First load advice

[Oathkeeper1775]

Back ground: My Colt Cowboy is my ranch tool, I wear it cross-draw for unexpected surprises like bear, wild dogs, cougar or "redistributors". I also wear it "strong-side" during elk season (on dry days). All shots between 0-25 yards.

I want to practice with lead and conduct business with a more lethal bullet with the same weight. I want to be able to penitrate hide then gain maximum expasion.


I have lots of pages of data but no info on HS6 and no reloading book yet.

I plan to use HS6 powder on a paratrooper buddy's advice. I will be weighing each charge until I get comfortable with the disks that came with my kit.

I'm buying these 250 GR practice bullets:
http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=49&category=5&secondary=14&keywords=

I will be using these CCI primers:
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=CC&prodID=CC0012&prodTitle=CCI

The questions I have:

1. How much HS6 powder should I load for a 800-850 FPS batch?
2. What is a good/more lethal bullet at 250 gr?


Appreciate whatever anyone can pass along.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

1. How much HS6 powder should I load for a 800-850 FPS batch?

Hodgdon lists a powder charge range of 9.0gr to 10.5gr HS-6 under a 250gr LRN bullet. To achieve the velocity you are looking for you will have to clock your ammo because every revolver is different and will produce different velocities from the same ammo. When building 255gr SWC carry ammo I load HS-6 right up near the top of the recommended charge range. Also, you will get much better results using a Magnum primer with HS-6, I highly recommend using them. (or Winchester LPP because they are rated for both standard and Magnum use)

2. What is a good/more lethal bullet at 250 gr?

For more serious business I like to load a SWC bullet. They are much more lethal tha a RN bullet and the shoulder of the SWC does a lot of work when cutting through tissue. Missouri Bullets has a 255gr LSWC bullet that will work quite well up to and even slightly over 900 fps. If you do get some leading, which I doubt, Missouri Bullets also has a harder cast 255gr LSWC bullet. Don't automatically buy the harder bullet because you can cause leading by using too hard a bullet just as easily and too soft a bullet.

Note: The Hodgdon Load Data Site has a lot of data for all Hodgdon/ IMR/ Winchester powders. It's a very useful site.

 

[rcmodel]

I want to be able to penetrate hide then gain maximum expasion.

Those are requirements at odds with each other at .45 Colt velocity!

A cast Keith style SWC, or a LBT wide flat point lead bullet is as lethal on big dangerous game as it gets out of a standard .45 Colt load.

Either one will penetrate a long ways in a straight line through tough muscle & bone, and do great harm to the life support system inside.

I would suggest you buy these bullets instead, and use them for both practice and dangerous game protection.
Beware the man with one load, because he probably will know how to use it!

http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=69&category=5&secondary=14&keywords=

rc

 

[Funshooter45]

I agree that you're not g oing to get much expansion with .45 Colt. But you don't need it. That is a biig hole that goes a long way.

Take it easy with the loads for the Colt Cowboy. I remember that particular model Colt. That was a very bad experiment they did and those revolvers don't hold up very long.

 

[Oathkeeper1775]

10 4

OK, thanks. I really appreciate the info.