During my early teenage years I acquired a beautiful pre-World War II Colt SAA .45 that was customized by one of the masters during the 1920s. 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. However, the first known commercial listing is found in the 1880 UMC catalog. I prefer to use 250-grain jacketed bullets in conjunction with +P loads, which is a subject for another day. 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. . These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not . No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. 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. .45 Colt (180-200 grain bullets) .44 Mag (180-200 grain bullets) .38-40 (180 grain bullets) I had hangfires in the .45 Colt with less amount of Reddot. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Pennsylvania Game Commission, State Agency: 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. You find load data for cartridges in caliber .45 Colt with all common powders and bullets by clicking the "Loads in this caliber" button above. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. 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. Normal powders vary quite a bit and also have a larger spread between shots. Handgun Data. 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The .45 Colts origins started in 1871 when Colt began designing a new sixgun specifically to house metallic cartridges. For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. It is a good choice for self-defense, long-range shooting, hunting everything on four legs, and just plain fun shooting. It has many additional virtues, primarily its big-bore performance and reliability. We are currently populating the cartridge drop-down menu with updated cartridge renderings, new propellants and bullets, and links to complimentary product pages. Next we will look at jacketed bullets in .45 Colt leverguns. 45 Colt is a pistol round. It didnt take long for manufacturers to offer heavier bullets, and two of the best came from NEI. Keiths #454424 was an excellent bullet, but it has been improved by Dave Scovill and is offered by RCBS as #45-270SAA. With the 45 Colt, IMR 4227 is almost magical in being able to provide excellent accuracy when other powders will not. The Freedom Arms Model 97 also is in this group. [See page on powder location in case affecting FPS elsewhere on pages] The Judge has been promoted! Lyman 49 says reloader 7 has been a long time favorite for .45-70. 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. ew eginnings - Mark 7 is now part of the Lyman family! 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. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. That is, until I tried IMR 4227 with Lymans #452424 and a 20.0-grain load, and that combination produced one-hole groups. The availability of all of these bullets is dependent on how much time I have to cast my own. Originally loaded with 40 grs. For handloaders shooting modern Colt SAAs that feature oversized throats and want to use modern cast and jacketed bullets, the best option is to change cylinders with one that is chambered correctly. The smaller case-capacity means better performance with light loads, which is why I am interested in it. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Quality 300-grain jacketed bullets are also offered by all three of these manufacturers. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Space constraints keep me from looking at all of these powders in depth, but I can cover a few. The new rifle is built on an aluminum billet chassis with carbon-fiber forend and cheek riser featuring V-block bedding. The minimum load for a 200 gr cast SWC in 45 Colt is listed as 8.6 gr Unique for 918 fps. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. For the 45 Colt, I especially prefer the 250-grain RNFP and the 255-grain SWC. And about 1450+fps out of the 20" 454 Puma Levergun. Below you'll find some basic data for each cartridge to help get you started. 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. Before loading any ammunition for leverguns, I first make dummy rounds to be able to check both feeding through the action and chambering. Quality 300-grain jacketed bullets are also offered by all three of these manufacturers. 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. Cast bullets in both plain-based and gas check versions are available from 260 grains to 325 grains. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. The vast majority of my 45 Colt handloads over the last 60 years, however, has been put together with cast bullets. 5, No.7, No. This brings us to powders, and I use a lot of Hodgdon powders. There are many outstanding cast bullets for the .45 Colt. 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. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Use 10% UNDER any values you see here for N-100. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Keiths #454424 was an excellent bullet, but it has been improved by Dave Scovill and is offered by RCBS as #45-270SAA. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. If reliable expansion is desired, consider 230-grain JHP bullets designed for the .45 ACP or the Hornady 225-grain FTX, which can be pushed close to 1,000 fps while staying within pressure guidelines. New York Department of Environmental Conservation, State Agency: 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. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. 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. 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. Colt single actions are right around 0.454 inch. Minnesota Deptartment of Natural Resources, State Agency: 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. Alas, the days of gun departments in grocery stores, department stores and drugstores are long gone. 