Shooting 325 and 360 grain .45 Colt

AL45 · June 13, 2013, 08:21 PM

I ordered in some 325 and 360 grain cast lead bullets in .45 Colt to shoot in my Blackhawk and was wondering if anyone had any experience with these heavy weights as far as accuracy, recoil and penetration. I have shot 300 grain at 1100 fps and recoil wasn't bad. I'm wanting to keep these around 1000 fps and am not looking for a hand held cannon experience.

TennJed · June 13, 2013, 09:23 PM

I have also only gone up to 300 but I would be interested in your outcome. Please keep us updated

reloader28 · June 13, 2013, 11:03 PM

We've been shooting 320gr WFN from 3 different 45 Colt pistols with 10gr Unique and very good accuracy.
I didnt chrono it yet, but it has VERY good penitration and performance.
Turned a coyote inside out, went lengthwise thru a dead cow, hit a front leg bone and went down into the dirt 12".

AL45 · June 13, 2013, 11:39 PM

Reloader28, that's some impressive penetration. I found some loads using H110 which is what I will probably use. I will probably stack up several layers of 2 x 4's to see what happens. The 300's shot through 6 inches of pine 2 x 4's and kept going. I tested some 250 rnfp on some treated yellow pine and they penetrated through about 5 inches. Hopefully the bullets will be here in a week or so.

Mike / Tx · June 14, 2013, 04:45 AM

The biggest issue I have had with heavier bullets is where they hit verses where I am aiming. I load some of the Lee 452-300 RF's in mine on occasion and have to say they use up most of my sight adjustment to allow me to stay on target. They sure did blow some nasty holes in the 55gl drum I use to set my trap on top of thought.

WESHOOT2 · June 14, 2013, 06:02 AM

I found Vihtavuori N350 under heavy 45 Colt bullets gave me medium velocities with mild felt recoil.

HS6, similar.....

snuffy · June 14, 2013, 10:39 AM

This is from about 35 years ago; I tried out the then new shooting game called handgun metallic silhouette shooting. The only big-bore handgun I had was a Ruger blackhawk 45 colt. IIRC it had a 6.5 inch barrel. I loaded some 250 Hornady HP bullets, went shooting.

I was hitting pretty well out to 150 yards,(turkey target), but when I tried the 200 yard rams, I could not hit them, well one out of ten. My spotter said it looked like the bullet was "sailing". After the match, I had some shells left, I shot them from 300 yards with several people watching. The bullets went to just over 150 yards, then began a corkscrew arc, ending up anywhere from several feet from aim point, to 20 feet!

Talking to a couple of gunsmiths, and reading some stuff, it was decided the rifling twist was just too slow for 250 grain bullets. That 45 colt was traded for a used 44 mag.

I don't know if Ruger has made the 45 colts they currently make with a faster twist. I also don't know if you plan on shooting those heavy-for-caliber bullets at long range. But I'd bet they will De-stabilize beyond 150 yards, maybe closer!

I don't remember what that twist was, that's a long time ago. I'd guess it was 1-22, that number seems to sound right.

Mike / Tx · June 15, 2013, 05:27 AM

Snuffy brings up a good point with his report on the 250gr bullets at longer ranges. The heavier the bullets, the harder they are to keep stabile at the lower velocities. THey will probably do fine out to 50-75yds but anything further they are probably going to start doing some weird things. ANother fellow on another rorum has done plenty of shooting with all sorts of weights from his 44. His remarks are that it is the velocity you lack which will do you in more often than not. THat said keeping things under the transition stage from sonic to not, will be in your favor. For the most part this probably won't effect you in the least, but for some like myself who hunt out to extended ranges it has a big influence on things.

I don't make a habit out of shooting critters out that far, but if I am working around the farm and a hog(s) or a yote are out in the pasture, I'm going to air something out for sure, whether or not I hit is up to the rest I have at the time.

With my 41, I have slapped several hogs up to 250# to the ground out past 100yds, but I know the load well, and know where to hold. With the Redhawk in 45 Colt using 260gr loads I am still learning, but not hesitant to give it a try when the oppurtunity arises. I know it will shoot tighter than I can hold it out to 100yds, just not sure how much further it will keep that up.

mehavey · June 15, 2013, 11:51 AM

I'm running a 340gr LFNGC out of a Marlin right now
1894Marlin
340BT-LFNGC /V-N110* /17.6 /CCI-300/WWcase(2ndHvyCrimp)**
QL~26,211psi/1,363fps (*Lot#04.11.2011)(**44.8grH2O) / OAL: 1.659"

If I step it down to a 6" barrel, velocity should be about 1,060fps
For a 1:16 Ruger twist that's a Miller stability factor of almost 7½, moooooore than stabilized.

I'm chicken to try it in my BlackHawk, but "...it couldn't be any worse than my 500S&W" ......right?

Poindexter · June 16, 2013, 01:35 AM

A buddy of mine up here is using Vhitavhouri N110 under 340gr bulelts in his Balckhawk.

He's real happy with the combination, but I don't know that I ever did know what velocity he is getting.

WESHOOT2 · June 16, 2013, 10:08 AM

Based on distance needed, I found 335g maximum for 45 Colt (the 350--395g can work at closer range).

Test.

