Reloading 45 colt

[pdhunter]

Looking for a little information here.
Loading 45 colt for NM Blackhawk.
All my hornady 250 & 300 grainers show a DIA of .452.
I have a box of Sierra 240 grainers that show a dia of .451. The box Say's
" 240 GR. JHC-L colt ".
Are these ok to use in the Blackhawk ? I found a load in the Sierra manual ,
but was looking for other load data and can't locate any.
Also the Sierra manual shows a load using "296 " powder.
Is Winchester 296 powder or am I missing something ?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Chuckbuster]

Bullets should be ok, may be a little small but that is usually less important with jacketed bullets than with cast.

Only "296" I am aware of is Winchester's. Most data on it cautions against loading any lighter than what that reference is publishing. It is generally thought of as a near max to max load choice, probably not what you want to go out and shoot all day long.

I use UNIQUE, HERCO and HS-6 for medium-medium heavy loads. Trail Boss makes great light loads for me.

Kevin

 

[Iron Mike Golf]

It may depend on your cylinder's chamber throats. I just finished measuring a .45 Colt BH I picked up from the used case at a LGS. The barrel slugged at .452 inches. The chamber thoats measured at .451 (measured with pin gauges). So everything is going to be swaged down to .451 (until I get the throats reamed to .453).

 

[Jimbo357mag]

The .451 jacketed bullets are fine in a Blackhawk. There is a lot of load data out there for the 45 Colt. For Ruger Only type loads the W296 will work but as said it is for full house loads only. Check-out the Hodgdon online data center.

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

...Jimbo

 

[pdhunter]

Thank you the info.
A side note here - I just bought 500 starline 45 colt brass. The 250 & 300's
Fit just fine ( After expanding ) The 240 gr.'s just kinda slid all the way into
the brass. I resized for the 240's but won't need to for the 250's and 300's

 

[Bucks Owin]

Actually, I believe Sierras are .4515"...
W296 and a .45 BH are like pie and ice cream IMO :wink:
What size are your throats pdhunter?

 

[pdhunter]

Just measuring with a caliper they appear to be at.452 , but that's is as close as I can get without a pin gauge

 

[44shootist]

Yes 296 is Winchester, bullets Dia. will vary from one brand to another a 00.1 or so your OK that lttle off.
But always try to follow the manual to a T you really shouldn't load any brand of bullets without their manual, but from what your saying load them and shoot them.

 

[Bucks Owin]

Just measuring with a caliper they appear to be at.452 , but that's is as close as I can get without a pin gauge

Then you are good to go....:wink:

Required reading:

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

 

[Rclark]

Just measuring with a caliper they appear to be at.452

The easy way to test is to take your bullet and press it into each throat. Should go easy with just finger pressure. If you 'think' (don't do) you need to pound them in with a mallet, then your throats are under sized for the bullet. Just an' FYI.

 

[pdhunter]

Again thanks for the help. I'll take all the info I can get

 

[Rainman]

About your 296 powder, I'm pretty sure WW296 and Hodgdon's H110 is exactly the same powder. In fact I looked on the Hodgdon website and didn't even see 296 listed anymore on the 45 Colt loading data. Others may comment and be more knowledgable but I think the data is interchangable.

Dan

 

[Jimbo357mag]

About your 296 powder, I'm pretty sure WW296 and Hodgdon's H110 is exactly the same powder. In fact I looked on the Hodgdon website and didn't even see 296 listed anymore on the 45 Colt loading data. Others may comment and be more knowledgable but I think the data is interchangable.

Dan

You won't find H-110 / W296 in the 45 Colt section but you will find it in the 45 Colt (Ruger Only) section. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

 

[WESHOOT2]

.....WW296 and Hodgdon's H110 is exactly the same powder.....

Now....