Reloading .45 Colt > 300 grains

[wiiawiwb]

I've recently reloaded .45 Colt with a coated 300 gr. bullet from MBC. It's still preliminary but the results lend me to believe it is the most fun and accurate of all bullet sizes thus far. That includes 250 and 255.

The jury is still out and I will continue to develop different loads but was wondering where I would find cast bullets in excess of 300 grains and corresponding load data.

I know Western Bullet produces a 325 gr bullet (Lyman #452651). Can anyone share load data and bullet sources for 325 grain bullets and above?

I am using this in a Ruger SRH Toklat revolver (.454 Casull/.45 Colt)

 

[454PB]

I cast my own Lyman 452651 for use in my various .454 Casulls.

Are you looking for "full tilt" .454 loads? If so, my favorite propellants are H-110/296, AA#9, and Hodgdon Lil'Gun. While I could tell you my recipes, you can find them on the web from the manufacturers.

While I love this boolit design, it can be quite abusive at maximum velocities.

 

[greenmtnguy]

I am becoming a fan of the SAA-270grain bullet that has been recently introduced, and Brian PEarce has had a few articles on loads for it. All my 45 Colt loads have been for bullets in the 250-280 grn range and I haven't gone over that. The SAA270 bullet does have accuracy potential, it seems, to me.

 

[murf]

grizzlycartridge.com has heavy 45lc bullets. i use the 325 gn lfnpb in my blackhawk.

look in the hodgdon manual for "ruger only" loads for that bullet.

murf

 

[wiiawiwb]

The Grizzly Cartridge 325 gr looks good.

I'm not looking for full-tilt .454 loads. I've shoot them from the Toklat, and it's good to have when out in the woods, but they're not a lot of fun to shoot in quantity at the range.

I'm more interested in something that I can shoot 50-100 rounds. What I'd like to be able to load would be a .45 Colt in a 325 grain bullet. At +P, maybe.

 

[RealGun]

What is it that draws you toward the uncommonly heavy bullets, when shooting is at the range?

 

[wiiawiwb]

That's a good question and one I'm not sure I have an answer to.

I'd prefer to carry a heavy bullet when I am backpacking and would like to have adequate practice with particular grain bullet at the range. For reasons I can't explain, I seem to be more accurate with a heavier bullet. It's that way with me a 147 gr bullet in 9mm as well.

 

[.452]

I love my Toklat!

My fav. round is a hard cast 328 grain (Hunters Supply- good for up to 1600 fps loads) in a .45C case and at around 1300 FPS or so.

Load data at Hodgdon's website "45 Colt Ruger Only section:
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

Hint the powder is H110 and use large pistol magnum primers.

Also check out these webpages on heavy high pressure .45 C loads (in a proper gun):

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=5

http://www.realguns.com/archives/119.htm


http://www.chuckhawks.com/high-pressure45.htm

ALWAYS use a projectile that is designed for the expected velocity. XTP's are good but above 1600 f.p.s. XTP-MAGs are required.

If hand casting for high velocity be mindful of the hardness and be able to test it:
http://www.lasc.us/castbulletnotes.htm