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. None of these loads will work through the action of my Rossi .45 Colt Model 92. youd need for most critters in the lower 48. I would conclude this powder is much more consistent in speeds than others that I have tried in the .45 Colt. It is impossible to go wrong with the 45 Colt. Then something dramatic happened in 1869: Smith & Wesson brought forth the 44 American sixgun that used fixed ammunition. My Rugers like a 355gr with 21.5-22gr H110, CCI 350, starline brass, nice tight crimp. Marlins from the era have Micro-Groove rifling which may or may not work with cast bullets. Not only do the Hodgdon folks offer excellent powders, but also they are simply some of the nicest folks in the industry. 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. Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, State Agency: Elmer Keith was way ahead of his time in developing everyday working and hunting loads. This lets it feed in many cowboy-action guns and use common 45 ACP load data. If cast soft enough they can also slug up to create a gas seal, which helps reduce fusion and barrel leading. This revolver and cartridge proved to be a great teacher as I learned how to shoot a big-bore single-action sixgun accurately. 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. models. Dropping down to 30 grains results in an easier-shooting 835 fps and a group of 1.13 inches. 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. For comparison the above .44 Magnum factory loads (which are admittedly conservative) have a TKO factor only slightly higher at 17.35. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. 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. 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. My powders of choice are Clays, HP-38, HS-6, Universal, Trail Boss, H110, IMR 4227, W296, and W231. sets maximum standards for cartridges; this standard must be set at a level safely usable in the weakest common denominator. Others are the New Model Blackhawks, the Bisley Model, the Redhawk, and the Super Redhawk. Nevada Department of Wildlife, State Agency: 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. A Modern rifle should handle these loads equally as well, such as the Winchester Model 94. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. 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. Energy in foot-pounds (ft-lbs) is not a good method to measure a straight-walled cartridges effectiveness, particularly when using nonexpanding bullets. 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). RCBS also offers an excellent bullet of standard weight with the #45-255KT that has a better crimping groove than the Keith bullet. Deployed military should use stateside address. Pet Loads and Handloader are registered trademarks of Wolfe Publishing Company. His 45 Colt bullet was #454424 and was available for decades from Lyman. I was fortunate to find one of each. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM February 2023, P.O. My most used powders for these loads are #2400, #9, #4227 and H110. This significantly improved its accuracy when compared to the original cylinder with its typical oversized throats, and resulted in increased velocity. 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. While only sporadically available as a component, the Remington .456-inch 250-grain lead hollowbase bullet will obturate to minimize bullet tilting. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. 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. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. 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. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. 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. They often equal or surpass the accuracy from my carefully tailored hand-cast bullets. Here you will find load data for some of the most recent cartridges on the market, with more being added each week. Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, State Agency: No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. .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 Contest void where prohibited by law. The (top) Model 25-5 has .458-inch throats while the (bottom) Model 25-5 has .451-inch throats and is far more accurate. 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. These Lyman loads are conservative made for older guns. Jacketed bullets are also more difficult to push down the bore and therefore produce less velocity than a cast bullet of equal weight. Using bullets from . It is also noteworthy that many dies manufactured prior to around 1980 fail to size cases adequately to correctly hold .451/.452-inch bullets. Purchase A PDF Download Of The GUNS Magazine February 2021 Issue Now! (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Nitro 100, No.2, No. Elmer Keith was way ahead of his time in developing everyday working and hunting loads. 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. Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. I have been surprised by the fact the Marlin feeds Keith-style bullets perfectly. Bullet is .452 diameter. These black-powder guns should not be fired with smokeless powder loads. now im looking for top performance load data to ass to my load data book for this caliber. For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. Some people have tried to load the .45 Colt to levels of the .44 Magnum. 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. The weight would more properly be closer to 32 grains. No purchase necessary. When he died in 1862, the company was dedicated to producing the same percussion revolvers. VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. This was achieved with 40 grains of black powder. The Complete Reloading Manual For The 45 Colt Item Preview remove-circle Share or Embed This Item. Eric Poole and Tom Beckstrand test the Aimpoint Acro P-2 against one of red dot sights' biggest myths: distance. RF - 8.2 grains Unique Now we are all confused! With their 16 barrels the Winchesters weigh right at 6 lbs. 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. Contest void where prohibited by law. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. However, due to their heavier weights and increased barrel time, many fixed-sighted sixguns may group high. SCCY DVG-1 Sub-Compact Striker-Fired Pistol: Full Review, Buyer Beware: Buying 'Bargain' Guns Can Be Risky. Just about all loads shot the same . I'll be a nice to you as you'll let me be, or as mean as you make me be. bullet type,style,powder ,amount,col.,primeres,and if possable fps. Ben Voss FN Product Manager talks about the new FN SCAR 15P ultra-compact rifle-caliber pistol at SHOT Show 2023. 