I’m just about to purchase a Blackhawk .45 Colt/ACP convertible. I’ve loaded for .44 Mag quite a lot but have not loaded for the .45 Colt. Really looking forward to it. I’d like to hunt with it this fall for whitetails. I hunt in the Adirondacks of NY where 75 yards would be a long shot. Any favorite bullet/load combinations for this purpose?

Thanks.

Frank

I've used 9.5 grains of Unique with a 250 grain SWC cast bullet out of a Colt Anaconda, 8.5 grains of Unique with the same cast 250 SWC out of a S&W model 25. This may work for your Blackhawk, I use it in my model 92 20 grains of H110, 300 grain SWC or a 300 grain soft point jacketed bullet.. Have fun the 45 Colt is a fun caliber.

I like Blue Dot in my 45 Colt guns.

If you plan to use cast bullets, be sure to check the cylinder throats. My blackhawk convertable was pretty tight in front. Sent it to Doug Phillips(cylindersmith) and now it works great.

I'd bet Ruger has them screwed up.
It's just part of the game.
Git em fixed.

Should have mentioned all of mu revolvers have had the forcing cone of the barrel lapped to remove the constriction where the barrel screws into the frame. What little leading I was getting disappeared.

I have taken a grand total of one whitetail with my 5.5" Blackhawk & 45 Colt cylinder.

I used the Hornady 250 gr. XTP, 26 grains of H110, Fed. 155 primer, Starline case. This load averages 1293 fps. at 15 ft.

25 yard broadside ribcage shot, buck stumbled about 15 yards and was done. Had a golf ball size exit wound through far side ribs.

Good luck with your purchase and hunt!

I have a 5” model 25 Smith. Would like to take a deer with a handgun for the first time this year.
I better get to practicing.
Les

I've not hunted with it. But experimenting with the 250gr Hornady XTP in my Ruger NMBH showd' it to be super accurate at slow speed with Unique or fast with 2400 or H110.. Good bullets.

My Ruger 45 likes 24.5 h 110 with a 250Hornady XTP for a heavy load.
I tried the 300gr XTP's with H110 the gun likes them but I don't.
I like shooting 255gr lead SWC with just enough 2400 where they still shoot good without leading the barrel.

As previously mentioned, get the cylinder throats checked and fixed. It will help the jacketed bullet loads shoot more consistently too.

Any bullet from 250-300grs. with a flat face of decent meplat will flatten the whitetail easily.

Powders from Unique, CFE Pistol, Blue Dot, Longshot, 2400 and 4227 all work well in the Colt. Load them into the 1000-1100 fps range and practice, practice and take your "target" load hunting with you.

Loading and getting proficient with heavily loaded jacketed bullets is more expensive, requires more discipline and just isn't necessary to keel over a deer. Of course if that's what you want, by all means go ahead. Sometimes you just need to do it to see for yourself!

In that case, H110 isn't the only powder, but it's the most established with the best data. Heavier bullets work better, 300-340 grains.

My Blackhawk (4 5/8") shot really well with the Lyman #452454 bullet on top of 10.0 Unique, but you wouldn't need that much to kill a deer, anywhere from 8.5 to 10gr. with that bullet will do the trick if you put it in the right place. Fun guns.

Kind of a generic question, but, what do guys usually have .45 Colt cylinder thoats opened up to. Thanks.

I'm a big 45 Colt fan and have been loading for it for many years - almost exclusively cast bullets. One of my favorites is the RCBS 270 SAA which casts at 282-283 grains with my alloy. If I were to head out after whitetails, I'd be thinking flat nosed cast bullets in the 250-300 grain range at around 1100 fps. Here is a good article from John Linebaugh on the 45 Colt with all kinds of info on loading to various pressure levels. I'd give this a read and go from there...

https://www.johnlinebaughcustomsixguns.com/writings

See the article I linked to above - it is discussed there but sounds like 0.453" is a good place to be.

Much appreciate the info JGray. That article is a load of information. Thanks!

The one's on mine are 454 and they work good.

Thanks for all the replies. JGray thanks for the link to the article.

This is a very good place to be.


Unfortunately, cylindersmith has closed its doors. Try https://fermincgarza.com/ instead. You send him your cylinder and your phone number. He checks the cylinder and texts you. If it needs work, then he does it and charges you. If it doesn't, then he sends it back and you pay for shipping only.


Okie John

I made sure the forcing cone of the barrel was smaller then tightest cylinder mouth, the bullets were sized .454 for the 45 Colts,, I lapped out the frame constriction in all of my 45 Colts, 45 acp/ 45 auto rim. I've not had leading in the 20 some odd years.

I shot my first .45 LC deer over 25 years ago. I’ve used several different bullets since then, but the most consistent has been the 250 XTP. Over 14.0 grains of BlueDot it produces 1050 fps in my RBH’s 4-5/8” barrel with good accuracy. Terminal performance is ample for deer at 50 yards and under. Enough said.



.

I'll be using the 250 gr XTP and 2400 powder for 1160 fps from my 5 1/2 inch Ruger Bisley as a deer hunting, & bear defense load.

From my Ruger Blackhawk and my Contender, either the RCBS 45-255 KT or Lyman 464424 sized .454 and 18 grains of Alliance 2400. Lets a lot of air in and a lot of blood out. Penetration you have to see to believe. Two DRT deer and a couple hogs. A woodchuck as a bonus.

Little late to the party here, but if your convertible is a mid-frame flat top, just be advised that it is not rated for full house "ruger only" .45 Colt loads. 23,000 PSI is suggested max.
Great article on loading for the Lipsey's .45 flat top from Brian Pearce, in Handloader #275, December 2011.

Here a pic of my .45 convertible - with a Bisley conversion:

My load for a 4 3/4" Ruger NM Blackhawk is the RCBS 45-250KT sized .452 and 18 grains of 2400. Testing on a doe carcass found on my farm after deer season showed full side to side penetration at several locations. Carcass probably 5 days and old in 35 degree weather. Don't expand and wheel weight metal.

My load for a 4 3/4" Ruger NM Blackhawk is the RCBS 45-250KT sized .452 and 18 grains of 2400. Testing on a doe carcass found on my farm after deer season showed full side to side penetration at several locations. Carcass probably 5 days and old in 35 degree weather. Don't expand and wheel weight metal.