THE 45 COLT: OLD BUT STILL USEFUL?

Mr.Revolverguy · Mar 3, 2019

IS THE 45 COLT STILL USEFUL?
The 45 Colt designed in 1872, makes this one old cartridge. The granddad of the Old West at one time was one of the most venerable cartridges known to man. Along came the magnums 357, 44 and then the colossal big bores 454, 460 and 500. With the advent and popularity of the big bore magnums surely the 45 Colt would die a slow painful death. Moving away from the original loads of blackpowder to the new smokeless powders the granddaddy of big bore cartridges Mr. 45 Colt demanded to extend its legacy of one of the most versatile big bores to date.

NEW AMMUNITION EXTENDS ITS CAPABILITY
With shops like Buffalo Bore improving upon this cartridge with the 225gr full wadcutter that hits like Thor’s hammer, surely to crush any bone or flesh in its way. To loads like the Sig Sauer 230gr V Crown Hollow Point designed for self defense. If you are into reloading and own a modern firearm like a Blackhawk or Redhawk you can experience the sinister side of the 45 Colt reaching 1000ft pounds of energy. Though one must be very careful and knowledgeable about this endeavor as the heavy loads will grenade older firearms like the Colt Single Action Army.

DIVERSE AND STILL RELEVANT
One can see that the 45 Colt is still very capable after 147 years of service and remains relevant to this day. Hunting, Self Defense and Cowboy Shooting it doesn’t matter, the 45 Colt is the softest shooting, versatile big bore of the 20th Century.

If you shoot 45 Colt let's display the revolvers proudly in this thread.

edwardware · Mar 3, 2019

I enjoy mine, but my only use off the range (with anti-armor Ruger-Only loads) is killing carpenter bees and hornets.

I developed a rice shot load that kills the insects, but won't harm the siding.

Catpop · Mar 3, 2019

Care to share the rice load? I too have some carpenter bees that I’d like to serve some Uncle Bens!

NorthBorder · Mar 3, 2019

It's my hiking companion.

edwardware · Mar 3, 2019

Catpop said:
Care to share the rice load? I too have some carpenter bees that I’d like to serve some Uncle Bens!

Certainly!
-Brass: any will do, but it will be dedicated after you drill the flash holes out. If you don't drill, the primers will back out against the recoil shield and tie the gun up (this load doesn't develop nearly enough pressure to reseat the brass over the primer). Drill as large as possible, but small enough so the legs of the primer anvil still have room to reliably seat on the remaining ledge.
-Primer: whatever you've got.
-Powder: you want a fast pistol powder. I use a 0.3CC Lee dipper with Clays (~1.9gr Clays). This is just enough to cover the base of the case.
-Wads: I use an over-flared and sharpened 45ACP case, in a Lee trimmer stud tool, to punch wads out of cardboard (not corrugated). Adjust the flare of the 45ACP case to achieve a snug fit of the wad in the mouth of the 45 Colt case
-Rice: whatever your Wife or Quartermaster has on hand.

After adding your 0.3CC of powder, ram the first Wad down over the powder with a dowel (it will crumple a bit in diameter). Using the case as a scoop, fill nearly to the mouth with Rice, leaving just enough room to crush a bit while setting the second Wad. On first loading, use your Crimp Die to set just a bit of roll crimp on the case; it never uncrimps, so you never need to do this again.

For a more durable shotshell, you can drip some wax over the top Wad to hold it in place. I've found that after getting the crimp and Wad diameter right, I don't need to wax anymore.

Notes:
1) Any fast powder will do; I arrived at 0.3CC Clays because I had it on hand, it's reasonably quiet (al la Paintball gun), and won't harm the vinyl siding from 3' away.
2) When loading, LOOK at the shells. If you accidentally load a conventional cartridge, it will make a .454 hole in your siding, and lots beyond.

