45 Colt Thunderbolt

hodaka · December 27, 2006, 11:28 PM

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

Let me try this again with the caution. Thanks Mr. Moderator. These loads exceed anything I've seen in print although I still have all my fingers. I see little point in reproducing this little experiment.

Loading for a brand new Taurus Thunderbolt chambered for 45 Colt. Wanted to test some overloads to see what kind of velocity could be obtained with the 26 inch barrel. Shooting through an Ohler 35 at 50 yds off sandbags and a solid bench.

Winchester, brown box cowboy loads clocked at 850 and were grouping 4-6 inches at point of aim with factory sight settings.

Unique (new) with Starline brass and CCI large rifle primers with 250 grain Meistercast bullet

8gr Unique gave 1000 fps, 9gr 1200fps (best accuracy), 10gr 1280 fps, 11gr 1380 fps and some brass bulging at the base.

2400 powder with everything else the same gave:
17gr 1250 fps
18gr 1400 fps beginning to see bulges in brass. Stopped with the 2400 at this point.

The Taurus is a blast to shoot and the 9gr Unique load was putting them all on a 3x3 post-it note. Even with the 1400 fps loads the recoil was minimal. With the cowboy loads it seemed no more than a 223.

The faster the load, the lower the point of impact. Sort of like a revolver but this was off sandbags. This surprised me.

The barrel cleaned up with some of the Outers foam but I'm sure there was a lot of lead in the grooves from the hot loads. The patches came out black. I'm done with the hot loads. I like the 8-9 grains of Unique just fine. I may stick a peep tang sight on it at some point. Regards.

tINY · December 28, 2006, 04:40 AM

Hoo Rahh....

I already have a Puma 92 lever in 454 which gets about 30gr of H110 under a 300 gr XTP. So I have the 45 caliber rifle covered....

I was lusting after a Thunderbolt in 357, though.... I wonder what that might do with a full load of H110 under a 180gr pill. Hmmmm.

-tINY

Jim Watson · December 28, 2006, 09:42 AM

The only source I have puts the Colt Lightning in the same strength category as the 1873 Winchester. No doubt Taurus has better steel than 120 years ago but they have not beefed up the action. Y'all be careful, now, you hear?

tINY · December 28, 2006, 01:50 PM

Yes, be careful. But also know that the Thunderbolt is available in 357 mag (35,000 psi) and the old colt rounds are around 14,000 psi to be safe.

The Thunderbolt is not a Lightning. It's really a large, beefed-up model 62. It just looks like a lightling on the outside.

-tINY

December 27, 2006, 11:28 PM	#1
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	45 Colt Thunderbolt CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information. Let me try this again with the caution. Thanks Mr. Moderator. These loads exceed anything I've seen in print although I still have all my fingers. I see little point in reproducing this little experiment. Loading for a brand new Taurus Thunderbolt chambered for 45 Colt. Wanted to test some overloads to see what kind of velocity could be obtained with the 26 inch barrel. Shooting through an Ohler 35 at 50 yds off sandbags and a solid bench. Winchester, brown box cowboy loads clocked at 850 and were grouping 4-6 inches at point of aim with factory sight settings. Unique (new) with Starline brass and CCI large rifle primers with 250 grain Meistercast bullet 8gr Unique gave 1000 fps, 9gr 1200fps (best accuracy), 10gr 1280 fps, 11gr 1380 fps and some brass bulging at the base. 2400 powder with everything else the same gave: 17gr 1250 fps 18gr 1400 fps beginning to see bulges in brass. Stopped with the 2400 at this point. The Taurus is a blast to shoot and the 9gr Unique load was putting them all on a 3x3 post-it note. Even with the 1400 fps loads the recoil was minimal. With the cowboy loads it seemed no more than a 223. The faster the load, the lower the point of impact. Sort of like a revolver but this was off sandbags. This surprised me. The barrel cleaned up with some of the Outers foam but I'm sure there was a lot of lead in the grooves from the hot loads. The patches came out black. I'm done with the hot loads. I like the 8-9 grains of Unique just fine. I may stick a peep tang sight on it at some point. Regards.

December 28, 2006, 04:40 AM	#2
tINY Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2005 Location: Orygun Posts: 2,589	Hoo Rahh.... I already have a Puma 92 lever in 454 which gets about 30gr of H110 under a 300 gr XTP. So I have the 45 caliber rifle covered.... I was lusting after a Thunderbolt in 357, though.... I wonder what that might do with a full load of H110 under a 180gr pill. Hmmmm. -tINY

December 28, 2006, 09:42 AM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,185	The only source I have puts the Colt Lightning in the same strength category as the 1873 Winchester. No doubt Taurus has better steel than 120 years ago but they have not beefed up the action. Y'all be careful, now, you hear?

December 28, 2006, 01:50 PM	#4
tINY Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2005 Location: Orygun Posts: 2,589	Yes, be careful. But also know that the Thunderbolt is available in 357 mag (35,000 psi) and the old colt rounds are around 14,000 psi to be safe. The Thunderbolt is not a Lightning. It's really a large, beefed-up model 62. It just looks like a lightling on the outside. -tINY