A roll crimp is generally preferred and should be applied as heavily as the bullets crimp groove or cannelure will permit. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. 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. Copyright. Arizona Game & Fish Department, State Agency: within an inch or 2 of each other at 50 yards. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not . IMR Trail Boss, 4227, IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, State Agency: Velocities in a test (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2021. 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. 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. However, when using soft swaged-lead bullets, an expander ball around .002 inch smaller than bullet diameter is preferred. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. 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. This Colt SAA .45 was manufactured in 1893 and saw extensive use on the frontier prior to being professionally restored. Joe Kurtenbach and Caleb Giddings also look at the first-ever optics-ready carry revolvers with the new Taurus 605 and 856 T.O.R.O. The Hornady 225-grain FTX bullet should be loaded in cases trimmed shorter than the industry standard of 1.215 inches. 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. 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. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. A bullet with a copper gas check or copper plating is best for INDOOR ranges to keep lead vapors out of the air. It is an excellent compromise between the 250- and 300-grain cast bullets. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. It also is a most versatile powder as it can be used for standard loads for the Colt SAA and heavy loads for the Blackhawk. Taurus Marketing Manager Caleb Giddings highlights the features of the new Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum, a purpose-built revolver with a 10.5-inch barrel and an effective recoil-taming brake, with Guns & Ammo Executive Editor Joe Kurtenbach. The key for best shooting is to size cast bullets accordingly and open the throats if necessary. Most are either .451 (jacketed) or .452 (lead) and Sierra even makes jacketed bullets for the Colt SAA that are .4515 splitting the difference. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Failure to do so could result in severe personal injury (or death) and/or property damage. When he died in 1862, the company was dedicated to producing the same percussion revolvers. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, State Agency: No purchase necessary. It is my most used powder both in cap-and-ball and cartridge-firing sixguns when black powder loads are desired. The (top) Model 25-5 has .458-inch throats while the (bottom) Model 25-5 has .451-inch throats and is far more accurate. Western Powders (Accurate and Ramshot) are about the only ones publishing higher pressure 45 Colt cast bullet data. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. 310 Tong Tool. Rhode Island Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: It's like shooting a .38 special in a gun chambered for .357 magnum. 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. 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. I soon developed an appreciation for reliable performance on game using. I use my Winchester and Marlin Trappers for relatively close-range shooting. Then something dramatic happened in 1869: Smith & Wesson brought forth the 44 American sixgun that used fixed ammunition. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. The same load in a Jim Stroh custom 5-1/2 Bisley has the same accuracy with more . 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! For example, No. Camp Guns: Sometimes Perfect, Other Times Not But Often Essential! Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. 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. The .45 Colt operates at notably less pressure, produces a slower, more. It is becoming more popular with the Cowboy Action Shooting since it is a mild load and can be shot in the guns chambered for the .45 Colt. For something with more thump, it would be wise to find some published load data and buy some bullets that match that data. About 1200+ fps in the 7.5 SBH, 1150fps out of the 4" Redhawk. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. The larger diameter ring that sizes the lower half of the case provides longer case life and eliminates the typical swaged bulge just ahead of the solid head. I usually select an expander ball that is at least .003 to .004 inch smaller than bullet diameter, which helps prevent bullets from jumping crimp and aids in achieving consistent powder ignition. This prevents bullets from being sized down when seated into an overly tight case. Heavy loads that are safe for use in the Ruger Redhawk would destroy a fine Colt SAA. It was submitted to the U.S. Army in 1872 and would become known as the Colt Single Action Army, Model of 1873, Peacemaker, Model P, Thumb Buster and a host of other affectionate names. California Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: 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. 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. The other problem, that of cylinder throat diameters, centers around the fact that they vary considerably. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. It is an excellent compromise between the 250- and 300-grain cast bullets. 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. With the Winchesters, equipped with receiver sights, most of my shooting is done around 30 to 35 yards with relatively mild loads. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. (I) Giveaway ends April 30, 2023. I shoot the .44 and .45 in rifles and pistolas, but I have only a rifle in .38-40. 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. Wyoming Game & Fish Department, State Agency: For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Unique is better. When Ray Thompson was designing his line of bullets, he did not neglect the 45. (NOTE: Sections marked Ruger Only are not for the New Model Blackhawk Flat-Tops or the New Vaquero!) 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. Mike, who used to live in Newport News, but now resides in Poquoson VA. Cast bullets can be sized to .455 inch (assuming the mould casts bullets large enough), which again helps to reduce bullet tilting in the throat. 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. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Pennsylvania Game Commission, State Agency: My Rugers like a 355gr with 21.5-22gr H110, CCI 350, starline brass, nice tight crimp. The 45 Colt brass could handle the pressures, but standard sixguns could not. I was fortunate to find one of each. A huge hit among hunters, it remained popular in deer camps long after the .30-30 Win. Yes, these loads in this rifle could be stretched farther, however for feral pigs or white tail deer from a stand one would rarely have to shoot any farther than this. that charge was increased to 38 grains by 1898. 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. However, I crimp the #45-270 over the front band to ensure trouble-free feeding. When the Marlin and Winchester Trappers first arrived in the early 80s, the #1 45 Colt bullet was still Elmer Keiths #454424 weighing about 260 grains from my alloy. My maine load is the Lyman 454190 cast of ww + 2% tin. A Modern rifle should handle these loads equally as well, such as the Winchester Model 94. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, State Agency: 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. Be very careful using the loads for Ruger and T/C (Thompson Contender) as these are maximum loads, even for these strong guns. I found both of these on the shelf of a little gun store, actually a small gun department, in a local grocery store. bullet type,style,powder ,amount,col.,primeres,and if possable fps. So both the up and down positions were closer in speeds and the spreads were noticeably closer. 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. 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). Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. However, it cannot be approached the same as smokeless. The .45 Colt is rapidly approaching 150 years in existence, and it remains one of our finest, most useful, versatile and handloaded sixgun cartridges. I have yet to find any levergun or sixgun that does not shoot this Dick Casull-designed bullet exceptionally well. 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. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Deployed military should use stateside address. models. It has never failed me. For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th edition. 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. Custom five-shooters built on the Ruger Blackhawk, the Ruger Redhawk, and the Freedom Arms Model 83 top the list. 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. about 175 fps and from 7 1/2 by 50 fps. moderate recoil and substantially less muzzle report. check out the. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. However, there are two problems associated with it: case capacity and cylinder throat diameters. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. Smith & Wesson revolver throats have varied significantly. 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. 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.