Thoughts on 200 grain and lighter .45 Colt loads?

[TTv2]

Last week I shot some handloads using a Berry's 200gr hollow base flat point bullet. Using a conservative charge of Titegroup I got a fantastic group with all 5 touching at 10 yards from my Redhawk. The Taurus Judge, not as good a group, but the recoil didn't feel like my palm had just been punched by Mike Tyson like when I shoot 250gr pills.

So, I'm starting to think for lighter weight revolvers that 200 grain loads for .45 Colt are the way to go for "urban" carry. The bullets shoot well, better than lighter projectiles I've tried, and the recoil is mild.

What do others think? Is 200 grains too light for use in a .45 revolver?

 

[Slamfire]

I shoot lots of 200 LSWC's in the 45 ACP, moving at 740 fps, which is a good speed to keep them accurate at 50 yards. I would think that the same weight bullet moving closer to 900 fps would be an excellent defensive load in the 45 LC. Not that a Redhawk is going to recoil much with that level of load.

 

[Ru4real]

I bought 500 cast coated MBC 180gr RNFP dia 0.452” to mess around with in 45 ACP. Some of my guns, good, some too tight to chamber.

So now I’m shooting those in 45 Colt over 7 grains of Tightgroup. Gets 970fps in a 6” barrel and 1175fps in a 20” barrel. 10 grains of Tightgroup was too hot at the bullet base and caused leading.

 

[Fyrstyk]

I shoot 200 grain lead round nose flat point bullets in both my 45ACP and 45 LC. Great accuracy and tolerable recoil in a light gun. Don't see the need for a heavier bullet and hard recoil unless I am looking for a hunting load.

 

[Old_Grouch]

What do others think? Is 200 grains too light for use in a .45 revolver?

For a woods gun, a defense against woodland creatures such as black bear, cougar, moose, etc., I'd prefer something heavier. For defense against two legged vermin 200 grain is quite adequate.

 

[silicosys4]

I'd just grab a .45acp instead. I don't really see the point of such light projectiles in a .45 colt. I suppose if you just want to plink with light loads and don't have access to a .45acp, a .38spcl, a .44spcl, or any other myriad of other cartridges, it makes sense.

I can't explain why 200gr is fine to me in a s&w .45acp 625, but wrong in a .45 colt,
It just is

 

[Pat Riot]

I load 205 grain Bear Creek Supply moly coated bullets in .45 Colt. It’s a good bullet for accuracy and it smacks steel targets with authority at 900 fps.

I have also noticed that shooting this lighter bullet instead of 255 grain bullets hasn’t diminished my manhood one little bit.

With Trail Boss 2 powder loads are very accurate from my guns.
5.9 grains
6.5 grains - estimated 855 fps per Hodgdon from a 7.5” barrel.

Universal Powder
8.7 grains of Universal is about 1000 fps from my S&W 25-15. Very accurate.
7.7 grains of Universal is a nice accurate load.
6.9 grains is a nice load as well but lighter loads than that and you get a lot of unburnt powder.

I just started experimenting with Unique & W244. I have no recommendations on those.

 

[cfullgraf]

I prefer heavy bullets lumbering at slower velocities but there are some advantages of lighter bullets thst will expnad more reliably.

So, what ever floats your boat would be my suggestion. With 45 Colt, you really cannot go wrong what ever loading you choose.

 

[jstert]

hits trump misses, always, in any caliber or load. i don’t handload and i’m not facing apex predators in my locales or habits. i picked up some 45schofield and a bunch more cowboy-load 45lc ammo for my ruger blackhawk and bond arms derringer awhile ago. i can hit with them without punishing my hand. i am content.

 

[westernrover]

I'm only speculating here, but a 200 grain .451 bullet has a low sectional density and if it expands, it could fail to penetrate sufficiently to meet a popular standard for defensive ammo -- 12 to 18" in calibrated ballistics gel. Referring to the Lucky Gunner tests of 45 ACP loads in gel, look at the ones with 200 grain or less bullets. Now narrow it to the ones of such weight that also expanded. Did they penetrate? If we extrapolate those results to 45 LC, we might be able to add some velocity if a slower powder is used or we load to higher pressures. Will that extra velocity result in more penetration or just over-expansion? I suppose it depends on bullet construction.

