Just picked up my New Vaquero Montado today. Want to know what everyone is shooting in the 45LC these days from Personal Defense Round to Range Loads. I own a pair of Uberti 1873 Cattleman Hombre's and only really have them for fun out on the Range and have them Mounted Over the Fireplace for now. I picked up 500 rds of Winchester Reloads 4 years ago when I picked them up at a Gun show and when I ran out of rounds I cleaned them up really nice and left them up in the house for everyone to see. I plan on setting up my Montado as a option for CCW but want to do plenty of Range time with it as well to picking a Good round for Carry. Also may take it out as backup for Hog instead of my .40 or 45 ACP XD's.
Best 45LC Rounds
- Thread starter Chachi39
- Start date
- Status
BCCL
Member
For target practice, I've been using 3 brands of "cowboy loads"
Ultramax
Winchester
Mag-Tec
The Ultramax 250gr lead flat nose rounds, have been very accurate from every gun I've used them in, with the Winchesters running a close second. The Mag-Techs have been good, but not quite as good as the others.
This was only the 3rd 5 shot group of the Ultramax rounds from my Heritage Arms 45 Colt at 15 yards freehand.
Ultramax
Winchester
Mag-Tec
The Ultramax 250gr lead flat nose rounds, have been very accurate from every gun I've used them in, with the Winchesters running a close second. The Mag-Techs have been good, but not quite as good as the others.
This was only the 3rd 5 shot group of the Ultramax rounds from my Heritage Arms 45 Colt at 15 yards freehand.
robctwo
Member
I've been loading 200 gr SWC over a light load of Red Dot or Clays for fooling around. 255 gr SWC over Unique or Universal for more punch. Then there are the 300-340 gr 2400 or 4227 loads for the Ruger and the Rossi Puma.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Back in the day a 255gr bullet @~850/900 fps was good enough to take a horse out from under a man. I see no reason why a similar round won't stop a man, any man!!!
IMO nothing fancy is needed. You don't need special expanding bullets, a .45 Colt bullet is already .452" wide. Penetration at those velocities is guaranteed because of the bullet weight. I would say worry about hitting what you aim for and stop worrying about which ammo to carry...
IMO nothing fancy is needed. You don't need special expanding bullets, a .45 Colt bullet is already .452" wide. Penetration at those velocities is guaranteed because of the bullet weight. I would say worry about hitting what you aim for and stop worrying about which ammo to carry...
velocette
Member
+1 for what ArchangelCD said.
The traditional load for the .45 Colt has been a 255 grain lead bullet ahead of 8.0 grains of Unique or 7.5 grains of Universal (clays). This load is an approximate equivalent to the original BP loading. seems to shoot well in just about every .45 Colt ever made.
Great fun to shoot.
Roger
The traditional load for the .45 Colt has been a 255 grain lead bullet ahead of 8.0 grains of Unique or 7.5 grains of Universal (clays). This load is an approximate equivalent to the original BP loading. seems to shoot well in just about every .45 Colt ever made.
Great fun to shoot.
Roger
Lucky Derby
Member
I carried a M25-5 S&W in .45Colt as a duty weapon. I used the winchester 225 grain Silvertips for my duty ammo. It shot accurately in the big S&W. Fortunately I never had to use it. I will say that the frontal view of that big blue cylinder, contrasting with those silver bullets does make an impression on someone who is taken at gunpoint.
Kentucky-roughrider
Member
I keep the same load in my EAA bounty hunter as Lucky Derdy and that is one impressive to scary as hell if you are looking at it from the business end.
BCCL
Member
There's nothing like the business end of a big ol' 45! 
Arkansas Paul
Member
For light plinking loads, I like a 230 grain LRN from Hornady ahead of 6 grains of Trail Boss.
I also love a 255 grain LSW from Missouri Bullets ahead of 9 grains of Unique.
The .45 Colt stuff is hard to come by in a lot of places and expensive when you do find it. Handloading is sure the way to go with it.
I also love a 255 grain LSW from Missouri Bullets ahead of 9 grains of Unique.
The .45 Colt stuff is hard to come by in a lot of places and expensive when you do find it. Handloading is sure the way to go with it.
Thanks all I have never handloaded but when I get back from Iraq I plan on starting. For the next couple of months I plan on just shooting what I can pick up online or at the Local Gun Stores. But I will keep a list of everything that gets recommended so I can give it a try when I start loading my own.
Buck Snort
Member
BCCL wrote: "There's nothing like the business end of a big ol' 45!"
Yeah, it goes without saying if that big bore does not convince a perp to skeedaddle then for sure you're gonna have to shoot him.
Yeah, it goes without saying if that big bore does not convince a perp to skeedaddle then for sure you're gonna have to shoot him.
I have a couple of revolvers chamdered for the 45 long Colt.
In my S&Ws I use the Keith 260 grain bullet (Lyman 454424) over 20 grains of 2400. This is a top end load but in my revolvers it has proven safe.
In my traditional single actions, I load the same bullet over a full case of black powder with good results or the traditional RN bullet (Lyman 454190) over the same charge of black powder. (With black powder, I use nickel cases so I can tell what is loaded in them at a glance. I prefer not to shoot black powder from my S&Ws although I have done it on occasion.)
ANy of these loads are good solid hitters and will easily penetrate a whitetailed deer. Should work well on hogs also.
I am working up a load with the 270 Keith bullet but have not finalized anything yet.
In my S&Ws I use the Keith 260 grain bullet (Lyman 454424) over 20 grains of 2400. This is a top end load but in my revolvers it has proven safe.
In my traditional single actions, I load the same bullet over a full case of black powder with good results or the traditional RN bullet (Lyman 454190) over the same charge of black powder. (With black powder, I use nickel cases so I can tell what is loaded in them at a glance. I prefer not to shoot black powder from my S&Ws although I have done it on occasion.)
ANy of these loads are good solid hitters and will easily penetrate a whitetailed deer. Should work well on hogs also.
I am working up a load with the 270 Keith bullet but have not finalized anything yet.
- Status
