I guess that I have been spoiled by the generous cylinders and chamber & throat lengths on my Ruger Blackhawks. In 45ACP or 45 Colt, there is almost no bullet style/size, weight that cannot be made to work - even those pointy rubber Hornady bullets.
I bought a Charter Arms Bulldog XL in 45 Colt for when I want to carry "light", and while it isn't a Ruger, it isn't a bad gun either. Anyway, I was eager to load some rounds for it - separate from my Ruger loads for obvious reasons, and ordered some 225 gn lead HP and some 255 gn lead HP and some 255 gn lead SWC from GT Bullets. The bullets seem pretty well made and the price was good, but my problem is loading them in the case so they don't protrude out the front of the cylinder and hit the forcing cone. The 225 gn HPs work fine, but leave only about .030" or maybe less clearance to the front face of the cylinder when I trim my cases to 1.275 (I usually do trim to this length).
The 255 gn bullets (SWC, and ESPECIALLY the HP) are too long by at least .015 - .020" out the front of the cylinder, so I would have to trim more than that MORE off the case length to get them to fit in the much shorter Bulldog cylinder. Question is - How short have you trimmed your 45 Colt brass to load bullets in a revolver - especially one with shorter cylinders than a blackhawk?? I know the FTX rubber tip bullets' cases are generally trimmed very short. Most other ammo is out at 1.280" case length. I think if I want to use a 255gn bullet in this Bulldog without going alot shorter in case length, I'll have to use WFN, maybe RN lead bullets without any hollowpoint, which is too bad as the GT Bullets have a great looking large cavity in the nose that should work great at lower, subsonic velocities where this Bulldog will be working.
Appreciate any feedback (but not "sell the gun") LOL
I bought a Charter Arms Bulldog XL in 45 Colt for when I want to carry "light", and while it isn't a Ruger, it isn't a bad gun either. Anyway, I was eager to load some rounds for it - separate from my Ruger loads for obvious reasons, and ordered some 225 gn lead HP and some 255 gn lead HP and some 255 gn lead SWC from GT Bullets. The bullets seem pretty well made and the price was good, but my problem is loading them in the case so they don't protrude out the front of the cylinder and hit the forcing cone. The 225 gn HPs work fine, but leave only about .030" or maybe less clearance to the front face of the cylinder when I trim my cases to 1.275 (I usually do trim to this length).
The 255 gn bullets (SWC, and ESPECIALLY the HP) are too long by at least .015 - .020" out the front of the cylinder, so I would have to trim more than that MORE off the case length to get them to fit in the much shorter Bulldog cylinder. Question is - How short have you trimmed your 45 Colt brass to load bullets in a revolver - especially one with shorter cylinders than a blackhawk?? I know the FTX rubber tip bullets' cases are generally trimmed very short. Most other ammo is out at 1.280" case length. I think if I want to use a 255gn bullet in this Bulldog without going alot shorter in case length, I'll have to use WFN, maybe RN lead bullets without any hollowpoint, which is too bad as the GT Bullets have a great looking large cavity in the nose that should work great at lower, subsonic velocities where this Bulldog will be working.
Appreciate any feedback (but not "sell the gun") LOL