Light .45 colt loads?

[Ammo Junky]

I am looking for the lowest recoiling 45 colt load with a jacketed bullet ( the lighter the better) and a mv of 800fps or higher. Most of the bullets I found are all 250gr. I tend to use a lot of HP38 / W231, but I do have a little tight group.
Thanks

[Johnny Guest]

Any 230 gr jacketed bullet made for the .45 ACP, with 7.5 gr. of 231 will give you about 800 fps from a 5.5 to 6" barrel.

The Speer 260 gr JHP with 7.2 gr. of 231 should run about 725 fps.

Do you want to use jacketed bullets to avoid leading? If you'll consider lead bullets, the 200 gr. SWC with 7.3 gr. of 231 runs about 850 and is quite mild to shoot.

I've been shooting 230 lead round nose ACP bullets over 8.0 gr. of 231 in my S&W Mountain Gun in .45 Colt for IDPA style matches. I get around 840 fps in my 4" barrel - - probably similar to the old .45 S&W Scofield load.

What kind of revolver are you shooting? What barrel length?

Best
Johnny

[Unclenick]

I've never tried it in .45 Colt, but if your primary objective is least recoil at a fixed velocity of 800 fps or so, then you want to start with the lightest bullet and fastest powder for that big case. The most common light jacketed bullet will probably be 185 grain SWC target bullets for the .45 ACP. Tightwad would be the fastest powder you listed. I don't know your barrel length, but try about 5.0 grains to start. If you have a chronometer you can adjust it.

Nick

[JoeHatley]

I use 200 grain SWC bullets that are normally used in .45 acp. 7.2 grains Bullseye does right at 900 fps from my 6" 25-5.

http://www.iowatelecom.net/~hatley/25_5_6_sf.jpg

Soft shooting and accurate.

Good Luck...

Joe

[Ammo Junky]

It is a colt cowboy singel action with a 5.5" bbl or close to it. It was defective and I am waiting to get it back from the factory. I have no idea how long that will be. I am itching to try the gun with a bbl that doesn't wiggle in the frame.

[Kelly J]

I have been shooting a load that works really well in my 625 Mountain gun and my Vaquero.

5.1gr Clays Powder
Winchester LP Primer
Range Brass
250GR Hard Cast LRNFP & 250GR HDY HP/XTP
COL 1.600
817 Published Velocity

My 625 is shooting 2inch. groups at 25 Yds. open sights
Not to bad for a 64 Year Old Blind Man.(Joking)

[Unclenick]

AJ,

In the old days the cowboys used to use the barrels of their Colts to hammer staples loose on wire fences so they could go through. A lot of the barrels are loose and battered from that. I think Colt was just trying for authenticity. ;)

Nick