MaxP · Mar 3, 2019

Was this an infomercial??

huntsman · Mar 3, 2019

Rock&Roll

Blackhawk.45 convertible
BB 325gr Sasquatch load
BB 260gr deer load
Glaco SA outdoorsman

MaxP · Mar 3, 2019

2,000-lb water buffalo meets .45 Colt:

MaxP · Mar 3, 2019

My favorite .45 Colt: custom by JRH Advanced Gunsmithing. Ruger Bisley with oversized six-shot cylinder.

45 Dragoon · Mar 3, 2019

Here's two of my favorites.

Mr.Revolverguy · Mar 3, 2019

Wow some really nice revolvers, keep them coming. That Bovine Bullet Test from Max is awesome.

MaxP · Mar 3, 2019

Mr.Revolverguy said:
Wow some really nice revolvers, keep them coming. That Bovine Bullet Test from Max is awesome.

Thank you. That represents the upper end of .45 Colt loads. I used Garrett’s 405 grain (RHO - Redhawk Only) .45 Colt loads that run about 1,200 fps give or take. However, they run 50,000 psi.

Mr.Revolverguy · Mar 3, 2019

Maybe it is time for me to get a 45 Colt redhawk with a little longer barrel. Unfortunately I won't dare run a load like that through my S&W 625 of which only 700 were made, it doesn't even make it out of the safe often. Those loads in a 2inch Alaskan aren't ideal.

MaxP · Mar 3, 2019

Mr.Revolverguy said:
Maybe it is time for me to get a 45 Colt redhawk with a little longer barrel. Unfortunately I won't dare run a load like that through my S&W 625 of which only 700 were made, it doesn't even make it out of the safe often. Those loads in a 2inch Alaskan aren't ideal.

They won’t fit in the 625. There’s too much bullet sticking out of the case and that’s a good thing!

Mr.Revolverguy · Mar 3, 2019

MaxP said:
They won’t fit in the 625. There’s too much bullet sticking out of the case and that’s a good thing!

There is a reason they call them Ruger Only loads.

MaxP · Mar 3, 2019

Mr.Revolverguy said:
There is a reason they call them Ruger Only loads.

They go even farther by designating them “Redhawk Only!” They are an exercise in the extreme, but they work alright.

jeepnik · Mar 3, 2019

Well gee I just don’t know. Why the heck would anyone use a 146 year old cartridge? Oh yea, it works as well or better today as it did in 1873.

Ought to make it mandatory that thread starters post their age
Might be interesting to correlate age/experience versus silliness of threads.

627PCFan · Mar 3, 2019

Ill post my new Redhawk here shortly. Shes in the process of getting some bead blasting because she came to me looking like Helen Keller finished her at the factory.

Mr.Revolverguy · Mar 3, 2019

627PCFan said:
Ill post my new Redhawk here shortly. Shes in the process of getting some bead blasting because she came to me looking like Helen Keller finished her at the factory.

Post before and after please. Hopefully you were able to get a before picture. I would love to see it and I am sure others would also.

MidRoad · Mar 3, 2019

Here's mine. Recently acquired. I blame the fine folks on this forum and MaxP's books for getting me addicted to revolvers, especially big bores.

MaxP · Mar 3, 2019

Bones741 said:
Here's mine. Recently acquired. I blame the fine folks on this forum and MaxP's books for getting me addicted to revolvers, especially big bores.
View attachment 829193

Misery love company! Hahahahaha! Good to hear, thanks!

Rudolph31 · Mar 3, 2019

Cimarron:

Englishmn · Mar 3, 2019

Armored farmer · Mar 3, 2019

edwardware said:
When loading, LOOK at the shells. If you accidentally load a conventional cartridge, it will make a .454 hole in your siding, and lots beyond.

....dont try the rice on the water buff either! @MaxP

Maybe I can get @edwardware to work me up a load of salt, pepper, and parmesan for these zukes.

Shane in MT · Mar 3, 2019

Ruger Blackhawk Convertible.

THE 45 COLT: OLD BUT STILL USEFUL?

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