45LC..Hot Loads or Not?

[Hazzard]

Okay, so I have the opportunity to pick up a Ruger Blackhawk in 45LC for a good price. I've been wanting a handgun to hunt with and already have the dies (yeah, I know, "If you own reloading dies for calibers that you do not shoot, you just might be a gun nut.") Anyway, I've read on the net that 45 can be loaded to near .44 mag power, but I've also heard some dissention that this should not be done.

So I thought I would ask those more knowledgable than myself what they think. My Hornady manual has heavy loads for 45 (Ruger and T/C only), but for those of you who reload 45 is this a acceptable practice? Any help is appreciated.

 

[huntershooter]

I think "hot/+P" loads will depend on your intended use. A 250 gr. Keith type cast bullet @ 1100-1200 fps is sufficent for a lot of hunting applications with adequate bullet placement. I use a 300 gr. WFNGC @ 1250 fps for (large) hogs. The Blackhawk is certainly up to the task. Two of my +P .45 Colts are Ruger Bisley's.

 

[Hazzard]

Huntershooter those weights/velocities are very close to what is listed in my manual and would be more sufficient for my needs. In fact I'd likely back them down a bit. Have you seen any negative impacts such as excessive flame cutting, hard on brass, etc?

 

[huntershooter]

No sir I have not experienced what you asked. My revolvers have held up well. Brass (Starline) Is good for 15+ reloads in the 1100 fps/250 gr. realm.

 

[Hazzard]

Thanks for the input. I had suspected that the Ruger would handle it well, but it's always good to hear it from someone with first hand experience. Happy shooting.

 

[Nhsport]

There are some folks that feel the 45colt is a better hunting round than the 44mag . I have no personal experience but I suspect there is little difference with suitably strong guns ( The Blackhawk certainly fits the bill).
The only possible downside to the 45 is takeing care to clearly label and handle the heavy loads to prevent them from being used in a weaker gun

 

[huntershooter]

Nhsport is correct. Ross Sefried recommended using ONE TYPE of brass for +P loads, another for standard pressure loads. Good advice. All three of my .45 Colt revolvers are +P capable, so it doesn't apply in my case. If I owned and shot an old "P" model Colt or clone, I would adopt this practice.

 

[Hazzard]

Good advice from both of you. Thanks. I was already researching some strong brass for the +P's and I think it would be a good idea to choose different brass for standard loads. I'll only have the one revolver for now but might as well start using that mindset in case of future revolver purchases.

 

[.38 Special]

More agreement. I've fired an awful lot of heavy .45 loads and have had no troubles, aside from the sore wrist.

There was a time when there was a lot of nonsense floating around about the .45. The BS peddlers have, as far as I can tell, been bludgeoned into submission by the millions of hot .45 rounds that have been safely fired through Rugers over the last few decades.

Stick with published loads for six shot guns -- NOT FIVE SHOT GUNS -- in your Ruger and you'll be fine.

 

[Hazzard]

38special, the load data in my manual is specifically tailored to the ruger blackhawk and t/c, so no worries there. Thanks for the input. I apprecate it.

 

[highlander 5]

45 colt +p

I use a lbt 320 gr wfn at 1300 fps I don't hunt but this is as close: to a 454 casull as I wish to get.
If you are planing to handload 45 colt in a Ruger check the cylinder throats they tend to be tight mine wre .450 dia had them hone to .453. that way I can shoot .452 and .454 dia bullets and still get good accuracy If you can fire lap the bores that helps immensely. midway and lbt sell kits vey easy to do
I have 2 Rugers in 45 Colt 1 bisley and a SS blackhawk that has a bisley grip trigger and hammer fitted to it.If you are going to fire Heavy loads the bisley grip frame is the way to go

 

[redneck2]

If you haven't checked, go to http://www.sixgunner.com and check the part "Dissolving the Myth". He's got all kinds of stuff on heavy Ruger loads. The LC can surpass the .44 mag.

FWIW.....The grip on the Bisley is friendlier for shooting heavy loads. I've used heavy loads of H-110/WW-296 in mine. I was shooting at an indoor range. With every shot, dust would blow off the ceiling and walls.

Some guys came in from the range next door (separated by a block wall). Wanted to know "who was shooting a cannon". Pretty easy to tell from a 9mm.

Double up on ear protection. I use WW primers.

Lately, I've figured out that 255 LSWC's over AA5 will give all the power I need and are a lot more pleasant to shoot. HTH

 

[bakert]

Actually unless you're going for some really big, a 255 LSWC at about 900 fps will usually get the job done if you do your part.

 

[MCgunner]

My hot .45 colt load pushes over 1200 fps in my 7" Contender, but less than 1200 out of my 4 5/8" Blackhawk with a 300 grain Hornady XTP. I load my 255 grain cast load to 900fps. So, if I had a weaker .45, I could tell by the bullet which was hot and which was not.

That power level is pretty much .44 mag equivalent. I cannot say it's BETTER than a .44 mag, but I can say it should be equal to a .44 mag. I haven't shot anything with it other than paper, though. It certainly hasn't hurt either gun, though the round count with hot stuff is under 500 rounds on 'em. I mostly shoot the 900 fps cast load, very accurate and fun to shoot and appropriate unless I'm hunting deer for about anything I do with it. But, the guns are powerful enough that I have no desire to buy a .44 mag for anything unless I just stumbled on a M29 deal or something. My .45 Colt Blackhawk has traveled with me and ridden on my hip out west and while hunting hogs. It is my favorite revolver even though I don't carry it that much except for special trips and that.

I have NOT found that brass was weak in this caliber, not new production stuff. I think the old stories of weak brass involved the anchient balloon head stuff that, frankly, I've never laid eyes on and likely hasn't been produced since smokeless powder was invented. I buy my .45 colt brass, and danged near everything else, from Midway USA online.

 

[Bad Flynch]

>...I think it would be a good idea to choose different brass for standard loads. <

More than that, I'll bet. I have a number of firearms in .45 Colt: most are Rugers, some are Colt, some are Colt clones, one is by S&W. The heavy loads that I use in most of my Rugers would make some of the others come unglued and maybe me too. Therefore, I not only use different brands of brass, but will not load any jacketed bullets in standard ammo meant for standard gune. I only load jacketed ammo that is Hot and use it in the big framed Rugers. I know that if my ammo has a lead bullet, it is meant for standard revolvers and is safe in them.

The maximum loads as published by Hodgdon for the 300 grain Hornady XTP-HP bullet are really gems in my RedHawk. Those loads would do a really good job on medium-sized game any day of the week.

 

[Hazzard]

I appreciate all the input. Sounds like it won't be a problem.