Experience / suggestions .45 Colt

velocette · January 31, 2009, 08:34 AM

Recently did some trading & ended up with a Ruger Bisley in .45 Colt.
I loaded up some new brass with 9 gr of UQ and 200 swc bullets sized to
.452. Accuracy at 50 ft seemed ok but when the range got longer, like 50 yds deteriorated. Watching the backstop at 100 yds the bullets were impacting all over the place. Apparantly they are tumbling. So maybe the 200 SWCs are not the bullet for this revolver.
Any suggestions on different profiles, weights or loads for better performance?

TIA
Roger

mkl · January 31, 2009, 11:09 AM

Back off to 8.0 grains of Unique and see what you get.

My Ruger Blackhawk gives excellent accuracy with the 200 gr SWC and 8.0 grains of Unique.

salvadore · January 31, 2009, 11:09 AM

What are your groups at 50' and 50 yards? Are you shooting from a rest? How substantial is the target you are shooting thru? How much shooting do you do?

salvadore · January 31, 2009, 11:11 AM

I see from your profile you are old enough to have been in Vietnam. How good are your eyes? Mine suck.

kraigwy · January 31, 2009, 11:49 AM

I dont load 45 LCs hot. If I want hot, I'll shoot my 44 mag.

I use 5.4 grs of 231 pushing a cast 250 grn bullet out of my Ruger NV and its a tac driver. It also shoots great in my wifes judge.

Never had problems of it Key holing at 100 yards or anywhere else.

But Hey, each gun is differant.

.45 Vet · January 31, 2009, 03:40 PM

Never tried the 200gr WC in .45Colt before, it may not be the best 100yd choice. Rugers are pretty well known for having under-size cylinders from the factory, causing accuracy/leading issues.

Your profile mentions Bullseye competition, so I'm not questioning your fire-arms experience.

velocette · January 31, 2009, 05:03 PM

Groups at 25 yds were 4 ~ 5", a little left and a little low. Fired with one hand. I anticipated the groups to be low due to the lighter bullet and the bit left could be just the gun. However at the 100 yd berm the impact points varied by about 5 ~ 8 feet. (!) Sight picture was clear as I use an orifice disc when I need to use iron sights. And yes I'm a Vietnam Vet. USAF, Da Nang & Quinhon. (God Bless the Marines & Army for keepin me safe!)

I'll drop the UQ down to 8 gr and try again, I also am getting some 230 grain and some 255 grain bullets from Mike at Mastercast. We shall see what can be done to get better downrange results. The good part of this is that I get to shoot a fun revolver a lot, enjoying myself even if it isn't perfect.

Thanks guys I appreciate the feedback.

Roger

zxcvbob · January 31, 2009, 05:26 PM

For a "sort of hot" load, I use 7.5 grains of Promo (Red Dot) with 230 grain cast bullets. I would shoot this load in any well made post-war gun, not just Rugers (I have a Ruger Bisley) but it is over SAAMI specs so use at your own risk. It is quite accurate at 50 feet; I haven't tried it at more than that. It's the one .45 Colt load that I make up by the hundreds. I also load an occasional box of zombie-stompers to get my recoil fix, cuz a .357 Magnum just doesn't do it for me.

salvadore · January 31, 2009, 06:41 PM

Maybe whatever you are shooting thru disperses your bullets to the berm. quinhon, big mountain inland, fragrant beach ocean side? Been a while.

medic0079 · February 1, 2009, 12:12 AM

9 gr seems kinda hot to me, although im using 255gr bullets too.

you may check this info out if you are looking for a tack driver.

