Recently purchased. Bought the dies, starline brass, some Speer 452 deep curl bullets. 19 grains H110 (speer starting load), mag primer - stout, flattened primers, case blowby. Micd the throats and figured that was the problem seeing as people are having throats reamed out to 4525. Slugged the barrel - 451 grooves, 444 lands. slugged throats - 452. It would appear I have to stay with 451 jacketed bullets. Only ones I can find are Speer. Also using oregon trail 250 gr lead but wanted the jacketed full power for hiking trips in the mountains. So, am curious what you fellow big bores are using in your 45 Colt for bear protection.
Blackhawk in 45 Colt
- Thread starter cidrmakr
- Start date
You sure you checked your measurements right? That is beautiful for a factory Ruger, my experiance is with what you have, if its right you have a good shootable piece. You will be just fine shooting 452 bullets, and with those dimensions I think I would upgrade to some good cast boolits in .452" diameter. If you are having good easy extraction Your fine, you cant always just look at the primers and tell much about a load, but be assured your gun is very capable of shooting .452" bullets! If you are loading a 250 grain bullet you are way under a starting load for a charge with H-110, it is very sensative to light loads. If you want to get some good reltable load data start here, and always remember It is just as dangerous to underload as overload!! http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp I use one boolit for everything (but I cast my own) 340 grain WFNGC with 18.0 grains 2400. fabulous!
flatgate
Hawkeye
.452" LBT designed 325/335 grain, gas checked bullets over a stout charge of WW296, sparked by a CCI-350 primer. I've reduced the diameter of my "belling/flaring" die a bit to insure tight fit of the bullets in the case. I use a Lee "Factory Crimp Die" which rolls a significant amount of brass into the bullet's crimp groove. I make certain my hammer fall is smooth, without any undue friction from the lockwork components, including the hammer's fit in the cylinder frame's hammer well. What I end up with is a "slower" version of the .454 Casull ammo.
FWIW, the vast majority of my guns haven't seen more than 1 percent or 2 of their loads being assembled with jacketed bullets. My comment is "Why bother?".
JMHO,
flatgate
FWIW, the vast majority of my guns haven't seen more than 1 percent or 2 of their loads being assembled with jacketed bullets. My comment is "Why bother?".
JMHO,
flatgate
protoolman
Service-Sixer
I use a 320 gr Lyman Mold that I had a machinist turn the gas check ring out of makng it a plain base. I load that with winchester WLP primers in Starline brass with a stiff charge of 4227 powder which I have chronographed at about 1300 fps. Shoots like a dream with good accuracy.
GAR
Single-Sixer
+1 on what FLATGATE stated. Use almost the same identical load in my BH.
Also using a 285gr RCBS SAA cast from a MP mold with 13gr of HS6. Plenty of power for normal use.
Tom
Also using a 285gr RCBS SAA cast from a MP mold with 13gr of HS6. Plenty of power for normal use.
Tom
You should be aware most revolvers will have some blow by, and more so with lighter loads, but if you want less than max loads I think most here will assure you H-110 is not the powder you want, it is at it's best with top end loads. Why my suggestion of 2400, or maybe for light loads use unique, or some other powder like the others have posted. light loads and H-110 don't work for me. If your bullets are 250 grain with the load you are showing of 19.0 grains it is almost 7 grains below the sugested starting load by the powder manufacturer!!! see it here (250 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon H110 .452") (starting load 25.7 1398 27,000 CUP)- (Max load 26.5 1455 29,800 CUP) H-110 is truley a magnum powder for upper preasure loads.
Thanks for the info. Have reloaded for years, just not for the 45 Colt. Was at Cabelas and bought a 500 box of oregon trail 250 fp, and a box of the new speer deep curl (only jacketed ones they had). In looking into the deep curl, speers' website says call them for reload data. did so. was told H110 or 296 with 350 primers, in starline brass, starting 19 gr - max 21. Seemed odd to me since I have the new speer manual and hodgens (and subscribe to load data.com) but that is what they prescribed for that bullet. Oregon trail suggests max of 10.5 unique for the ruger. So, will do some more work with this. Need to see what the max cartridge length can be with the throats where they are to see if the 350's will work or not to crimp in the cannulure. May have to ream the throats after all. Rugers: 45 BH, 357 BH, single six, mini 14, M77 - 300 win.
DGW1949
Hawkeye
10.5 grns of Unique with a 250-ish bullet is a BUNCH of powder. I'd suggest starting with 8.0 grns, working up towards that 10.5, but stopping as soon as accuracy fails to improve.
As far as power from a 45LC goes......just as a point of reference, I've yet to put a broadside shot on a whitetail that didn't exit the far side. And that is using a soft-cast 255 LSWC over 8.0-8.5 grains of Unique. Me thinks that an extra 2 grns would go unnoticed by most of the critters that you are likely to encounter.
About that blowby;
The 45 LC is famous for that.
First off, insure that you neck sizing die aint too large. Many of them are.
