Will this bullet work in a Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt?

AL45 · July 21, 2017, 12:58 PM

I have some Hornady 300 grain jacketed xtp bullets sized to .452. Typically I shoot cast lead sized to .452 and jacketed sized to .451. Can these jacketed .452 be safely fired in a stainless 7 1/2 inch Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt?

**Unclenick** · July 21, 2017, 01:33 PM

Yes. I have an old French MAB pistol with a 0.309" bore in .32 ACP, the commercial ammo for which are all jacketed 0.311" bullets. It has no problems. In the worst extreme, a few careless persons have fired next-caliber larger bullets in rifles by forcing the case in until the bullet was seated way down in it. They got high pressure signs, but the only gun bursts I've ever heard of were in WW I with low number Springfield rifles that soldiers had, in the fog of war, picked up and chambered 8 mm Mauser cartridges in. But there are concerns about the metallurgy being bad in some (not all) of those rifles.

With the .45 Colt, especially, it went through a change in spec somewhere around WWII. The old bullets were 0.454" diameter, and the new are, as you know, 0.451". So, for a long time the chambers were made up to about 0.4560" to accept the old bullets, even oversized cast ones, while the barrel groove diameter was 0.451". I gather that is no longer automatically so, with SAAMI putting the throats at 0.4520" to 0.4595" and bullets at 0.450-0.456", but it does illustrate that guns can swage a bullet down several thousandths without a mechanical failure. Just work your loads up starting with the very smallest loads listed, while watching for sticky case extraction.

ligonierbill · July 21, 2017, 01:40 PM

I can tell you from personal experience that your Hornady XTP 300s will do fine in your Ruger. I put some through my .45 Colt Blackhawk using "Ruger only" specs. Quite a handful at 1,200; they will be more comfortable from a Redhawk.

AL45 · July 21, 2017, 01:48 PM

Thanks for your input. I felt pretty certain, but wanted some more advice.

ammo.crafter · July 21, 2017, 02:20 PM

Make sure you seat the bullets sufficiently so that the cylinder will turn without any difficulty.

reddog81 · July 21, 2017, 02:46 PM

How do you know the bullets are .452? Just because the box says so doesn't mean its true...

Even if you measure the bullet you can get a false reading. It is possible only a small portion near the base of the bullet is .452. You calipers might read .452, but only a fraction of inch is actually that big.

Do the bullets fit into the cylinder throats? If so there will be nothing to worry about.

smee78 · July 21, 2017, 04:19 PM

Be sure to let us know how well they shoot. I have the same gun and am curious about the 300grainers out of it.

rogn · July 25, 2017, 12:26 PM

Might want to push a bullet thru the cylinder throats. They ca be undersized i 45 C. If they are undersized it wont affect safety but accuracy will suffer. The throats can be reamed if need be. Its a good bullet for the 45C, especially if you want to make a statement.

July 21, 2017, 12:58 PM	#1
AL45 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2012 Posts: 761	Will this bullet work in a Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt? I have some Hornady 300 grain jacketed xtp bullets sized to .452. Typically I shoot cast lead sized to .452 and jacketed sized to .451. Can these jacketed .452 be safely fired in a stainless 7 1/2 inch Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt?

July 21, 2017, 01:33 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Yes. I have an old French MAB pistol with a 0.309" bore in .32 ACP, the commercial ammo for which are all jacketed 0.311" bullets. It has no problems. In the worst extreme, a few careless persons have fired next-caliber larger bullets in rifles by forcing the case in until the bullet was seated way down in it. They got high pressure signs, but the only gun bursts I've ever heard of were in WW I with low number Springfield rifles that soldiers had, in the fog of war, picked up and chambered 8 mm Mauser cartridges in. But there are concerns about the metallurgy being bad in some (not all) of those rifles. With the .45 Colt, especially, it went through a change in spec somewhere around WWII. The old bullets were 0.454" diameter, and the new are, as you know, 0.451". So, for a long time the chambers were made up to about 0.4560" to accept the old bullets, even oversized cast ones, while the barrel groove diameter was 0.451". I gather that is no longer automatically so, with SAAMI putting the throats at 0.4520" to 0.4595" and bullets at 0.450-0.456", but it does illustrate that guns can swage a bullet down several thousandths without a mechanical failure. Just work your loads up starting with the very smallest loads listed, while watching for sticky case extraction. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

July 21, 2017, 02:20 PM	#5
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	.45 Colt Make sure you seat the bullets sufficiently so that the cylinder will turn without any difficulty. __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

July 21, 2017, 04:19 PM	#7
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	Be sure to let us know how well they shoot. I have the same gun and am curious about the 300grainers out of it. __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

July 21, 2017, 01:40 PM	#3
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,459	I can tell you from personal experience that your Hornady XTP 300s will do fine in your Ruger. I put some through my .45 Colt Blackhawk using "Ruger only" specs. Quite a handful at 1,200; they will be more comfortable from a Redhawk.

July 21, 2017, 01:48 PM	#4
AL45 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2012 Posts: 761	Thanks for your input. I felt pretty certain, but wanted some more advice.

July 21, 2017, 02:46 PM	#6
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,635	How do you know the bullets are .452? Just because the box says so doesn't mean its true... Even if you measure the bullet you can get a false reading. It is possible only a small portion near the base of the bullet is .452. You calipers might read .452, but only a fraction of inch is actually that big. Do the bullets fit into the cylinder throats? If so there will be nothing to worry about.

July 25, 2017, 12:26 PM	#8
rogn Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 2005 Posts: 203	Might want to push a bullet thru the cylinder throats. They ca be undersized i 45 C. If they are undersized it wont affect safety but accuracy will suffer. The throats can be reamed if need be. Its a good bullet for the 45C, especially if you want to make a statement.