Recommend "Hot" .45 Colt Loads ?

[pctech]

Hi All,

I just started reloading recently and am looking for a good "Hot" .45 Colt load. I'm currently using 4.7 grains of Bullseye along with a 250 grain lead flatnose bullet, which I would consider to be more of a Cowboy action load. I'm looking for something with a bit more recoil.

How high can I safely load the .45 Colt Cartridge using Bullseye powder? While my main interest is in using Bullseye powder (since it is what I have on hand), I would consider buying a different power if there is a particular one that would work better for my purpose.

The loads will be shot in a Ruger .454 so I'm not concerned about the gun being able to handle it. I just don't want higher pressures than the .45 Colt brass can safely handle.

Thanks,
James

 

[Steve C]

Fast powders peak in pressure fast and are not a good choice for high end loads as slower powders.

Check out other manuals and you may find a load that has a little more oomph for example if you are using Alliants website data they list 5.4grs of BE as maximum with a 250gr lead bullet but if you check out Speer #13 they list a maximum of 7.0 grs of BE with their 250gr swaged LSWC. How fast you can push a lead bullet without spending hours scrubbing out a leaded bore depends upon how hard it is and its diameter, your revolvers cylinder throats and other factors. Look for Ruger only loads for lead bullets in the Lyman manual but I think you'll find that Bullseye will not be on the list for these "hot" loads.

 

[critter]

The classic powders for heavy (Ruger type) .45 Colt loads are H110, W296. There are also listed ones using Blue Dot, 2400 and several others. I personally prefer the H110 loads. Good, strong, accurate loads, shoots clean and keeps the pressures 'legal'. It works best with heavy bullets and good strong crimps. Good luck and have fun. They will give you all the horsepower you can use and all you probably want to shoot.

 

[floridaboy]

I'm not sure how hot you want to go. But a fairly mild load of a 255 gr swc over 8.7 grs of unique goes 925 fps from my 4 5/8" Ruger Blackhawk.

 

[Walkalong]

I used to load a .45 Colt "HOT" with W296 and 240 Gr. Hard Cast heat treated bullets for my use only in a Ruger.

These days I load 13.0 Grs. Blue Dot with a 240 Gr. Plated bullet in the .45 Colt for a friend who shoots them in a Ruger. That is hot for a .45 Colt, but not real hot. He likes them.

This load is safe in his Ruger with my load procedure. Reduce 10% to start.

 

[LAH]

Try the father of 32,000 psi 45 Colt loads. Look under articles.........Creeker
http://www.linebaughcustom.com/

 

[PotatoJudge]

I use a 325 grain hard cast bullet and 296 for 45 Colt in a 7.5 in Ruger SBH. I'm not sure about posting the grains of powder used, but it's safe in my gun and would be in a 454. I'm of the opinion that if you're chasing max loads you should find the best powder for the job. Whatever powder you have on hand is generally fine for lighter loads, but $20 worth of powder is well worth increased performance and safety to me.
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but can't 45 Colt brass handle about the same pressure as 454 brass? It's the cylinder wall thickness/steel treatment that makes the difference between the safe operating pressures of the two.

 

[dodgestdshift]

Take your manual(s) and find the powder that gives the highest velocity with the chosen bullet. Assuming that the manual has a pressure maximum cutoff the powder with the highest velocity should give velocities with the lowest pressure (within the velocity range in the manual).

 

[LAH]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but can't 45 Colt brass handle about the same pressure as 454 brass?

Potato Judge I can't answer that for sure but I know it will take 44 mag level pressure with ease. That brass case is really just a gasket.....Creeker

 

[redneck2]

Some loading manuals give regular .45, 45+p, and TC/Ruger only loads

I've loaded some real heavy loads for my Ruger Bisley with H-110/WW-296. Lots of recoil. Gets old quick IMO.

I stick with mid-range loads as listed in my Accurate reloading manual using AA #5. IIRC, it pushes a 255 at maybe 1,000fps. It'd pass thru a deer from any angle but doesn't beat you up.

 

[Walkalong]

Modern .45 Colt brass can take anything other brass can. My .44 mag type loads in the .45 Colt did not wear out brass any faster than anything else comparable.

 

[moxie]

PCTech/James,
Please don't assume that because you have a Ruger .454 that any .45 colt load is safe in that gun.

Please get yourself a good reloading manual such as Speer or Lyman and work with those tested and approved loads.

Bullseye is a "fast" powder and is not typically used with "hot" loads. Slower burning powders are generally used for that purpose, such as Alliant's 2400.

 

[redneck2]

Ohhhhh....I missed the thing about still using Bullseye. Fast powders get you into trouble faster. I'd NEVER try using Bullseye for higher charges. EVER.

With smokeless, pressures do not rise at a predicted rate. Pressure increases the burn rate, which increases pressure, which increases burn rate...

the faster the powder, the faster the burn rate, and the faster you get in trouble

This is the situation you see in photos with pieces of firearms strewn about the landscape

 

[pctech]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions so far. I'm new to reloading but have an Uncle that has been doing it for over 20 years. He has been able to give me pointers as I get started in this new part of the shooting hobby. Any new loads I try will be approached with caution and data to support that they are safe.

From the comments so far it sounds like there are much better powder choices than Bullseye for HOT loads. The Bullseye has worked great for mild loads (4.7 grains) but I will definately look into some of the other powders suggested.

Thanks,

James