45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk Load Experimental Data

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thewilbur

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Here are my results for this year's Colt 45 experiments. Please note that many of these loads are +P and are therefore not suitable for original Colts or replicas.

TESTED LOADS Revision: 1-6-11
Group Size – Best 4 out of 5 at 25 yards

185 GR SIERRA JHP – LEE DIPPER 1.3 FOR 11.2 GR UNIQUE – 1100 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 2.75”
Blackhawk 2 – 3”
Average – 2.88”
Comments – Bullets not crimped. Cases blackened on the outside with some flakes of unburned powder. I used these bullets to lap the barrels.

185 GR SIERRA JHP – LEE DIPPER 1.3 FOR 11.2 GR UNIQUE – 1150 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.25”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.25”
Average – 1.75”
Bullet seated slightly into case with crimp over. Slightly higher recoil. No blackening on the outside of the cases. No unburned powder flakes on outside of cases.

200 GR LEAD (Cowboy) – LEE DIPPER 1.6 for 6.7 GR Trail Boss – 860 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 0.8”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.8” (because of a flyer – 3 shots inside 0.5”)
Average: 0.6 - 1.3” (7-5-10)
Crimped into crimp groove. Mild.

200 GR LEAD (Cowboy) – LEE DIPPER 0.7 for 7.5 GR Titegroup – 1,000 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 0.8”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.3” (because of a flier – 3 shots inside 0.8”)
Average: 0.8 – 1.1” (7-5-10)
New Brass. Crimped into crimp groove.

200 GR LEAD (Cowboy) – LEE DIPPER 0.7 for 7.5 GR Titegroup – 1,000 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – FAILURE 5.5” Shot low
Blackhawk 2 – FAILURE 5.0” Shot very low
Average: FAILURE (9-5-10)
Case hardened brass crimp could be part of problem

200 GR LEAD (Cowboy) – LEE DIPPER 0.7 for 7.5 GR Titegroup – 1,000 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – FAILURE 4” Shot low
Average: FAILURE (9-19-10)
Relatively new brass used for test with moderate roll crimp

200 GR LEAD (Cowboy) – LEE DIPPER 1.0 for 8.3 GR Unique – 1,025 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.8”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.4”
Average: 2.1” (7-5-2010)
Crimped into crimp groove. Test may have been affected by leading during the Titegroup testing.

225 GR LEAD WADCUTTER – LEE DIPPER 1.3 for 6.0 GR Trailboss – 750 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 0.9” (Old Brass 1.2”)
Blackhawk 2 – 1.3” (Old Brass 1.8”)
Average – 1.1” (1-6-11)

225 GR LEAD WADCUTTER – LEE DIPPER 1.6 for 6.7 GR Trailboss – 825 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.0” (Old Brass 2.0”)
Blackhawk 2 – 1.6” (Old Brass 1.7”)
Average – 1.3” (1-6-11)

225 GR LEAD WADCUTTER – DIPPER 0.5 for 5.9 GR Titegroup – 875 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.6” (Old Brass 1.2”)
Blackhawk 2 – 1.2” (Old Brass 1.3”)
Average – 1.4” (1-6-11)

225 GR LEAD WADCUTTER – DIPPER 0.7 for 9.7 GR True Blue – 950 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 2.5” (Old Brass 3.5”)
Blackhawk 2 – 1.0” (Old Brass 4.0”)
Average – 1.8” (1-6-11)

225 GR LEAD WADCUTTER – DIPPER 0.7 for 7.0 GR HP-38 – 900 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.4” (Old Brass 2.2”)
Blackhawk 2 – 1.8” (Old Brass 1.8”)
Average – 1.6” (1-6-11)

225 GR LEAD WADCUTTER – DIPPER 1.0 for 8.3 GR Unique – 900 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 2.0” (Old Brass 3.5”)
Blackhawk 2 – 1.4” (Old Brass 3.2”)
Average – 1.7” (1-6-11)

250 GR LEAD HCFN – LEE DIPPER 1.6 for 6.7 GR Trailboss – 800 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.4”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.4”
Average – 1.4” (9-5-10)

250 GR LEAD HCFN – LEE DIPPER 0.7 for 7.5 GR Titegroup – 950 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.1” 1.8 on 9-19-10
Blackhawk 2 – 2.8”
Average – 1.6” (9-5-10)

250 GR HORNADY HP-XTP – 6.2 GR (weighed) Titegroup – 850 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 2.4”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.0”
Average – 2.2” (7-5-2010)
Crimped into cannelure.