http://www.alaskais.com/45Cylinderdoctor/

January 31, 2009, 08:34 AM	#1
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	Experience / suggestions .45 Colt Recently did some trading & ended up with a Ruger Bisley in .45 Colt. I loaded up some new brass with 9 gr of UQ and 200 swc bullets sized to .452. Accuracy at 50 ft seemed ok but when the range got longer, like 50 yds deteriorated. Watching the backstop at 100 yds the bullets were impacting all over the place. Apparantly they are tumbling. So maybe the 200 SWCs are not the bullet for this revolver. Any suggestions on different profiles, weights or loads for better performance? TIA Roger __________________ Trigger control + Breath control + Sight alignment = Gun Control. http://www.hrpclub.info/ NRA Smallbore Prone Master, High Power Master

January 31, 2009, 11:49 AM	#5
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I dont load 45 LCs hot. If I want hot, I'll shoot my 44 mag. I use 5.4 grs of 231 pushing a cast 250 grn bullet out of my Ruger NV and its a tac driver. It also shoots great in my wifes judge. Never had problems of it Key holing at 100 yards or anywhere else. But Hey, each gun is differant. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

January 31, 2009, 03:40 PM	#6
.45 Vet Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Western Penn. Posts: 387	Never tried the 200gr WC in .45Colt before, it may not be the best 100yd choice. Rugers are pretty well known for having under-size cylinders from the factory, causing accuracy/leading issues. Your profile mentions Bullseye competition, so I'm not questioning your fire-arms experience. __________________ For those who've never fought for it, the price of freedom shall never be known...

January 31, 2009, 05:03 PM	#7
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	Groups at 25 yds were 4 ~ 5", a little left and a little low. Fired with one hand. I anticipated the groups to be low due to the lighter bullet and the bit left could be just the gun. However at the 100 yd berm the impact points varied by about 5 ~ 8 feet. (!) Sight picture was clear as I use an orifice disc when I need to use iron sights. And yes I'm a Vietnam Vet. USAF, Da Nang & Quinhon. (God Bless the Marines & Army for keepin me safe!) I'll drop the UQ down to 8 gr and try again, I also am getting some 230 grain and some 255 grain bullets from Mike at Mastercast. We shall see what can be done to get better downrange results. The good part of this is that I get to shoot a fun revolver a lot, enjoying myself even if it isn't perfect. Thanks guys I appreciate the feedback. Roger __________________ Trigger control + Breath control + Sight alignment = Gun Control. http://www.hrpclub.info/ NRA Smallbore Prone Master, High Power Master

January 31, 2009, 05:26 PM	#8
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	For a "sort of hot" load, I use 7.5 grains of Promo (Red Dot) with 230 grain cast bullets. I would shoot this load in any well made post-war gun, not just Rugers (I have a Ruger Bisley) but it is over SAAMI specs so use at your own risk. It is quite accurate at 50 feet; I haven't tried it at more than that. It's the one .45 Colt load that I make up by the hundreds. I also load an occasional box of zombie-stompers to get my recoil fix, cuz a .357 Magnum just doesn't do it for me. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

January 31, 2009, 11:09 AM	#2
mkl Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Location: DFW area, Texas Posts: 494	Back off to 8.0 grains of Unique and see what you get. My Ruger Blackhawk gives excellent accuracy with the 200 gr SWC and 8.0 grains of Unique.

January 31, 2009, 11:09 AM	#3
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	What are your groups at 50' and 50 yards? Are you shooting from a rest? How substantial is the target you are shooting thru? How much shooting do you do?

January 31, 2009, 11:11 AM	#4
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	I see from your profile you are old enough to have been in Vietnam. How good are your eyes? Mine suck.

January 31, 2009, 06:41 PM	#9
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	Maybe whatever you are shooting thru disperses your bullets to the berm. quinhon, big mountain inland, fragrant beach ocean side? Been a while.

February 1, 2009, 12:12 AM	#10
medic0079 Member Join Date: November 21, 2008 Location: Gainesville FL Posts: 40	9 gr seems kinda hot to me, although im using 255gr bullets too. you may check this info out if you are looking for a tack driver. http://www.alaskais.com/45Cylinderdoctor/