Keep "belling" to an absolute minimum.
Use a good-firm roll crimp.
Use a proper powder for the job at hand.
Hope this helps.
DGW
As far as power from a 45LC goes......just as a point of reference, I've yet to put a broadside shot on a whitetail that didn't exit the far side. And that is using a soft-cast 255 LSWC over 8.0-8.5 grains of Unique. Me thinks that an extra 2 grns would go unnoticed by most of the critters that you are likely to encounter.
About that blowby;
The 45 LC is famous for that.
First off, insure that you neck sizing die aint too large. Many of them are.
Keep "belling" to an absolute minimum.
Use a good-firm roll crimp.
Use a proper powder for the job at hand.
Hope this helps.
DGW
powder smoke
Hawkeye
DGW1949 said:
+ 1 8.0 to 8.5 of Unique will do the job on most critter with a 250 gr cast bullits ps
Plus 1 on Powder smoke and Dwg's comments regarding Unique, and welcome to the forum, cidrmakr.
Start with 8.0 gr of Unique and work up. For my guns, (a 3rd Gen Colt SAA and a "New" Vaquero), 8.0 to 8.3 gr of current production Unique works wonders...sub 2" gps at 25 yds. I've chrono'd these loads at 850 to 900 fps from both guns...Colt = 7-1/2" barrel, Ruger = 4-5/8" barrel. Padnuh, those are authoritative loads!
As to reloading the brass, I've found that neck thickness varies with the head stamp. I sort mine and have found some that are not usable with jacketed bullets that measure less than .452" dia. In my case, this is caused by my Lyman sizer die, (from the 70's), which does not reduce the case neck sufficiently. To get around this annoying problem, I use a .45 ACP sizer as a 2nd step, after the .45 Colt sizer....yeah I know...why not buy a better set of dies...
For cast bullets of at least .452+ dia. the original .45 Colt set from Lyman works just fine...giving good case neck tension.
I get blow by too, but if the accuracy is there and there are no other problems, (bullets jumping their crimp etc), I don't mind.
Good luck with your loading...Rodfac BTW...I've found that Win 231 or HP38 work at least as well as Unique for these levels of velocity, and sometimes better and measure infinitely better through my RCBS Uniflow or Dillon's measure. Rod
Start with 8.0 gr of Unique and work up. For my guns, (a 3rd Gen Colt SAA and a "New" Vaquero), 8.0 to 8.3 gr of current production Unique works wonders...sub 2" gps at 25 yds. I've chrono'd these loads at 850 to 900 fps from both guns...Colt = 7-1/2" barrel, Ruger = 4-5/8" barrel. Padnuh, those are authoritative loads!
As to reloading the brass, I've found that neck thickness varies with the head stamp. I sort mine and have found some that are not usable with jacketed bullets that measure less than .452" dia. In my case, this is caused by my Lyman sizer die, (from the 70's), which does not reduce the case neck sufficiently. To get around this annoying problem, I use a .45 ACP sizer as a 2nd step, after the .45 Colt sizer....yeah I know...why not buy a better set of dies...
For cast bullets of at least .452+ dia. the original .45 Colt set from Lyman works just fine...giving good case neck tension.
I get blow by too, but if the accuracy is there and there are no other problems, (bullets jumping their crimp etc), I don't mind.
Good luck with your loading...Rodfac BTW...I've found that Win 231 or HP38 work at least as well as Unique for these levels of velocity, and sometimes better and measure infinitely better through my RCBS Uniflow or Dillon's measure. Rod
maxpress
Buckeye
I dont know where your at but when I was in Alaska then nothing short of a 300gr 44-45 at 1300fps or better.
Down here in the PNW bears are ussually cinnomon or black which =about 250-350lbs average so anything 250gr hard cast at 900fps+ will do.
I havnt seen anything that that bullet will not pass clear through at deffense ranges. Anything faster than that your just making a bigger hole in tree on the other side of the bear.
Down here in the PNW bears are ussually cinnomon or black which =about 250-350lbs average so anything 250gr hard cast at 900fps+ will do.
I havnt seen anything that that bullet will not pass clear through at deffense ranges. Anything faster than that your just making a bigger hole in tree on the other side of the bear.
riddleofsteel
Bearcat
8.5 grains of Unique and a 250 grain SWC is my most common plinking load although it will also roll a groundhog or other small to medium game pretty well.
10 grains of Unique under a 270 grain hard cast Keith style SWC will let the air out of almost any thing that walks in North America even from a 4 5/8" barrel.
10 grains of Unique under a 270 grain hard cast Keith style SWC will let the air out of almost any thing that walks in North America even from a 4 5/8" barrel.
