.45 Colt here I come....

Status
Not open for further replies.
I long came to the conclusion there is no real need for "Ruger Only" loads. A standard .45 Colt load will do about anything you need to do with a revolver.

Yes, I do shoot some "Ruger Only" loads, but not that many. And I always gavitate back to standard loads.
Click to expand...

I bought mine with the intention of shooting them. I wanted something that would rattle my teeth, as I am a recoil junkie. I couldnt afford a 500mag, so I went with something cheap,a ruger in 45 colt. I do shoot my target loads 3 to 1 though.
 
Me and my brother have consecutively numbered New Model Ruger Blackhawk convertibles in .45 Colt/ ACP. They each have the 7 1/2" barrels. They're fully engraved and neither have ever been loaded, cocked, or fired other than the factory test load, and they are absolutely beautiful revolvers.
 
I plan on taking the plunge soon enough.. i need a 45 colt, a single action and a 45 acp revolver... guess which one I will be getting.... you got it.... Black hawk convertible... cover all 3 in one shot (so to speak.) I greatly look forward to it.

nice gun you've got there.
 
ljn mentioned the Redhawk, which reminds me of an episode I had a few years back. A friend of mine had a desire to use his Super Redhawk to hunt deer in NC. Knowing that I reloaded my ammo ( and still due) He asked that I work up a quote, hot and accurate load, for ranges to 75 yds. I loaded 3 lots of 10 rds ea as follows;
Bullet Primer Pwdr/Wt Vel/fps

200gr cci350 Bullseye/6.2 900 poor grpng

" " 700-X/5.8 900 just fair "

" " IMR 4227/18.7 1050 decent load,tight grp

With each load my friend complained that it seemed a little "puny" compared to his 44 mag.

So the next 10 rds I loaded for him was, 300gr Speer 23gr H110 1300+ vel. This load probably approached 28K to 30K psi, which is close to 15% below
SAMMI max. Well, he fired 5 rds and announced that the load was just right,however he did not ask me to load more for his hunting purpose.:D

Yes siree, the 45LC is actg to be admired. Probably the most versatile of the big bore ctgs.

I apologise for the long winded post.

Fred
 
I went to the range this afternoon (it's nice having a mid-week day off, I was the only one at the range) with my three different loads, I set up targets at 7 and 15 yards, shot three at the 7 yard target, 7 at the 15 yard target with each cylinder load

All bullets used are 200Gr LSWC, only the powder charge varies

First load, Green - 5.5Gn TB; Very light recoiling, a hair more than a .22 revolver, decent accuracy, light leading in barrel, these rounds would be great "powderpuff" loads to introduce shooters to the .45 Colt cartridge, decent enough accuracy, incredibly tame recoil, and a relatively quiet report, I wouldn't shoot these loads myself though, due to the leading and less-than-tackdriver accuracy

Second load, Red - 6.5Gn TB;a bit more recoil, up to about a steel-frame 9mm pistol recoil, leading dropped by half, however, accuracy dropped off noticeably, groups were double in size when compared to the 5.5Gn load, I'm not happy with this load at all

Final load, Black - 7.0Gn TB; Now we're talking, a nice smooth, rolling recoil, very manageable and controllable, it lets you know you're shooting a *big* gun, yet the muzzle blast and pressure wave you'd expect from this nice rolling shove is nonexistent, as is leading, yes, that's right, *NO* leading from this load, and it was the most accurate load yet to boot, strong, controllable, rolling recoil (I really love the recoil impulse of a SA revolver, very natural, organic and controllable), no leading, and an incredibly accurate load, one-holers at both 7 and 15 yards, my gun really likes this combo, so that's what I'm gonna' feed it :)

I also worked up a single cartridge of 7.5Gn W231 under a 230Gr FMJ Ball bullet, pulled from some defective cartridges I found discarded on the range last weekend, somebody had some dented steel-cased Wolf ammo, so I grabbed the cartridges put them in my kinetic bullet puller, pulled the bullets and set them aside for later, I loaded one of them into a .45LC shell on top of the W231

That was one strong, hard-hitting load, nice, rolling recoil, and dug a good grapefruit-sized crater in the sand backstop behind the target board

Now I want to load up some heavier bullets under some fast powder and see what the .45LC is truly capable of (regular loads, not Ruger Only loads, that is)

I'm really happy with .45LC, it's now my new favorite cartridge, I love the versatility, power, and low-pressure operation, it's the .30-06 of handgun calibers ;) (yes, I know .30-06 isn't low pressure)

Now to find a nice used .45LC lever-action rifle to pair with the Blackhawk...
 
