Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading reloading the 45 colt

All with a 270SAA (286 grains from my mound). 5.5” Ruger Bisley. Starline brass.

9.0 Universal. Right at 1,000 FPS. It’s my “everyday” load. 75% of my 45 Colt shooting. Somewhere just under 20000 cup, according to one of Brian Pierce’s articles.

20.5 grains 2400. 1250 FPS. Good hunting load without pounding you. I heat treat my bullets on this one.
Somewhere around 32000 cup, according to Brian Pierce.

25.0 grains 296. 1350 FPS. Awesome hunting load, but it is a bit less “fun” than the other two. Heat treated bullets and bump up to CCI 350 primers. 32000 cup, according to Pierce again.

I’ll occasionally play with other bullets or powder puff loads, but these three are 95% of my .45 Colt shooting.

Know what gun you’re putting these in. My Bisley has no trouble and I don’t suspect my Henry will (it’ll feed a 270 SAA with a little filing on the back of the lifter).

I’d not run any of them in an old Colt, and only the first load in a Smith or New Vaquero.