45 Colt ,452and.454 dia

bossman · March 5, 2011, 05:23 PM

I see most lead 45 colt loads are .452 dia, but every now and then I see some with a .454 dia. Can you shoot the .454 in the Colt 45 ? I know they are in larger grain bullets.

Slamfire · March 6, 2011, 07:33 AM

Primers and powder changes make more of a difference over my chronograph screens that the difference between .452 and .454 diameter bullets.

I can’t tell any change in point of impact, leading, etc.

As I have a few older 45 caliber pistols that require the larger bullet diameter, as those things have huge chamber mouths, I decided to go all .454 bullets. These shoot very well in S&W’s, Rugers, and my Rodeo.

5" M25-7

255 LSWC (.452") 8.5 grain Unique lot UN331 WLP (nickle) primers
2-Sep-90 T ≈ 92 ° F

Ave Vel = 859
Std Dev = 56
ES = 172
Low = 780
High = 952
N = 6

255 LSWC (.454") 8.5 grain Unique lot UN331 WLP (nickle) primers
2-Sep-90 T ≈ 92 ° F

Ave Vel = 867
Std Dev = 61
ES = 161
Low = 791
High = 952
N = 6

5 1/2" USFA Rodeo

250 LRN (.452") 8.5 grs Unique thrown, R-P cases, CCI300 primers
12-May-02 T = 80°F

Ave Vel = 855
Std Dev = 16
ES = 59.91
High = 885.4
Low = 825.5
Number Shots 12

255 LSWC (.454") 8.5 grs Unique thrown, R-P cases, WLP primers
12-May-02 T = 84°F

Ave Vel = 844
Std Dev = 33
ES = 117.8
High = 907.6
Low = 789.8
Number Shots 12

bossman · March 6, 2011, 09:47 AM

Hey, thanks Slamfire that's a lot of good info. I was thinking of the Hornady cowboy swaged lead bullet and the .454 dia just made me want to check and see if it would work with my .45 colt. Looks like it would be a really good bullet as I use the Hornady swaged for my .38 already.

SwampYankee · March 6, 2011, 10:14 AM

I typically use a similar load but go with 8.0 grains of Unique, instead of 8.5 with the same bullet.

The last time I ran .45 LC and the Chronometer I was using my 4" Redhawk with the following load:

Caliber: .45 LC
Charge: 6.5 gr Solo 1250
Bullet: 255 gr RNL .452 S&S Casting
Primer: CCI 350
Velocity: 614 fps (6.3 SD)

Primer: CCI 300
Velocity: 599 fps (26.4 SD)

It had pretty poor accuracy but no recoil at all.

I'd probably get more accuracy out of this, my 6" Model 25-5.

Ole 5 hole group · March 6, 2011, 08:01 PM

Measure your cylinder throats – if they measure 452 or 453 then the 452 is the proper sized bullet. If your throats are 454 to 456 then the 454 bullet should be used.

Utilizing a 454 sized bullet in a revolver with 452 throats is sorta counterproductive, as your cylinder throats will resize your 454 bullet down to 452. Doesn't hurt anything except maybe accuracy.

bossman · March 6, 2011, 08:36 PM

The Hornady cold swage is is a soft bullet. Since it's .454 could I use it to slug the barrel?

March 5, 2011, 05:23 PM	#1
bossman Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 996	45 Colt ,452and.454 dia I see most lead 45 colt loads are .452 dia, but every now and then I see some with a .454 dia. Can you shoot the .454 in the Colt 45 ? I know they are in larger grain bullets. __________________ NRA life member When the going gets tough, I just open another beer.

March 6, 2011, 07:33 AM	#2
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	Primers and powder changes make more of a difference over my chronograph screens that the difference between .452 and .454 diameter bullets. I can’t tell any change in point of impact, leading, etc. As I have a few older 45 caliber pistols that require the larger bullet diameter, as those things have huge chamber mouths, I decided to go all .454 bullets. These shoot very well in S&W’s, Rugers, and my Rodeo. 5" M25-7 255 LSWC (.452") 8.5 grain Unique lot UN331 WLP (nickle) primers 2-Sep-90 T ≈ 92 ° F Ave Vel = 859 Std Dev = 56 ES = 172 Low = 780 High = 952 N = 6 255 LSWC (.454") 8.5 grain Unique lot UN331 WLP (nickle) primers 2-Sep-90 T ≈ 92 ° F Ave Vel = 867 Std Dev = 61 ES = 161 Low = 791 High = 952 N = 6 5 1/2" USFA Rodeo 250 LRN (.452") 8.5 grs Unique thrown, R-P cases, CCI300 primers 12-May-02 T = 80°F Ave Vel = 855 Std Dev = 16 ES = 59.91 High = 885.4 Low = 825.5 Number Shots 12 255 LSWC (.454") 8.5 grs Unique thrown, R-P cases, WLP primers 12-May-02 T = 84°F Ave Vel = 844 Std Dev = 33 ES = 117.8 High = 907.6 Low = 789.8 Number Shots 12 __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

March 6, 2011, 09:47 AM	#3
bossman Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 996	Hey, thanks Slamfire that's a lot of good info. I was thinking of the Hornady cowboy swaged lead bullet and the .454 dia just made me want to check and see if it would work with my .45 colt. Looks like it would be a really good bullet as I use the Hornady swaged for my .38 already. __________________ NRA life member When the going gets tough, I just open another beer.

March 6, 2011, 08:36 PM	#6
bossman Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 996	The Hornady cold swage is is a soft bullet. Since it's .454 could I use it to slug the barrel? __________________ NRA life member When the going gets tough, I just open another beer.

March 6, 2011, 10:14 AM	#4
SwampYankee Registration in progress Join Date: November 1, 2008 Location: I can be found on a number of other forums. Posts: 1,333	I typically use a similar load but go with 8.0 grains of Unique, instead of 8.5 with the same bullet. The last time I ran .45 LC and the Chronometer I was using my 4" Redhawk with the following load: Caliber: .45 LC Charge: 6.5 gr Solo 1250 Bullet: 255 gr RNL .452 S&S Casting Primer: CCI 350 Velocity: 614 fps (6.3 SD) Primer: CCI 300 Velocity: 599 fps (26.4 SD) It had pretty poor accuracy but no recoil at all. I'd probably get more accuracy out of this, my 6" Model 25-5.

March 6, 2011, 08:01 PM	#5
Ole 5 hole group Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2002 Location: Red River Valley of the North Posts: 203	Measure your cylinder throats – if they measure 452 or 453 then the 452 is the proper sized bullet. If your throats are 454 to 456 then the 454 bullet should be used. Utilizing a 454 sized bullet in a revolver with 452 throats is sorta counterproductive, as your cylinder throats will resize your 454 bullet down to 452. Doesn't hurt anything except maybe accuracy.