Pet Loads for .45 Colt 'Snub Nose' Revolvers

[Oyeboten]

.45 Colt Snub Nose, or especially Short Barrel Revolvers, of course are a rather special breed.

Big Bullet, short Barrel...different than longer Barrels for burn-time, yet, one wishes to respect pressures, so...

What 'Pet Loads' have any of us worked out for these?

What do they Clock?


( Ohhhhhhhhhh, I just had a shudder, that those who have some 'Pet Loads', might be few, and far between...)

 

[popbang]

Not a true snub nose, but what I use in a Ruger Vaquero with 3-3/4 inch barrel that spends a lot of time on me. A 230 grain Remington Golden Saber over 9.0 grains of Universal.

I like the Golden Saber as they have a driving band that I can crimp in front of.

The load shoots to POA. I have used this load also in a 4-5/8 inch Balckhawk and it proves effective on white tails.

Not the hottest load out there, but it sue does work.

 

[Oyeboten]

I have an S & W and a Colt, both DA, the Colt has a 2-1/4 Inch Barrel, the S & W, a 3-1/4 Inch Barrel.


So far, I have been using 3F BP, and a 230 Grain Wadcutter.

With 30 Grains BP, in the Smith, this is clocking on average, about 800 FPS.

22 Grains by weight, of '777', about the same.

Starting to experiment with 'UNIQUE', 8 Grains, Bullet seated Backwards to hold it out, but this left too much air, and or was too light a charge for the condition, and made for some erratic speeds.

Have not tried 'Trailboss' yet...but thinking to...


A bulky Powder giving me mid 8s for that weight Lead Bullet, would be nice.

 

[rcmodel]

255 grain Keith LSWC over 8.5 grains Unique will work great & is safe in anything .45 Colt.

rc

 

[Bula]

May get more responses in the Handloading area. BTW, tough to beat the above 8.5 gr Unique load with ANY cast 255 grainer. If you cast, take a look at the RCBS 45-270-SAA over 8gr of Unique, mine drops at just under 284 grains. Low pressure round, heavy hitter, makes about 850-900 fps from 5.5" should hit 725-800 fps from shorter barrels.

 

[Oyeboten]

Thanks recmodel, Bula,


Was heading to 8.5 of 'UNIQUE' but did not want to rush in getting there.

Also will be getting some Molds, so...