Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading reloading the 45 colt

New to this caliber and in the hornady book it lists revolver loading data and a Ruger/TC data. Can I use the ruger/tc data for a ruger redhawk. Is the redhawk up to the hotter loads?

thanks

Yes you can, the redhawk is right up there with the strongest revolvers ever made.

Another craze question and don't laugh, but I have a smith Governor, can I use the hotter loads in that? I know no plus P, but I would use the lower end of the loads.

thanks

I don't have firsthand knowledge of a Governor's strength but I'm fairly certain that a Redhawk would have no problem with a load that would destroy a Governor.

Hopefully others can correct me if I'm wrong.

I'd be very careful to keep loads for those 2 guns segregated.

From Buffalo Bore:

"Can I shoot your +P 45 Colt ammo in my Taurus Judge or my S&W Governor?

No. The Judge/Governor is not designed to be strong enough to use +P ammo."

Thank you!

No.

No indeed those type revolvers need the weak Cowboy level loads.

The Redhawk can stand even heavier loads than the listed Ruget/TC loads

In the October 2014 issue of HANDLOADER Brian Pearce published data for thermonuclear .45 Colt loads for the Ruger Redhawk. In the article he said that the Redhawk can handle 45k-50k psi loads regularly. I've saved everything he's written about the .45 Colt since probably 2003. In the Bisley Blackhawks he maxes out in the 32K psi range.

I personally have no interest in lighting off and trying to hang onto that much horsepower, but it's nice to know that I can go up a ways past Hodgdon's published 30K psi loads with no real concerns especially with heavier bullets.

Problems arise if you have more than one revolver in .45Colt. Loads that are safe for a Redhawk would likely destroy a SAA, or even a Model 25 Smith. I don't want to worry about keeping the hot stuff out of my 25, so I don't load any thing that it can't handle safely.

My Ruger is strictly for use as a heavy-hitter for tent and sleeping bag security and when needed I crawl around in the alder bushes with it. I did try some Corbon Hunter 335gr loads ambling along at an advertised 1050fps on a bear that was killed for defense of life and property. It was a smallish brown bear but it passed through at 20ft. They shouldn't give you any problems with your S&W, but I wouldn't shoot them out a SAA or clones.

We had a dumbass customer (No, they are not always right) who bragged he was approaching 454 level in his Judge. Split the cylinder. We sent it in. Taurus replaced it with the warning, reiterating that handloads violated the warranty. Also, stated it was a one-time replacement. Have not heard from him since.

What a dumbass.

I've ben loading for my 45 Colts since the early 70s. I started out with a Ruger Black Hawk, did the lets make this pistol a 44 mag. I finally matured and decided to concentrate on accuracy.I found that lapping my barrel, recrowning my muzzle, polished my action. Then I joined the CBA 9Cast Bullet Association) and found a lot of accuracy enhancement tricks. I sized my bullets to fit my cylinders, .4535- 454 using a medium hard alloy, LBT lube, 250 grain SAECO mold. Bought two four cavity molds. Set up the Dillon 650 for 45 Colt, 8.5 grains of Unique, Winchester primers, Starline brass, actually I'll use any make brass, Starline holds up longest.Once I got the 650 set up I never had to change it for 15 - 16 years

I've ben loading for my 45 Colts since the early 70s. I started out with a Ruger Black Hawk, did the lets make this pistol a 44 mag. I finally matured and decided to concentrate on accuracy.I found that lapping my barrel, recrowning my muzzle, polished my action. Then I joined the CBA 9Cast Bullet Association) and found a lot of accuracy enhancement tricks. I sized my bullets to fit my cylinders, .4535- 454 using a medium hard alloy, LBT lube, 250 grain SAECO mold. Bought two four cavity molds. Set up the Dillon 650 for 45 Colt, 8.5 grains of Unique, Winchester primers, Starline brass, actually I'll use any make brass, Starline holds up longest.Once I got the 650 set up I never had to change it for 15 - 16 years

4227 is easy on older guns, reportedly preferred by Hank Williams, Jr., a big time Colt collector and shooter.

It works very well in my 24" Marlin Cowboy .45 Colt with 300 gr. bullets, both jacketed and cast. Evidently 4227 has a smooth pressure curve, not a sharp peak.

Now, just for target loads, Red Dot is hard to beat, very accurate and consistent.

DF

Do you have any experience with H110? I use copper plated 300 grainers and 300 grain cast gas checked in my Rossie 92 using 20 grains of H110.

Do you have any experience with H110? I use copper plated 300 grainers and 300 grain cast gas checked in my Rossie 92 using 20 grains of H110.

Don’t really like H-110, although I have some.

DF