45 Colt with Sierra 240 gr load question

Doodlebugger45 · April 16, 2009, 01:43 PM

I'm pretty new to reloading so I've tried to start very simply with loads straight from the manufacturer's manuals and not get too adventurous until I am comfortable with the basics. So far I've only loaded some pretty mild loads using cast bullets for my 357 and 45 Colt and I'm pretty satisfied with the results.

I bought some jacketed bullets the other day though to try those out at a bit higher velocities than cast bullets. The manuals don't present any dilemmas for me for the 357 JHP bullets I bought.

However, I'm slightly puzzled when it comes to the JHPs I bought for the 45 Colt. They are made by Sierra and are 240 gr JHP. I see plenty of load info for 250 gr jacketed bullets and lots of info for 230 gr lead bullets, but nothing specific for a 240 gr jacketed bullet. My question is where would be a good starting load? Is that 10 gr less weight compared to the 250 gr bullet going to cause major problems for me? I have both Unique and Winchester 231 powders right now. Can I take a starting load published for the 250 gr and use that as my starting load for the 240?

Magnum Wheel Man · April 16, 2009, 01:55 PM

this is from the Sierra manual...

ooops sorry, I pulled this data off a website, that credited the Sierra manual they look like +P loadings, or Contender / Ruger loadings, but were not labeled that way on the site, so I pulled them, until I can find the sane loads...

sorry... was just trying to help

Doodlebugger45 · April 16, 2009, 03:36 PM

Thanks a bunch!

I only had the Speer manual (funny how Speer doesn't give any help on Sierra bullets)and access to a couple others, but not the Sierra manual, so your info is a great help to me. Those are some pretty fast velocities coming out of the old 45 compared to the tame loads I've been used to. This will be fun.

Pathfinder45 · April 17, 2009, 01:37 AM

Those are hot loads!

It won't be fun if you blow your gun to pieces! All of those loads are way too much for a Colt SAA or any of the Italian replicas. If you are using that data in a Ruger Blackhawk, then you should be OK. I Did not see any mention of the Firearm you are loading for. I don't mean to over-react; just don't want anybody to get hurt.

zxcvbob · April 17, 2009, 02:06 AM

There's no need to use jacketed bullet in .45 Colt. Even when hot-rodded to .44 Magnum performance (Rugers and similar guns only), 250-ish grain cast bullets do just fine and they are cheaper.

What kind of gun do ya got? :-)

10 grains less [bullet weight] won't make a bit of difference. 10 grains more could potentially make a difference at the upper end of the load data.

WESHOOT2 · April 17, 2009, 07:49 AM

Unique / 240g Sierra / CCI300: start 7.7g, MAX 9.2g

Magnum Wheel Man · April 17, 2009, 07:49 AM

yep... sorry... I should have started out with the obligitory... safe for modern guns in good shape, always start a 10% reduced load & work up...

longranger · April 17, 2009, 09:46 AM

I have an older Sierra handgun manual and it list' the 240gr JHC/PJ.

Bullseye: 6.00gr-700fps-7.5gr 900fps, .5gr increments

Red Dot: 6.1gr- " 7.6gr "

Green Dot : 6.9 " 8.4 "

Unique: 8.2 800fps 9.2 "

Herco 8.8 800fps 9.8 "

Hope this helps

April 16, 2009, 01:43 PM	#1
Doodlebugger45 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,717	45 Colt with Sierra 240 gr load question I'm pretty new to reloading so I've tried to start very simply with loads straight from the manufacturer's manuals and not get too adventurous until I am comfortable with the basics. So far I've only loaded some pretty mild loads using cast bullets for my 357 and 45 Colt and I'm pretty satisfied with the results. I bought some jacketed bullets the other day though to try those out at a bit higher velocities than cast bullets. The manuals don't present any dilemmas for me for the 357 JHP bullets I bought. However, I'm slightly puzzled when it comes to the JHPs I bought for the 45 Colt. They are made by Sierra and are 240 gr JHP. I see plenty of load info for 250 gr jacketed bullets and lots of info for 230 gr lead bullets, but nothing specific for a 240 gr jacketed bullet. My question is where would be a good starting load? Is that 10 gr less weight compared to the 250 gr bullet going to cause major problems for me? I have both Unique and Winchester 231 powders right now. Can I take a starting load published for the 250 gr and use that as my starting load for the 240?

April 16, 2009, 01:55 PM	#2
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	this is from the Sierra manual... ooops sorry, I pulled this data off a website, that credited the Sierra manual they look like +P loadings, or Contender / Ruger loadings, but were not labeled that way on the site, so I pulled them, until I can find the sane loads... sorry... was just trying to help __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust... Last edited by Magnum Wheel Man; April 17, 2009 at 08:04 AM.

April 17, 2009, 01:37 AM	#4
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	Hold On Now! Those are hot loads! It won't be fun if you blow your gun to pieces! All of those loads are way too much for a Colt SAA or any of the Italian replicas. If you are using that data in a Ruger Blackhawk, then you should be OK. I Did not see any mention of the Firearm you are loading for. I don't mean to over-react; just don't want anybody to get hurt.

April 17, 2009, 02:06 AM	#5
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	There's no need to use jacketed bullet in .45 Colt. Even when hot-rodded to .44 Magnum performance (Rugers and similar guns only), 250-ish grain cast bullets do just fine and they are cheaper. What kind of gun do ya got? :-) 10 grains less [bullet weight] won't make a bit of difference. 10 grains more could potentially make a difference at the upper end of the load data. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth Last edited by zxcvbob; April 17, 2009 at 02:18 PM.

April 17, 2009, 07:49 AM	#6
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	from my Sierra #4 Unique / 240g Sierra / CCI300: start 7.7g, MAX 9.2g __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 16, 2009, 03:36 PM	#3
Doodlebugger45 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,717	Thanks a bunch! I only had the Speer manual (funny how Speer doesn't give any help on Sierra bullets)and access to a couple others, but not the Sierra manual, so your info is a great help to me. Those are some pretty fast velocities coming out of the old 45 compared to the tame loads I've been used to. This will be fun.

April 17, 2009, 09:46 AM	#8
longranger Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2008 Location: Buffalo WY Posts: 1,056	I have an older Sierra handgun manual and it list' the 240gr JHC/PJ. Bullseye: 6.00gr-700fps-7.5gr 900fps, .5gr increments Red Dot: 6.1gr- " 7.6gr " Green Dot : 6.9 " 8.4 " Unique: 8.2 800fps 9.2 " Herco 8.8 800fps 9.8 " Hope this helps