Favorite 45 loads?

[tommygun]

Curious as to yur favorite/ most accurate loads for your .45. Thanks, Tom

 

[DGW1949]

Which .45 ?

DGW

 

[tommygun]

looking for loads to punch paper right now. Thansk

 

[jmfc606]

Tommygun,

He meant which 45? 45 Colt or 45 ACP.

 

[tommygun]

45 colt OM Blackhawk. Looking for favorite loads to punch paper. Thanks

 

[J Miller]

7.1grs 231, WLP primer, 250gr bullet your gun likes.
8.0grs Unique, WLP primer, same as above

Joe

 

[Jbrown75]

0.5cc AA #2, CCI LP primer, 250gn RNFP homecast. Wonderful plinking and very mild target load. Very accurate in my pistols.

 

[Dale53]

8.5 grs of Unique behind a 250 gr NOE version of Lyman's 454424 bullet. Alloy is WW+2% tin. Bullets sized .452" (revolvers cylinder throats are .4525"). Cases are Starline .45 Colt.

I also have an excellent black powder load. I use a case full+1/16" of Goex or Swiss 2F ahead of a Federal LP primer (#150). The bullet is Lymans 452664 RF (250 grs) sized at .452" cast of 30/1 lead/tin. Lube is Emmert's home mix. Powder is compressed 1/16" by the seated bullet.

The black powder load is accurate (2.0" at 25 yards but is NOT a light load). With Swiss 3F this runs 950 fps. With Swiss 2f somewhat slower with less recoil. Either shoots to the sights out of my Vaquero at 25 yards.

Dale53

 

[WESHOOT2]

Peruse the various manuals for "Cowboy" loads and try the ones you already have the components for.

 

[flatgate]

My favorites are "barn burners", i.e. LBT style, Gas Checked 335gr. over 22.0 gr. of WW-296, CCI-350 primer, very firm crimp.

These loads are for "full sized" Blackhawks and not the "mid frame" guns unless they are a custom made 5 shot version.

Hold on tight when you "trip the trigger" :shock:

flatgate

PS very similar components but a small rifle primer and way more powder runs at 1375 fps out of my F-A .454

 

[Trinidad Bill]

.45 LC 7 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk

250gr LFPRN, 5gr Trail Boss, 700fps, COL 1.6

 

[Bucks Owin]

Paper/plinker/soft recoil? 7 grs Green Dot and 250ish bullet works well for me...The next step up and a fine all around load is 13 grs HS6, same bullets. Full tilt gets a healthy dose of W296.... :wink:

 

[Aggie01]

9.0 grains Herco or unique under a 255 Keith.

 

[Revolver-Time]

8 grains of Unique under a 250 lswc. Paper or animal, that is the load to use.

 

[Dale53]

8 grains of Unique under a 250 lswc. Paper or animal, that is the load to use.

On the other hand, I can swap out the cylinder in my convertible, use the .45 ACP cylinder and load a very nice light target load (4.0 grs of Bullseye or equivalent with a Mihec home cast #68 200 gr SWC for great accuracy at 25 and fifty yards):

This was the first six shots from the .45 ACP cylinder, indoors at fifty feet, after reaming the cylinders:

As you can see, I hadn't even sighted it in, yet (that happened shortly after). This was shot off a makeshift rest.

Whether you shoot .45 Colt or .45 ACP when it comes to single actions, it is hard to beat a good Ruger...

Dale53

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

2.3CC (about 33 grains) Schuetzen FFg under a 250 grain PRS Big Lube soft lead bullet lubed with SPG and sized to .452. Or else 45 Schofield loaded with 1.9CC (about 28.5 grains) Schuetzen FFg under a 200 grain J/P 45-200 Big Lube soft lead bullet lubed with SPG and sized to .452. That's a nice, mild shooting load.

In a pinch, I have been known to use 7.5 grains of Unique under a 250 grain RNFP bullet. Not a barn burner, but not a mouse fart either.

 

[Chance]

8.3 Unique with 250gr RNFP

 

[Wyandot Jim]

I'm with D J Only I use 3F Goex and smokeless 250gr bullets.
Fill the case so the bullet compress the powder 1/16"-1/8" should be around 38grs. by Vol.
For CAS smokeless I use 200gr. and 5.5 gr of 231. Makes a nice load. Ya want a little hotter try 8.5grs. 231 That is what I use in the rifle.
Jim

 

[Rclark]

These two are my 'current' favorite loads.

8.5g Unique pushing 255g SWC or 250g RNFP with standard primer.
20.0g IMR 4227 pushing 255g SWC or 250g RNFP with mag primer.