for those that like the 45 Colt for self defense... of these choices...

Magnum Wheel Man · January 12, 2011, 04:11 PM

of commonly available ammo, for a standard pressure gun... which do you choose???

Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 200 grain Gold Dot...

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=748758

Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 255 Grain Kieth gas check...

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=154030

other... DPX, Lever Evalution, etc... please specify

Jim March · January 12, 2011, 04:33 PM

The Gold Dot 200 moving at that speed will work wonderfully for personal defense.

The Keith-pattern is meant for hunting and a deep punch. Avoid.

Magnum Wheel Man · January 12, 2011, 04:41 PM

I'm finishing up my Birdshead Montado snubbie project... my builder "highly" recommends I shoot some ammo through the gun before he trims the barrel down, which I'll do as soon as the weather permits... but I'm wanting to trim it to 2-2.5" so what ever ammo will likely be 150 fps slower or so... ( BTW the 1st box I bought to test was the Buffalo Bore Gold Dots ) my builder thinks I aught to try a few different mixes, before he cuts the barrel down

I'm not overly concerned, with recoil, as I regularly shoot a 44 mag & 454 Casull snubbie, but he wants me to be doubly sure... can't add the barrel back on after it's cut

breed · January 12, 2011, 05:01 PM

I like the 200 grain gold dot to.especially out of a shorter barrel gun.

nate45 · January 12, 2011, 05:24 PM

Thats what I use in the .45 Colt for SD, only I just hand load the projectile.

Here is an old pic I took of one of my hand loads next to a 230 grain .45 ACP, it looks like a PMC Starfire. I don't remember what thread I posted that pic in or why, but it looks like I took it with an electron microscope.

I believe I use 15 grains of 2400 and a WLP primer.

Below is a link to a short article about the factory loading, with penetration test results.

.45 Long Colt 250-grain Speer Gold Dot

orionengnr · January 12, 2011, 06:27 PM

225 gr CorBon DPX.
On my hip right now.

Webleymkv · January 12, 2011, 08:46 PM

The Buffalo Bore Gold Dot loading would seem fine to me, but then again I'd be comfortable with the Gold Dot as loaded by Speer, Winchester Silvertips, or Federal LSWCHP as well. .45 Long Colt is one of those cartridges that you don't have to be overly picky about as nearly any good HP should work fine.

jmortimer · January 12, 2011, 11:53 PM

The 250 grain Gold Dot at 775 fps will penetrate 14" of ballistic gelatin and expand to .773" - The would be an A+ based on the FBI standards.
From Shooters Legacy site article by Gary W. Campbell 6-4-08
http://www.shooterslegacy.net/articles/45colt.html
For me, I'll take a hard cast bullet with the biggest meplat possible.

bossman · January 13, 2011, 12:22 PM

I think with any type ammo in .45 colt would be sufficient.

Andy Taylor · January 13, 2011, 01:04 PM

Between the two you mention, I pick the 200 gr Gold Dot. I have shot and used this as a duty load. I have also used Winchester 225gr Silvertip as a duty load. I chose that load because the silver bullets contrasted nicely against the blued cylinder of my M25-5 S&W. I was hoping that might cause some miscriant to give up, so I wouldn't need to pull the trigger. The one time I had to do that, it worked. One thief in custody, no shots fired. Of course a Beretta Tomcat MAY have worked just as well in that situation. We will never know.
The Kieth load is great for hunting, and woods defense, where you are mainly concerned with 4 legged predators. To much penatration for urban usage.
I really want to try the speer 250gr Gold Dot, as I tend to prefer heavy for caliber bullets. Just havn't gotten around to it yet.
The great thing about .45 Colt is, there are really no bad choices.

kudu61 · January 14, 2011, 12:02 AM

I voted for the 200 Gold Dot as I know it to be an excellent load. However I shoot mostly 200 SWC reloads in my 45Colt and generally that bullet will be in the gun, as it is almost always loaded with my everyday practice load and I would feel perfectly comfortable using this bullet for SD. see ya, Bill

Chesster · January 14, 2011, 12:11 AM

I still use the FED. LSWCHP.

rclark · January 14, 2011, 10:49 AM

Other. Plain old lead 255g SWC or 250g RNFP standard velocity hand loads. Whatever is at hand...

saltydog452 · January 14, 2011, 10:57 AM

Buffalo Bore also markets a hardened (water quenched ?) 255 SWC at 1000 fps. Supposedly, it is loaded to standard pressure and suitable for ANY 45 Colt in normal working condition.

salty

Idahoser · January 14, 2011, 02:56 PM

Quote:

I have also used Winchester 225gr Silvertip as a duty load. I chose that load because the silver bullets contrasted nicely against the blued cylinder of my M25-5 S&W. I was hoping that might cause some miscriant to give up, so I wouldn't need to pull the trigger...

ain't that a beautiful sight? I thought maybe I was the only one that noticed. Looks mighty fine in a stainless gun too.

