45lc pet loads

.45 Lc

Most important,

What gun are you going to use?????

Same kind of pressure level applies as for the .45-70.

Right load in wrong gun equals trouble.

BB
 
For my Marlin 1894 Cowboy i load 23 grains of H110 under a 300 grain bullet . The brass rings and the primers extrude at 24 grains but no sign of pressure at 23 . I started at 21 and went up in one half grain increments . I wouldn't load close to that with an older gun or a reproduction .
 
Boom-Boom said:
Most important,

What gun are you going to use?????

Same kind of pressure level applies as for the .45-70.

Right load in wrong gun equals trouble.

BB
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Ruger Vaquero 4 1/2"

Sorry should have added that. Probably going to shoot 230's my question was more for best grain weight for shooting.

PrSh
 
the factory load is 7 grains for a 250-255 bullet- it's a nice mild load in the blackhawk 5,5 inch
 
250 gr. SWC Keith type (Chambers) loaded in front of 5.5grs. of Trail Boss is a sweet shootin' load........the powder fills case to the bottom of bullet, I think that accounts for it's accuracy.
 
Im shooting 6 grs of Trail boss with a 250 gr keiths bullet .454 dia outa my Antique 455/476 Webley WG 1889 model.
(the gun happens to chamber 45 long colt cases.)
It loves that load its doing just over 700FPS so not to shabby a load.
Great accuracy to!

Some say it smells funny like a dirty mattress but i like it :D
 
Production Shooter said:
Ruger Vaquero 4 1/2"

Sorry should have added that. Probably going to shoot 230's my question was more for best grain weight for shooting.

PrSh
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I have the same, except a 5 1/2". For cast bullets I've been using a couple of SW's in the 250-255gr range. It's a good sturdy gun so I've been going by some loads in the Lyman 1st Edition Cast Bullet Handbook. The loads are as/Elmer Keith's recommendadions;
6.5grs of Bullseye
9-10grs of Unique
17-18.5grs of 2400
You've mentioned using 230gr bullets. The only reference's I have for that weight and the powders you've mentioned in my manuals are in;
Lyman Pistol & Revolver Handbook, 3rd Edition
Speer Reloading Manual #13.
If you're stuck, PM me your e-mail address and I'll scan the pages in question and send them to you.
 
Those 230s may just give you grief as they are meant for the .45 Auto and may not allow proper roll crimping, which is best for the .45 Colt revolver.
 
In post # 2 in this thread I asked which bullet you were using as there are a few in the 230gr weight range that are designed more for the .45 ACP and a taper crimp application. To name but a couple, for example of a jacketed bullet would be the Speer 230gr 45 TMJ and for a cast bullet, the Lyman 225gr #452374.
There are, however, a number of bullets in the 230gr weight range that would work well in your Ruger Vaquero .45LC, and can be roll crimped. For example, jacketed, the Speer 225gr 45 Mag-JHP. For cast, Speer also has two, designed for Cowboy Action Shooting. A 225gr 45-225 CAV and a 230gr 45-CAS.
 
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Johnn Peterson said:
In post # 2 in this thread I asked which bullet you were using as there are a few in the 230gr weight range that are designed more for the .45 ACP and a taper crimp application. To name but a couple, for example of a jacketed bullet would be the Speer 230gr 45 TMJ and for a cast bullet, the Lyman 225gr #452374.
There are, however, a number of bullets in the 230gr weight range that would work well in your Ruger Vaquero .45LC, and can be roll crimped. For example, jacketed, the Speer 225gr 45 Mag-JHP. For cast, Speer also has two, designed for Cowboy Action Shooting. A 225gr 45-225 CAV and a 230gr 45-CAS.
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Sorry missed that, I was going to use some 230gr RN Frontiers, but the point made befre your last post about role crimping never crossed my mind. I was trying get feedback for the best balistic/accuracy keeping in mind that powder/firearm/shooter will determine the final outcome. what about for CAS shooting? Is it like IPSC for minimum power factor or has it got a minimum bullet grain weight to be fired?

PrSh
 
Production Shooter said:
Sorry missed that, I was going to use some 230gr RN Frontiers, but the point made befre your last post about role crimping never crossed my mind. I was trying get feedback for the best balistic/accuracy keeping in mind that powder/firearm/shooter will determine the final outcome. what about for CAS shooting? Is it like IPSC for minimum power factor or has it got a minimum bullet grain weight to be fired?

PrSh
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Something I neglected to mention is in cast .45 cal handgun bullets you'll basically run into two sizes or diameters, .452" & .454". .452" daimeter are more in line or usually a more appropiate size for the .45 ACP whereas .454" usually perform better in the .45 LC. You should slug your Vaquero to find the diameter. For me, the .452" cast bullets 'work' in my Vaquero, but the ones sized .454" provide better accuracy. The CSA & CAV cast bullets in the Speer manual are RCBS design. Oh, most jacketed are .451" or .452".
I've never taken part in CAS but it probably is geared toward lower velocities and the Speer manual sort of reflects that as the velocities listed for these CAS bullets are in 700-900 f/sec range. I guess it depends on what shooting you plan on doing. In the Speer Manual there is a section of .45 Colt loads directed toward more modern & stronger guns such as the Rugers & Contenders.
 
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the ruger blackhawks run .451-452, leaning to 452, or at least my 2 do- i think they've been that way for years- no reason to suspect the other rugers wouldn't run the same- but i run 250 lead rns in mine
 
t-star said:
the ruger blackhawks run .451-452, leaning to 452, or at least my 2 do- i think they've been that way for years- no reason to suspect the other rugers wouldn't run the same- but i run 250 lead rns in mine
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True enough, my Vaquero is 0.452" as well. With cast I find my accuracy is improved sizing bullets 0.001"-0.002" overbore diameter. And while most Rugers do run in that range, every once in a while you may come across a bit of an oddball. I did years ago with a model 28 S&W. I was getting signs of preasure with loads that, while maximum, worked fine in my model 66 & model 27 Smiths. Slugging the barrel I found it to be 0.354" and I was sizing the bullets to 0.357" as the model 66 & 27 were 0.356".
 
Useable Colt load

Experinced wide FPS spread with anything that leaves the Colt 45 casing not full relative to last position of gun prior to firing.

Using a 255grn lead Semi Wadd Cutter tip in a Ruger SA convertable 5 1/2 barrel
powder Unique 8 grns then topped up the case with 15 grains of cornmeal as filler. I use a powder scoop made from a spent 40 S+W round fitted to a bent paperclip results in 950 FPS and shoots nice and straight. Consistant speed is where I think the accuracy comes from. The cornmeal makes this a compressed powder load. It slows the Dillon loader down but hey it works well. I also think I am seeing way less lead fouling my guess is the cornmeal topper is making itself into a nice gas check. Little bit extra fluff on firing line make sure you stay a little further from thr chrono to keep the lens cleen.

Production Shooter said:
Looking for some pet loads that people have developed. I currently have Unique, 231 and Tight Group on hand.

PrSh
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that cornmeal stuff will weld itself to your cylinder walls with certain powders- i wouldn't use it- this is well documented- you're better off with nothing or if you must, kapok
 
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