need a good load for 45 colt

[shan8454]

I used to reload .357 rounds years ago, and have not looked at my equipment or inventory lately. I just aquired a new Ruger Vaquero Montado .45LC and was scouring the Internet on load data. I was just wondering if there was anyone here that could help me. Either with load data based on the inventory I already have or by pointing me in the right direction. Below is what I have on hand. Hopefully someone can match up what I have with a good starting point for Powder Weight.

250 gn lead bullets
CCI 350 Large Pistol Magnum Primers
CCI Small Pistol Primers
Herco Powder
Bullseye Powder

Thanks,
Shannon Griffin

 

[rcmodel]

You certainly don't need magnum primers, or Sm Pistol primers to load .45 Colt..

250 grain bullets is good.

The all-time classic .45 Colt load is a 250-255 over 8.5 to 9.0 grains Unique.

MAX LOADS - Work up carefully!
You could try 5.5 Bullseye.
Or 9.0 grains Herco for a more powerful load.

rc

 

[shan8454]

I can't find any 300 primers so this is all I have, will it be ok to use them and will I need to adjust the amount of powder any?

 

[rcmodel]

The Unique load is well below published "Ruger Only Loads" and is safe in any modren .45 Colt, including Colt SAA clones, and no adjustment would be necessary.

The other two are at or near max for standard pressure .45 Colt, and you should back off 10% for a starting load, although again, they are probably perfectly fine in a Ruger

rc

 

[Randy1911]

What is the intended use for this ammo. Are you wanting Cowboy Action ammo or maybe hunting ammo. Lead or jacketed ammo. Need a little more info.

RC I looked in my reloading manuals and all the loads the were listed for "Ruger Only" where for the Blackhawk. The New Vaquero is weaker than the Blackhawks.

 

[shan8454]

Would mainly be using for plain target shooting not cowboy action. And would want to make some hunting/bear protection rounds also. Would mainly load lead 250 gn.

 

[mkl]

Eight grains of Unique behind any lead bullet from 200 through 250 grains works quite well in all of my 45 Colts.

Good accuracy, very low leading, and modest recoil.

 

[shan8454]

Yeah, if I had some Unique that would be great, but I don't. I'm trying to figure out how to utilize the powders and primers that I have. Thanks though, and I will buy some Unique when I can find some.

 

[zxcvbob]

9.0 grains of Herco should be a good powerful load; right at max or a couple hundred psi over SAAMI standard pressure. Magnum primers are not necessary but won't hurt anything. That's where I would start (it's a Ruger), and back off a little if I wanted something lighter. HTH

 

[shan8454]

Randy said "The New Vaquero is weaker than the Blackhawks" how does that play into the Herco loads. That is with them being "right at max or a couple hundred psi over SAAMI standard pressure" and me using the more powerful primers. I definently don't want to have any chance of issues.

 

[zxcvbob]

I load 12.0 to 12.2 grains of Herco for my Blackhawk. That's about 27000 PSI, and equivalent to a 35000 PSI .44 Magnum load. You would be crazy to shoot that in your NV.

9 grains of Herco will give you between 14000 and 15000 PSI, depending on the exact bullet weight and seating depth. That's pushing it a little for a pre-war Colt SAA. (SAAMI spec is 14000 max, and I think the design point is 19th century black powder cartridge guns.)

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot that Herco load in a post-war Colt or Italian replica. Your New Vaquero is a lot stronger than that, but nobody knows exactly how much stronger. It's not nearly as strong as a Blackhawk because the frame is lighter and the cylinder is smaller. (I bet it handles a lot nicer than my 7.5" Ruger Bisley-Blackhawk)

If you're not comfortable with that, good for you! Start at 8.5 grains.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If all you have is what you listed that's what you will have to use if you want to build ammo for your .45 Colt. I would suggest using Herco over the Bullseye. There is data on the Alliant Load Data site for Herco in the .45 Colt. They list a Max charge of 9.5gr Herco but I wouldn't think to start there especially since you are using a Magnum primer. In an older Alliant reloading manual they list a starting load of Herco of 8.1gr and a Max of 9.7gr.

IMO I would use a starting charge of 8.1gr Herco and see how it goes from there using a Magnum primer. I've found using a Magnum primer with charge weights of 8gr to 9gr you really only need to reduce the charge by .2gr to get the same results as when you use a standard primer. Using the recommended starting charge should be totally safe.

**Remember** Mistakes can and will happen what posting charge weights. Always use your head and check the data for yourself.

 

[Randy1911]

Just remember that on the Alliant website, the loads they list are MAX. Reduce by 10% to start with.

 

[shan8454]

Thanks guys, I FINALLY got a holt of some WLP primers, and a fiiend of mine had some trailboss powder he sold me. So, I think I going with about 5 gn of that to start with under the 250 gn lead. I'm gonna also make some with the about 8.5 gn of the herco over the 250 gn lead and use the WLP primers for both loads. Thanks for all the suggestions

 

[Slamfire]

Your heart may be set on Herco, but I have tested Bullseye (which you might already have). Data is below, along with my favorite powder in the caliber, Unique.

The bullseye load was accurate and mild.


5" M25-7

255 LRN (.452") 8.5 grain Unique thrown R-P cases WLP (nickle) primers
26-May-97 T ≈ 75-80 ° F

Ave Vel = 869
Std Dev = 10
ES = 31
Low = 858
High = 889
N = 6


255 LRN (.452") 6.3 grs Bullseye thrown R-P cases WLP (nickle) primers
26-May-97 T ≈ 75-80 ° F

Ave Vel = 776
Std Dev = 11
ES = 28
Low = 765
High = 793
N = 6