Tell me about the .45 Colt!

[MCgunner]

Bigger and slower.

All depends on the gun. I shoot a 300 grainer to 1120 or so out of my Ruger's 4 5/8" barrel using a hot load of 2400. I'd call that bigger and nearly as fast. It's really not a MAX load straining the screws, either, fairly easy on the gun. Lesser strength guns need not apply, but my 255 grain flat point/8.3 grains Unique load will do about anything that needs doing around here and it's safe in Colt clones. It moves along around 900 fps or so IIRC.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have three -- a Colt New Service, made in 1906 and two Rugers, one with a 7 1/2" barrel and one with a 5 1/2". The .45 Colt will do anything any other handgun cartridge will do, and usually with less pressure and blast.

 

[RPCVYemen]

With 45 LC wadcutters, I can see the holes in the targets at 25 yards without using a spotting scope.

Fun round - big enough for even a clumsy guy like me to reload.

Mike

 

[machinisttx]

If you want some real fun with the .45 Colt, pick up a copy of Lyman's Pistol and Revolver Reloading Handbook. It's got a really light round ball load that will make you laugh when you shoot it. It's great fun to stuff the cylinder with them right after someone just got through shooting some of those 250's at 1400+.

 

[Darkness]

I wasn't so sure about the .45 Colt until I actually got one. I was a big .357 and .44 mag fan for a long time. I decided to try out a single action revo for a change of pace and picked up a New Ruger Blackhawk with the 4 /58" barrel. Ammo costs were through the roof! I managed to get a little loading gear and now use 8.1gr of Universal with a 255gr round nose wad cutter. Nice snappy round that is not too punishing on the hand.

I am trying to find an IWB holster for it, I like it that much and am that accurate with it. It's a natural pointer.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

It's great fun to stuff the cylinder with them right after someone just got through shooting some of those 250's at 1400+.

Ahhhhhh - ye olde "expose the flinch" trick.

 

[phoglund]

You guys are a real pain in the rear end. I've been resisting a strong urge to pick up a .45 Colt six gun for some time now and I'd finally thought I had it beat...now I'm going to have to pick one up. mumble mumble grumble

 

[loneviking]

That's right, darn every single one of you!! I've been wondering about this round for some time and I just picked up all of my dad's reloading equipment. Thanks to you guys, I've found out that Ruger just came out with the Redhawk in a 4" barrel. How am I going to explain this to the wifey? 'Er, it followed me home, can I keep it??!!

 

[zxcvbob]

Hornady Handbook II printed 1973 lists this exact load and was worked up in a SAA.
10.0 grains Unique -250 hollow point bullet.

Lyman 44 and 45 edition also list 10 grains Unique with a 255 grain cast.
Both manuals were also using a Colt S.A.A.

Should be a perfect top-end load for a New Vaquero. They are stronger than the old Colts, but I'm not sure how much stronger (that cylinder wall must be awfully thin unless you have a 5-shot conversion)

 

[machinisttx]

Ahhhhhh - ye olde "expose the flinch" trick.

The guy that I let shoot it with the heavy loads nearly fell through the little divider thing at the indoor range when he touched the first roundball load off. The sound is so puny that he busted out in a fit of laughter.

 

[zxcvbob]

The guy that I let shoot it with the heavy loads nearly fell through the little divider thing at the indoor range when he touched the first roundball load off. The sound is so puny that he busted out in a fit of laughter.

Try a blackpowder load sometime. The fire and smoke and deep BOOM sound is really impressive.

 

[Catherine]

It is a great gun! Great cartridge. I use mine for self defense in many places including the 'woods'.

I have some left over factory ammunition and my groom/husband reloads for me too.

Magtech 45Colt
250Grain
Lead Flat Nose

I have used several brands of factory ammunition too. My late husband bought something for me called 'flying ashtrays'. I can't think of the REAL name now... sorry about that!

My RUGER is the Blackhawk in 45Colt - 7.5 inch barrel one, blued, wood grips - bought between 1998 and 2001.

I may get another 45Colt for my 58th birthday if I EVER make up my mind! That one or another 22LR s/a revolver. Maybe both - grin.

I absolutely adore my Ruger single action revolvers!

Best wishes!

Catherine

 

[Rugerlvr]

So which would you rather have if confronted by say, a black bear, .44 Magnum, or .45 LC?

 

[Matt-J2]

In general, either would do for me. But if we're talking about a cowboy action light .45 Colt vs a hot .44 mag hardcast, then the .44 all the way. Same if it's 'normal' factory ammo.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

So which would you rather have if confronted by say, a black bear, .44 Magnum, or .45 LC?

Depends on the loading. But if I can have +P BuffaloBore or my hot handloads, then definitely .45 Colt! If going with ordinary factory fare, .44 mag.

The guy that I let shoot it with the heavy loads nearly fell through the little divider thing at the indoor range when he touched the first roundball load off. The sound is so puny that he busted out in a fit of laughter.

Hee hee.

 

[Z-Michigan]

"Flying ashtrays" are most likely the Speer Gold Dot bullet. It looks kinda like an ashtray from the front.

 

[RPCVYemen]

Fair warning - after you shoot the 45 LC for a while, when people start telling you how big and bad the "other 45" is, you may smiled to yourself.

Mike

 

[machinisttx]

So which would you rather have if confronted by say, a black bear, .44 Magnum, or .45 LC?

Depends on the load in question. A 180 grain hp in the .44 magnum isn't going to do much good. If we're talking hard cast 250 grain bullets at around 1000 fps, either one is fine. Original blackpowder .45 Colt loads were said to have enough power to completely penetrate a black bear.

I'd really rather have the .45 Colt(even in factory 800-900 fps loads) than a .44 magnum.

 

[mtngunr]

I prefer .45 Colt with 250-255gr SWC's loaded to 900-1000fps for all uses.....but my Redhawk .44 will push a 180gr XTP to 1800fps using published load data, a spectacular killer, while the Colt is comfy and staid....

 

[mtngunr]

"Should be a perfect top-end load for a New Vaquero. They are stronger than the old Colts, but I'm not sure how much stronger (that cylinder wall must be awfully thin unless you have a 5-shot conversion)".....

The USFA's and New Vaqueros can safely handle 22,000psi loads, perhaps as high as 24,000psi, but why do that to a smaller gun?.....if hotrodding is on the menu, just get the 30,000psi Blackhawk or an earlier/larger Vaquero....

 

[charcoalburner]

Thanks to all of you!

You have definitely given me a lot of food for thought. So much in fact that I went by my local FFL to see if he could get a 5 1/2" barrel Ruger Blackhawk in .45 ACP/45 LC. Unfortunately, none of his distributor's had any in stock. I'm still saving up for it so I have some time. Man is it ever hard to wait for something you really want.