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. 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. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Even with their short barrels, they still carry nine rounds in the tubular magazine. Custom five-shooters built on the Ruger Blackhawk, the Ruger Redhawk, and the Freedom Arms Model 83 top the list. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. 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. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, State Agency: The day of the percussion revolver would soon be over, and even Colt could see the future and began converting 1860 cap-and-ball sixguns to fire cartridges. Keith bullet, the Lee 452-255-rf 250gr bullet and the RCBS 45-270-SAA for .45 Colt. 310 Tong Tool. check out the. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. It shoots VERY well, the recoil is tolerable, and it cuts a clean hole in both targets and small game. (See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.) The Colt SAA .45 Colt with a 4.75-inch barrel ranks as one of Brians favorite handgun configurations. 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) Giveaway ends December 31, 2022. For several reasons they should not be used. The more powerful loads are only suitable for strong handguns like the Ruger Blackhawk and the Thompson Center Contender. Pyrodex is cleaner burning than black powder and results in less fouling of the barrel. Most of these are custom, tuned and have accounted for several head of big game. 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 powder that has the lowest velocities are produced by Trailboss which also has the advantage of filling up the 45LC case. It is superbly accurate and will often shoot well in sixguns that are cranky about shooting plain-based bullets. 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. Missouri Deptartment of Conservation, State Agency: I also have been having good luck lately with 10.0 grains of HS-6 and 250- to 260-grain bullets, which duplicates the performance of the early black powder loads. This Colt SAA .45 was manufactured in 1893 and saw extensive use on the frontier prior to being professionally restored. A roll crimp is generally preferred and should be applied as heavily as the bullets crimp groove or cannelure will permit. Beginning in the early 1980s both Winchester and Marlin began offering .45 Colt leverguns. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, State Agency: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: 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. About 1200+ fps in the 7.5 SBH, 1150fps out of the 4" Redhawk. Then comes the Freedom Arms Model 97, the original Ruger Vaquero, Ruger Blackhawk, Ruger Redhawk, and the Ruger Super Redhawk. It served me well while riding the ranch on horseback, running a trap-line, hunting big game, varmints and pests, etc., and it even saved my skin a time or two. John makes up dummy loads using available cast bullets to make I did find a 225 grain jacketed bullet. You can certainly use the Jacketed bullets fine, but dont look for incredible speeds. Discussion: The old Western Style COLT normally uses big, heavy and slow lead bullets. S.A.A.M.I. Reference to Powder UP and Powder DOWN is to actually shake the gun in an up or down position before firing each round and gently bring the gun to the horizontal and shooting. LYMAN Reloading Products A trusted Brand since the 1800?s. Over the nearly 15 decades since its arrival, there have been many attempts to pronounce it dead. A favorite pastime of many dedicated sixgunners is sitting around a campfire arguing the merits of their particular choice of caliber. 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. The performance level is pretty close to the original Black Powder load but far more effective due to the bullet I use. It is an excellent compromise between the 250- and 300-grain cast bullets. For the 45 Colt this is the Single Action Army revolver. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. 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. 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. The same load in a Jim Stroh custom 5-1/2 Bisley has the same accuracy with more . Then something dramatic happened in 1869: Smith & Wesson brought forth the 44 American sixgun that used fixed ammunition. Basic Load Data Hornady Manufacturing Company develops and publishes reloading data for the Handbook of Cartridge Reloading. Nonetheless, the 30-grain charge with a 250-grain bullet reached around 850 fps from a 7.5-inch barrel. This Colt SAA .45 was manufactured in 1893 and saw extensive use on the frontier prior to being professionally restored. REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD. But the 45 Colt is a survivor. That is, until I tried IMR 4227 with Lymans #452424 and a 20.0-grain load, and that combination produced one-hole groups. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. A gun with these internal dimensions offers a much fairer assessment of the accuracy potential of all data. 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. The top of the can says NOT FOR HANDGUN LOADS. I use WLP primers. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: 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. Ruger's multi-role small frame autoloading rifle - Sear - combines AR-10 power with AR-15 Portability. Space constraints keep me from looking at all of these powders in depth, but I can cover a few. In the large .45 case, a large difference has been noted in speeds. Pyrodex P is the equivalent of Triple-F or FFFg black powder. Sep 8, 2016 (Edited) Greetings, recently I received a quantity of .45 185 gr LSWC's. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Reloader 7 - 37.0 grains start, 39.0 grains max. This is a plain base bullet and I found out very quickly it was not very accurate in either rifle. 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 load will certainly handle deer-sized game. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, State Agency: