.45 Long Colt Cast Bullet Load

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jackpine

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Just bought and eagerly awaiting delivery of a Ruger New Vaquero in .45 Colt and would appreciate some input on what are some pet loads for a piece such as this one in a 5 1/2 " barrel. Would prefer to keep the loads down around or below the 950 f.p.s. range. Also would like some suggestions about barrel break-in for it .I'm personally thinking about the LaserCast 200 gr. round nose flat point. Having recently read another members' veiwpoints on how a particular load with fast burning powder can actually be a benefit to where the bullet will impact at 20 yards as opposed to a slower burn rate,i.e. duration time for bullet barrel travel.And lastly does the break-in procedure for a stainless barrel differ in any way from that of carbon steel?
jackpine
 
I load 300 grain (lee mold) and 250 gr same mold make. The 300 has a GC , Nasty :D , using unique but have a few others to try. Picked up some Starline brass which looks like good stuff. Sorry don't have load data to share , will find my log and pass data on. Good choice with the Ruger, and cal. I ended up with a base pin from Brownells , to tighten up the cylinder slop , worked great . It was 1.5 thousands over size, I lapped it in , that cylinder sure spins now :D
 
jackpine said:
Just bought and eagerly awaiting delivery of a Ruger New Vaquero in .45 Colt and would appreciate some input on what are some pet loads for a piece such as this one in a 5 1/2 " barrel. Would prefer to keep the loads down around or below the 950 f.p.s. range. Also would like some suggestions about barrel break-in for it .I'm personally thinking about the LaserCast 200 gr. round nose flat point. Having recently read another members' veiwpoints on how a particular load with fast burning powder can actually be a benefit to where the bullet will impact at 20 yards as opposed to a slower burn rate,i.e. duration time for bullet barrel travel.And lastly does the break-in procedure for a stainless barrel differ in any way from that of carbon steel?
jackpine
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I have an older Ruger Vaquero, 5 1/2", blued, definately a fun gun. I understand there are 'some' differences between the old & newer model. Using the Lyman # 454424, 250gr Keith plain base is one of my favorites. For a light load I use 5grs of Bullseye for roughly 770 f/sec and 10grs of Unique for 1050 f/sec. 18.5grs of 2400 with the same bullet has proven to be accurate, an old Keith load.
You stated you were thinking of using a 200gr and would like velocities around950 f/sec. The Lyman Pistol & Revolver 3rd Edition handbook has some loads for that weight of bullet, # 452460, one of which using Unique. 8.6grs for 918f/sec to 9.6grs for 1083 f/sec.
 
In my .45 I'm using the Chambers 250gr. cowboy bullet(with dry moly) and 5 grs. of trail boss or 5.5grs. of American Select, I arrived at these by trying many others first, both are very accurate! Worked well in the other 250 gr. cast bullets I load, vel. is barely 700fps.(or less)
 
7 grains of 231, 250 grain roundnose out of a 5.5 blackhawk convertible-blued- mine shoots away low, front sight is too high- don't be surprised if your does too prbably about 8-900 fps
 
Just made my first trip to the range with the New Vaquero and must say that it's a real nice piece to shoot although I'm very dismayed at how low it prints with the 200 gr. loads I've assembled at velocities near 950 ft./sec. with 4 different loads,but I'm not surprised as this phenomenon is quite common with Rugers I'm told.Will have to load a batch of 250 gr. cast bullets to see what point of impact will result.Thnaks to all who responded to my question.
jackpine
 
been down that road- the 250's print a little higher, but not much- remember, i said i had a convertible?- i've got the rear sight as low as it will go and i'm about halfway up the front sight ramp with the red paint now and i'm getting point of aim- now the next step is to go a little further up the ramp so i can get some elevation out of the rear sight- it's a loong process
 
To answer "mysticplayer" in regards to front and rear sight adjustments,the new vaquero has fixed sights which are historically correct in a modern day representation of the classic Colt Peacemaker so the only sight corections available to this model is that of removing material fron the front sight blade which in turn raises the muzzle for the new sight picture.But I'm not too enthused about altering a new gun this way so I'll just find another remedy if there is one.
Thanks again,
jackpine
 
mysticplayer said:
If you are shooting low, don't you want to raise the rear sight?

You could also lower the front sight.

Jerry
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I believe I've read about cowboy action shooters working up their handloads to what they are certain they want to use and then they carefully file the front sight down until it's spot on. The front sight is apparantly left deliberately high from the factory to accomidate this type of adjustment because then cowboy shooters can use their pet load, but still stay in the non-adjustable sight class.
 
You are correct in that cowboy action application but somehow I don't like altering guns,,,,,guess I should have seen this coming but there must be an alternative?
jackpine
 
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