Stainz · January 15, 2011, 08:04 AM

I load the Speer #4484 250gr Gold Dot over 5.7-6.1 gr of Titegroup, still below max for SAAMI spec's, for 755-818 fps from my 4" 625MG - mixed .45 Colt brass. The effect on 2 L pop bottles full of water is impressive and similar at both ends of that loading range - I no longer fear attacks by hordes of marauding pop bottles. Of course, a 255gr LSWC over 5.5-6.2 gr will yield 700 - 820 fps from that same 4" 625MG, again, within SAAMI spec's. Either should provide decent protection. Both are fine, recoil-wise, with wooden grips. Note: Since the 625 (.45 ACP) uses the same basic cylinder, frame, & barrel - and is rated for >22 kPSI - many S&W 25/625 .45 Colt users get 900+ fps from the same bullets. I'm fine within the normal .45 Colt 14 kPSI spec's. All of my loads are fired by Federal LP primers.

Stainz

jmortimer · January 15, 2011, 09:52 AM

I agree, with the pre-expanded 11.5mm .45 Colt there many good options that will work. Either way with an expanding bullet or a hard cast with a large meplat dead is dead.

redlevel42 · January 15, 2011, 11:28 AM

Other. I carry a handload consisting of a 255 grain Keith SWC over 10 grains of Unique. This is a rather mild load in my Vaqueros, Blackhawks, and Winchester. It is probably near max for Colt SAA and the various S&W revolvers. I use it for everything; plinking, hunting, and when I stick a Vaquero in my waistband when going to the convenience store after dark. Before dark, too

Sarge · January 15, 2011, 12:06 PM

There aren't any bad standard pressure loads for the .45 Colt. In the event one of ours ever gets pressed into a defensive role, it will likely be with one of two handloads; either a factory-dup 250 RNFP load or a Hornady 250 XTP at about 1065 fps from the Old Vaquero or 1200 from the 16" Rossi 92. Those are what either gun will be loaded with if we're not traipsing around Bearville.

http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/2...us-x-none.html

I don't own a single round of factory-loaded ammunition in this caliber.

jmortimer · January 15, 2011, 12:08 PM

"...10 grains of Unique. This is a rather mild load in my Vaqueros, Blackhawks, and Winchester. It is probably near max for Colt SAA and the various S&W revolvers."
For sure over max for Colt SAA and SAA Clones. Alliant lists 9.5 grains as max for 255 grain SWC.

Ozzieman · January 15, 2011, 01:38 PM

For SD I have always been a fan of WIN silver tips. Even at slow velocities they work very well.
I carry them in my S&W 25.
The attachment is a photo from a 44 special shot out of a Bulldog.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...4&d=1164512304

redlevel42 · January 15, 2011, 01:39 PM

"...10 grains of Unique. This is a rather mild load in my Vaqueros, Blackhawks, and Winchester. It is probably near max for Colt SAA and the various S&W revolvers."
For sure over max for Colt SAA and SAA Clones. Alliant lists 9.5 grains as max for 255 grain SWC.

xxxxxxxxx

As I mentioned in another post, I am an old man. I started loading .45 Colt in 1973 when I bought an (Old Model) Blackhawk in the caliber. I also bought a then-new Speer #9 reloading manual. I believe it was the first to list a section for ".45 Colt-Ruger and Contender ONLY" That manual lists 10 grains as max with a 255 grain cast bullet. It also lists 8.5 grains as max for a Colt SAA with that bullet. However, my Lyman 45th Edition book (copyright 1970) lists 10 grains Unique with a 255 grain cast swc as max for Colt SAA. Much of my Unique powder is of 1970s vintage, so I continue to use that data.

