Non Ruger / TC 45 Colt and 4227

deerslayer303

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Dec 31, 2011
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To start, I've never fired a jacketed 45 Colt round or loaded them for that matter. I've only ever fired cast. BUT, today I was able to get myself a box of Nosler 250gr jhp. The only powder that I have that Nosler lists in their data is IMR4227 starting at 17.5 grains and lists 750 fps, the max load is about 900 fps IIRC. Are these gonna be ok for my reproduction SAA's? I have always went off the rule of less than 900 fps rule for these revolvers, but that's with cast. If they are gonna be too tough on my guns, I will just use them for the Henry Big Boy Steel Carbine. This all may be a silly question, but I think silly if only it isn't asked. Thanks in advance.
 
To start, I've never fired a jacketed 45 Colt round or loaded them for that matter. I've only ever fired cast. BUT, today I was able to get myself a box of Nosler 250gr jhp. The only powder that I have that Nosler lists in their data is IMR4227 starting at 17.5 grains and lists 750 fps, the max load is about 900 fps IIRC. Are these gonna be ok for my reproduction SAA's? I have always went off the rule of less than 900 fps rule for these revolvers, but that's with cast. If they are gonna be too tough on my guns, I will just use them for the Henry Big Boy Steel Carbine. This all may be a silly question, but I think silly if only it isn't asked. Thanks in advance.
I loaded up some 300gr Sierra JHC with the Sierra 30Kpsi mid range load of IMR4227 for a neighbor to use in his modern Winchester ‘94 and it was a good deer getter. He tried it in his S&W Mountain Gun (DA revolver) and said it was terrible. Dirty and not as accurate as the factory jacketed box ammo (not sure what brand). Great for rifle - nogo for handgun.

I tried the same loads in my Vaquero and they weren’t too bad at all in my opinion, but the Ruger is a different animal than the Smith. And they were a little dirty but no worse than a light load of Unique.

I think 4227 just needs more barrel than the 5” S&W and Ruger. If your Peacemaker has a 7-1/2” barrel it’s worth trying. But, yeah, I really prefer to stay with lead and lower pressure for a sidearm. In a 10”T/C or large frame, 7-1/2” Redhawk/Blackhawk it’s another story.
 
IMR 4227 is a great magnum pistol powder. It likes to be compressed or nearly compressed. While it can be downloaded safely, it generally does not perform very well. I would invest in a different powder for the the SAAs and keep the 4227 for the Henry.
 
IMR 4227 is a great magnum pistol powder. It likes to be compressed or nearly compressed. While it can be downloaded safely, it generally does not perform very well. I would invest in a different powder for the the SAAs and keep the 4227 for the Henry.

+1 ...that is exactly my strategy as well.
 
I experimented with downloading IMR4227 in my .45 Colt Redhawk, and probably was down in the safe pressure range for an SAA sized revolver.

The loads shot very well, but after shooting two cylinderfuls, the snow in front of my feet looked like I'd dumped an entire pepper shaker out. It was a tremendous amount of unturned powder.

So while not unsafe, I had plenty of equally accurate loads using different powders that I quit trying to use 4227 like that.

Personally, regarding the jacketed vs. cast issue, I wouldn't have any problem at all looking at cast data for a 250 grain bullet if I were developing loads with a Nosler 250 grain jacketed bullet.
 
As other have said, 4227 (either version) is just too slow for the low pressures in the big .45LC case. It is not enough to get good ignition and a lot of ash is left behind which can clog up the action. It's fine in Ruger-level loads although I believe there are better. More appropriate powders like Unique, AA-5 etc. will burn well at low pressures and will give lower recoil (not that SAA-level loads kick that much).



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