250 GR HORNADY HP-XTP – LEE DIPPER (1.6) for 24.5 GR H110 – 1350 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 2.0”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.5”
Average – 2.3” (7-5-2010)

255 GR LEAD – LEE DIPPER 0.5 FOR 5.3 GR Titegroup – 700 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.7”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.8”
Average – 1.8” (6-19-10)
Crimped into crimp groove. Very mild.

255 GR LEAD – 6.2 GR (weighed) Titegroup – 875 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.2”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.7”
Average – 1.5” (6-19-10)
Crimped into crimp groove. Mild load. A few granules of unburned powder left in each case.

255 GR LEAD – 6.2 GR (weighed) Titegroup – 875 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – up 1.5”
Blackhawk 1 – down 0.8”
Same point of impact – average for Blackhawk 1 – 1.2”
Blackhawk 2 – up 2.4”
Blackhawk 2 – down 1.5”
Same point of impact – average for Blackhawk 2 – 2.0”
Average – 1.6” (6-20-10)
Crimped into crimp groove. A few granules of unburned powder left in each case.

255 GR LEAD – LEE DIPPER 0.7 FOR 6.4 GR UNIQUE – 800 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.3”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.1”
Average – 1.7” (6-19-10)
Crimped into crimp groove. Mild load. One or two granules of unburned powder left in each case.

255 GR LEAD – 6.8 GR (weighed) Unique – 825 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – up 1.4”
Blackhawk 1 – down 1.4”
Same point of impact – average for Blackhawk 1 – 1.4”
Blackhawk 2 – up 1.4”
Blackhawk 2 – down 1.4”
Same point of impact – average for Blackhawk 2 – 1.4”
Average – 1.4” (6-20-10)
Crimped into crimp groove.

255 GR LEAD – LEE DIPPER 1.0 FOR 8.3 GR UNIQUE – 850 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.7”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.0”
Average – 1.8”
Crimped into crimp groove. Slight blackening on outside of cases.

250 GR HORNADY HP-XTP – LEE DIPPER 1.0 FOR 8.3 GR UNIQUE – 825 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.8”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.3”
Average – 1.5”
Crimped into cannelure. Slight blackening on outside of cases.

255 GR LEAD – LEE DIPPERS (0.3+0.3+0.5 WEIGHED) FOR 12.8 GR BLUE DOT - 975
Blackhawk 1 – 2.50”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.60”
Average – 2.05”
Crimped into crimp groove. No blackening on outside of cases.

250 GR HORNADY HP-XTP – LEE DIPPERS (0.3+0.3+0.5 WEIGHED) FOR 12.8 GR BLUE DOT - 950
Blackhawk 1 – 3.81”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.50”
Average – 3.16”
Crimped into cannelure. No blackening on outside of cases.

255 GR LEAD – LEE DIPPER (1.6) FOR 20.8 GR IMR 4227 – 1175 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 2.1” (6-19-10)
Blackhawk 2 – 1.1” (6-19-10)
Average – 1.6”
Crimped into crimp groove. Blew unburned powder out of frame/cylinder gap, Grains of unburned powder remained stuck to the inside case walls.

250 GR HORNADY HP-XTP – LEE DIPPER (1.6) FOR 20.8 GR IMR 4227 – 1150 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.6” (6-19-10)
Blackhawk 2 – 1.2” (5-31-10)
Average – 1.4”
Crimped into cannelure. Blew unburned powder out of frame/cylinder gap, Grains of unburned powder remained stuck to the inside case walls.

255 GR LEAD – LEE DIPPER (1.0+0.7) FOR 22.1 GR IMR 4227 – 1275 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.9”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.75”
Average – 1.83”
Crimped into crimp groove. Blew unburned powder out of frame/cylinder gap, Grains of unburned powder remained stuck to the inside case walls.