For what it is worth, I have never owned a Colt SAA in .45 Colt, and if I did, I would probably load about 8 grains with that bullet. I still have a bunch of the 10 grain loads on hand, but I have actually dropped the load back to 9 grains. It is a pussycat load in the heavy Vaqueros and B-hawks, but it will still hole a 160 lb Georgia whitetail through and through, usually dropping him in his tracks.

I am a strong believer in John Linebaugh's "bigger hammer" theory of why these big, heavy bullets work so well on game.

jmortimer · January 15, 2011, 01:53 PM

"I am a strong believer in John Linebaugh's "bigger hammer" theory of why these big, heavy bullets work so well on game." You and me both. I just use 9.2 grains of Unique for everything under 300 grains as that is what my Lee Precision powder dipper throws. I have some loads with 10 grains of Unique (intended for my "old" model Vaquero I traded) that will have to wait until I get me a Blackhawk.

redlevel42 · January 15, 2011, 08:21 PM

I just use 9.2 grains of Unique for everything under 300 grains as that is what my Lee Precision powder dipper throws

I use that same dipper. I just call my load "9 grains" because depending on the moon phase, relative humidity, tilt of the Earth on its axis, and how I hold my mouth, that dipper throws anywhere from 8.9 to 9.1 grains as weighed on my Lyman 500 balance. Usually in the 9.0 to 9.1 range. If you read the Linebaugh site, he speaks of his wife and son killing elk with that load.

jmortimer · January 15, 2011, 09:31 PM

The dipper does weigh unique a little light. I find if I scoop the powder I'll get right around 9.2 grains rather than push it down and let the powder "fall in" as recommended by Richard Lee which will consistently weigh right around 9 grains as you indicate. That works real good and is consistent +/- .1 grains as you indicate.

View Poll Results: which do you choose for standard pressure 45 Colt self defense ammo ???
Buffalo Bore Standard pressure 200 grain Gold Dot	18	40.00%
Buffalo Bore Standard pressure 255 grain Kieth GC	8	17.78%
other... specify ( DPX, Critial Defense, Silver tips, other JHP ) etc.	19	42.22%
Voters: 45. You may not vote on this poll

January 12, 2011, 04:11 PM	#1
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	for those that like the 45 Colt for self defense... of these choices... of commonly available ammo, for a standard pressure gun... which do you choose??? Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 200 grain Gold Dot... http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=748758 Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 255 Grain Kieth gas check... http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=154030 other... DPX, Lever Evalution, etc... please specify __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

January 12, 2011, 04:33 PM	#2
Jim March Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Pittsburg, CA, USA Posts: 7,417	The Gold Dot 200 moving at that speed will work wonderfully for personal defense. The Keith-pattern is meant for hunting and a deep punch. Avoid. __________________ Jim March

January 12, 2011, 04:41 PM	#3
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I'm finishing up my Birdshead Montado snubbie project... my builder "highly" recommends I shoot some ammo through the gun before he trims the barrel down, which I'll do as soon as the weather permits... but I'm wanting to trim it to 2-2.5" so what ever ammo will likely be 150 fps slower or so... ( BTW the 1st box I bought to test was the Buffalo Bore Gold Dots ) my builder thinks I aught to try a few different mixes, before he cuts the barrel down I'm not overly concerned, with recoil, as I regularly shoot a 44 mag & 454 Casull snubbie, but he wants me to be doubly sure... can't add the barrel back on after it's cut __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

January 12, 2011, 05:24 PM	#5
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	Speer 250 Grain Gold Dot Thats what I use in the .45 Colt for SD, only I just hand load the projectile. Here is an old pic I took of one of my hand loads next to a 230 grain .45 ACP, it looks like a PMC Starfire. I don't remember what thread I posted that pic in or why, but it looks like I took it with an electron microscope. I believe I use 15 grains of 2400 and a WLP primer. Below is a link to a short article about the factory loading, with penetration test results. .45 Long Colt 250-grain Speer Gold Dot __________________ "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ (>_<)

January 12, 2011, 05:01 PM	#4
breed Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2009 Posts: 230	I like the 200 grain gold dot to.especially out of a shorter barrel gun.

January 12, 2011, 06:27 PM	#6
orionengnr Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2004 Posts: 5,177	225 gr CorBon DPX. On my hip right now.

