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Old January 2, 2013, 03:18 PM   #1
kingemandigger
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hot reloads for the 45 colt

Hey guys, I'm gonna start reloading for the 45 colt soon and am interested in making up some all purpose loads (hunting and target) with 300 grain cast bullets at around 1000-1400 fps. Just wondering what powders are recommended. Alliant 2400 and IMR 4227 sound like some good medium burning powder for loading b/w 16 and 20 grains without worrying about forcing cone erosion. any info or experience would be greatly appreciated...
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Old January 2, 2013, 03:24 PM   #2
m&p45acp10+1
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It would be good to know what you will be shooting them out of. Reason being not all .45 Colt handguns are made equal. The Colt SAA, and many of the clones of it. (Including modern ones.) Would be dangerous to fire the real hot loads out of. As well as trying to load a Ruger Black Hawk/TC Encore load in a newly made Ruger New Model Vaquero.

Lyman 49th has loads listed for strong action .45 Colt loads that would blow a weaker gun apart. Possibly injuring/killing the person shooting it, and any bystanders.
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Old January 2, 2013, 03:49 PM   #3
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Cimarron Model 1892
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Old January 2, 2013, 03:55 PM   #4
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w/ 24in barrel. the action (iv read) should be able to withstand pretty stout loads, up to 50,00psi
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Old January 2, 2013, 03:59 PM   #5
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add another zero to that #. these should be upwards of around 20,000-29,000
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Old January 2, 2013, 04:02 PM   #6
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I would contact the manufacturer for specs.

I read this article where they shot Buffalo Bore in them.

http://www.gunblast.com/Cimarron-1892.htm
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Old January 2, 2013, 10:13 PM   #7
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Heavier 45 Colt Reloads

I occasionally put together some +P 45 Colt loads. I prefer AA-9 powder for that purpose. In a strong enough gun you'll get the most velocity with W-296 and H-110 powders. But those two powders don't perform best in the 45 unless loaded at or very near maximum for, Ruger Only", loads. AA-9 is more tolerant of a wider range of pressure.
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Old January 3, 2013, 10:44 AM   #8
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Yep, around 24gr 296/110.
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Old January 3, 2013, 10:48 AM   #9
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Here are loads from Paco Kelly's Lever Guns site in his article "45 (long) Colt in
Leveraction Rifles"

http://leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm
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Old January 4, 2013, 03:01 PM   #10
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I load 300 gr Oregon Trail hard cast over 22 gr H110. Tops 1,200 fps out of a Blackhawk 6 1/2", and the cases drop right out. CCI magnum primers. COAL 1.65". Watch how deep you seat those long bullets. In a revolver, these sting the palm and wack the knuckle behind the trigger guard, but they should be easy shooters in a rifle. Work up slowly, as always.
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Old January 4, 2013, 03:24 PM   #11
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My hunting loads for my 10" Contender... use H-110 & 250 grain XTP's... I don't remember the charge, but the Contender ends up making my knuckle bleed before I get to the 10th shot
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Old January 5, 2013, 05:31 PM   #12
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To ligonierbill, what do you mean by watching how deep I seat my bullets, will seating depth effect overall pressure or are you just reminding to seat within OAL limits (1.65)? The bullets I will be using have two crimp grooves, and I assume the highest one (giving greatest seating depth) will give best results, even while filling the case with up to 22 grains. I've heard that H110 requires a little compression to shoot well. Just wondering if pressure is an issue and about your thoughts. Also, is seating depth an issue using 2400 since 2400 largely requires less powder. thanks
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Old January 5, 2013, 07:44 PM   #13
m&p45acp10+1
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Seating bullets too deep in pistol loads can increase pressure greatly. With magnum loads in large cases it can compress a powder that may not be good to compress.

Since you are loading for a lever gun. You will not run into a problem. Bullets should have a crimping groove. You will need to crimp to prevent the bullet from being pushed in too far creating the higher pressure. Also with the slower powders for the hot loads a good crimp is needed to hold onto the bullet that extra split second as the powder fully ignites. If not loads can get erratic.

I am sure someone can explain it way better than I can. I am just a guy on the internet. (In real life I am a dumb janitor.)
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Old January 6, 2013, 09:56 AM   #14
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+1 to m&p. Seating deeper may increase pressure. I seat to the lower groove (top groove is exposed). It's not just the strength of the gun - high pressure may result in difficult extraction. With "standard" loads (250 at just under 1,000), my COAL is 1.59. Note that Ruger cylinders sometimes have tight throats and require boring to load the longer rounds. Mine did. For your rifle, you'll just have to see what works. Not sure about H110 needing compression, but it is not to be used for light loads.
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Old January 6, 2013, 06:59 PM   #15
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thanks guys. I will try both grooves to see what will work with my rifle, but hopefully any compression wont be a pressure problem, being that the 92 action is quite strong. Ill also crimp heavily w/ the h110, and probably wont worry about depth and crimp with the 2400.
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Old January 7, 2013, 02:40 AM   #16
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I load 300gr TC from Missouri Bullet over 19gr of 2400. Its as stout as I want to shoot from my blackhawk.
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Old January 7, 2013, 12:48 PM   #17
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My heavy bullet load for the 45 Colt in my Blackhawk stainless 5-1/2" is Matt's 315 gr WFN GC over 18.2 gr Accurate 4100 and WLP primers for 1125 fps. Very accurate, controllable recoil and no pressure signs.



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