youd need for most critters in the lower 48. I usually select an expander ball that is at least .003 to .004 inch smaller than bullet diameter, which helps prevent bullets from jumping crimp and aids in achieving consistent powder ignition. All Freedom Arms cylinders are held to very tight tolerances and whether using 45 Colt or 454 Casull brass, I size with a special 454 die. In his classic 1955 book Sixguns by Keith, Elmer Keith stated, As one grows older and his hair starts to turn grey, his respect for this grand old load increases. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. With the coming of Rugers Blackhawk chambered in 45 Colt in the early 1970s, we finally had a sixgun that could tap the tremendous potential of the 45 Colt cartridge. With the Winchesters, equipped with receiver sights, most of my shooting is done around 30 to 35 yards with relatively mild loads. Instead of being overly large, Rugers have been way too tight, with some measuring around 0.449 inch, but now Ruger is cutting all cylinder throats at 0.451 to 0.452 inch. The 45 Colt brass could handle the pressures, but standard sixguns could not. The Colt Single Action Army, Colt New Frontier, Ruger New Model Flat-Top, Ruger New Vaquero, and Smith & Wesson Model 25/625 are all very close strength-wise. For example with the 4-5/8" Ruger Blackhawk, I use the NEI 310-grain Keith bullet over 21.0 grains of WW296 or H110 for 1,125 fps in the sixgun and 1,445 fps from the Trapper Barrel. Guns with larger throats will usually produce improved accuracy when loaded with bullets that measure .454 to .456 inch. The 45 Colt brass was up to the task. The performance level is pretty close to the original Black Powder load but far more effective due to the bullet I use. 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Weights in parenthesis are as-cast from wheelweights. The Freedom Arms Model 97 also is in this group. When the new 454 Magnum revolvers (as they were first called) arrived, however, the brass was lengthened so it could not be used in standard 45 Colt sixguns. I have found 5.0 grains of Clays under a 250-grain bullet delivers a very pleasant-shooting load at 725 fps and will group all its shots in 0.63 inch at 20 yards. 9, #5744, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company. In preparation for this article, I pulled from my personal collection a Colt SAA with serial number 16xxx (1875) that slugged an average groove diameter of .450 inch. Do Pistols Benefit From Popular Aftermarket Modifications? (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Rim Rocks 255-grain SWC with gas check is accurate and alleviates leading issues with revolvers (or barrels) that are prone to that. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. The .45 Colt is rapidly approaching 150 years in existence, and it remains one of our finest, most useful, versatile and handloaded sixgun cartridges. I can not find any reliable load data for Blue Dot with cast bullets. This load will certainly handle deer-sized game. While there were multiple experiments with different cartridges, the .45 Colt was a joint development between Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and Union Metallic Cartridge Company. The .45 Colt is a grand cartridge that has survived because it is so good. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, State Agency: Load up some Low Recoil handloads. The charge weight is 9.2 grains. However, it cannot be approached the same as smokeless. RCBS also offers an excellent bullet of standard weight with the #45-255KT that has a better crimping groove than the Keith bullet. Use 10% UNDER any values you see here for N-100. in pistol calibers than the old. Cartridge Filter By Bullet Weight Powder Type Recipes Their max load is 6.2 grains for an approx 881 feet per second and a pressure of 13K cup. For little more power I move up to the above-mentioned #454490 GC with 10.0 grains of Unique for just over 1,235 fps and groups of less than 1". John makes up dummy loads using available cast bullets to make Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM Old West 2023, PO Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. Deployed military should use stateside address. His 45 Colt bullet was #454424 and was available for decades from Lyman. about 175 fps and from 7 1/2 by 50 fps. Space constraints keep me from looking at all of these powders in depth, but I can cover a few. Bullet sizes vary from .450 for jacketed to .454 for some lead in diameter. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. You may wish to peruse the list of cartridges first as many times the difference in 45-70 and 45/70 may mean finding data or drawing a blank. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. A Modern rifle should handle these loads equally as well, such as the Winchester Model 94. i even just recieved an awsome holster rig new,lined,scroll work, you name it , looks fantastic quality for only 40.00,,,got hooked up with this awsome lady on ebay,whos selling them for a friend who makes them. 310 Tong Tool. The Judge has been promoted! These two bullets in a custom five-shot Blackhawk or Freedom Arms Model 83 five-shooter can be driven to 1,450 fps with W296 or H110. The Freedom Arms Model 97 also is in this group. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Even with their short barrels, they still carry nine rounds in the tubular magazine. By the standards of the day when it arrived in 1873, and even to this day, the 45 Colt was and is a powerful cartridge. Note that the Ruger New Vaquero uses a smaller frame and cylinder His #452490GC was originally made for the 45 Auto Rim cartridge for use in the Smith & Wesson 1950 Target revolver, but I also use the Thompson design, which weighs around 255 grains, for heavy-duty loads approaching the energy of the 44 Magnum in the Ruger Blackhawk. In 1935 we entered the Magnum Sixgun Era with the arrival of the 357 Magnum; however, long before that we had the 45 Colt. Smith & Wesson revolver throats have varied significantly. On paper, the 357 Magnum was the first cartridge to exceed the 45 Colts muzzle energy, but many knowledgeable sixgunners, Elmer Keith included, believed the 45 Colt actually offered more practical power than the First Magnum. Today, it remains one of our most popular sixgun cartridges. The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) has established the maximum average pressure for .45 Colt at 14,000 psi (commonly referred to as standard pressure), which should only be used in guns originally designed for smokeless powder ammunition. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (when required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. No purchase necessary. This same bullet can be loaded to much higher velocity in Rugers large-frame single- and double-action sixguns. Some people have tried to load the .45 Colt to levels of the .44 Magnum. The 45 Colt brass was up to the task. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. The Lyman bullet 452651 GC will cast 20-1 at about 325 grains including gas check. So if one used 40 grains by weight of Pyrodex when the chart called for 40 grains of black powder, the result would be an overloaded charge. A roll crimp is generally preferred and should be applied as heavily as the bullets crimp groove or cannelure will permit. I have found HS-6, Universal, and W231 powders work very well for standard loads, while IMR 4227 bulks up nicely in 45 Colt brass. The older was slower Fast-burning in pistol calibers. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Contest void where prohibited by law. We are blessed to have many excellent cartridges and sixguns available to us, but it would be hard to find any cartridge that is as versatile as the old 45 Colt. When tactical lights first came out, we all thought the 50 lumens they offered was astounding and could never get better. I normally stay under 900 fps with a 250-grain bullet in Colt Single Action Army revolvers and its replicas. Colt191145. Contest void where prohibited by law. The larger diameter ring that sizes the lower half of the case provides longer case life and eliminates the typical swaged bulge just ahead of the solid head. Make sure your gun can handle it before you use any of these loads listed below with STARS (*). All Freedom Arms cylinders are held to very tight tolerances and whether using 45 Colt or 454 Casull brass, I size with a special 454 die. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Data can be searched by cartridge name, powder name, and bullet weight. What has varied significantly is the throat diameter (ball end, chamber mouth, etc.) For example, the .45 Colt with a 255-grain bullet at 860 fps (Winchester) generates 419 ft-lbs, while the .44 Magnum with a 240-grain bullet at 1,180 fps (Remington) generates 741 ft-lbs. Wolfe Publishing Company | 2180 Gulfstream Suite A | Prescott, AZ 86301. The Colt Single Action Army, Colt New Frontier, Ruger New Model Flat-Top, Ruger New Vaquero, and Smith & Wesson Model 25/625 are all very close strength-wise. As always there are occasional exceptions, including two guns manufactured in 1900 and 1902 that slugged .458 and .453 inch, respectively, but they seemed to be more out-of-spec than the normal. your comments are very greatful. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. The individual accessing this site assumes the risk of safe loading practices. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Keiths #454424 was an excellent bullet, but it has been improved by Dave Scovill and is offered by RCBS as #45-270SAA. It is clear why the .45 Colt had such a stellar reputation as a man stopper and for its effectiveness on game. These will still work in the vast majority of sixguns with the exception of the old short cylinder Smith & Wesson N-frames produced prior to 1978 and a couple of others not commonly encountered. When loaded in the Colt Single Action Army at around 850 fps, it is a most powerful everyday working load. By the standards of the day when it arrived in 1873, and even to this day, the 45 Colt was and is a powerful cartridge. patterned after the one worn by Theodore Roosevelt. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. Lyman has been an important name for shooters for well over 100 years. considered more the norm. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. Beginning in the early 1980s both Winchester and Marlin began offering .45 Colt leverguns. These figures correspond with the many other pre-World War II guns that I have slugged. (I) Giveaway ends March 31, 2023. Oregon Trails 250-grain RNFP over 8.0 grains of W231 clocks out just under 1,100 fps with three-shot groups of 1" or less. of blackpowder, the .44-40 . The smaller case-capacity means better performance with light loads, which is why I am interested in it. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. The 45 Colt also predates the 38 Special, the 44 Special, and the 45 ACP, and not only is it more than 80 years older than the 44 Magnum, but it also has more case capacity and in the proper sixguns can outrank the 44 Magnum. The (top) Model 25-5 has .458-inch throats while the (bottom) Model 25-5 has .451-inch throats and is far more accurate. Exactly the same grain size as with powder N320, N330 and N350 - only the porosity of the powder changes.The burning rate of the N340 is at the medium scale of Vihtavuori handgun powders - and as with powder N320, with N340 extremely clean burning and .
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