Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 45 colt hunting loads

I've owned a Ruger SS Bisley since Ruger came out with them. I love the platform and cartridge alot. I thought I needed a mini 454 and loaded it with Brian Pierce loads under a 300 gr LBT bullet. I've discovered I don't care much for 1300 ft/sec with a 300 gr bullet in that revolver. Since buying a 480 Ruger in the same platform, I don't need all that in a 45 colt any way. In fact, I'd rather shoot the 480 with 400 gr cast than the 45 colt loaded as I have it.

So I'm looking to tone down my loads a bit. H110/296 gets a bit wonky when backed off, so likely looking for another powder. I tried 2400 under that bullet and accuracy wasn't all that great. What are you guys using under a 300 gr hard cast? I'd like 1150 - 1200 velocity.

Thanks.

13.5-14 grs. Blue Dot.

Its more in the 1100 realm.

AA9 and 2400 get honorable mention. 9 needs a magnum cap, especially at the low end.

If wanting 1200, Lil Gun will reduce to that level easier than H110 and shoots much better than 2400. Doesnt need a magnum primer.

Longshot leads when leaned on.

HS-6 is a good powder for mid-level 45 Colt loads - John Linebaugh's site has good info and load data for what you're looking for. 13 grains with 260's is a good one but may not get you to 1100 - 1200 fps...

Longshot and HS-6 have both worked well for me in the .45 Colt.

Hawk1 - what is your thinking regarding Longshot and leading? Not sure I see the link, leading being more a function of bullet fit.

Ive burned a lot of lbs. of Longshot over the years and its clean burning, but it will lead plate the forcing cone face and cylinder face, even edges when pushed beyond 20,000psi. in handgun loads, in my experience.. This isn't layering in the barrel mind you, but is an annoyance and hard to remove. Accuracy is fine. For me, it tops off at 38 plus P pressure, where I use it a great deal.

Fit isn't the issue. The same bullets in the same guns were used with AA9 and Blue Dot at similar pressure levels, countless times, without the plating. Longshot loads at these levels also will heat up the gun in rapid fashion, not unlike top loads with Lil Gun.
Ive also used Longshot in 32HR, 38 Special, 357, 40 Smith, 10mm, 44Mag, 45 AR and 45 Colt and it will lead plate at higher pressure regardless of bullet hardness and snug throat fit in revolvers. Ive had the plating issue even with gas checked loads.

My quest in using Longshot was to have a less sooty gun with my cast loads that was around the burn speed of Blue Dot. Note Hodgdon data does not have any Longshot loads listed with any of their cast bullet Ruger loads in 45 Colt. Sub 11-12.5 grs Longshot for 13.5-14 grs Blue Dot with 280-300 cast loads fit to the Colt wheelgun and you'll see what Im speaking of.

21.8 grains of H-110/296 should be just under 1200 fps with a 300 grainier

I have killed a lot of hogs with a 255 grain hard cast LSWC over 10 grains of Unique. Or 9 grains. Which ever. The hogs did not need to be any deader,

Agreed, Unique has worked very well in the 45 Colt for a very long time.

12 point something grains of HS-6 under a 270 gr. Cast. You'll like it!

I have a Colt SAA in 45 Colt that leaded badly until I started loading it with 40 grs of Black Powder with the 270 gr Penn Thunderhead bullet lubed with sharpsguys homemade BP lube, the bullet leaves at 965 fps, with a 440" meplat really slaps the crap out of deer, albeit doesn't penetrate as well as other bullet types, but plenty for deer and pigs.

Very accurate and shoots to the sights too.

Thanks guys. I tried HS6, accuracy was pretty good but velocity was ~ 1000 ft/sec. Certainly fast enough. I originally had the idea of a revolver cow elk which is why I loaded them warm. Now with the 480, don't really need to beat up my gun or hands with a hot rod 45 colt. I've never tried AA9, this might be a good opportunity.

Thanks for the ideas. Guess I have a winter project

+1
Same performance here..... I don't need a .45 Colt to be a fire breathing dragon to kill things

IMR 4227 is another one that may work well for your needs - I've always gotten good accuracy and lighter recoil than full tilt loads with H110 / W296. I use a lot of it in 454 Casull with cast bullets, and is about all I use in 480 Ruger...

Lil Gun

I use 25 gr Imr 4227 with 250 XTP’s for 1150-1200 fps & it is highly accurate in my 2 Ruger Hunters and a pleasure to shoot.

Pretty dirty burn?

This is my load as well. Even took a nice mule deer buck with it. If I remember right, the newer formulation of Unique burns cleaner than the historical one. Either way, it's not very dirty in my loads.

I've got the exact gun the OP has and also found the revolver can handle stouter loads than I care to inflict on myself. I long ago settled on 1150 fps with a 300gr LFN. I'm away from the bench right now but I'm sure that's with 21 gr of 110/296. Biggest thing I've killed with this load and gun so far is a big bull Muskox.

10 hrs unique here as well under 270gr hard cast. Not excessively dirty and irrelevant if you clean them on a semi regular basis.

I used to hot-rod the 45 Colt. Like many here I discovered it was unnecessary for anything I was likely to shoot with it here. These days I carry a New Vaquero loaded with 8.5 grains of Universal under it. It is accurate, hits with a thump and is easy on the gun and shooter. I've also loaded 13.0 of HS6 under a Missouri 255 SWC for years, good for 1050-1075 fps from 4 5/8 to 5 1/2 inch Rugers. If I was headed to the Rockies or AK again, I'd get a 45 or 454 Redhawk/SRH and load heavier.