45LC Blackhawk Bullet diameter question

[guitarguy314]

Hi guys.

Sorry in advance if this is the wrong place to ask. If it is, let me know and I'll move it.

I recently discovered that my blackhawk (convertible) does infinitely better with Winchester Super X 250 grain 45 colt cowboy loads. After getting over the sneaking suspicion that my blackhawk only wanted the WInchester ammo because it cost more than the Georgia Arms ammo I usually get, I realized that bullet diameter could have something to do with it.

So, Does anyone know what size bullets are on the Winchesters? Does anyone know what size bullets Georgia Arms uses on their 45 colt cowboy loads?

Thanks everyone

L

 

[1KPerDay]

Good excuse to buy a cheap impact puller and calipers and start reloading.

 

[MtnCreek]

Good excuse to buy a cheap impact puller and calipers and start reloading.

+1. 45 colt is expensive stuff to be shooting factory ammo! PM a mod and ask to get this moved to 'reloading'. Probably some folks there that know the answer.

 

[rcmodel]

I don't know the actual dia of the bullet.
454" I think.
But both Remington & Winchester use soft swaged hollow-base bullets in the standard .45 Colt loads.

That allows the bullet base to expand on firing to fit any size chamber throat & bore size.

Your Georgia Arms ammo is undoubtedly loaded with harder flat or bevel base .452" cast bullets that can't expand to fit at the low pressure involved in 'Cowboy' loads.

rc

 

[mackg]

If you have a good calliper, you can measure brass walls on the last half inch or so and a few loaded rounds. The difference should be close to bullet diameter .

 

[gamestalker]

This is often the bug that inspires one to begin reloading. Maybe you should consider saving that money you would other wise spend on expensive factory ammo, and instead invest it in a reasonable reloading set up. And although we don't really save money reloading, we shoot much more for the same amount.

GS

 

[Sunray]

Cowboy loads are just target loads with cast RN bullets.
Georgia Arms uses .452". Winchester doesn't give the bullet diameter. It's more about velocity anyway. .452" is an ACP bullet. Nominal diameter for a .45 Colt is .454".
In any case, if you're not reloading, you need to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your revolver shoots best.

 

[BobWright]

Try measuring the chamber throats. These should run .452~.455". If they are less than that, there is your problem: the chamber is swaging down your bullet to undersize.

Most .45 Colt ammo is now loaded with bullets of .452" dia.

Bob Wright

 

[41 Mag]

The biggest issue with some Rugers is the area of the barrel whee it screws into the frame. Some of them are pinched down in this area and it makes getting cast loads to shoot with no leading a real bear.

That said if the Winchester bullets are holow based that would allow them to bump right back up after passing through that section of barrel. That would in effect reduce the leading your seeing.

However if your shooting Cowboy loads from each company, and the Winchester is a 10 BHN and the Georgia Arms are 18 BHN but both are loaded with light charge weights that could also be the issue. Harder alloy needs more pressure to keep from leading, and in most cases will lead worse than an alloy that is soft being driven fast.

As mentioned measure the throats of your cylinders, and slug your barrel then compare the two. You cylinders should be right in the .452'ish range as should your barrel. My Redhawk does great with .452 sized bullets in alloy ranging from around 9 up through 14 BHN. I really haven't found any need to shoot anything harder than 14 and probably won't be shooting it anymore since I now have softer alloy loads worked up that shoot better anyway.

 

[CraigC]

Nominal diameter for a .45 Colt is .454".

Maybe 100yrs ago.

Modern .45Colt and .45ACP utilize bullets the same diameter. Typically .451-.452" for jacketed and .452" for cast. Unless you're shooting a Colt, in which case you'll probably need .458's.

 

[ReloaderFred]

My Blackhawks in .45 Colt do great with handloaded .452" diameter bullets over TrailBoss powder. Anything from 200 gr. to 265 grain bullets has worked for me out to 35 yards.

Hope this helps.

Fred

PS: I hope you're holding onto that once fired .45 Colt brass............

 

[guitarguy314]

Hey everyone. Thanks for the info. Sorry for answering so late...kinda lost trach of the thread.

I'd love to start reloading, but it's not an option at the moment. I'll be moviing into an apartment in a few months. I do plan on reloading once I get my own place though. I do save my brass.

RCModel, Winchester told me that the bullets are .454. Georgia Arms says they load .452. I'm thinking the hardness could be a part of it also. It's like night and day shooting Winchesters and Georgia Arms stuff. Crazy different. I actually get groups with winchesters. I thought I was channeling Elmer Keith when I finally shot the winchester Ammo.

I'll measure my throats and forcing cone tomorrow and see what I come up with.

Thanks everyone.

 

[rcmodel]

The soft swaged lead hollow-base bullets they use are the key.

Commercial Cast bullets will need to be very soft lead to slug up at low pressure and do as well.

rc

 

[RealGun]

I have had my guns checked or modified to perform with lead bullets so they satisfy the rule - the bullet is larger than the throat, is larger than the bore. - The bullet still has to be malleable enough to conform to the rifling, so overly hard bullets can be problematic.

I am guessing you'll find the throats to be larger than .452, causing a decrease in performance of the Georgia Arms. The only "bump up" that should be needed is the seal in the rifling, not recovery from a too small throat.

 

[guitarguy314]

*Sigh* Hey everyone. Looks like the ammo problem was all in my head. I took my BH to the range along with the ammo to test, and I shot the same with each ammo type. I guess I just had a great range day at my Grandfathers. I just need to find an instructor familiar with SA revolver shooting. Thanks for all of your help.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

All of us have the tendency to over-think a situation.

For instructions, go to you tube and search single action revolver shooting