handloading .45 long colt

jeff_troop · December 5, 2005, 06:06 PM

i see alot of 250 and 255 grain factory loads. i was wondering if some of you had handloaded heavier bullets? i'm not really looking for velocity just huge knockdown power via momentum. can anyone share their experiences with me?

WIL TERRY · December 6, 2005, 01:25 AM

Ammunition companies load the 45COLT with up to 335GR bullets. It's been going on for 20 years or so + or - now.
You can find loading data in most all the latest loading manuals for such loads in various 45COLT sixguns.

jeff_troop · December 6, 2005, 05:29 AM

i have all of those loading manuals, problem is they are all 15-20 years old. maybe i should enter the new millenium.

thanks for the info.

.45 Vet · December 6, 2005, 10:11 AM

Hornady 300 gr XTP's and Win-296/Hogdon-110 will satisfy. Same powders with Speer or Sierra 300gr JSP for Ruger/Contenter loads from Hogdon manual.

You don't have to go full bore with psi, starting loads will put you close to 1,000fps+-.

Lyman also has a great manual for cast bullet loads. Hope this is of some help.

HSMITH · December 6, 2005, 10:59 AM

I have found some really nice 300 grain loads, standard pressures only. I have also shot some 350's sized down from .458" at standard pressures that were very accurate and soft shooting.

You NEED adjustable sights, the heavy bullets at standard pressures shoot a lot higher than normal bullet weights do.

WESHOOT2 · December 7, 2005, 06:33 AM

The 335g to 360g bullets from Cast performance work well; can also look at Penn Bullets.

jeff_troop · December 7, 2005, 08:03 AM

appreciate the info guys.

i was shooting some winchester 255 grain and they were shooting 3 inches high at 25 yards. and 2 inches to the left. unfortunately i don't have adjustable sights. i'm shooting a taurus gaucho and it groups very nicely, for me. 3 inches at 25 yards. and it was making huge holes in my satellite dish as it pulled the aluminum with it.

i really wanted a ruger vaquero i was looking at. it was a nib older model, but alas it was another $100 and i had already bought a springfield xd40.

Big Yac · December 7, 2005, 01:13 PM

I'm going to have to second what WESHOOT2 says, the Cast Performance 360gr bullet works very well in my .454 reloads and I've heard nothing but good about them in the 45 Colt too. They also have a 395gr bullet that supposedly is a good heavy 45 Colt load.

WESHOOT2 · December 9, 2005, 06:30 AM

That 395g is just a might heavy; suggest 335g as best balance, and the 360g as about the heaviest one can get moving sufficiently.

Did I mention the time I hit my chrono with 5 360's from a cylinder-full? Had my eyes closed...

December 5, 2005, 06:06 PM	#1
jeff_troop Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2005 Location: NRA Patron member from MS Posts: 459	handloading .45 long colt i see alot of 250 and 255 grain factory loads. i was wondering if some of you had handloaded heavier bullets? i'm not really looking for velocity just huge knockdown power via momentum. can anyone share their experiences with me?

December 6, 2005, 01:25 AM	#2
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	THE 300gr BULLETS ARE COMMON AS DIRT NOW IN THE 45COLT. Ammunition companies load the 45COLT with up to 335GR bullets. It's been going on for 20 years or so + or - now. You can find loading data in most all the latest loading manuals for such loads in various 45COLT sixguns.

December 6, 2005, 05:29 AM	#3
jeff_troop Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2005 Location: NRA Patron member from MS Posts: 459	guess i'm out of date i have all of those loading manuals, problem is they are all 15-20 years old. maybe i should enter the new millenium. thanks for the info.

December 6, 2005, 10:11 AM	#4
.45 Vet Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Western Penn. Posts: 387	Hornady 300 gr XTP's and Win-296/Hogdon-110 will satisfy. Same powders with Speer or Sierra 300gr JSP for Ruger/Contenter loads from Hogdon manual. You don't have to go full bore with psi, starting loads will put you close to 1,000fps+-. Lyman also has a great manual for cast bullet loads. Hope this is of some help. __________________ For those who've never fought for it, the price of freedom shall never be known...

December 7, 2005, 06:33 AM	#6
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	45 Colt -- the BIG MO The 335g to 360g bullets from Cast performance work well; can also look at Penn Bullets. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

December 6, 2005, 10:59 AM	#5
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	I have found some really nice 300 grain loads, standard pressures only. I have also shot some 350's sized down from .458" at standard pressures that were very accurate and soft shooting. You NEED adjustable sights, the heavy bullets at standard pressures shoot a lot higher than normal bullet weights do.

December 7, 2005, 08:03 AM	#7
jeff_troop Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2005 Location: NRA Patron member from MS Posts: 459	appreciate the info guys. i was shooting some winchester 255 grain and they were shooting 3 inches high at 25 yards. and 2 inches to the left. unfortunately i don't have adjustable sights. i'm shooting a taurus gaucho and it groups very nicely, for me. 3 inches at 25 yards. and it was making huge holes in my satellite dish as it pulled the aluminum with it. i really wanted a ruger vaquero i was looking at. it was a nib older model, but alas it was another $100 and i had already bought a springfield xd40.

December 7, 2005, 01:13 PM	#8
Big Yac Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 422	I'm going to have to second what WESHOOT2 says, the Cast Performance 360gr bullet works very well in my .454 reloads and I've heard nothing but good about them in the 45 Colt too. They also have a 395gr bullet that supposedly is a good heavy 45 Colt load. __________________ "...and that's the bottom line, because Big Yac said so."

December 9, 2005, 06:30 AM	#9
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	I M E That 395g is just a might heavy; suggest 335g as best balance, and the 360g as about the heaviest one can get moving sufficiently. Did I mention the time I hit my chrono with 5 360's from a cylinder-full? Had my eyes closed... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

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