Hard hitting .45 Colt Loads
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Pathfinder45
New member
About genuine black powder......
I don't know about BP substitutes, so this just applies to real BP: Black powder needs light to moderate compression to work properly. Case in point: Years ago I had the opportunity to use a cap-lock muzzle-loading rifle that would repeatably misfire everytime if the powder wasn't tamped down with the rod before seating the ball, but always fired when tamped before seating. But we are talking here about BP 45 Colt cartridges. Keep in mind that the century-plus-old cartridge that I dismantled contained a densely packed charge. What I did was to figure out where the base of my bullet would be in the completed cartridge. Then with a primed case I added Gearhart-Owens fffG black powder a little at a time while hand packing it with a dowel until I reached where the base of the bullet would be. I rechecked the depth of the powder and the depth of the bullet to make sure it was the same and then added a very, very small amount of more powder to be certain that there would be adequate compression if cases varied a little and knowing that the press would be able to compress it without bulging the case. I did this with 6 matching cases. Then I removed and individually weighed each powder charge to obtain a standard weight for each cartridge. After that I loaded up 50 rounds by simply weighing each charge, inserting into identical cases, tamping with a dowel and seating a 255 grain hand-cast Lee RNFP bullet lubed with toilet-bowl sealing ring wax. With cast bullets I crimp while seating the bullets. I also made sure all cases are trimmed to a uniform length. Shooting results were excellent showing comparable accuracy and plenty of power. It felt the same recoil-wise as my 9.5 grain Unique loads.
I don't know about BP substitutes, so this just applies to real BP: Black powder needs light to moderate compression to work properly. Case in point: Years ago I had the opportunity to use a cap-lock muzzle-loading rifle that would repeatably misfire everytime if the powder wasn't tamped down with the rod before seating the ball, but always fired when tamped before seating. But we are talking here about BP 45 Colt cartridges. Keep in mind that the century-plus-old cartridge that I dismantled contained a densely packed charge. What I did was to figure out where the base of my bullet would be in the completed cartridge. Then with a primed case I added Gearhart-Owens fffG black powder a little at a time while hand packing it with a dowel until I reached where the base of the bullet would be. I rechecked the depth of the powder and the depth of the bullet to make sure it was the same and then added a very, very small amount of more powder to be certain that there would be adequate compression if cases varied a little and knowing that the press would be able to compress it without bulging the case. I did this with 6 matching cases. Then I removed and individually weighed each powder charge to obtain a standard weight for each cartridge. After that I loaded up 50 rounds by simply weighing each charge, inserting into identical cases, tamping with a dowel and seating a 255 grain hand-cast Lee RNFP bullet lubed with toilet-bowl sealing ring wax. With cast bullets I crimp while seating the bullets. I also made sure all cases are trimmed to a uniform length. Shooting results were excellent showing comparable accuracy and plenty of power. It felt the same recoil-wise as my 9.5 grain Unique loads.
Not to hijack the thread but does the heavy 45 Colt loads really feel milder then similar 44 magnum. For instance if I had a Ruger BH and SBH with 7.5 inch barrels, each with a 260 grain slug going along at say 1300 fps, would the 45 Colt recoil less? I keep hearing this but I only have experience with a 44mag hunting loads and cowboy loads for my 45 vaquero.
Would be the same ... Physics doesn't change on a whim
. Now if you used different powder in each, the perceived recoil may be different... Oh, the 'hole' at the other end would be slight larger though .As to BP ... see Post #57 for my comments on Triple-7 a substitute BP. I've yet to run into a can of the 'real' stuff but 777 is readily available here.
Last edited:
newfrontier45
Moderator
Comparable bullet weights and similar velocities will recoil the same. I have a near matched set of custom Ruger Bisleys, one in .44Mag, the other in .45Colt, same barrel length and I'll be damned if I can tell a difference.
Having found a long sought out 45 Colt based on the 7.5" Redhawk frame, in the last part of year before last, I ahve done some pretty extensive research on loads for it. It came to me, for all practical purposes, new in the box, and if it HAD been fired I could not find any trace of it.
In the beginning I only had couple of bullets in which to see how she shot, these were lead 255gr RF's from Oregon Trail, and some that I had poured up for my 45acp which ranged from 200 through the Lee 255gr RF. I had powders ranging from Bullseye through H-110 and 296 both before they became the same. In and amongst these were 2400, and an assortment of Accurate powders.
In doing the research on loads I also found the Linebaugh writings, and noted several loads I wanted to try. In looking through my assortment of powders I found I had a couple pounds of W-540, which one of had the note, "Use HS-67 Data", taped on the side. I had dug them out from the back of my safe a couple of years back and when looking for load data found that it had been discontinued. I made the call to Winchester and asked about them and was told at the time to use it straight up with the HS-6 listed loads.
Well it only took me a few weekends to work through several different powders, all of which gave very acceptable accuracy. Some of them were down in the ACP level of velocity whils some were up in the 1100 - 1200fps range. Then I tired out the Linebaugh load of 13grs with the 260gr bullet. From the first group I shot until now they continue to be one of, if not the most accurate load I ahve for this revolver.
