Hot .45 LC Loads for Blackhawk?

[PTT]

I have a Ruger Blackhawk .45 ACP/LC convertible. My state has goofy CCW laws, and my students can only carry the caliber they qualify with or lower, and they have to shoot a revolver to carry one. 45 ACP is much cheaper than LC for students to buy ammo.

Anyways, I've been thinking of putting the LC cylinder in to use as a bear gun. I was reading that the Blackhawk can handle higher pressures.

What I'm not really clear on is if the gun or cases are the limiting factor. One guy I was talking to was saying it's better to get .454 Casull cases and trim down to .45 LC lengths to get into .44 Mag territory. Other people are saying modern LC cases are up for as much pressure as the gun can take.

For people who have done it, what's your hottest load you've safely run? What case did you use, and what velocity did it run at?

 

[CraigC]

The gun is the limiting factor. The cases are plenty strong enough and those who know more than I do on the subject recommend Starline and Federal cases.

The last word on Ruger .45Colts. Although the disparaging comments about the .44Mag are mostly in the past.

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

 

[PTT]

Thanks for the link, it answered my questions very well.

I don't think I'll push the Blackhawk up to anywhere near 60,000 CUP, but it's good to know that going from the original 15,000 CUP or so to 30,000 is perfectly safe.

I was looking at a Lee reloading manual and it listed .45 LC in a Ruger or TC Contender with H110 powder pushing a 240gr bullet at 1500 fps at 30,000 CUP. WOW!

I'll have to cook one of those up when I get some dies and see how it shoots.

 

[USSR]

I don't have as strong a revolver (S&W 25-5) as you, so I limit my .45LC handloads to .45ACP+P pressure levels (23k), and find that I really don't need more than the ability to lob 270gr bullets at 1050fps. My favorite load is 18gr of 2400 powder in Starline brass.

Don

 

[helotaxi]

I have a Ruger Blackhawk .45 ACP/LC convertible. My state has goofy CCW laws, and my students can only carry the caliber they qualify with or lower, and they have to shoot a revolver to carry one. 45 ACP is much cheaper than LC for students to buy ammo.

New Mexico? It's better than Nevada where you have to qualify with every pistol you want to carry by make, model and caliber. Own 3 1911s made by different companies or called different things by the same company? Gotta qualify with each one of them. At least in NM you can show up with a 1911 and a .45 Blackhawk and be good to carry pretty much anything that makes any sense (.50GI is about the only carry piece that wouldn't cover.)

 

[ljnowell]

I have been loading high pressure 45 colt loads for a few years now. I used just about any brand of brass, as long as its in good condition. My regular loads are hot but I have a few that are just plain sick. Those are shot in small numbers mainly because of comfort.

I prefer to use starline cases and alliant 2400 for my fire breathing 45 colt loads. Missouri Bullet makes a 45 colt 300gr TC that is a dandy with a big dose of 2400. I also like thier 255gr SWC. You can get it in a 18bhn and really drive the hell out of it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You might not want to use W296/H110 for your .45 Colt loads because that powder shouldn't be downloaded. 2400 is a better choice like mentioned above although my favorite powder for "hotter" loads in the .45 Colt is HS-6. There is a lot of good load data for the 45 Colt in the Lyman 4th Edition Cast Handbook.