I don't get many standing out in the open shots where I hunt, some but not often. I have used, (30-37 years ago), a popular 255 grain SWC, however that is an ancient boolit and not the best choice for hard impact, the WFN is a much better transferer of energy, The heavy boolit I haven proven for over 25 years to shoot thru brush and saplings in thickets sometime so thick I can see the deers head but not the body, by observing the movement of the deer to determine the position of the vitals to make an instant killing shot. I will assure the 340 WFNGC I pour and load will go thru much heavier brush without being deflected of my target than any 250 grain class slug at any speed. That is why I use it only, and only it, for all field use, in bear country I simply change the load to 1300+ fps, in colt, or go to my 454's. For damage on game, they don't know the difference it does no more damage to deer than the lighter hard cast slug, and a lot less damaged meat than the Hollow points, and even at 130 yards will still completely penatrate a deer broadside and drop em where there hit, and probably end to end. So now you can take a chance wounding deer if brush is involved, not taking the shot if brush is involved, or using a proper slug if that situation arrives, and making a responsible kill shot when it does. I don't shoot much of the lighter boolits anymore, but can asure you, that at 150 to 200fps less velocity. I have a much tamer recoil, lighter report, and every bit as flat a shooting load out to 150 yards, and flatter after that. I use to shoot lighter boolits and have seen the difference in the field, if I lived on the prairie, where sage brush was my brush problem, or I only hunted out of a stand, I would probably be able to be as sucsesfull with a lighter boolit, but still would not like the sharper report from more powder being burnt, and a much sharper stinging recoil, compared to the less violent push type recoil, and less sharp bark, of the ammo I use today. Again this is a serious hunting load, not a can killing load, and for that, a mild load with a 250 grain WFN, at 1200 fps, kills them real dead!! but they are usually not found in heavy cover!! :wink: and last I really like the accuracy and wont settle for over 1" I aint real good w/open sights anymore, bad eyes!
Try a 300 to 360 range weight and see if your shooting as good as you can!!
Seems to me your main concern is accuracy with a load suitable for defense against bears while on outings in the wilds of where ever you live. For tha I agree with wildcatter above and wouldn't carry anything less than a 300gr LFN.
If your Blackhawk doesn't shoot them well, then it just needs a little tune & tweek. Send the cylinder off to the cylindersmith and also look at the forcing cone for uneven cut and possibly a buldged barrel.
Lighter bullets are OK for smaller game that won't try to eat you if your first or second shot (if you have time) doesn't put it down.
If your Blackhawk doesn't shoot them well, then it just needs a little tune & tweek. Send the cylinder off to the cylindersmith and also look at the forcing cone for uneven cut and possibly a buldged barrel.
Lighter bullets are OK for smaller game that won't try to eat you if your first or second shot (if you have time) doesn't put it down.
MMichaelAK
Single-Sixer
I load a .452 caliber 300 grain Cast performance or Lee 300 grain WFNGC over 20 grains of H-110 in Starline or PMC cases witha CCI Large Pistol Primer.
I get 1040-70 fps out of my 4 5/8ths .45 Colt Blackhawk
1080-1100 fps out of my 5 1/2 Blackhawk and Redhawk
and 1150-65 out of my 7 1/2 inch Blackhawk.
Its a great shooting round and cycles and shoots well out of my Puma M92 Carbine. its my out adn about carry load and yep, I live in Alaska.
I get 1040-70 fps out of my 4 5/8ths .45 Colt Blackhawk
1080-1100 fps out of my 5 1/2 Blackhawk and Redhawk
and 1150-65 out of my 7 1/2 inch Blackhawk.
Its a great shooting round and cycles and shoots well out of my Puma M92 Carbine. its my out adn about carry load and yep, I live in Alaska.
AzRebel
Single-Sixer
cidrmakr said:
What's the weight of those Speer deep cut bullets?
19 grains sounds a little on the light side for H110, but if your primers are truly flattened, then I dunno...
I shoot a lot of H110 from my original Vaquero, but I've never loaded that light. I started at around 25 grains under a 255 cast, and went up from there, but settled on 26 for that weight bullet IIRC.
H110 doesn't ignite well at lower pressures, so minimum loads sometimes don't do well. Hodgdon's website lists 20.5 gr of H110 as a starting load for a 335 grain cast GC bullet, and the starting load goes up from there for lighter bullets.
The only bullet they list a starting load for that low is a 360 grain cast GC bullet, and the starting load is 18 grains. Starting loads go up with lighter bullets, and not down.
You asked what I use for a woods load though? I usually carry a 300 gr Speer JSP over 22+ (I'm not giving the exact load) grains of H110. This is safe in MY GUN, and everyone else should work up their own, and stay within the limits their gun will handle.
Again, H110 doesn't ignite well at lower pressures, and doesn't always work well with light-for-caliber bullets. It needs the pressure and resistance of a stout load under a heavier bullet to ignite reliably. For better ignition with a bit less pressure, maybe try 2400. It's a good powder for magnum loads, and while it won't give the velocities that one can get with H110, it's still plenty and will ignite more reliably at lower pressures.
I hate posting things like this, simply because I'd hate to see someone blow up their gun, but I really think your loads are too light for the powder you're using. Seriously, try a different powder for the load levels you're getting with the load you list.
Daryl
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