 

[Riomouse911]

There is nothing wrong with lighter bullet loads in big bore revolvers, I load them up and shoot them all the time. 165 gr TCFP and 200 gr .RNFP 44 Spl. are some of my favorites.

I’ll also shoot 230 gr RN, , 200 gr RNFP and 185 gr SWC loads in my .45 Colts as well.



That’s what makes loading your own ammo so much fun; you’re not relegated to shoot the limited factory offerings that are found on the shelves… well they used to be found on the shelves, but you get my drift.

Stay safe.

 

[Orion Jim]

I reload 250 gr. RNFP and shoot them all the time in my Colt SAA. Just target shooting, not hunting. This way I remain constant and my point of aim is consistent.

 

[.38 Special]

Light and fast, regardless of the exact cartridge, appears to be more violent in flesh, and may be just the ticket for small, delicate critters like people.

I personally have had trouble getting them to shoot well in a variety of SAAs - let alone getting them to regulate in fixed sight guns! - so have settled on a couple of old standards. If the flying ashtrays work well for other folks, though, I seen no reason not to use them - assuming there aren't any bears around, anyway...

 

[CraigC]

I switched to 200's for my .45Colt plinking/practice loads because they're significantly cheaper. Targets don't know they're not 250's.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

I always found heavier,Longer ammo in most calibers to shoot more accurately for Me and in my reloading. Not max charges and not Lowest. Just moderately Charged. Not always the case, yet I certainly shoot better with it than a lighter faster Boolet. Perhaps a subconscious thing?!?

Plus I don’t feel like a Daisy May Tinkle pants

 

[Seedy Character]

The majority of my shooting is with 200 gr boolets

Doesn't matter if it is .45C, .45ACP, or .44Mag. A 200gr Powder Coated SWC does the job.

 

[Dave T]

All my 45 Colt shooting is done with duplicates of factory ammo. That means old factory loads, not powder puff cowboy loads. They're mostly the UMC load with black powder and 250g RNFPs loaded to 900+ fps in a 7.5" barrel SA. What little smokeless shooting I do with the big Colt cartridge is with Winchester's recommended load of 7.1g W 231 under a 255g RNFP. (Smile)

Dave

 

[black mamba]

I have found heavier bullets to usually be more accurate, but I have several loads with 200 gr. coated RNs that work extremely well. 6.5 gr of 700X, or 7.7 gr. of HP38, or 8.7 gr. of Ultimate Pistol all shoot lights out in my 25-9.

 

[TTv2]

I switched to 200's for my .45Colt plinking/practice loads because they're significantly cheaper. Targets don't know they're not 250's.

The price of .45 bullets, whether they're 200 or 250 grainers, has caused me to pause on whether or not I want to get a lever action in the caliber. I can't say I'd shoot it a lot, but a .357 lever action would be far cheaper to shoot. Not that I would shoot it more.

 

[dh1633pm]

I loaded a lot of 200 grain for my lever guns in 45 Colt. Didn’t go as well as expected. The Rossi even keyholed them. Switched to 255’s and life was better. I now use all those 200’s in my 45. Just getting started with that so I can’t say more. If they work well in your pistol, go for it.

 

[Pat Riot]

All my 45 Colt shooting is done with duplicates of factory ammo. That means old factory loads, not powder puff cowboy loads. They're mostly the UMC load with black powder and 250g RNFPs loaded to 900+ fps in a 7.5" barrel SA. What little smokeless shooting I do with the big Colt cartridge is with Winchester's recommended load of 7.1g W 231 under a 255g RNFP. (Smile)

Dave

When I shoot Cowboy Action I have always used loads with velocities of 850-900 fps depending on which powder I am using. It tickles me when people that we used to call “Gamers” get excited and want my load chronographed to make sure it’s not too fast. SASS has a 1000 fps limit on pistol round velocity. They are so used to everyone shooting mouse fart loads anything more is abnormal to them.
That game used to be about fun. Now it’s all about speed, which I find truly annoying. So, I have my own fun doing it.

Oh, but being honest, for CAS I load little girlie sissy 205 grain bullets, not the manly macho deep voiced 255 grain bullets. Those really ring the targets at 900 fps and really make the match directors nervous that they might damage the targets so I back it off with lighter bullets.