45 Long Colt Reloads

[forquidder]

I'm shooting a lightweight ported snubby in 45 long colt. I've been reloading for it with medium burn rate powders and am maxing out at around 600 fps with 255 gr. lead bullets when I just begin burning powder outside the barrel. There's only 1 1/2 " until the bullet hits the first ports so the gun is going to be very limited by that. Does anyone have a pet 45 colt load with faster burning powder that may give me some more velocity with safe pressure levels for a lightweight gun? Thanks.

 

[magyars4]

Sounds like

You have the taurus TT....so do I .
My pet hand load is 11.2 gr of AA#5, behind a 255 gr swc. I do not know what kind of velocity this gives, but its a good load in my TT.

 

[Steve Smith]

Here we go with "long" again

 

[JoeHatley]

I use 7.2 grains Bullseye and a 200 grain SWC bullet, for about 900 fps. No unburned power in my 4" guns, but I'm not sure about a 2"er.

Joe

 

[cheygriz]

The old standard for the weaker Colt SAA was 8.0 GR Unique with a 255 lead bullet. Around 865 in a 5 1/2 inch barrel. In the newer Anaconda, and the Rugers, that can be pushed up to about 10.0 grains safely, for just over 1,000 fps in a 4 5/8 inch barrel.

I don't know about using this load in other guns.

If you're looking for a self defense load, the Speer 200 GR "flying ashtray" at 850 would be superb, as would the Remington 185 G.S. at 850-900 FPS.

 

[oscar]

The Winchester manual suggests 7.0 of 231.

 

[JohnK]

Without commenting on the Long part (whoops, that was comment, wasn't it?) I like 7.5 gr of HP38/Win231 under a 255-270gr LSWC. With a 270gr Keith I get 858 fps from a 5.5" Bisley.

You'll likely see lower velocities in the snubby but it should still be well above 600 fps. I'd start with Oscars 7.0 gr suggestion and work from there for the most accurate load in your gun.

 

[Fatelvis]

Steve, I looked at the title of this thread, and KNEW you would have something to say about the "long". You`re getting too predictable, man!

 

[JStordahl]

Forquidder:

Semantics aside, for .45 Colt I use 9 grains of Unique with 250 gr round nose flat point, hard cast. This shoots well in my Ruger Bisley 7.5 inch barrel at 950 fps. Gives 1.5" at 25 yards.

 

[Gary H]

Would a heavy crimp help on these loads out of a short barrel?

 

[M2HMGHB]

Where do you get the winchester reloading manual? I've been looking for one but could never find one. Thanks

 

[TEXAS LAWMAN]

You can often obtain complimentary copies of reloading manuals at shops that sell powder and other components. I've picked up Hodgden, WW, AA, Alliant (Hercules) and IMR manuals this way.

 

[WESHOOT2]

45 REALLYREALLYLONG COLT

Don't freak; try 2400.

 

[Lee S. Forsberg]

45 Colt

I'm a little out of place here but I like 45 Colt. I shoot it in a T/C and a rifle using RL#7 and 300 grain bullets. The 300 grain bullets would be good for a short barrel but not RL#7.

 

[blowsomethingup]

met a guy yesterday reloading 45 long colt and he likes the same powder I use wc820 and wc820 f from jeff at gibrass.
wc820 f is pretty fast probably about 10 or 11 grains for the long colt.at $80 delivered for 8 pounds,its a very good deal.
this powder is very heavy,11 grains will probably fill your case just about 1/2 full.

 

[Frohickey]

45 C-O-L-T

A heavy crimp? A roll crimp is already a heavy crimp, unlike taper crimps on semi-autos.

What do you consider a medium burn rate powder?

You could go fast with Bullseye, that ought to burn out before you get out of the barrel, but as always, you have to worry about peak pressures.

 

[WESHOOT2]

BULLSEYE EXPANSION RATIO

Nope.

 

[Mannlicher]

you might try 6 grains of Bullseye with that 255 grain, for around 750fps. A little more won't hurt, but this will have some recoil.

I would suggest though a 230gr JHP over 12 grains of Bluedot. Much less recoil, and in my gun, very accurate.