Why the 45 long colt

[sw282]

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12

 

[RJM]

I am a big fan of the .45 colt. I have a good loading of a 250 grain cast lead bullet being pushed by 9 grains of Unique that isn't a terrible load to shoot, wont tear apart a gun and does the job in accuracy and power out of my 7.5" barreled Vaquero. You don't really need to hot rod the .45 colt to get very good, and I hate to say the term, "knockdown power." The great thing about the round is that the mild and mid range loadings are still very effective at dropping an animal or for personal defense.

Here are my .45 colt guns that I have currently.

My just purchased Ruger new model Blackhawk.



My Vaquero



A pair of Beretta Stampedes in stainless




And my personal favorite, an American Western Arms Peacemaker. This gun has the slickest action and trigger, points like it is my hand and is totally balanced. It has the dimensions of a Colt SAA, which the Rugers don't have, this gun feels more like an extention of my arm.

 

[Walkalong]

Cause you can fit your finger in the barrel.

Easy to load for.

If you have the right gun it can be a pussycat, a tiger, or a real boomer.

Tons of cool revolvers in .45 Colt.

Lever actions in .45 Colt.

 

[sig220mw]

I love my Ruger Bisley 45 colt. I load 250 grn laser casts and also the 300 grainers. I like the 250's better they don't hurt me as much as the 300's.

I like the cartridge because it is inherently accurate and therefore not hard to load but mostly because it is one of those "old" rounds that just keeps being successful. It's fun to shoot but I have to admit I bought some shooting gloves because it does kick when loaded a little hot. The 7 1/2 inch barrel does help some in this regard.

The other revolver cartridge I like is the 44 special but that's another story.

 

[opr1945]

is this the same .45 LC that can be used in the Judge?

 

[The_Shootist]

I handled a Taurus Judge "Public Defender" in Academy the other day and it was certaily concealable. Heck I carry my 686+ 4" bbl under shorts and a t-shirt sometimes. Unfortunately, unless you can luck onto a used Taurus 450 at a gunshow, its pretty much the only "concealable" .45LC out there. Even the Alaskan is a small brick.

Only problem with the PD is I dunno how tough it is - I seriously doubt it could digest a serious diet of head banger type .45LC loads from ...say...Buffalo Bore (unlike the new Redhawk). Then again, carried for CCW duties, it wouldn't have to.

Then you start thinking that there are better packages to carry - an SP 101 or 686+ or even a 1911. If you want a novelty to shoot at the range, ok, but for practical work its more of a luxury than anything.

 

[nulfisin]

Sure, you can create a huge blast with the "flying ashtrays." Personally, I think it's more fun to use lighter loads and see how accurate and soft in the hand this glorious cartridge can be.

Hat tip to the Berettas above. I have one that is case colored. One of my favorite pieces look at and shoot.

 

[Nicodemus38]

what other handgun can can throw a 300 grain bullet at 700 fps depending on barrel length, and be under 13,000 units of pressure?

you can throw a 250 grain bullet with 1,000 fps velocity and ahve more muzzle energy then standard off the shelf 1000fps lswc in 44 special

 

[Widow's Son]

Like Wheelgunslinger says "it can shove a 300+ grain projectile at deadly velocities that make a sixgun buck and belch fire like something from a cartoon outrunning and outpowering a 44 magnum". I have a Ruger Old Vaquero w/a 7 1/2" barrel, I carry it in the woods over even my S&W 629.

 

[Gryffydd]

is this the same .45 LC that can be used in the Judge?

Yes, but the Judge doesn't have the strength to handle the heavier .45 Colt loads. They're called Ruger/TC/Freedom Arms loads for a reason.

 

[eldon519]

I am a big .45 Colt fan. Love to handload it for the Ruger. I vastly prefer it to .44 mag or .357 magnum.

That said, it is worth pointing out one of its few flaws: it has a small cartridge rim which can lead to extraction difficulties in both lever guns and double-action revolvers. I've never personally experienced them in a lever gun, but I have seen it happen in a double-action.

 

[The_Shootist]

Ok - so correct me if I'm wrong but the Ruger SA versions are pretty much the strongest on the market? Like in Post 27 - the New Model Blackhawk?

 

[eldon519]

Not exactly, the Magnum Research BFR is stronger as are some of Freedom Arms. But for price (the Freedom Arms is WAY more expensive) and carry-ability(the BFR is bulkier and heavier), it certainly is my choice. You can also get a custom 5-shot version, but I'm not aware of any of those from the factory.