January 12, 2011, 08:46 PM	#7
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	The Buffalo Bore Gold Dot loading would seem fine to me, but then again I'd be comfortable with the Gold Dot as loaded by Speer, Winchester Silvertips, or Federal LSWCHP as well. .45 Long Colt is one of those cartridges that you don't have to be overly picky about as nearly any good HP should work fine.

January 12, 2011, 11:53 PM	#8
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	The 250 grain Gold Dot at 775 fps will penetrate 14" of ballistic gelatin and expand to .773" - The would be an A+ based on the FBI standards. From Shooters Legacy site article by Gary W. Campbell 6-4-08 http://www.shooterslegacy.net/articles/45colt.html For me, I'll take a hard cast bullet with the biggest meplat possible.

January 13, 2011, 12:22 PM	#9
bossman Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 996	I think with any type ammo in .45 colt would be sufficient. __________________ NRA life member When the going gets tough, I just open another beer.

January 13, 2011, 01:04 PM	#10
Andy Taylor Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2010 Posts: 499	Between the two you mention, I pick the 200 gr Gold Dot. I have shot and used this as a duty load. I have also used Winchester 225gr Silvertip as a duty load. I chose that load because the silver bullets contrasted nicely against the blued cylinder of my M25-5 S&W. I was hoping that might cause some miscriant to give up, so I wouldn't need to pull the trigger. The one time I had to do that, it worked. One thief in custody, no shots fired. Of course a Beretta Tomcat MAY have worked just as well in that situation. We will never know. The Kieth load is great for hunting, and woods defense, where you are mainly concerned with 4 legged predators. To much penatration for urban usage. I really want to try the speer 250gr Gold Dot, as I tend to prefer heavy for caliber bullets. Just havn't gotten around to it yet. The great thing about .45 Colt is, there are really no bad choices.

January 14, 2011, 12:02 AM	#11
kudu61 Member Join Date: February 13, 2007 Location: West Virginia Posts: 24	I voted for the 200 Gold Dot as I know it to be an excellent load. However I shoot mostly 200 SWC reloads in my 45Colt and generally that bullet will be in the gun, as it is almost always loaded with my everyday practice load and I would feel perfectly comfortable using this bullet for SD. see ya, Bill

January 14, 2011, 12:11 AM	#12
Chesster Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Location: Dixie Posts: 2,538	I still use the FED. LSWCHP. __________________ Chesster Proud NDN "The American Idle" Vote 'Pro-Choice' on 2nd Amendment issues!!!

January 14, 2011, 10:49 AM	#13
rclark Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 2,622	Other. Plain old lead 255g SWC or 250g RNFP standard velocity hand loads. Whatever is at hand... __________________ A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.

January 14, 2011, 10:57 AM	#14
saltydog452 Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 2004 Posts: 516	Buffalo Bore also markets a hardened (water quenched ?) 255 SWC at 1000 fps. Supposedly, it is loaded to standard pressure and suitable for ANY 45 Colt in normal working condition. salty

January 15, 2011, 08:04 AM	#16
Stainz Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 749	I load the Speer #4484 250gr Gold Dot over 5.7-6.1 gr of Titegroup, still below max for SAAMI spec's, for 755-818 fps from my 4" 625MG - mixed .45 Colt brass. The effect on 2 L pop bottles full of water is impressive and similar at both ends of that loading range - I no longer fear attacks by hordes of marauding pop bottles. Of course, a 255gr LSWC over 5.5-6.2 gr will yield 700 - 820 fps from that same 4" 625MG, again, within SAAMI spec's. Either should provide decent protection. Both are fine, recoil-wise, with wooden grips. Note: Since the 625 (.45 ACP) uses the same basic cylinder, frame, & barrel - and is rated for >22 kPSI - many S&W 25/625 .45 Colt users get 900+ fps from the same bullets. I'm fine within the normal .45 Colt 14 kPSI spec's. All of my loads are fired by Federal LP primers. Stainz

January 15, 2011, 09:52 AM	#17
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	I agree, with the pre-expanded 11.5mm .45 Colt there many good options that will work. Either way with an expanding bullet or a hard cast with a large meplat dead is dead.

