Super Redhawk. I have yet to find any levergun or sixgun that does not shoot this Dick Casull-designed bullet exceptionally well. The accompanying data was developed using Starline cases that are strong, offer long life and are available factory direct. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. A huge hit among hunters, it remained popular in deer camps long after the .30-30 Win. I use WLP primers. VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. 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. 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. For example, Lyman mould No. 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. S.A.A.M.I. 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. You can certainly use the Jacketed bullets fine, but dont look for incredible speeds. Contrary to popular belief, the Mason patented spring-loaded, cylinder-pin release catch first appeared in 1896 around serial number 164,000, which were still black powder guns. 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. Then comes the Freedom Arms Model 97, the original Ruger Vaquero, Ruger Blackhawk, Ruger Redhawk, and the Ruger Super Redhawk. 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. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: 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. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM February 2023, P.O. The final level includes custom five-shot Rugers and the Freedom Arms Model 83. USE THIS DATA WITH ALLIANT BRAND POWDERS ONLY. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Over the past 35 years all four of these leverguns have shot extensively with both jacketed and cast bullets. 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. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. These figures correspond with the many other pre-World War II guns that I have slugged. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. Pyrodex is cleaner burning than black powder and results in less fouling of the barrel. | Then something dramatic happened in 1869: Smith & Wesson brought forth the 44 American sixgun that used fixed ammunition. 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. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. The powder that has the lowest velocities are produced by Trailboss which also has the advantage of filling up the 45LC case. Others are the New Model Blackhawks, the Bisley Model, the Redhawk, and the Super Redhawk. There simply is not much that cannot be accomplished with the 45 Colt. Failure to do so could result in severe personal injury (or death) and/or property damage. 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. In 1935 we entered the Magnum Sixgun Era with the arrival of the 357 Magnum; however, long before that we had the 45 Colt. However, my first test with OLD Nitro 100 were very light, too light. Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, State Agency: For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. models. Using a 250-grain cast bullet, 37.5 grains by volume of Pyrodex P results in a very potent 987 fps and a five-shot, 50-foot group of 0.88 inch in my revolver. Mike, who used to live in Newport News, but now resides in Poquoson VA. No purchase necessary. Arizona Game & Fish Department, State Agency: The Judge has been promoted! Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. Contest void where prohibited by law. 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. For comparison the above .44 Magnum factory loads (which are admittedly conservative) have a TKO factor only slightly higher at 17.35. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. ew eginnings - Mark 7 is now part of the Lyman family! Also slugged were guns 121xxx (1887) and number 134xxx (1890) that measured .4515 inch and .451 inch, respectively. Copyright. With multiple powder charge weights there has been considerable confusion on this subject. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. 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. For the 45 Colt, I especially prefer the 250-grain RNFP and the 255-grain SWC. I soon added single-cavity molds for the .45 Colt and .38 Special. I would think that the load you are using would be safe. About 1200+ fps in the 7.5 SBH, 1150fps out of the 4" Redhawk. Colt191145. This is probably when it became so common to use cast bullets sized to .454 inch with pre-World War II guns but was largely confused with groove diameter. replacement barrels from the 1930s, each slugged between .451 and .4515 inch. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Bullet sizes vary from .450 for jacketed to .454 for some lead in diameter. It is an excellent compromise between the 250- and 300-grain cast bullets. 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. Nitro 100, No.2, No. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. You may wish to peruse the list of cartridges first as many times the difference in 45-70 and 45/70 may mean finding data or drawing a blank. Elmer Keith was way ahead of his time in developing everyday working and hunting loads. 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. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. When loaded in the Colt Single Action Army at around 850 fps, it is a most powerful everyday working load. However, this approach causes some bullet deformation by being shortened, then sized down in the barrel, which still leaves accuracy potential on the table. Deployed military should use stateside address. A favorite pastime of many dedicated sixgunners is sitting around a campfire arguing the merits of their particular choice of caliber. The only 456 bullet I am aware of is a conical made for Ruger Old Armys, so Lyman saying that is the right bullet for 45 Colt makes no sense. Alaska Department of Fish & Game, State Agency: 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. The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. sets maximum standards for cartridges; this standard must be set at a level safely usable in the weakest common denominator. Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. 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. With the 45 Colt, IMR 4227 is almost magical in being able to provide excellent accuracy when other powders will not. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. Load data for caliber ".45 Colt". I clocked 9.2, 9.5 and 10 grains. In my opinion, throats that measure .452 inch are generally ideal with a variety of bullets. 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. Custom five-shooters built on the Ruger Blackhawk, the Ruger Redhawk, and the Freedom Arms Model 83 top the list. Their max load is 6.2 grains for an approx 881 feet per second and a pressure of 13K cup. Idaho Department of Fish & Game, State Agency: 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. Lyman has been an important name for shooters for well over 100 years. I didnt think I could shoot this well! 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. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. This brings us to powders, and I use a lot of Hodgdon powders. The Lee bullet works well in my Winchester (Miroku) 1873. 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. A gun with these internal dimensions offers a much fairer assessment of the accuracy potential of all data. It is loaded not by weight, but by volume. Again, a groove diameter of .451 to .452 inch remains standard by all manufacturers. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, State Agency: We were soon shooting 300-grain bullets at 1,200 fps from a 7.5-inch-barreled Ruger revolver. 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. 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. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, Altor Pistols, P.O. Notes: cases: Winchester; trim-to length: 1.275"; primers: Winchester WLP; primer size: Large Pistol; Lyman shell holder: No. The TaurusTX 22 Compact delivers class-leading reliability, capacity, and shootability in a 22 LR platform, and it's cut for a slide-mounted mini red dot.