250 GR HORNADY HP-XTP – LEE DIPPER (1.0+0.7) FOR 22.1 GR IMR 4227 – 1225 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.15”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.85”
Average – 1.50”
Crimped into cannelure. Blew unburned powder out of frame/cylinder gap, Grains of unburned powder remained stuck to the inside case walls.

255 GR LEAD – LEE DIPPER (1.3+0.5) FOR 23.4 GR IMR 4227 – 1325 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 2.75”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.5”
Average – 2.13”
Hot Load (equal to 44 Magnum). Crimped into crimp groove. Blew unburned powder out of frame/cylinder gap, A few grains of unburned powder remained stuck to the inside case walls.

250 GR HORNADY HP-XTP – LEE DIPPER (1.3+0.5) FOR 23.4 GR IMR 4227 – 1275 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 2.7”
Blackhawk 2 – 3.25”
Average – 2.98”
Hot Load (equal to 44 Magnum). Crimped into cannelure.
Blew unburned powder out of frame/cylinder gap, A few grains of unburned powder remained stuck to the inside case walls.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (1.3) FOR 16.9 GR IMR-4227 – 900 FPS (Copper Primer)
Blackhawk 1 – 2.1”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.9”
Average – 2.0”
7/24/10 This load was recommended by one of the shooting boards. It yielded mediocre accuracy, plus a lot of unburned powder flakes.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (1.6) FOR 20.8 GR IMR-4227 – 1150 FPS (Red)
Blackhawk 1 – 2.2”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.2”
Average – 1.7”
7/24/10 This load was an improvement, but it still produced a lot of unburned powder.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (0.7) FOR 7.5 GR TITEGROUP – 925 FPS (Green)
Blackhawk 1 – 1.2” 1.9” on 8-5-10 2.2” on 9-5-10 0.9” on 0-19-10
Blackhawk 2 – 1.5” 1.0” on 8-5-10 2.7” on 9-5-10
Average – 1.4” (7/24/10)
Total Average for Blackhawk 1 – 1.6”
Total Average for Blackhawk 2 – 1.7”

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (0.7) FOR 7.5 GR Titegroup – 900 FPS (Copper)
Blackhawk 1 – 1.9”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.0”
Average – 1.5”
8/5/10 Very consistent.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (1.0) FOR 8.2 GR UNIQUE – 850 FPS (Black)
Blackhawk 1 – 1.9”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.2”
Average – 2.1”
7/24/10

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (0.7-0.5) FOR 10.0 GR UNIQUE – 1000 FPS (Blue)
Blackhawk 1 – 2.0”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.8”
Average – 1.9”
7/24/10 The 10.0 charge weight of Unique was recommended by the President of Leadhead bullets, the supplier. It did work better than 8.2 grains, but still not as well as Titegroup.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – 10.0 (weighed) GR Unique – 950 FPS (Black)
Blackhawk 1 – 3.2”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.4”
Average – 2.8”
8/5/10 Too Hot! Cases beginning to get too work hardened.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (1.0+0.5) FOR 22.9 GR H110 - 1100 fps
Blackhawk 1 – 1.5”
7/31/10

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (1.6) FOR 24.5 GR H110 – 1200 FPS (Red)
Blackhawk 1 – 1.0”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.4”
Average – 1.2”
7/31/10 Hot Load, but produces no sign of excessive pressure. Notice the improvement from 22.9 grains that did not fill the case as 24.5 did.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (1.3) FOR 5.4 GR Trail Boss – 700 FPS (Green)
Blackhawk 1 – 1.5”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.5”
Average – 2.0”
8/1/10

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (1.0+0.5) FOR 5.8 GR Trail Boss – 740 FPS (Red)
Blackhawk 1 – 2.3”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.2”
Average – 1.8”
8/1/10 Both of these Trail Boss loads worked but not to the level I was expecting. This probably had to do with the low velocities and long residence time in the 7.5” barrels of my revolvers.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (1.3) FOR 15.0 GR Blue Dot – 1,100 FPS (Blue)
Blackhawk 1 – 2.1”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.5”
Average – 2.3”
8/1/10 For some reason, I cannot get any of my Blue Dot loads to perform adequately in either of my 45 Colt revolvers.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – LEE DIPPER (1.6) FOR 6.7 GR Trail Boss – 850 FPS (Red)
Blackhawk 1 – 1.2”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.8”
Average – 1.5”
8/5/10 A light and accurate load for the 270 Grain Keith.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – 8.0 (weighed) GR Titegroup – 950 FPS (Green)
Blackhawk 1 – 1.1”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.2”
Average – 1.2”
8/5/10 Very slight vertical stringing.

