Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Your favorite 45 LC loads

Hello,

I am looking for a good hunting and plinking load for a 45 Long Colt. I prefer shooting cast. Any opinions and information would be appreciated.

Thanks guys,


ddj

I loaded about 9.5 of Unique with a linotype cast Saeco that has a very large flat me-plat.

That load does not lead, kick or hurt the ears yet its very effective within its range. That flat nose really rips porkys.

To add that its for an old Ruger Blackhawk since they came out. I would look it up twice if its for a thin wall Colt New Frontier or so.

My "Loads That Work", these have proven consistently accurate across several .45 Colts, as long as the revolver throat dimensions and such are okay. All are with 250 or 255 grain cast bullets of various shape, mostly SWC but some RNFP as well. These all produce velocities of around 900 to 1050 fps depending on charge weight and barrel length.

8.0 grs. 231 - good plinking load of about 900 fps.

9.0 to 10.0 grs. Unique, you can use Universal Clays in same-same charge weights.

11.0 grs. True Blue. The Ramshot manual shows 9.0 grains as tops with a 250 jacketed bullet but that only makes 13,400 psi. With a cast bullet I think this is safe in any Ruger large or medium frame or any S&W N-frame as it gets about the same velocity as 10 grs. Unique.

I prefer 12 grs of HS-6 with the the RCBS 270 SAA (~280 grs as cast by MBW). Good for ~1000 fps in my 5 1/2" guns.

I have three - all lighter than Idaho Jim's.

A 230 LRN meant for the 45 ACP over 6.0 of (pick one) Bullseye, Clays, RedDot, 700X, Acc#2, Zip, Nitro 100, Solo 1000, TiteGroup, or (if you have any) Alcan 120.

A 250-255 SWC or RNFP over 7.0 W231, or 8.0 Unique or Universal. Standard primer for this or the load above.

Same bullet over 20.0 4227 with a magnum primer.

All three are safe even for Colt-level guns.

That 4227 always surprised me. Not sure if you mean H or IMR, I use the IMR, but it can be incredibly accurate in those reduced ranges. My first trials with the .44 Magnum back in 1976 were with IMR4227.

Interesting that you quote that specific charge weight. For some 20 years I shot a Lyman 429215 over 20.0 grains IMR4227 out of my Super Blackhawks and it would often produce almost one hole accuracy. I've tried it in the .45 Colt and .44 Special - around 20 grains and 17-18 grains respectively and it again displays a real propensity for accuracy. It does leave a fair amount of yellow granules in the case and bore at these pressure levels but that's a minor drawback if at all. If someone has a can of it then it surely works well here.

It also does pretty good when you bump it up some. I just have so many other pistol powders on the shelf the 4227 sort of sits back there all lonely these days.

Thanks guys! I should have emntioned this will be shot in a Ruger Blackhawk.

ddj

Jim, Hodgdon discontinued their 4227. But either version works.

300 grain LFN over 22 grains H-110. Does everything you would need in NA short of stopping griz charges.

8.5grs of 231 for 800-900fps
13grs of HS-6 for 950-1100fps
19grs of 2400 for 1100-1250fps

fps vary according to barrel length

I use these loads for bullets weighing from 250-300grs and use wlp primers exclusively and have accuracy and no issues.

Want a big hammer 22grs of H110 over a magnum primer under a 335-350gr cast projectile will definately handle anything in NA imo.

These loads have been shot in my Rugers with no issues.

I shoot a Blackhawk with a 4 5/8" barrel.

13.5 gr. of BlueDot under a [b][color:#3333FF]250gr. Hunters Supply bullet[/color][/b] gives me 940-950 fps.

Dj, I use Starline brass, Fed LP primers, Li'l Gun, and the Lee Powder measure kit which has a series of little scoops and a chart to indicate how many grains of various powders each scoop holds. The 1.3 cc scoop throws IIRC about 20 gr of Li'l Gun and gives the Hornady 300-gr XTP just over 1100 fps. This is my milder whitetail and do all load.

My favorite is a 300gr WFN and 10grs Unique. A comfortable compromise.

Thanks all.


ddj

I have two moulds, Lyman 452424 Keith and the RCBS 270 SAA. Both are quite accurate in my Stainless Bisley but I prefer the latter for hunting deer. I too like 20 grs. 4227 and also the Scoville load of 16.5 grs. 2400.

I don't use this gun for plinking except with the .45 ACP cylinder, so I don't have lighter loads. Similarly, I don't have any heavier loads as all I hunt are deer and smaller critters.

Over the past year I have been using salvaged .22 rimfire range lead. Whatever the alloy, it is relatively soft and expands well on deer with the above listed bullets and powders.

My all time favorite load is a 250 grain hard cast LSWSC, over 9 grains of Unique. Last time I checked, it was giving me 925 fps.
I get excellent accuracy, dependable killing power, and a load that is easy to shoot and handle.

8.0 grains of Unique under a 250 grain cast lead bullet.

I forgot to mention, I only shoot this load in large frame Blackhawks.

I like 24 gr H110 250 gr XTP 20 ~ 22kpsi.
a) That is 1225 fps from my Uberti Cattleman with 4 3/4" barrel.
b) That is 1535 fps from my Win 94 Ranger with 16 1/4" barrel.
Both guns kick.

My brother likes 6 gr Unique 300 gr cast in his S&W 1917.
It is wimpy, but he gets good groups.

I used to shoot 22-23grs of H110 with 300gr LBTs in my Rugers and that's a stiff load. I don't have pressure checking gear, but your load sure seems heavy for a SAA clone..........at least for mine.

A load that topped out in the 8-850 range would be more appropriate a SAA or clone.