reloading 45 long colt
Any of Y'all got a good medium load for 45lc brass and JHP rounds? What powder is best for handgun loads? I've been doing some rifle but not handgun and just picked up dies, brass and bullets for my 45. Will be going boar hunting at the end of this month. Thanks!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)
0
-
The problem with loading .45 Colt cartridges is not with the actual loading, but it is with the firing of this cartridge. This cartridge is very versatile and can be used for many purposes. One of these purposes is NOT to use "a full-power load" when you haven't defined what this might be.
A "full-power" load for the Colt .45 Anaconda would probably blow that old Single Action Army .45 manufactured in 1895, all to hell, along with the shooter, while the Anaconda would shoot them all day!
Biggest thing? "What are you going to shoot this cartridge with?"
If you wish to Boar hunt with this cartridge, get a good Reloading Manual such as a Sierra or similar and begin by determining what your gun is and what its capabilities are. Then take the time to start with a "light" load and work up to the type of load you need to do the job. This cartridge can be very dangerous in weapons not designed to handle the pressures available in this round. Other hand, it can be loaded to do just about anything you could reasonably require. Good Luck!
If You Can't Buy a Pair, Get a Spare!0 -
Yes, I think I understood what you were trying to say. The fact is, Factory Loaded readily available .45 Colt ammo is very much carefully watched by those making it; i.e. Winchester, Remington, etc. This cartridge has been around for a very long time. The guns that can shoot it have come and went, some staying, others improved, and on and on. These ammo manufacturers are making a "moderate" load that doesn't exceed 14,500 pressure because they, (The Ammo Makers) are afraid of the liability of someone using some "powerful" ammo in a weak old gun of this caliber.
Any new and modern Reloading manual will break their loads down into two or even three or more groups of guns of .45 Colt caliber. They then make recipes for these specific groups of guns and WARN and ADVISE against using it in the other groups of guns. In the case of this cartridge, a .45 IS NOT always a .45 from the point of its ballistics. It is very easy to load this cartridge into one that greatly exceeds that of the "Factory" .44 Mag cartridge and to use it in the proper gun with great success. This loading would blow up most older guns and some of the newer ones. Be SURE OF YOUR GUN AND YOUR LOADS when shooting the .45 Colt!
NOTE: "Factory" Off the shelf ammo is safe to use in most hand guns chambered in .45 Colt because the Ammo Manufacturer adheres to a strict policy of a safe load pressure.......ALL MANUFACTURERS! Still, BE SURE.....Check if in doubt!
If You Can't Buy a Pair, Get a Spare!0 -
i won't reply to loads because you didn't say the gun your shooting, but i'll pass on loading tips, this case has thin walls & advise you trim the brass to keep all your cases within .005 length (about 1.275" +0 -.005) then when seating & crimping do this in two steps, do all seating, then go back & do all crimping to avoid bulges or buckles in the cases. (the Lee carbide factory crimp die is the hands down best for crimping) 0 -
Sorry I should have defined the pistols - a new Ruger Vaquero and a semi new Uberti. I will be using both as just backup when we go. But want them to have enough stopping power. I will get load data for the powder I purchase, but was just wondering which powder(s) to use.....
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)0 -
Ken Waters' Pet Loads from Handloader, is an excellent source for almost any and all info you would want for this cartridge. There was extensive loading and testing with many different propellants, bullet types and weights. Three different groups of guns were categorized.
By the way, in case you haven't guessed, the .45 Colt is a cartridge I use extensively in several different guns. I load my .45 Colts using "UNIQUE" almost exclusively! When I started doing .45 Colts, I figured if Ken Waters was recommending it over all the others, (and he was in his book), I would try it. It has proven very satisfactory over time for me and I would Highly Recommend it to anyone for this caliber. Good Luck! I'm sure you are going to enjoy those two guns and this cartridge......and probably find some pork chops on the way!
If You Can't Buy a Pair, Get a Spare!0 -
Although Unique is a popular pistol powder, I've not been happy with it in the 45Long Colt especially when using light bullets. It doesn't burn clean at lower pressures. Several years ago A writer in the NRA
Magazine evaluated a number of powders for this caliber and found Herco to be the most consistent. He recommended 9 grains of Herco with a 200 grain lead SWC bullet. This load chronographed 896fps out of my 5 1/2" SAA Colt. The NRA handloading manual gives a recommended load of 10 grains of Herco and a CCI 300 primer behind a 200 grain Speer HP for a velocity of 1020fps for the SAA Colt.
You can do 300fps better with the Ruger using Blue Dot, H2400 & H110 but it could spoil your afternoon if the higher powered loads got into the cylinder of the Uberti Colt lookalike.0 -
Yeah - I was just reading in the speer manual about Rugers and T/C's abilities to shoot hotter loads, but my Cousin will be carrying the Uberti and I want compatable ammo for both, so there is no confusion..
IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
7 comments