I have also acquired a couple of newer molds which allom me to pour up either solid or HP versions of the 45 270 SAA, and of a 640 design as well. THese are awesome bullets in the Redhawk. The overal theme behind this revolver is however, to keep the velocities up to or around 1100fps for top accuracy with any of the bullets. If I push them harder which I easily can the accuracy starts to suffer. I first thought it might be due to the alloy, but quickly found that a harder alloy didn't help out, butin fact hurt. Even going with a GC type bullet ended up culling the accuracy for velocity.
I decided pretty quick that anything much over the 270 SAA was going to be overkill for this fine old round, and if I needed more punch I can easily head out with my 454. As for penetration, I use some 5'ish gallon buckets filled with tamped fine sand as a bullet trap. They work great in that the twist on lids are easily capable of handling a ocuple hundred shots before needing to be replaced. I simply use duct tape by itself or add in a piece of cardboard to cover the holes or splits up. Then slap a stick on target and go to town.
Most of the HP loads even at the lower velocities at 25yds will penetrate down to within the last couple of inches of the buckets. Even at 50 they still drive deep in them. Using anything in a solid heavier than the 260gr loads usually will drive right on through. What this tells me is that even using the medicore loads listed in all manuals will get you plenty of penetration, and if your using one of the medium to heavier weight WFN type bullets your going to get a definitive reaction when you drop the hammer on game.
I have been told, and expeienced it myself, that when using the WFN or RFN type bullets, if kept in the neighborhood of 1100 - 1350'ish feet per second at impact, you will get plenty of tissue disruption, sometimes even more than if using a premium type JHP. I have personally seen this with my 44 and my 454 using cast WFN's, but have yet to be able to connect with anything in the woods willing to assist with my testing. I am not discouraged however as it is only a matter of time before some brazen hog walks out and allows me to run my test. I am sure it will be very similar if not identical to what I ahve found with the other calibers.
In the beginning I only had couple of bullets in which to see how she shot, these were lead 255gr RF's from Oregon Trail, and some that I had poured up for my 45acp which ranged from 200 through the Lee 255gr RF. I had powders ranging from Bullseye through H-110 and 296 both before they became the same. In and amongst these were 2400, and an assortment of Accurate powders.
In doing the research on loads I also found the Linebaugh writings, and noted several loads I wanted to try. In looking through my assortment of powders I found I had a couple pounds of W-540, which one of had the note, "Use HS-67 Data", taped on the side. I had dug them out from the back of my safe a couple of years back and when looking for load data found that it had been discontinued. I made the call to Winchester and asked about them and was told at the time to use it straight up with the HS-6 listed loads.
Well it only took me a few weekends to work through several different powders, all of which gave very acceptable accuracy. Some of them were down in the ACP level of velocity whils some were up in the 1100 - 1200fps range. Then I tired out the Linebaugh load of 13grs with the 260gr bullet. From the first group I shot until now they continue to be one of, if not the most accurate load I ahve for this revolver.
I have also acquired a couple of newer molds which allom me to pour up either solid or HP versions of the 45 270 SAA, and of a 640 design as well. THese are awesome bullets in the Redhawk. The overal theme behind this revolver is however, to keep the velocities up to or around 1100fps for top accuracy with any of the bullets. If I push them harder which I easily can the accuracy starts to suffer. I first thought it might be due to the alloy, but quickly found that a harder alloy didn't help out, butin fact hurt. Even going with a GC type bullet ended up culling the accuracy for velocity.
I decided pretty quick that anything much over the 270 SAA was going to be overkill for this fine old round, and if I needed more punch I can easily head out with my 454. As for penetration, I use some 5'ish gallon buckets filled with tamped fine sand as a bullet trap. They work great in that the twist on lids are easily capable of handling a ocuple hundred shots before needing to be replaced. I simply use duct tape by itself or add in a piece of cardboard to cover the holes or splits up. Then slap a stick on target and go to town.
Most of the HP loads even at the lower velocities at 25yds will penetrate down to within the last couple of inches of the buckets. Even at 50 they still drive deep in them. Using anything in a solid heavier than the 260gr loads usually will drive right on through. What this tells me is that even using the medicore loads listed in all manuals will get you plenty of penetration, and if your using one of the medium to heavier weight WFN type bullets your going to get a definitive reaction when you drop the hammer on game.
I have been told, and expeienced it myself, that when using the WFN or RFN type bullets, if kept in the neighborhood of 1100 - 1350'ish feet per second at impact, you will get plenty of tissue disruption, sometimes even more than if using a premium type JHP. I have personally seen this with my 44 and my 454 using cast WFN's, but have yet to be able to connect with anything in the woods willing to assist with my testing. I am not discouraged however as it is only a matter of time before some brazen hog walks out and allows me to run my test. I am sure it will be very similar if not identical to what I ahve found with the other calibers.