January 15, 2011, 11:28 AM	#18
redlevel42 Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2007 Location: South Georgia Posts: 310	Other. I carry a handload consisting of a 255 grain Keith SWC over 10 grains of Unique. This is a rather mild load in my Vaqueros, Blackhawks, and Winchester. It is probably near max for Colt SAA and the various S&W revolvers. I use it for everything; plinking, hunting, and when I stick a Vaquero in my waistband when going to the convenience store after dark. Before dark, too __________________ Georgia on My Mind

January 15, 2011, 12:06 PM	#19
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	There aren't any bad standard pressure loads for the .45 Colt. In the event one of ours ever gets pressed into a defensive role, it will likely be with one of two handloads; either a factory-dup 250 RNFP load or a Hornady 250 XTP at about 1065 fps from the Old Vaquero or 1200 from the 16" Rossi 92. Those are what either gun will be loaded with if we're not traipsing around Bearville. http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/2...us-x-none.html I don't own a single round of factory-loaded ammunition in this caliber. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

January 15, 2011, 12:08 PM	#20
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	"...10 grains of Unique. This is a rather mild load in my Vaqueros, Blackhawks, and Winchester. It is probably near max for Colt SAA and the various S&W revolvers." For sure over max for Colt SAA and SAA Clones. Alliant lists 9.5 grains as max for 255 grain SWC.

January 15, 2011, 01:38 PM	#21
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	For SD I have always been a fan of WIN silver tips. Even at slow velocities they work very well. I carry them in my S&W 25. The attachment is a photo from a 44 special shot out of a Bulldog. http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...4&d=1164512304

January 15, 2011, 01:39 PM	#22
redlevel42 Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2007 Location: South Georgia Posts: 310	"...10 grains of Unique. This is a rather mild load in my Vaqueros, Blackhawks, and Winchester. It is probably near max for Colt SAA and the various S&W revolvers." For sure over max for Colt SAA and SAA Clones. Alliant lists 9.5 grains as max for 255 grain SWC. xxxxxxxxx As I mentioned in another post, I am an old man. I started loading .45 Colt in 1973 when I bought an (Old Model) Blackhawk in the caliber. I also bought a then-new Speer #9 reloading manual. I believe it was the first to list a section for ".45 Colt-Ruger and Contender ONLY" That manual lists 10 grains as max with a 255 grain cast bullet. It also lists 8.5 grains as max for a Colt SAA with that bullet. However, my Lyman 45th Edition book (copyright 1970) lists 10 grains Unique with a 255 grain cast swc as max for Colt SAA. Much of my Unique powder is of 1970s vintage, so I continue to use that data. For what it is worth, I have never owned a Colt SAA in .45 Colt, and if I did, I would probably load about 8 grains with that bullet. I still have a bunch of the 10 grain loads on hand, but I have actually dropped the load back to 9 grains. It is a pussycat load in the heavy Vaqueros and B-hawks, but it will still hole a 160 lb Georgia whitetail through and through, usually dropping him in his tracks. I am a strong believer in John Linebaugh's "bigger hammer" theory of why these big, heavy bullets work so well on game. __________________ Georgia on My Mind

January 15, 2011, 01:53 PM	#23
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	"I am a strong believer in John Linebaugh's "bigger hammer" theory of why these big, heavy bullets work so well on game." You and me both. I just use 9.2 grains of Unique for everything under 300 grains as that is what my Lee Precision powder dipper throws. I have some loads with 10 grains of Unique (intended for my "old" model Vaquero I traded) that will have to wait until I get me a Blackhawk. Last edited by jmortimer; January 15, 2011 at 09:34 PM.

January 15, 2011, 08:21 PM	#24
redlevel42 Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2007 Location: South Georgia Posts: 310	I just use 9.2 grains of Unique for everything under 300 grains as that is what my Lee Precision powder dipper throws I use that same dipper. I just call my load "9 grains" because depending on the moon phase, relative humidity, tilt of the Earth on its axis, and how I hold my mouth, that dipper throws anywhere from 8.9 to 9.1 grains as weighed on my Lyman 500 balance. Usually in the 9.0 to 9.1 range. If you read the Linebaugh site, he speaks of his wife and son killing elk with that load. __________________ Georgia on My Mind

January 15, 2011, 09:31 PM	#25
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	The dipper does weigh unique a little light. I find if I scoop the powder I'll get right around 9.2 grains rather than push it down and let the powder "fall in" as recommended by Richard Lee which will consistently weigh right around 9 grains as you indicate. That works real good and is consistent +/- .1 grains as you indicate.