For comparison the above .44 Magnum factory loads (which are admittedly conservative) have a TKO factor only slightly higher at 17.35. It is impossible to go wrong with the 45 Colt. Custom five-shooters built on the Ruger Blackhawk, the Ruger Redhawk, and the Freedom Arms Model 83 top the list. During my early teenage years I acquired a beautiful pre-World War II Colt SAA .45 that was customized by one of the masters during the 1920s. hi guy, for awhile now i have slowly been adding to my collection,,i just got 2 molds, a rcbs 255 grain ,,and a lyman 325 grain gc,,,i got the dies, the powder, had dale put my name on miha list for his 45 long colt hollow point mold, ,i have some brass, i got the dies,, but still looking for that one 45 long colt gun. This prevents bullets from being sized down when seated into an overly tight case. Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders. The Lee bullet works well in my Winchester (Miroku) 1873. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Bullet is .452 diameter. Cast bullet loads in the Marlin .45 Colt all the power and accuracy This load will certainly handle deer-sized game. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, State Agency: The .45 Colts origins started in 1871 when Colt began designing a new sixgun specifically to house metallic cartridges. In fact, an axiom with me is, When all else fails, try IMR 4227 before giving up. Years ago, after tiring of oversized 45 Colt chambers in Colt Single Action Army revolvers and New Frontiers, I started with a 357 Magnum New Frontier, had the cylinder rechambered properly and tightly to 45 Colt, and then had a new 4.75-inch Colt New Frontier barrel fitted. When the Marlin and Winchester Trappers first arrived in the early '80s, the #1 45 Colt bullet was still Elmer Keith's #454424 weighing about 260 grains from my alloy. replacement barrels from the 1930s, each slugged between .451 and .4515 inch. Space constraints keep me from looking at all of these powders in depth, but I can cover a few. This revolver and cartridge proved to be a great teacher as I learned how to shoot a big-bore single-action sixgun accurately. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. However, this approach causes some bullet deformation by being shortened, then sized down in the barrel, which still leaves accuracy potential on the table. Elmer Keiths custom Colt single action was used to develop his heavy 44 Special loads in the late 1920s, and for a long time the 45 Colt cartridge was accused of being weak. take the .45 Colt as my game and defense cartridge. It is noteworthy that this statement was made 20 years after the development of the .357 Magnum, a cartridge Keith also tested and used in the field. If you want those speeds and power, buy a .44 magnum. At 1,400 fps it is an excellent hunting bullet. New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, State Agency: A bullet with a copper gas check or copper plating is best for INDOOR ranges to keep lead vapors out of the air. Again using 255-grain factory loads at 860 fps, the .45 Colt reaches a factor of 14.09, while select standard-pressure handloads containing 280-grain bullets pushed to 950 fps factor at 17.17. It has never failed me. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. The final level includes custom five-shot Rugers and the Freedom Arms Model 83. (I) Giveaway ends February 28, 2023. The Colt SAA .45 Colt with a 4.75-inch barrel ranks as one of Brians favorite handgun configurations. 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. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. Today the throats of most Colt revolvers measure .457 to .458 inch, which is the same dimension used by Smith & Wesson during the late 1970s, Uberti and others. I have been surprised by the fact the Marlin feeds Keith-style bullets perfectly. 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. 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. Keiths #454424 was an excellent bullet, but it has been improved by Dave Scovill and is offered by RCBS as #45-270SAA. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. No purchase necessary. The 9mm/.38 Lyman #356637 HP is nominally a 124 grain HP version of their excellent 147 grain RNFP for the 9mm Parabellum. State Agency: It is often associated with its vital role in settling the western frontier, where it found favor with lawmen, outlaws and anyone that needed a potent sixgun. With the 45 Colt, IMR 4227 is almost magical in being able to provide excellent accuracy when other powders will not. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. I custom tailor my loads for the Trapper to match with the sixgun I am using alongside. For several reasons they should not be used. This database has 6400 loads for cast bullet loads. Box 502795, San Diego, CA 92150-1377. It is a good choice for self-defense, long-range shooting, hunting everything on four legs, and just plain fun shooting. About 1200+ fps in the 7.5 SBH, 1150fps out of the 4" Redhawk. 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. In part one of this series we saw the history of .45 Colt leverguns, which turned out to be quite recent, beginning in the early 1980s. In the event that a bullet walks out of the case slightly from recoil, Brian suggests an overall cartridge length that is at least .010 to .015 inch below flush with the end of the cylinder. Share to Facebook. I normally stay under 900 fps with a 250-grain bullet in Colt Single Action Army revolvers and its replicas. Do Pistols Benefit From Popular Aftermarket Modifications? (See note on NEW Nitro 100 powder at bottom of page). 