45 long colt is the funnest round we load and fire! we have a judge a comanche a thunderbolt rifle all chambered for 45 long colt! we cast our own 255 gr lee mold works great! use the same round in all of them , we like the new hornedy red tipped, jacketed bullet wow what a water jug killer! we also have 45 acp 38 and 357 mags a few 32 cals have a great time with your 45 lc s !!!
 
Got a 45 convertible SBH. Just started loading 45 lc for it using Titegroup, 230 gr lead bullets. Shot to same poa within 2 in as 45 acp at 20 yds. Big brass, tiny powder, big boom,Gotta love it!Trying to wean myself off 44 mag. Love'm both.Decisions, decisions
 
ps careful of the cheapo winchester cowboy rounds they are loaded way too light and the cases spit after 2 reloads all the way down the side! 2 so far! we got some new rem brass thay are great so far. we dont load any where near max loads.
 
One caution to all .45 Colt lovers. There is no SAAMI spec for '.45 Colt +P' - just the 14 kpsi max for .45 Colt. If you 'need' more oomph, get a .454 Casull - download it, if need be. You know the revolver - and the brass - will stand it. My first-ever DA revolver was a then recently introduced Ruger 7.5" Super Redhawk. It's lockwork, same as a GP-100, broke in quite well - and it proved to be very accurate, with Hornady 240gr XTP JHPs at 2,000 fps or my homebrews of 255gr LSWCs at 1,000 fps. The latter were fun shooters... the former .454 Casulls mentioned said Hello! most emphatically - and were quite flat from 25-110 yd. It's the one Ruger I'd buy again, although my collection of Rugers now is down to an Old Army cap & ball, especially if they would make it in a 4". They can keep the Redhawks - one was enough here.

If you can be 'happy' with standard .45 Colt, and remember that the original 250gr LRN over 40gr fff bp made ~1,000 fps from 7.5" SA Colts, etc, stay there! They dropped bg's and buffalo alike. I elected to do so - and replaced all of my SA & DA Rugers with two S&W 625 Mountain Guns in .45 Colt. They have slick lockwork, accuracy, and all the 'oomph' I need. If you need more, don't hotrod - get a hotter caliber!

Stainz
 
One caution to all .45 Colt lovers. There is no SAAMI spec for '.45 Colt +P' - just the 14 kpsi max for .45 Colt. If you 'need' more oomph, get a .454 Casull - download it, if need be. You know the revolver - and the brass - will stand it. My first-ever DA revolver was a then recently introduced Ruger 7.5" Super Redhawk. It's lockwork, same as a GP-100, broke in quite well - and it proved to be very accurate, with Hornady 240gr XTP JHPs at 2,000 fps or my homebrews of 255gr LSWCs at 1,000 fps. The latter were fun shooters... the former .454 Casulls mentioned said Hello! most emphatically - and were quite flat from 25-110 yd. It's the one Ruger I'd buy again, although my collection of Rugers now is down to an Old Army cap & ball, especially if they would make it in a 4". They can keep the Redhawks - one was enough here.

If you can be 'happy' with standard .45 Colt, and remember that the original 250gr LRN over 40gr fff bp made ~1,000 fps from 7.5" SA Colts, etc, stay there! They dropped bg's and buffalo alike. I elected to do so - and replaced all of my SA & DA Rugers with two S&W 625 Mountain Guns in .45 Colt. They have slick lockwork, accuracy, and all the 'oomph' I need. If you need more, don't hotrod - get a hotter caliber!
Click to expand...

Or you could buy a ruger that is made for the pressure, and has been tested to prove it. Loading 45 colt in a blackhawk isnt like loading 45 colt for anything else, it can be treated as its own round. Loading to 30k is more than acceptable, as in testing cylinders gave out around 60k.
 
Now, if you REALLY want to understand the .45 Colt...I mean, at the root level, load it up with 40 grains of fffg Goex under a 255gr soft lead bullet with a good BP lube. That is an ENTIRELY different animal than the powder puff Trailboss loads!!
 
Mossy...I don't know if you can stuff 40 grains of Goex triple-f in a modern solid head case.

But, yeah. 970 fps with a 250 grain bullet ain't exactly a small thing...on either end of the gun.

The .45 Colt in its original loading held the title of the world's most powerful handgun cartridge for longer than any other. 62 years...until the .357 Magnum came along and outpowered it...on paper.

I'm still not convinced that it beat it in the real world.
 
