Best Factory "Colorado Load" for .45 Colt Blackhawk

[.455_Hunter]

Greetings,

I took my new 5 1/2" blued Blackhawk in .45 Colt out and gave it a quick run through with some factory loads. Here are the results:

Black Hills Cowboy Load (250 gr. LRNFP)- 738 fps, 302 fpe

Remington Express (250 gr. LRN)- 825 fps, 377 fpe

Winchester Super-X (255 gr. LRN)- 789 fps, 352 fpe

Federal (225 gr. LSWCHP)- 834 fps, 347 fpe

Winchester Super-X (225 gr. Silvertip JHP)- 854 fps, 364 fpe


Its pretty clear that "normal" .45 Colt loads all generate about 350 fpe. One load I could not locate at several shops was Speer's 250 gr. Gold Dot JHP. I have a feeling that this load might be the best of the normal loads in terms of blending expansion and penetration for mild general purpose duty.

Now the question-

In Colorado, threats faced by outdoorsmen (and women) camping, hiking and backpacking generally include two-legged thugs and meth heads, dogs, mountain lions and black bears. There is no danger from big brownies or grizzlies.

If you were limited to factory loads, what would you select?

The normal factory loads seem OK (the 250-255 gr. LRN loads penetrate a surpising amount of tissue), but you lose any advantage that the strong Ruger action has to accommodate powerful loads.

It seems that the hot 200 gr. JHPs from Corbon and Buffalo Bore are just the ticket for urban use, but would they under penetrate in a four-legged scenario?

Buffalo Bore also makes a "warm" 255 gr. LSWC load that is halfway between the standard factory and super hot loads.

The full-power 260 or 265 gr. JHPs from BB and Corbon seem like leading candidates for maximizing expansion and penetration.

The 300 gr. and up JSPs and hard cast lead loads seem to be a little much for Colorado use. However, when my wife and I backpacked in Alaska in July 2004, I gladly loaded my 7 1/2" Vaquero with BB's 325 gr. LFN "super shells".

Other makers include Grizzly Cartridge, but I have no experience with them.

Note: I plan to start reloading sometime soon, but I currently don’t have a functioning set-up, so telling me to use XXX handload won’t help very much.

Please post your comments and input.

Thanks.

Hunter

 

[Dienekes]

The 225 gr Federal SWCHPs should suffice. I have a 4 5/8" Convertible and handload for it--the 250 gr cast Keith SWC at the same velocity.

People would be my main concern.

 

[bakert]

I think you're on the right track with the 260 and 265 gr loads you mentioned although I've never used them since I handload too. The Speer 250gr gold dot might be a good choice also if you can find them. It's a shame some company can't load a 250/255 gr cast or a 250 gr jacketed bullet to about an honest 900 fps without undue pressure. For most purposes a 250 to 260 fr bullet at that velocity in .45 Colt will do the job intended except for the big bears(which we don't have here,hell we don't have any kind). I would think they would be best avoided anyway regardless of what you have. Agree with dienekes, people would be your main worry in almost all cases.

 

[roscoe]

Have you checked out PMC and DoubleTap? They all make good, hot, .45 LC ammo, and it is a bit cheaper than Buffalo Bore.

 

[Tom C.]

I would tend to favor the Buffalo Bore standard pressure heavy bullet load of a 255 SWC loaded to somewhere around 950-1050 fps. That is really the full power, original .45 Colt load, with a more effective bullet. Recoil is pretty mild, but penetration and effectiveness should be very good. If you handload, this load is very easy to duplicate. If you don't, it is probably expensive enough to get you to consider handloading.

 

[georgeduz]

its a great round to load.i use 200gr and the 255gr bullets.i agree with tom c.and buy a simple reloader press,i enjoy mine very much.

 

[cigardad]

Remington makes a 225 gr. Semi-Wadcutter as well. Have you tried it?

Factory tables say 960 fps for 460 ftlbs from 5" barrel.