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". My connection with Lyman goes back more than 50 years when I loaded my first ammunition using the No. There are some excellent jacketed bullets available for use in the 45 Colt, including the Sierra 240-grain JHP,Hornady250-grain XTP-JHP, and the Speer 260-grain JHP, all of which I prefer for deer-sized game. However, due to their heavier weights and increased barrel time, many fixed-sighted sixguns may group high. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. The day of the percussion revolver would soon be over, and even Colt could see the future and began converting 1860 cap-and-ball sixguns to fire cartridges. Be very careful using the loads for Ruger and T/C (Thompson Contender) as these are maximum loads, even for these strong guns. (I) Giveaway ends April 30, 2023. Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: Unique and Universal still dont fill the case up as much as a yet slower powder (like No.9, AA5724, H-110/W296, AA5744, and Alliant 2400). Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Facing off in a handgun challenge featuring the smallest professional-grade enclosed red dot sight on the market, Eric and Tom put the Acro P-2 to the distance test by doing a walk-back challenge. 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. For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. Using a 250-grain cast bullet, 37.5 grains by volume of Pyrodex P results in a very potent 987 fps and a five-shot, 50-foot group of 0.88 inch in my revolver. My powders of choice are Clays, HP-38, HS-6, Universal, Trail Boss, H110, IMR 4227, W296, and W231. IMR Trail Boss, 4227, IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. It has many additional virtues, primarily its big-bore performance and reliability. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2021. With multiple powder charge weights there has been considerable confusion on this subject. When using a revolver with large throats, there are solutions to improve accuracy. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM March 2022, P.O. My maine load is the Lyman 454190 cast of ww + 2% tin. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. When loaded in the Colt Single Action Army at around 850 fps, it is a most powerful everyday working load. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. and other smokeless cartridges were introduced. Knowing this measurement for a given revolver is critical to select the correct components to achieve accuracy. 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. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, State Agency: That brings us to the next level, which includes 45 Colt revolvers built on the Ruger Super Blackhawk frame and the Ruger Old Model Blackhawk, the arrival of which led to two separate load sections showing up in loading manuals. Colt single actions are right around 0.454 inch. For something with more thump, it would be wise to find some published load data and buy some bullets that match that data. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. Contest open to U.S. residents only. My powders of choice are Clays, HP-38, HS-6, Universal, Trail Boss, H110, IMR 4227, W296, and W231. REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. 458 is a rifle bullet. I chose the Herco powder to utilize as much case capacity as possible. However, a tight-chambered 45 Colt cylinder may require tolerances offered by a 454 Casull full-length sizing die. I didnt think I could shoot this well! (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Technical Specifications (based on the respective safety standard - see more details in tab "Datasheet" if available) Caliber: .45 Colt. The Freedom Arms Model 97 also is in this group. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Rhode Island Department of Fish & Wildlife, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, Minnesota Deptartment of Natural Resources, Michigan Deptartment of Natural Resources, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. Even with their short barrels, they still carry nine rounds in the tubular magazine. and while they do not have the slick action of the slightly smaller Model 1892, they are fast handling and come up to the shoulder quickly. With the 45 Colt, IMR 4227 is almost magical in being able to provide excellent accuracy when other powders will not. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, State Agency: .45 Colt Rifle Data (Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition) reloading data with 0 loads. top notch work!! Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM April 2023, P.O. www.hodgdonreloading.com Broc NES Member Rating - 100% 15 0 0 Joined Sep 18, 2010 More than 45 years of shooting and slugging the barrels of hundreds of Colt SAAs suggests differently. In 1935 we entered the Magnum Sixgun Era with the arrival of the 357 Magnum; however, long before that we had the 45 Colt. Mike, who used to live in Newport News, but now resides in Poquoson VA. Marlin and Winchester 1894s will both handle heavier-than-standard .45 Colt loads but 1860, 1866 and 1873 replicas are for standard loads only! However, it cannot be approached the same as smokeless. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. We were soon shooting 300-grain bullets at 1,200 fps from a 7.5-inch-barreled Ruger revolver. I shot all kinds of bullets and powders from my 45 colt from 200gr to 350 gr trying to find something that was better than the other. ), RCBS #45-270SWC (284 gr.). Camp Guns: Sometimes Perfect, Other Times Not But Often Essential! SCCY DVG-1 Sub-Compact Striker-Fired Pistol: Full Review, Buyer Beware: Buying 'Bargain' Guns Can Be Risky. Heavy loads that are safe for use in the Ruger Redhawk would destroy a fine Colt SAA. The .44 Magnum is a great cartridge that offers a flatter trajectory and helps to make hits easier at longer distances; however, this added performance comes at the cost of greater pressures, heavier guns, increased recoil and muzzle report. When tactical lights first came out, we all thought the 50 lumens they offered was astounding and could never get better. Deployed military should use stateside address. Sam Colt became a millionaire producing percussion revolvers. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Addeddate 2019-02-27 13:08:05 Identifier LymanReloadingHandbook48thEdition2002Ocr_201902 Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t9093sd5t Ocr ABBYY FineReader 11.0 (Extended OCR) With these bullets sized .452" and cast of 16 parts lead to 1 part tin, try this loading with 19.0 grains of WW-296 or 19.5 grains of H-110 in Star-line cases with Fed 155 primers and Bubba lube, or Javelina or NEI pistol lube. Treat it like one. Additional evidence can be found in Colt-published specifications dated June 1924 that list the .45 Colt with a groove diameter of .451 inch minimum and .452 inch maximum (with bore diameter being .444 inch minimum and .445 maximum). Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. New Hampshire Fish & Game Department, State Agency: SAAMI pressures for STANDARD .45 Colt is 14,000 PSI MAXIMUM, but Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. My loading dies are from Lee, Lyman, and RCBS, and all of them give excellent service. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Later production revolvers and lever action rifles are built with .451 diameter grooves., This statement has been repeated many times but holds very little truth. S.A.A.M.I. I prefer to use 250-grain jacketed bullets in conjunction with +P loads, which is a subject for another day. Custom five-shooters built on the Ruger Blackhawk, the Ruger Redhawk, and the Freedom Arms Model 83 top the list. If cast soft enough they can also slug up to create a gas seal, which helps reduce fusion and barrel leading. Lyman has been an important name for shooters for well over 100 years. It served me well while riding the ranch on horseback, running a trap-line, hunting big game, varmints and pests, etc., and it even saved my skin a time or two. (NOTE: Sections marked Ruger Only are not for the New Model Blackhawk Flat-Tops or the New Vaquero!) Everything really starts with our Vision, which is:To be the best-run business in America, and the most successful, most respected business in our industry, for the benefit of our Customers. This is a pretty bold Vision, but its absolutely real. It was outfitted with adjustable sights, a 5.5-inch barrel, one-piece checkered walnut stocks and was timed precisely with an outstanding trigger pull. No purchase necessary. When he died in 1862, the company was dedicated to producing the same percussion revolvers. They do provide identical results of muzzle velocities and pressures using the same charge weights, and I use them interchangeably. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. The Smith & Wesson Model 29 is the sixgun by which all other .44 Magnums are judged. Chris Johnson, FN Senior Product Manager, walks us through two new FN striker-fired pistols at SHOT Show 2023: the FN 510 Tactical, chambered in 10mm Auto, and the FN 545 Tactical, chambered in .45 ACP. Using bullets from . My brass of choice is Starlines excellent 45 Colt brass with CCI 300 Large Pistol primers for all powders, except I switch to CCI 350 Magnum Pistol primers with IMR 4227, H110, W296, and all black powder and black powder substitutes. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. and how they grouped at ther yrds. The Hornady 225-grain FTX bullet should be loaded in cases trimmed shorter than the industry standard of 1.215 inches. We are currently populating the cartridge drop-down menu with updated cartridge renderings, new propellants and bullets, and links to complimentary product pages. His 45 Colt bullet was #454424 and was available for decades from Lyman. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Contest open to U.S. residents only. It is superbly accurate and will often shoot well in sixguns that are cranky about shooting plain-based bullets. Contrary to what has been traditionally published, records indicate that early loads from Frankford Arsenal contained a copper case loaded with a 250-grain, roundnose flatpoint lead bullet pushed with 30 grains of black powder, with additional charge weights soon added. The other problem, that of cylinder throat diameters, centers around the fact that they vary considerably. (I) Giveaway ends May 31, 2023. Pennsylvania Game Commission, State Agency: Beginning in the early 1980s both Winchester and Marlin began offering .45 Colt leverguns. In 1898, Colt made the necessary changes to permit its guns to be used with smokeless powders; however, it wasnt until 1900 (revolvers with serial number 192,000 or higher) that Colt began to officially warrant its guns for such. This is a plain base bullet and I found out very quickly it was not very accurate in either rifle. patterned after the one worn by Theodore Roosevelt. sure they will feed and chamber through levergun actions. The weight would more properly be closer to 32 grains. Generally, when revolvers with such grossly oversized throats are fired with modern cast and jacketed bullets accuracy is poor. Everyone who has a Ruger Blackhawk or Freedom Arms single-action revolver realizes the roots of these modern guns go back to the Colt Single Action Army. This lets it feed in many cowboy-action guns and use common 45 ACP load data. A quote from Lyman Reloading Handbook, 49th Edition states, The grooves of pre-World War II revolvers normally measure .454 in diameter.