June 13, 2013, 08:21 PM	#1
AL45 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2012 Posts: 761	Shooting 325 and 360 grain .45 Colt I ordered in some 325 and 360 grain cast lead bullets in .45 Colt to shoot in my Blackhawk and was wondering if anyone had any experience with these heavy weights as far as accuracy, recoil and penetration. I have shot 300 grain at 1100 fps and recoil wasn't bad. I'm wanting to keep these around 1000 fps and am not looking for a hand held cannon experience.

June 13, 2013, 09:23 PM	#2
TennJed Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2010 Posts: 1,536	Shooting 325 and 360 grain .45 Colt I have also only gone up to 300 but I would be interested in your outcome. Please keep us updated

June 14, 2013, 04:45 AM	#5
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 2,101	The biggest issue I have had with heavier bullets is where they hit verses where I am aiming. I load some of the Lee 452-300 RF's in mine on occasion and have to say they use up most of my sight adjustment to allow me to stay on target. They sure did blow some nasty holes in the 55gl drum I use to set my trap on top of thought. __________________ LAter, Mike / TX Last edited by Mike / Tx; June 14, 2013 at 04:54 AM.

June 14, 2013, 06:02 AM	#6
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	I found Vihtavuori N350 under heavy 45 Colt bullets gave me medium velocities with mild felt recoil. HS6, similar..... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

June 14, 2013, 10:39 AM	#7
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	This is from about 35 years ago; I tried out the then new shooting game called handgun metallic silhouette shooting. The only big-bore handgun I had was a Ruger blackhawk 45 colt. IIRC it had a 6.5 inch barrel. I loaded some 250 Hornady HP bullets, went shooting. I was hitting pretty well out to 150 yards,(turkey target), but when I tried the 200 yard rams, I could not hit them, well one out of ten. My spotter said it looked like the bullet was "sailing". After the match, I had some shells left, I shot them from 300 yards with several people watching. The bullets went to just over 150 yards, then began a corkscrew arc, ending up anywhere from several feet from aim point, to 20 feet! Talking to a couple of gunsmiths, and reading some stuff, it was decided the rifling twist was just too slow for 250 grain bullets. That 45 colt was traded for a used 44 mag. I don't know if Ruger has made the 45 colts they currently make with a faster twist. I also don't know if you plan on shooting those heavy-for-caliber bullets at long range. But I'd bet they will De-stabilize beyond 150 yards, maybe closer! I don't remember what that twist was, that's a long time ago. I'd guess it was 1-22, that number seems to sound right. __________________ The more people I meet, the more I love my dog They're going to get their butts kicked over there this election. How come people can't spell and use words correctly?

June 13, 2013, 11:03 PM	#3
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	We've been shooting 320gr WFN from 3 different 45 Colt pistols with 10gr Unique and very good accuracy. I didnt chrono it yet, but it has VERY good penitration and performance. Turned a coyote inside out, went lengthwise thru a dead cow, hit a front leg bone and went down into the dirt 12".

June 13, 2013, 11:39 PM	#4
AL45 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2012 Posts: 761	Reloader28, that's some impressive penetration. I found some loads using H110 which is what I will probably use. I will probably stack up several layers of 2 x 4's to see what happens. The 300's shot through 6 inches of pine 2 x 4's and kept going. I tested some 250 rnfp on some treated yellow pine and they penetrated through about 5 inches. Hopefully the bullets will be here in a week or so.

June 15, 2013, 05:27 AM	#8
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 2,101	Snuffy brings up a good point with his report on the 250gr bullets at longer ranges. The heavier the bullets, the harder they are to keep stabile at the lower velocities. THey will probably do fine out to 50-75yds but anything further they are probably going to start doing some weird things. ANother fellow on another rorum has done plenty of shooting with all sorts of weights from his 44. His remarks are that it is the velocity you lack which will do you in more often than not. THat said keeping things under the transition stage from sonic to not, will be in your favor. For the most part this probably won't effect you in the least, but for some like myself who hunt out to extended ranges it has a big influence on things. I don't make a habit out of shooting critters out that far, but if I am working around the farm and a hog(s) or a yote are out in the pasture, I'm going to air something out for sure, whether or not I hit is up to the rest I have at the time. With my 41, I have slapped several hogs up to 250# to the ground out past 100yds, but I know the load well, and know where to hold. With the Redhawk in 45 Colt using 260gr loads I am still learning, but not hesitant to give it a try when the oppurtunity arises. I know it will shoot tighter than I can hold it out to 100yds, just not sure how much further it will keep that up. __________________ LAter, Mike / TX

June 15, 2013, 11:51 AM	#9
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,894	I'm running a 340gr LFNGC out of a Marlin right now 1894Marlin 340BT-LFNGC /V-N110* /17.6 /CCI-300/WWcase(2ndHvyCrimp)** QL~26,211psi/1,363fps (Lot#04.11.2011)(*44.8grH2O) / OAL: 1.659" If I step it down to a 6" barrel, velocity should be about 1,060fps For a 1:16 Ruger twist that's a Miller stability factor of almost 7½, moooooore than stabilized. I'm chicken to try it in my BlackHawk, but "...it couldn't be any worse than my 500S&W" ......right?

June 16, 2013, 01:35 AM	#10
Poindexter Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2009 Location: Interior Alaska Posts: 154	A buddy of mine up here is using Vhitavhouri N110 under 340gr bulelts in his Balckhawk. He's real happy with the combination, but I don't know that I ever did know what velocity he is getting.

June 16, 2013, 10:08 AM	#11
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Based on distance needed, I found 335g maximum for 45 Colt (the 350--395g can work at closer range). Test. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"