I love reloading this cartridge and was wondering if anyone had any fun loads to experiment with? I have both a Rossi 92 and ruger Blackhawk convertible. I have experimented with shot and round ball loads. Any favorites? Maybe a double ball load, wax load or anything to tinker with.
odd ball .45 colt
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Extra-light round ball loads are fun, and useful for small game. I concocted shot loads for snakes before the capsules were available from Speer, but shot loads are good for about spitting distance, literally.
For just plain fun in a 45 Colt, full power black powder loads are a lot of fun.
For just plain fun in a 45 Colt, full power black powder loads are a lot of fun.
I have loaded all of the following in the 45 Colt: 155 grain hollow base 450229, 185 jhp, 200 rn and swc, 185, 200, 225 jhps, 230 rn, 255 factory, 260 Keith, 385 rn, 220 maxi ball, single and double round balls, speer shot cups, and a few I probably forgot. Now, 99% of my shooting is with the RCBS 255KT plain base bullet.
Most fun caliber I load (out of about 20).
Most fun caliber I load (out of about 20).
single 454 round ball run through a .452 sizing die over a load of Bullseye from some old manual in the files (means I don't remember but I think it was 5 grains, some lube smeared on the end and crimped on the major dia. Double was same projectiles with lube between, from a load Mike Venturino published a fire years back in Handloader.
Shot loads, speer shot capsule with #9 shot seated over (iirc) 7 grains of Unique.loads used to be published on the box.
Also, many years before shot capsules, I seated a 45 cal gas check cup down on 5 grains of b.e., filled the case with shot and crimped another gas check on top. We tried gelatin medicine capsules from the pharmacy (way long ago and we had a shooter for a pharmacist) but they proved too brittle.
I took 30-40 krag cases and cut them off to cylinder length for my 44 mag, used 410 shot cups and made 44 shotshells. 444 marlin cases I fireformed in my contender to make "everlasting" 410 shells.
You may surmise I played around a lot.
Again, the accuracy of the above information is always dependent on the ravages of Tolkien.
Shot loads, speer shot capsule with #9 shot seated over (iirc) 7 grains of Unique.loads used to be published on the box.
Also, many years before shot capsules, I seated a 45 cal gas check cup down on 5 grains of b.e., filled the case with shot and crimped another gas check on top. We tried gelatin medicine capsules from the pharmacy (way long ago and we had a shooter for a pharmacist) but they proved too brittle.
I took 30-40 krag cases and cut them off to cylinder length for my 44 mag, used 410 shot cups and made 44 shotshells. 444 marlin cases I fireformed in my contender to make "everlasting" 410 shells.
You may surmise I played around a lot.
Again, the accuracy of the above information is always dependent on the ravages of Tolkien.
With the larger Colt case, it may be a good idea to use a little more powder than the ACP case. I've had some erratic ignition using what was a good load of either Unique or Herco in 45 Colt, but using them with the lighter 230 gr bullets. I had a LOT of vertical stringing when shooting at distance, and about zero when using the same load with the 250-260 gr bullets. The main difference being how much unused space in the case, and bullet resistance and weight being pushed down the bore.
I hadnt thought of round balls in 45 auto for some reason. They would make fun plinking and close up varmint/pest loads. Thanks for the idea!
I hadnt thought of round balls in 45 auto for some reason. They would make fun plinking and close up varmint/pest loads. Thanks for the idea!
I tried some triple ball loads in 45-70, they were sort of fun, but I couldnt figure out what I'd actually do with them. I think I was about 15 when I tried them (that would be waaay back in the 1900's). Fun is a valid reason to try stuff, but I think its smart to keep that sort of thing in perspective.
Hondo 60
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Yes! ^^^^^^^
Ya just have to wait for the smoke to clear.
200 gr swc is a light-for-caliber bullet, but it's my favorite.
I've tried several 250 gr varieties, but they don't seem to as "accurate".
My load - 11 gr of Accurate #5 under a TL452-200-SWC (Lee bullet Mold)
Got this load via email from a ballastician named Johann at Western Powders.
He said 10.5-11.5 would be OK for that bullet.
The other bullet I've used extensively is MBC's Cowboy #4
http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=60&category=5&secondary=14&keywords=
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