On a separate note, I recalled that John Linebaugh mentioned his typical load as being a 260 gr Keith-style bullet at 900fps. He remarked that it would shoot end-to-end on antelope and mule deer out to 100yds. For big game he ups the ante, but for most hunters' needs, this load is comfortable and lethal.

 

[Gryffydd]

The BFR is also quite a bit more expensive than a Blackhawk. Great guns though.

 

[cz85cmbt]

Right now I only have a .357 in the six gun world, not sure I'll get a fair unbiased answer here, but lets try I've heard that the .45 do to it's large case does not shoot lite loads well, but since the brass was designed to fire at low pressures it does not last as long with hot loads and as we know with some calibers, when you go outside the velocity norms they sometimes are not as accurate. What is your take?or experience? I imagine if you keep pressure in the 20-25 thousand ball park brass life is pretty good, but then again you aren't quite at a .44 yet but it's damn close. If I were to go big bore 6 gun some of it would come down to reloading cost, brass cost, brass life, ease of reloading, and availability in guns, although I think they make a nice redhawk in .45 lc, I'd want a double action for sure. Discuss

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

The New Model Blackhawk and the New Model Vaquero are NOT the "Ruger/TC loads only" guns. The older Blackhawk and the Old Model Vaquero are about 10% bigger and stronger. The New Model Blackhawk and New Model Vaquero are Colt-sized guns and are okay for about the same pressures.

ECS

 

[Stainz]

I started with a Ruger Blackhawk Convertible in .45 ACP/Colt - to shoot up some of the stash of ACP's I had after selling my G21 11.5+ yr ago. One day, I just had to try some 'cowboy' loads - and I was hooked. I would own a mix of Ruger .45 Colts - SA's and a RH & .454 SRH. I finally got a S&W 625 Mountain Gun in .45 Colt 7+ yr ago followed by a 'spare' a few years later. Today, the two MGs and a Puma 24" SS M1892 represent my entire .45 Colt stable. The MG's are just fun!



The 25/625 Mountain Guns are out there in the used market. They do pop up periodically in limited production for some of the distributors. They can have the same trigger that any of the K, L, or N frames can. At just under 2.5 lb and with a light muzzle, they point naturally. The black/black sights are traditional, perhaps more difficult for my 'mature' eyes - but they can be changed. Loaded with plinker 200gr LRNFP in .45 Schoffield cases making 700 fps to 255gr LSWC or 250gr Gold Dots at nearing 900 fps for 'protection', wood grips are fine - and comfortable - and handsome.

Sure, I have 629s I'll load hotter - when I 'need' it. I have 627s (.38/.357 Magnum) I can load for more frugally. But - for the 'complete' package, .45 Colt is hard to beat. It is also a cartridge that will get you started reloading - as it did me - over seven years ago. If you don't reload .45 Colt - you will - eventually - or you'll go broke. Save the brass and enjoy the second oldest mass produced centerfire metallic handgun cartridge (The S&W .44 Russian was first - by two years!).

Stainz

 

[StrawHat]

For quite a few years I was a fan of the 44 Magnum and used it for deer hunting. I loaded the standard of the day, Keiths bullet over his charge of 2400. Good load. A lot of recoil and noise and okay penetration. A buddy was using his 45 Long Colt and I saw him shoot lengthwise through a whitetail, on a couple different occasions. His load was/is a 255 SWC over a full case of black powder. Fired from a 5 1/2" barrel. After realizing he was getting better performance and less wear and tear, I now use the 45 Long Colt. Yeah, it can be whooped up quite a bit but it doesn't need to be.

 

[Stainz]

The original load of a 250-ish gr LRN over 40gr fff bp would yield nearly 1kfps from a 7.5" barrel. Pretty potent in it's day. Good old stinky smoke black powder, too - what fun to clean. I never shot any in my S&Ws, only Rugers. Always compress the load!

Stainz

 

[bigmedicine]

About 10 years ago, I found myself waist deep with various reloading components for all of my weapons. Nothing extravagent, but when you have about 7 rounds you reload for in a VERY limited space, things get busy. After some soul searching I dumped all my .44 stuff (2 guns, gear, and projectiles) and settled on the .45. Now I only have 2 bullets that I use for my handgun (ruger single action), rifle (Puma .454/.45 Colt), and muzzleloader. Simplified everything and gave me more flexibility than I imagined.

 

[Slamfire]

My first 45LC was the M1988 M25-7. Smith and Wesson that year had changed their chamber ball mouth diameters from .455 to .452. And that made a real difference in improving the accuracy.

