Question on loads for MB for .45 Colt

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JimGun

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Looking for loads for .45 Colt. Missouri Bullet Co. makes a 255 gr. LRNFP .452 Dia., but Hodgdon powder website does not have a load recipe for a 255 gr. bullet. However, my Speer 13 shows a recipe for a 255 gr SWC. Can that recipe be used for a .255gr LRNFP? Has anybody ever shot such a load? I will be shooting it in my Ruger Blackhawk 7 1/2” barrel.
Additionally, Missouri Bullet identifies the .255 gr bullet as an ELMER K. Does anyone know what that designation means and does it have some significance as far as loading? I appreciate any advice you can provide.

Thanks,

Jim
 
Looking for loads for .45 Colt. Missouri Bullet Co. makes a 255 gr. LRNFP .452 Dia., but Hodgdon powder website does not have a load recipe for a 255 gr. bullet. However, my Speer 13 shows a recipe for a 255 gr SWC. Can that recipe be used for a .255gr LRNFP? Has anybody ever shot such a load? I will be shooting it in my Ruger Blackhawk 7 1/2” barrel.
Additionally, Missouri Bullet identifies the .255 gr bullet as an ELMER K. Does anyone know what that designation means and does it have some significance as far as loading? I appreciate any advice you can provide.

Thanks,

Jim

Hi Jim, I have loaded that bullet, but my go to target bullet in my 7 1/2" 45 Colt Blackhawk is Missouri Bullets 255 SWC. As far as the Keith name, it refers to the design of the bullet. It doesnt really change a lot in our modern reloading, as far as target shooting goes.

What powders are you thinking about using? I have loads worked up for the bullets in 700x, Bullseye, and AA#2. I also have some ruger only data from loads I have worked up for Missouri Bullets 300gr LTC. Its a heavy hitter, let me tell you.

Levi
 
There is a bit of confusion on which bullet you are talking about and I am not sure which one you have.

We don't have a 255 grain (nominal) RNFP. We have a 250 grain (nominal) RNFP in Cowboy hardness and it is known as the Cowboy #1. In Action hardness, this same bullet is the PinBuster.

Our 255 grain (nominal) SWC is the .45 Elmer K and it is a hard bullet (18 BHN), Keith-style but with a bevel-base for ease of reloading.

Just to clarify which bullets are under discussion.

There are loads of published data for 250 and 255's in round-nose and SWC configurations.

I used "elmer keith .45 load" on ask.com and got a ton of hits. The first one is http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=21 and is a good discussion. Another article on the soft version of this particular bullet is at http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/2009/05/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html where Sarge runs it out to 1045 fps.

Hope this helps.
 
You are quite right, MissouriBullet, I was looking at the Elmer K which is a SWC not RNFP bullet. Thanks for info on ask.com. BTW, I recently purchased your softball 230gr RN for my .45 ACP with excellent results. Sorry for the confusion.
 
A handgunner who hasn't heard of Elmer Keith?

YIKES! :what:

Now I know I'm getting too old!

rc
 
I wouldn't worry about the slightly different bullet with your data. You'll have a wide safety margin anyway in your Ruger Blackhawk. I've been doing some 45 Colt loading recently for a Judge & a Blackhawk, with most loads for use with either. My next is to load up a few for the Blackhawk only. I plan to go with modest 'Ruger only' loads. Do you have a powder lined up?

Yes, I have some Win 296(H-110) but don't really plan to use it. I don't really want to go right to max. I'd be happy in the 1000-1100fps range with a 250 grn bullet. I see some good reports with HS-6, & was eyeballing some 2400. Some of the Speer books show a higher charge of Unique, which I have on hand. I'm running low on 45 colt brass anyway so I'll just load up some more Schofield loads for all around plinking & shooting. For what I'll do with the gun I can mostly get by with the lighter Colt & Schofield loads. I also don't like to abuse my guns without reason.
 
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I plan to go with modest 'Ruger only' loads. Do you have a powder lined up?

I did too, until the fun started. I have loaded many Ruger only loads in 45 colt for my blackhawk. I can tell you, that without a doubt, the best powder for versatility in loading is 2400. Yes, H110 will get you a little more velocity, but it has a narrow loading window. 2400 can do anything from a full power load, up to a wrist breaking powerhouse load.

***This Data exceeds load manual specs for 45colt. This should be used with a grain of salt and not recommended for use unless you know what you are doing***

I load the 300gr LTC(silhoutte) from Missouri bullet. I have been using Winchester and Starline brass with Winchester LPP. I am currently loading 18gr of 2400. I seat the bullet to the second crimp groove(making it shorter, not longer). This produces a round with a heck of a lot of wallop. I have worked this load to 19gr of 2400, but it was too much, IMO. At 19gr I was Chronographing around 1200fps. IMO, overkill. 300gr bullet anywhere near 1100fps is enough to do the job in most any case. Cast lead and 2400 go together like bread and butter.
 
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I have shot some 255 gr RNFP and LSWC cast from Lee molds water quenched Lyman #2 alloy mix wheel weights, with Aliant 2400. Ruger only loads starting a 17 grns, through 4 5/8" barrel Blackhawk, it left a lot of unburnt powder, backed off to 16 grs on the next batch which I haven't shot yet. The 17 grners didn't seem real stiff, and no leading present. The next batch will go over my chrono. I have been wanting to try the W296 but most info on this powder states the use of LP Magnum primers which I don't have acess to at the time.

Google John Linebaughs Gunnotes and read what he has to say about the .45 Colt.
 
I did some testing today with the chronograph:

250 grn Hornady FTX bullet, 9.7 grains of Unique = 1070 fps average.

250 grn Rainier plated lead bullet, 18.2 grains if A. 2400 = 950 fps average.

This is out of my 4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt. I may just gravitate to the Unique load, maybe shave off a tad & use the plated bullet. I'd classify these as lighter 'Ruger Only' loads.
 
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