December 25, 2005, 11:43 PM | #1 |
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Reloading the .45 Colt
I have been reloading rifle/pistol ammo for several months now. Calibers I reload are .243, .308, .30-06, .45 ACP, and .454 Casull. However, today for Christmas I got a set of RCBS carbide .45 Colt dies, since I shoot some of these in my .454 from time to time. I have the resizer/expander set up. I have the large pistol primers so all I need are powder and bullets. Curently I have Win 296 and Hodgdon Titegroup that I use in my .454. Other powders I have for my trap reloads are Red Dot, Green Dot, Herco, and Longshot. Which of these powders would be the best to use in the .45 Colt? Which bullets? I"m looking for something thats fairly mild in the recoil department mostly for when someone who isnt used the the full power Casull loads shoots my gun plus I want something I can plink with too sometimes. A friend left a bag of 200gr lead semi wad cutters here to load his .45 ACP with...could I load these up in 45 Colts using the data for 200gr lead RNFP bullets? They are .451" diameter. Can my 300gr Hornady XTP Mag bullets be used (at a lower charge ofcourse). Thanks for any help.
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December 26, 2005, 09:04 AM | #2 |
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Yac, one of my all time favorite powders for the big straight wall pistol cases like 45 Colt and 44 Mag is Green Dot for plinking loads - lots of cowboy data available, just look on the Alliant web site. It's bulkier than some other powders so takes up a little more of the case. Watch out you do not double charge any cases. Provided your throats are properly dimensioned, i.e., not under sized, they should handle the lead loads just fine. Take the cylinder out and try a push thru to see with one of those .451 - quick way to check throat diameter. If they won't go thru (thumb push fit) you may not get any kind of accuracy as the bullet will get swaged smaller than the groove. The one 45 Colt pistol I have, I had to ream the throats. I've shot alot of 200 grainers in 45 Colt and they work fine. sundog
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December 26, 2005, 10:18 AM | #3 |
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I load the .45 colt using 5.0 grains of Titegroup and a 200G lead FN.And have also used 185 grain SWC I think both shoot about the same but like the 200 grain better
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December 26, 2005, 01:11 PM | #4 |
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I didnt mention, the gun is a Ruger Super Redhawk. Will the 200gr lead semi wad cutters work with data for 200gr load round nose bullets or lead hollow point bullets? I like the idea of being able to use Green Dot and Red Dot as I buy them in 8lb jugs each since I use them to reload trap shells. I also will try some of the Titegroup, thanks for the help
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December 26, 2005, 03:06 PM | #5 |
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big yac
don't leave hodgdons universal clays out of your recipes. works great in 45 colt especially with 255 wc's. puts whitetails to sleep real nice. haven't tried any lighter bullets yet.
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December 30, 2005, 01:51 PM | #6 |
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well lastnight I got the dies all set up and loaded me 25 rounds of 45 Colt just to test out. I used the Winchester brass, Win large rifle primer, a Hornady 300gr XTP bullet and 7.2gr of Herco. Anyone ever try this load? I'm gonna find out how they works on Monday.
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December 31, 2005, 10:47 AM | #7 |
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Light 45 Colt's
For light loads, try a faster powder. My typical load for 200-255 grain lead bullets is 8 grains of Red Dot. A friend swears by 8-10 grains of Unique. Hodgon publishes a short guide for Cowboy Action Shooting. Any of the load data for the Colt Single Action Army would be appropriate.
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December 31, 2005, 11:07 PM | #8 |
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I have loaded rounds with a 200 grain swc and 7.0 of Unique. You should also have good luck with Red or Green Dot.
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January 3, 2006, 09:04 PM | #9 |
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Good thread here.
I have 500 230 grain lead round nose bullets a buddy gave me. My usual bullet for the .45 Colt is a 200 grain lead semi-wadcutter. Do any of you have a recommendation for how much Unique gunpowder to put under that bullet? I like mid range loads, as I just plink with the cowboy gun after I've shot the .357. My antique manual doesn't give a receipe.
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January 4, 2006, 09:52 PM | #10 |
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for 200 grainers my manual suggests 6,[email protected] to 7,8grs@ app. 850 fps. for unique.
hope this helps.
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PLEASE EXCUSE UPPER CASE TYPING I AM HANDICAPPED AND ONLY TYPE WITH ONE HAND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. HANDLOADS ARE LIKE UNDERWEAR.....BE CAREFUL WHO YOU SWAP WITH. HAPPY TRAILS, BILL NRA LIFE MEMBER-1965 THE THREAD KILLER |
January 4, 2006, 11:04 PM | #11 |
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heres a picture of one of my reloads next to a factory 45 Colt load. My reload is on the right, its a 300gr Hornady XTP bullet and the factory bullet (on the left) is a 250gr lead bullet. How does the roll crimp look to you? Too much? I tried to keep it looking like the roll crimp from the factory.
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January 5, 2006, 02:54 PM | #12 |
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If you use a 200gr SWC, where do you put the crimp?
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January 7, 2006, 09:37 PM | #13 |
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A load that I used for many years as a side arm in a Blackhawk while hog hunting is. 18.5grs of 2400 with a 300gr XTP. Blue Dot works well also.
I like this load because it's about as much as I can handle without hearing protection. The gun has nice soft recoil. More like a nice push. and I love the thwap the bullet makes when it hits something Last edited by impact; January 8, 2006 at 12:20 AM. |
January 7, 2006, 09:39 PM | #14 |
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Where do you put the crimp
Probably at the top of the drive band.
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January 8, 2006, 12:30 PM | #15 |
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I load 200 grain lead swc's over 8.0 of Unique. I crimp in the top groove.
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