.452 v .454 diameter bullets for 45 Colt

[Lone_Gunman]

I was looking at the Midway website and Oregon Trail makes both 452 and 454 diameter bullets for 45 Colt.

I have previously loaded 454 diameter bullets for 45 Colt.

Would I use the same loading data for 452 diameter bullets?

Will the 452 bullets be less accurate?

 

[243winxb]

Using the load that worked with the .454" bullets will be ok pressure wise. But you should slug your barrel to find the correct diameter of bullet needed for accuracy.

 

[Alphazulu6]

But you should slug your barrel to find the correct diameter of bullet needed for accuracy.

Hrm... I didnt know they varied that much in a 45 colt. Is this normal?

 

[cdrt]

The newer Colts are .452. Older versions (1st and 2nd generation) are more likely the .454 bore.

You should still check, but if you're shooting a newer Colt, it is probably .452. Most reloading manuals offer the same advice.

 

[highlander 5]

Check the size of your chamber mouths first. I've had several 45 Colt revolvers both
S&W and Ruger over the years and have found chamber mouth diameter has more effect than bore. My 1st colt was a model 25 Smith mad in the 80s with a
bore diameter of .452 but chamber mouths at .454-.455. .452 dia bullets wouldn't shoot worth a damn,.454 dia shot quite well. I have several Rugers 2 Blackhawks and a Redhawk. All 3 have had the chamber mouths reamed to .453 to shoot decently. 1 Blackhawk CM diameter was .450 with a bore of.452
How you get a .450 bullet to engage rifling at .452 and expect good accuracy
is beyond me. I called Ruger no it and their response was "we don't recommend using reloads". I don't know about you but I can't afford to spend $100 + everytime I go to the range

 

[Wedge]

My Blackhawk's chamber throats were REALLY undersized. .448-0.450 and they varied. Accuracy was so bad that at 3 yards it might not even hit paper. Heavy loads wouldn't even chamber. I also had a .45 ACP cylinder that was just as bad.

Sent it out to get the throats reamed for $50 and accuracy went up ten-fold.

I use .452" bullets in my gun, a 2003 vintage Ruger Blackhawk. The throats were reamed to 0.4525".

 

[243winxb]

What cdrt SAID - "The newer Colts are .452. Older versions (1st and 2nd generation) are more likely the .454 bore.

You should still check, but if you're shooting a newer Colt, it is probably .452. Most reloading manuals offer the same advice"

 

[Clark]

I know an S&W 1917 that is .454".