Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns New to the .45 Colt

Picked up a brand new New Model Blackhawk (convertible/.45 Auto) in .45 Colt, Flattop, Stainless, 5.5" bbl, fake ivory grips.

Now I am new to loading for the .45 Colt. I noticed there is a lot less metal between chambers in the cylinder than my 629 smith. I'm looking to run bullets no heavier than 250 grains and hoping I can get some load suggestions from y'all for 200, 230 and 250 grain bullets.

I'm in the process of moving across town right now and all my manuals are at the bench in my new reloading room.

9.5 grains of Unique is my go to for the 45 Colt for cast bullets in that weight range.

Unique is also my pick for that caliber... lovely caliber..

Blue Dot is a good powder for the .45 Colt.

You may notice that the data for Unique in 45 Colt with 250-255 grain bullets vary quite a bit from source to source. Some sources separate the Ruger/TC loads from the loads suitable for all the old Colts and other less robust revolvers and some do not. You have already received one suggestion about how much Unique to use and you will probably get several more. The suggestions will probably not be too different and can give you a fairly good indication about what works. You do, however, want to do as you always should by using reliable published data and by working up your load.

When you look in your manuals you'll see a section listed for "Ruger only loads" or maybe "Ruger and T/C".

Those are 30,000 PSI loads for the regular Blackhawk, not the Flattop!

IIRC, the Flattop is limited to about 23,000 psi which is what +P .45 Auto loads. Which still gives you a lot of room for some power, just don't try to ramp it up.

I'm trying to find Brian Pearce's article on loading for the .45 Flattop, if I find that I'll post some loads.

Notropis- of course I always have at least three published manual's data on the table when reloading. Just have my books halfway across town, including the Ken Howell's book which I should have never taken so early in the move.

Thanks for the answers gents- I am flush with Unique right now. Will pursue that avenue. Any other suggestions welcome.

The Ruger Flattop 45's are not for use with "Ruger Only" loads. Check out Brian Pearce's article in Handloader #275 covers this issue in depth and provides loads for 200-300gr bullets at appropriate pressures.

See page 59 of Handloader #275 for 14,000psi loads, and page 62 for 23,000psi loads, which Pearce considers to be maximum loads in the Flattop.

[quote=bigfish9684]Notropis- of course I always have at least three published manual's data on the table when reloading. [quote]

Hornady #7 gives only 7.0 grains of Unique as max load with 255 grain LSWC for use in revolvers and does not give data for Ruger/TC (which you would not want to use anyway) with a 255 grain lead bullet.

Speer gives the max load for Unique with 255 grain bullets as both 8.5 and 9.5 grains but does not specify whether they are suitable for your revolver.

The maker of Unique gives 9.5 grains as the max with a 255 grain lead bullet but does not mention whether these loads are safe for the less robust revolvers.

The point is that the data are not very uniform from source to source and may not indicate whether the loads mentioned can be safely used in your revolver.

13 grs of Blue Dot

11 grs of Longshot

16.5 grs. 2400

With RCBS-270-SAA (280 gr cast)

All safe in guns that are chambered or rated for 45 ACP....

They are also safe with 255's if loaded in 14,000 psi level guns.

I load a 260gr WFN LBT bullet with 9 grains of Unique for my .45 Flattops.
It will Penatrate & exit a 275lb Feral Hog with no problem. I sure wouldn't hesitate to use that same load on a large Black Bear.
My load uses a EXTREMLY hard cast bullet. No expansion, but will Penatrate just about anything. And it's a fairly pleasant load to shoot.

I'm not recommending that load for Grizz, but I bet it would work in a pinch, if nothing else was available if a bear should attack.

For true hell for stout .45 Colt loads, that I ONLY shoot in a standard Ruger Blackhawk that is capable of handling the really hot loads, I shoot a 325gr WFN LBT Hard Cast bullet at 1350 fps. They will Penatrate about anything and peform more like a 45-70 Rifle than a revolver caliber.
Only problem is they really hurt on both ends! And I'm sure they would completely destroy a new model Ruger Flattop or a new model Vaquero.
I would NEVER fire those loads in any of the smaller frame Rugers or any Cot SAA. To do so would be just plain suicidal.

If you can still get some buy some black powder 3fff or such and

load the case full of it and flick it with your finger a coupla

times or so then fillit up to the top(about 40 grns)then lube

a 255 grn lead bullet and press it into your sized primer case

and press it on down a crunche means it;s compressed and ready

to rock and roll and when you fire it smoke will come out

just like when the early Tom Mix or Angel and The Badman movies

came out. There was lots of smoke untill the french invented

smokeless gunpowder.

Bob

Good stuff, you ought to write for the reloading manuals, it sings. Maybe we all should know how to load black, just in case.

My 45 Colt 250 gr XTP load is 24.5-25 grains Imr 4227. This load has been extremely accurate in all 10 of my 45 Colts.

My heavy load with a 250 XTP is 26 grains of H110, WLP for about 1,400 fps.

Same primer but with 13 grains of HS-6 for an easier shooting 1,050 fps.

I use this with Lead bullets

Snake

The 45 Colt is easy to load for and will do well with a variety of powders. Over the years I have loaded with TiteGroup, HP-38, WIN231, IMR-4227, HP-38, 2400, and H110 among others for light loads, medium loads and heavy loads. Pick the level of load you want, make sure it is safe in your revolver, and load away. I have never heard of a stainless steel flat-top Blackhawk - is it a recent limited run?

Lipseys

10.0 grains of Unique, 250 to 270 LSWC or WFN, and you're good to go.