270 GR Lead Keith SWC – 9.0 (weighed) GR Titegroup – 1,050 FPS (Blue)
Blackhawk 1 – 1.8”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.1”
Average – 2.0”
8/5/10 Too Hot!

300 GR HORNADY XTP-MAG – LEE DIPPER (1.0) FOR 8.3 GR UNIQUE – 775 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 2.3”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.8”
Average – 2.05”
Crimped into cannelure.

300 GR HORNADY XTP-MAG – LEE DIPPER (1.0) FOR 11.6 GR BLUE DOT – 900 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 3.0”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.6”
Average – 2.8”
Crimped into cannelure.

300 GR HORNADY XTP-MAG – LEE DIPPER (1.3) FOR 16.9 GR IMR 4227 – 975 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 3.25”
Blackhawk 2 – 2.38”
Average – 2.82”
Slightly under-loaded for this powder. Crimped into cannelure.
Blew unburned powder out of frame/cylinder gap, A few grains of unburned powder remained stuck to the inside case walls.

300 GR HORNADY XTP-MAG – LEE DIPPER (0.7+0.7) FOR 18.2 GR IMR 4227 – 1025 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 1.75”
Blackhawk 2 – 1.60”
Average – 1.68”
Warm load. Crimped into cannelure.
Blew unburned powder out of frame/cylinder gap, A few grains of unburned powder remained stuck to the inside case walls.

300 GR HORNADY XTP-MAG – LEE DIPPER (1.0+0.5) FOR 19.5 GR IMR 4227 – 1100 FPS
Blackhawk 1 – 3.3”
Blackhawk 2 – 3.1”
Average – 3.2”
Hot Load (equal to 44 Magnum). Crimped into cannelure.
Blew unburned powder out of frame/cylinder gap, A few grains of unburned powder remained stuck to the inside case walls.

Conclusions:
The 200 "Cowboy Action" and 225 Penn Bullets full wadcutter loads using from 6.0 to 6.7 grains of Trail Boss were the most accurate, and they were within 45 Colt standard pressure specifications.

As the brass work-hardens, it can make the groups open up. The "Old Brass" I used during my Penn Bullets 225 grain wadcutter experiments had been reloaded five times.

I found that a medium roll crimp was sufficient for subsonic loads and lead bullets. The jacketed bullets worked best with a light crimp, while the IMR 4227 and H110 heavy loads with 255 grain plus bullets worked best with a firmer crimp.

I did not notice any significant difference when I tested rounds with the barrel elevated before each shot, and those where the barrel was pointed downward before each shot. For powders like Titegroup, Trail Boss, and Unique powder orientation was not that important, especially with the hotter loads.
 
Good information, thanks for sharing. Perhaps I missed it, but what are the barrel lengths on your two Blackhawks?
 
The relatively small incremental velocity to charge weights really suprised me with the 255 grainers and Unique. Lots of good info here, Thanks. You really have shown how versatile the ol'45 colt is. I load them from mild HG#68 clone 200g SWC to the 270g RCBS SAA pushed pretty hard. Easy to load and fun to shoot.

Good work.
 
Thank you eldon519.
I purchased two identical Stainless Ruger Blackhawks with 7.5" barrels because I thought that two would yield better statistical data.

One revolver is of late manufacture and it suffers from a few faults. My gunsmithing friend noticed that the forcing cone is out a few thousanths beyond spec. He offered to reset the barrel but I decided to wait. As you can see by the data, some rounds shot BETTER with this revolver. Go figure.
 
Thank you Bula.

I need to get another chronograph (I lost my old one). Then I could confirm the velocities.
 
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