A couple of 45 Colt loads

H

Hunter Customs

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I decided to get out my chronograph and do a little testing on a couple of 45 Colt loads I've been loading.

The test gun used to chronograph the loads is my Cimarron/Uberti 1873 P-OM model with a 4-3/4 inch barrel.

The first load is my plinking load, it's a 255 gr SWC bullet I cast with a Lee bullet mold, 6.8 grs of IMR700X, average velocity of 850 fps.
This load is economical to shoot as you can get a little over a 1000 loads from a pound of powder, it's a good accurate load with a pretty good wallop.

The second load I tested is my deer hunting load, it's a 280 gr WFN bullet I cast from a Lee mold, 19.5 grs of IMR 4227, average velocity of 855 fps.
This is a good accurate load, I figure it should work well on any Missouri deer at 50 yards or less.

The second load will be used in Cimarron/Uberti Bisley model with a 5-1/2 inch barrel as it's the gun I deer hunt with, there should be a little velocity gain with the longer barrel but I don't think it will be much.
 
I found an online load using 18gr of 5744 under a 255grLRNFP. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm hoping to get a little more performance from a 92 carbine. This load using IMR 4227 may be useful in this application as well. To date I've used
Unique, 800X, and Blue Dot handgun loads with decent accuracy. The slower burn rate powders should be better utilized in the longer barrel. Cowboy loads are about like 255gr. CB caps.
 
It's funny that you mention 5744, I was talking with a client on the phone today that I've not heard from for many years.

We were discussing guns and the conversation turned to 45 Colt loads, he suggested I try some 5744 if I can find any.

In a 92 rifle I believe you can go quite a bit hotter then 19.5 grs of IMR4227, I've been to 21 grs in my handguns but the 19.5 seems to be the most accurate in them.
 
19.5 grs of IMR 4227, 280g bullet
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One of my favorite loads is 20g IMR 4227 under 255g SWC using CCI-350 primer. Only thing that keeps me from using it as a general load is it isn't economical!
 
I've loaded more handloads for the 45 Colt cartridge using different types of powder then any other pistol caliber I own.
I find a good load I like but because of the powder availability I have to try something else.

I now have a decent supply of IMR700X, IMR4227 and HS6, I'm wanting to keep my loads down around 21,000 PSI and I don't mind sacrificing some velocity for tighter groups, up to a point.
I have not had a chance to do any serious loading with the HS6, it may be my best choice for velocity and accuracy.

The 280 gr bullet has two crimp grooves so I can set the bullet deeper in the case, that's something I plan on experimenting with at a later date.
I've also taken another Lee 300 gr mold and milled it so that it will cast a flat base bullet with a 267 gr weight, same nose style as the 280 gr bullet but with a little less bullet in the case.
It has the double crimp groove so I have another bullet to experiment with.

I also have 4 pounds of VVN110, anyone have loads using this powder?
 
I have a Redhawk with the short barrel as a companion carry, so Ruger only loads are totally appropriate. I usually load down a couple of tenths of a grain for my model 25 Smiths. No point in stretching out a tack driver!
 
I have not had a chance to do any serious loading with the HS6, it may be my best choice for velocity and accuracy.
Click to expand...
You'll like it. My goto load with that powder is 13.0g under 250-260g bullet. A tier 2 load, so safe in my large and medium frame SAs, yet
a good woods load.
 
As rclark said, 20.0gr I4227 is a very popular load, N110-17.0 to 18.5gr 250/255gr bullet should give 950-1025fps.
 
rclark, thanks for the load info on the HS6.
I'll be loading for a Uberti Bisley model using either a 267gr or 280gr bullet so I think I'll start at 10.5 and work my way up.

1100 tac, I've loaded to 21grs of IMR4227 but my Uberti Bisley shoots more accurate with the 19.5gr load I posted, that's why I went with it.
Thanks for the VVN110 info I do plan on doing some load development with what I have on hand.
I've had very good results with VV powders in the past in pistol calibers.

It looks like the sun is trying to come out after our morning shower, maybe I'll get to do some load testing this afternoon.
 
Hs6 is a fantastic powder to have around for all kinds of different applications. Anything from 9millis to magnum loads. I don't know of any other powder like it. It doesn't have an edge on economy with a lot of cartridges, but its a great velocity powder that burns up clean on the way out. I like 4227 just for the fact it can be loaded down well if your just wanting practice loads, but its a bit wimpy. Hs6 is a nice compromise between too hot and too anemic, goldilocks
 
Well I finally had a chance to do more testing and chronographing today, all my loads from the 5-1/2 inch Bisley produced higher numbers of course and a couple of the loads gave me the higher KO factor that I'm after.
Here's the loads in the order I checked them.

1. 12 grs of HS6, 267 WFN, velocity 895 fps, KO factor 15.43, this is an accurate load and will work as a deer hunting load.

2.12 grs of HS6, 280 gr WFN, velocity 902 fps, KO factor 16.30, again a nice accurate load and a prime candidate for deer hunting.

3. 19.5 grs of IMR4227, 280 gr WFN, velocity 925 fps, KO factor 16.72, this a very accurate load and having the highest KO of all the loads I've tested this will be my first choice for deer hunting.

4. 6.8 grs of IMR700X, 255 gr Lee SWC velocity 892 fps, KO factor 14.68, very accurate and economical load powder wise, this will be my target practice/plinking load however it could work for deer hunting in a pinch.

5.19.5 grs IMR4227, 267 gr WFN, velocity 927 fps, KO factor 15.98, again an accurate load and would be an excellent choice for deer hunting .

The bullets used in loads 1,2,3 and 5 has two crimp grooves and the loads were loaded to the longer OAL of 1.630, my next experiment will be to use the other crimp groove for an OAL 1.540.

With the shorter OAL I'll reduce my powder charges some to start with and try to get back to my original loads.
I have a hunch I'll get a better burn from the IMR4227 and HS6 by reducing the OAL thus increasing the bullet pull.
 
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