Favorite 45 Colt Bullets

It is my opinion that the 45 Colt is at its best with a lead, bevel base, round nose flat point at 250 grains. I don't cast, I buy commercial, there are better things to do with my time than cast bullets, like shoot them. I shot tens of thousands of LSWC's, but the sharp edge of a LSWC would occasionally hang up in the cylinder of a SAA, but the rounded bullet of RNFP would just glide in. Also glided in when using a revolver speed loader on a double action revolver. I have fired enough 0.452" lead, and 0.454" lead in revolvers with 0.455" chamber mouths to learn, use the bigger bullet. And, I can't tell the difference in accuracy between a 0.452"lead bullet and a 0.454" lead bullet in a revolver with a 0.452" chamber mouth. So I buy the big bullets and load everything them them.

This is one great 45 LC



So is this:



Someone will drop in and recommend loads that will stop an elephant in its tracks, and therefore, armor piercing bullets, but you know, I think a 250 grain lead bullet going 850 to 900 fps will do everything I want to do, with a handgun.

Slamfire is correct... the 250-255grn range is where I usually wind up, but I'm working with some very nice 270grn true Keith-style cast bullets right now... we will see how they shake out in my 5.5" Vaquero. I've gone as far as 300grn, but in a Winchester Trapper, and I think as far south as 200grn, but the advantage of the .45 is all that bullet weight, so I don't cheap out.

FWIW, I've liked:
- Missouri Bullet Company's .452 RNFP Cowboy #1
- Gold Dot 250 Gr JHP

...over the classic 8.5 Gr of Unique. Both are mild loads for an 1873 Win Rifle, and a New Vaquero.

https://rimrockbullets.com/xcart/top-shelf-bullets#pageId=5
I like these in my Blackhawk - the 255gr SWCs.

I shoot 200 gr. swc the same ones I shoot in my 45acp but I'm shooting them in a 3" judge which they hit better as far point of aim. Lol there's always a odd ball in the crowd.

The .45 Colt revolver will function fine with 200 to 280 grain bullets depending on what you want from the load and gun. For Piney-woods rooters, I prefer 280 grain LBT LFN cast bullets at 950 fps. Shooting soda cans at 50 yards I like 220 grain flat-nose ball bullets at 750 fps.

Since all my .45 Colt revolvers shoot paper targets and steel targets, they get a steady diet of 200 gr. RNFP bullets, sized to .452". They shoot great in all my revolvers and all three of my Marlin 1894CB rifles. Since I cast my own, I get more bullets to the pound of alloy, and more shooting.

Hope this helps.

Fred

I have been shooting a lot of Cowboy #9 bullets from the Missouri Bullet Company. The hard cast WFNGC bullets from Cast Performance are excellent especially in a levergun.

I like Lee's 452-300-RF, with or without a gascheck. I want my hindmost braincell to know that gun went off, so I load a 300 gr bullet over a casefull of H110.

My .357s feel like a peashooter afterward.

RugerOldArmy said:

FWIW, I've liked:
- Missouri Bullet Company's .452 RNFP Cowboy #1

Click to expand...

These are what I am currently using and they work well.

Believe it or not I used some plated Berry's 250gr .452 with a very slight crimp (Bullet has no crimp groove) and they shot very well.

-Jeff

ReloaderFred said:

Since all my .45 Colt revolvers shoot paper targets and steel targets, they get a steady diet of 200 gr. RNFP bullets, sized to .452". They shoot great in all my revolvers and all three of my Marlin 1894CB rifles. Since I cast my own, I get more bullets to the pound of alloy, and more shooting.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Click to expand...

Since all my .45 Colt really does is slap steel, the cheapest bullets that safely go bang are the best. For me this is also 200 gr. RNFP bullets I cast, going 700 fps over the chrony. Just pay for primers, powder, and time I get to work with my hands. They're more accurate than I am, good enough for me! I also understand everyone's situations call for something different.

My favorite is the Missouri Bullet 255 gr. Keith style. Loaded with 800-X or 4227, 800 to 900 fps. It is also my primary round for home defense.

I use 200gr RNFP lead bullets sized .452", load them in both .45 Colt and .45 acp. (Missouri Bullet cowboy #4)
Lafitte

I have two. Home cast 255 grain Thompson designed gas check SWC, Lyman 452490.

250 grain round nose flat point plated Rainier.

zanders said:

I was just curious what everyone's favorite bullets were for the 45 Colt.

Click to expand...

Depends on the use.

If all I ever did was plink I'd cast and shoot the 454190 which is the original RNFP loaded in the 45 Colt. I cast this bullet for practice and loaded to about 850 fps it is very accurate.





But for hunting, hands down my favorite is the MP copy of RCBS's 45-270SAA SWC. I cast/used the large HP version, which weighs about 265 grs., on a deer and javelina. But from now on I'll be using the solid version which weighs 285-290 gr. depending on the alloy. I run it just shy of 1,000 fps and it is very accurate.





I enjoy bullet casting a use the time most folks spend watching TV to cast bullets. I can't imagine being limited to only those bullets that are available commercially, but the each his own.

35W

After loading my .45LCs for over 40 years I’ve settled on two cast bullets, the LEE 255 RF and the LBT 280 WFN. Both have wide noses for maximum terminal effect on game but they shoot great for any use. Powders include Unique, Universal and BlueDot with velocities between 900 and 1050 fps.

.

Berry's plated 250 grs FP for standard 45 Colt smokeless
Lyman 452651 325 grs GC and LBT LFN-GC for Heavy Ruger loads
J/P 200 Big lube SPG for BP loads.

MB Cowboy #1 and Titegroup.
250gr Hornady XTP & Titegroup.

My favorite is a Keith type SWC in the 250-255 grain weight range cast from wheel weights.

My three USFA SAA’s and my Winchester (Miroku) ‘73 (all .45 Colt) like MB lead 230 grain over 6.2 grains of Titegroup - very accurate in all four of these guns.

250G lead RNFP pushed by 8.4g Unique sure gets the job done nicely in my Blackhawk. Have tried lighter loads but the 250 RNFP gives me great accuracy and plenty of knockdown power. I have tried a lot of bullet weights and styles over the years,but this combination has always worked the best for me.
Target was shot "offhand" at 10 yards, Single action.

250-260gr LSWC are my favorite. I want to try the WFN type designs. I think I’m running 8.5-9gr Herco. Also like Unique

35 Whelen said:

But for hunting, hands down my favorite is the MP copy of RCBS's 45-270SAA SWC. I cast/used the large HP version, which weighs about 265 grs., on a deer and javelina. But from now on I'll be using the solid version which weighs 285-290 gr. depending on the alloy. I run it just shy of 1,000 fps and it is very accurate.

Click to expand...

You lost me on that one. What is MP?