Man this is making me ready for this weekend. I'm going to a gun show here in Little Rock on Sunday, looking for a .45 Colt in a Blackhawk. Question - Do the Ruger only loads apply to the Redhawks and Super Redhawks, or just the Blackhawks? I know they're not safe in the Vaqueros.
 
Do the Ruger only loads apply to the Redhawks and Super Redhawks, or just the Blackhawks? I know they're not safe in the Vaqueros
Click to expand...

Yes, and they are suitable for the now discontinued Vaquero...which was nothing more than a New Model Blackhawk with cowboy sights. It's the smaller New Model Vaqueros...essentially an old medium frame Blackhawk with cowboy sights...that won't take it. The New Vaqueros aren't as small and light as the Colt SAA, but they won't miss it by much. Although they're also stronger by a good bit than the Colts and faithful clones...it's best to err on the side of caution.

Remember the old dictum: (paraphrased)

"The pressures required to accelerate a 250 grain bullet to 1200 fps in 5 inches of rifled barrel is more than enough to blow your eyeballs through the back of your head."

'Nuff said?

The old Vaqueros were available in .44 Magnum...which is a sight punchier than the Ruger Only .45 Colt loads.
 
Thanks for the quick response 1911 Tuner. I'm thinking if I find one in a Redhawk, I may go for it. I love them. I found one in .44 but I'm really set on a .45. I may go back for it if I can't find a .45 that jumps out at me.

Wasn't trying to hijack the thread. Sorry. Gorgeous grips by the way. I definately want to spring for a nice set of grips when I buy something. Very nice.
 
Ruger loads are safe in Rugers (Blackhawk & Redhawk) EXCEPT the NEW Vaquero. The original Vaquero is stout enough to handle the Ruger loads though the point of impact doesn't match the point of aim in loads I've tested. YMMV.

The NEW Vaquero is a great gun but it isn't up to "Ruger only" loads. It is sleeker and a good bit purtyer in my estimation. Carries nice and feels more Colt like in the hand - meaning it points better. I'm inclined to believe that Ruger did a better job on the cylinder throats too as my RNV are all impressively accurate.

nvwtargets.jpg
 
No hijack detected, Paul. It follows the topic, and it's all good. ;)

Mo...I've got a pair of New Vaqueros that I'm enjoying immensely, and truthfully...I don't think I'd like'em nearly as much with fire-breathin' ammo. They pack an authoritative punch with 250 and 9 grains of Unique. I normally bring that down to 8 grains for general knockin' around, and have noticed no loss in accuracy nor enough change in POI to make a difference to me. I haven't chronographed the 8 grain stuff, but 9 grains with the cast bullet clocks a tick over 900 fps average for 20 shots, split between both guns.
 
1911T - I hear you. The 300 grainers are for the fat gripped Blackhawk and Marlin. 250 grains at 900 fps is mighty impressive on stuff I shoot with it. I'm almost embarrassed to admit what a thrill ("up my leg") I get sending a big chuck of lead hissing down range and connecting audibly with steel and seeing topple or swing backwards... That sort of thing keeps me grinnin for days...
 
There are quite a number of firearms around chambered for 45 Colt that may or may not stand up to "Blackhawk" loads, but would certainly stand up to something hotter than factory loads, however, there's scarcity of loading data for such.

Some examples would be the Colt Anaconda, the Dan Wesson, the Taurus Raging Bull, and probably a few SAs and rifles. (Yes, I have a Raging Bull chambered for 45 Colt, not 454 Casull, it's a six holer.)
 
Mo, I'm glad to see you have joined this discussion. Your input here virtually insures a .45 Colt in my future. :rolleyes:

You're even going to force me to consider a Vaquero, even a New Vaquero since I'm not really interested in powerhouse anything, and since they are lighter than Blackhawks (even if by only 4 oz) and much lighter than Redhawks.

One question about your comment here:

Mo said:
The 300 grainers are for the fat gripped Blackhawk and Marlin.
Click to expand...

Which Marlins eat .45 Colt?
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
45 colt vs 454 casull
2
Replies
25
Views
7K
John C
J
D
  • Locked
Why can't we say .45 "Long Colt?" Oops, I said it!
2 3
Replies
63
Views
3K
unspellable
U
N
  • Locked
Traditional .45 Colt Loads
Replies
14
Views
5K
Hal
H
L
  • Locked
What can be shot through .45 Colt?
Replies
2
Views
553
caz223
C
BobWright
  • Locked
The.45 Colt...............
2
Replies
28
Views
4K
Dframe
D
Back
Top