A 255 L with 8.5 grains Unique does most everything I want. It is accurate, packs a wallop without being abusive on the shooter.


In a properly built SA, such as this USFA Rodeo, the round is accurate, and the original peacemaker configuration provides a compact package with a powerful round.

 

[MCgunner]

I've heard that the .45 do to it's large case does not shoot lite loads well, but since the brass was designed to fire at low pressures it does not last as long with hot loads and as we know with some calibers, when you go outside the velocity norms they sometimes are not as accurate. What is your take?or experience? I imagine if you keep pressure in the 20-25 thousand ball park brass life is pretty good,

First of all, 25K CUP is the SAAMI limit for "Ruger only" loads and it can push the .45 up past the .44 mag in power due to the bigger piston, more area of bullet to push on. Yes, 25K CUP in a .45 Colt can out power the hottest of .44 loads or at least equal them. At these pressures, I have NOT seen any lack of service length for the brass. Of course, my hot loads don't quite match the hottest loads I've seen in the literature or those of Buffalo Bore, so they're probably down around 20K or so CUP is my thinkin'. A 300 grain bullet at 1120 fps from a 4 5/8" barrel will do anything I need doin', though, and it bucks and snorts, too, lets you know it ain't no pop gun .45ACP. As to accuracy, with both my light load (255 grain cast at 950 fps) and my heavy load (300 grain Hornady JHP/XTP at 1120 fps) will shoot 1" or less (rested, iron sights) at 25 yards. That's about as good as I can shoot with irons from a rest, frankly. My TC barrel is actually a .45/.410, not an accurate combination for .45 as it has a ton of free bore to put up with, but with a scope on that barrel, I could keep all shots into 7" at 100 yards. I have no doubt with a proper .45 Colt chamber, that gun would put 'em in typical TC 1-1.5" groups at that range.

I have found the .45 Colt to be one of the easiest calibers to handload for and get accuracy. The big bullets can make up for any casting imperfections just because their mass makes a small bubble less of a percentage of the overall mass of the bullet. A smaller bullet with the same imperfection will show more effect on accuracy. Add to that the fact that larger bullets tend to cast better in the first place because they don't tend to lose heat as quick in the casting process. Bullets out of my 255 grain mold come out lookin' like factory, very few culls, right from the start. That really ain't the case with .38 caliber. I don't cast .44 so can't comment on .429".

The cowboy shooters, for light loads, are using trailboss now. Trailboss is designed just for cases like .45 colt, bulky powder, but fast burn. It takes up most of the case, yet produces light velocities. I have not had a problem loading unique behind my 255 grain cast bullet, though. I get 950 fps which might not qualify as "light" to a .38 special oriented shooter, but it's a cream puff load recoil wise, yet still packs something under 500 ft lbs energy. One thing I like about that load is that if I'm out hiking, I can load with it for small game and still have a strong load for defense against bigger animals and possible 2 legged pot growers or something. The round can be loaded lighter than this, though, with Trailboss, and produce target grade accuracy. This is the whole reason for Trailboss, 10,000 CAS shooters can't be wrong.

 

[eldon519]

The New Model Blackhawk and the New Model Vaquero are NOT the "Ruger/TC loads only" guns. The older Blackhawk and the Old Model Vaquero are about 10% bigger and stronger. The New Model Blackhawk and New Model Vaquero are Colt-sized guns and are okay for about the same pressures.

You're half-right. The New Model Blackhawk is definitely Ruger load territory. It has been around since the 70s and is the Ruger most of us know and love. Its main difference over the original Blackhawk was that it went to transfer-bar ignition so that 6 rounds can safely be carried. Same is true with the New Model Super Blackhawk.

The New Vaquero was the lighter frame to which you are referring that came out in 2005. It is strong, but not for the Ruger loads. The original Vaquero shared the same frame as the original and New Model Blackhawks and will happily digest heavy loads.

 

[wleoff]

I became interested in 45 Colt as a round for cowboy action shooting in the 90's. Since then I've reloaded 45 Colt rounds from 325 grains to 165 grains. I've settled on using the Hornady 250 grain XTP for much of my 45 Colt shooting lately. I've got a couple more 45 Colts than those in the picture. A Dan Wesson, two Colt SAs and a 4" Ruger Redhawk.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

Don't forget it has a great history that goes back even longer than Bruce Jenner's plastic surgery records. It's versatility makes it more flexible than Bruce Jenner's face, too!

Also - Don't forget the .45 long colt was featured in the early Bruce Jenner reality TV show "Keeping Up With The Colts."

Seriously, you gotta love a round that has hung on for so long and remains popular.