What do you think about the 45 Colt load for a Beretta Stampede?

[Lone_Gunman]

I have loaded 250g Oregon Trail LRN bullets over 8.0 grains of Unique, and this load is dead on target at 25 yards from a 7.5" Beretta Stampede. I have chrono'd it at an average of 850 fps.

This is a little hotter than most manufactured "cowboy" ammo, but I am seeing no signs of a problem in the Beretta. Do you think this load is OK for longterm shooting from this gun? It is the most accurate combo I have come up with.

Also, I have fired this out of a 4.75" Beretta Stampede as well, and it shoots about 3 inches low at 25 yards. If I decrease the amount of Unique, and slow the bullet down some, will that raise the point of impact? I am thinking that the slower bullet would exit the muzzle higher during recoil, and thus strike the target higher. Is that correct?

 

[Lone_Gunman]

morning bump

 

[alucard0822]

That used to be one of my favorite loads for my vaquero, but I recently started trying out the same 250gr bullet with trail boss, and so far it looks like a softer and more consistent load, I don't think your load will hurt that stampede, they are fairly tough, I know after a few hundred heavier loads there were no signs of any sort of wear on my new small frame vaquero. Cowboy ammo tnds to be underloaded anyway, I wouldnt try the buffalo bore +p's though, the gun might be ok, but your hand won't

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I had tried Trail Boss already. The manuals max out at 5.6 grains, and that still was only given me 725-750 fps, which is about what factory cowboy ammo does, but I was hitting low by 3 inches at 25 yards with that.

 

[alucard0822]

then keep with what works for you. That load should be fine for the life of the revolver.

 

[Slamfire]

I have fired case loads of 250 LRN with 8.5 grains Unique in a USFA Rodeo and a M25-7. Recent chronograph tests have shown me I get the same velocity (850 fps) with 8.0 grains of a different lot. Never had a problem.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

There's many an old black powder Colt that has digested a lot more powerful loads than that. The old originals would clock about 1,000 fps from a 7 1/2" barrel.

 

[Bad Flynch]

Your load is an old standard for the .45 Colt and is generally within the SAAMI pressure limit. Pretty much a standard factory dupelication load until all the cowboy stuff came along.

You thinking about changing the point of impact is correct in theory, but you need to try it on paper to see if it is really going to work. Otherwise, you can file the front sight down a little when you find a load that otherwise suits you. Some SAA mfrs leave the front sight high so that the user can regulate it.

 

[Jim Watson]

No reason not to try varying the load to affect elevation, but it may not help. A lower velocity load will exit the barrel later, but it will not lift it as high; and so may not do much. Elmer Keith said the .44 Special was particularly good about that, barrel time and recoil balancing out so it would shoot light and heavy loads together.