… Since there seems to be an ongoing interest in the subject, I have decided to address it in this article. But remember this is from the 10" barrel of a closed breech Contender. Make sure your hand-loading recipe matches the correct bullet type and weight for use with IMR 4227. That alone is enough commentary on the .45 Colt case to make me cautious, even if I hadn't read the other warnings. That powder was withdrawn from the market, by the way. I fired 5 shots over the chronograph and immediately discontinued testing. It should be since the .44 Magnum operates at about 2.5 times the maximum SAAMI pressure of the .45 Colt. Prior to that, he spent 20 years as a newspaper editor, primarily for the NYT Regional Newspaper Group. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 20 of 22 Posts. "The loads Speer developed (for the .45LC Blackhawk and Contender) are roughly halfway between standard .45 Colt and .44 Magnum pressures. There is no reason why the .45 Colt and the .44 Magnum cartridges should have same pressure safety margin. At first I thought the gun had blown up. The very next shot may blow their gun up! To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Hope you enjoy. Trimming can be easily accomplished with a manual case trimmer, but being basically lazy, I used Hornady's new Lock-N-Load power case trimmer to whittle cases down to size. The second high pressure Cor-Bon load is uses a 300 grain Jacketed Soft Point bullet at a MV of 1300 fps and ME of 1126 ft. lbs. In my experience, Winchester magnum brass will typically go 6 to 8 reloads (using the same type of roll crimp) before developing the small case mouth cracks I saw with their .45 brass after 2 reloads. No_Favorite. Reloading Data For The .45 Colt The .45 Colt with Lee Precision Data is a very popular load. Cor-Bon offers three high pressure loads in .45 Colt Caliber. Common sense needs to prevail! 1; 2 ... 38 spl, and 32 long and I love working up a load and checking it against the chronograph. I was probably getting pressure well above double what it should have been. brass! The Frankford Arsenal ended up dropping the longer round from production in 1887 and solely manufactured the 45 S&W round as the “ . .44 Magnum brass is more widely available, cheaper (because it is discounted more due to higher sales volume), stronger, and lasts longer. Briefly, the Cor-Bon ".45 Colt Magnum +P" loads are as follows (Cor-Bon figures). For some reason the .44 Mag seems to be an exceptionally accurate cartridge. Perhaps the best known of these companies is Cor-Bon. But as for asking it to contain pressure far beyond that, NO THANKS! The .45 Colt was designed as a self-defense cartridge, the .44 Magnum was designed as a high velocity hunting cartridge. Store: Tue-Sat 9:00a-12:00p (EST) 941-451-7357 2383 S Tamiami Trail, Venice FL, 34293 . For standard SAA type loads, it works very well. Graphic Violence ; Graphic Sexual Content ; texts. I get e-mail questions on the subject of high pressure loads for the .45 Colt all the time. Blackhawk, so no harm was done. Another way to circumvent the entire issue would be to purchase a .44 Magnum revolver. When cowboy action became popular, there was a long learning curve and eventually most competitors … The Complete Reloading Manual For The 45 Colt Item Preview > remove-circle Share or Embed This Item . In rifle reloading and with some handgun magnum calibers and applications, you measure cases. S&W themselves have put this in writing in their advertisements, and a talk with one of their technicians will confirm it. That seemingly large safety margin is there for a reason. For the .45 Colt cartridge that is 14,000 psi as measured by the relatively new piezo-electric transducer method, or 15,900 cup as measured by the older copper crusher method. FTX. These safety warnings are not without reason. 45 caliber M1887 Military Ball Cartridge “ until 1892 when it was replaced by the 38 Long Colt round in … The reason is that the Model 29 is made from special alloy steel specially heat treated to withstand .44 Magnum pressures. This is based on buying all of the components rather than using your own brass in which case it would be about .21 cents per rnd cheaper. 454PB. Make sure that the seating die is properly adjusted to press a slight crimp into the case mouth where it meets the cannelure of the jacketed bullet. Such Cor-Bon ammunition boxes are clearly marked ".45 Colt Magnum +P." 4.5 {535 FPS} - 6.5 {835 FPS} And Ruger-T/C 6.5 {835 FPS} - 9.4 {1097 FPS} 05-27-2012, 04:25 PM #2. ", The Hornady Handbook, 3rd Edition prefaces their high pressure data with this simple statement: "The following data is to be used only in the T/C or the Ruger Blackhawk.". Insert new primers into your.45 Colt cartridges. The second .45 Colt section contains loads intended for use only in the Ruger Blackhawk revolver and T/C Contender single shot pistol. Again, these case mouth splits come from the necessity to roll crimp revolver loads and not from excessive pressure or a defective cylinder. This results in a significant increase in energy, yet the loads were safe in Speer's test firearms. I understand and accept that the pressure safety margin built into any case is there for a reason. The .44 Magnum and .454 Casull as alternatives to the .45 Colt. It was in a friend's gun with supposedly normal pressure handloads using 255 grain cast lead bullets. 13 devoted to high pressure .45 Colt loads for the Blackhawk and Contender addresses this point. The reloading manuals that list these restricted loads are pretty coy about the actual pressures involved in such loads. To use an analogy, I have been told by a friend who is very active in bicycle racing circles that bicycle tires are generally designed for 100% over-pressure. I cannot comment on Remington .45 Colt brass, as by happenstance I have never used enough of it to form an opinion. Menu. Federal is the only brand of .45 Colt case that I currently reload. Just picked up a Ruger New Model Blackhawk 45 Long Colt with 4 5/8" barrel. (The Hornady 250 grain bullet has a reputation as a relatively soft bullet.) can be loaded to "X" amount of pressure with an adequate safety margin, so can the .45 Colt. The Sierra Handgun Reloading Manual gives no indication as to the actual pressure of their high pressure loads, merely stating that they are intended solely for the Blackhawk and Contender pistols, and that even in those guns the .45 Colt "must not be crowded to very high pressure." There is, of course, no such caliber. (I might mention that I have never had a problem of any kind with any of my reloads for any caliber of pistol or rifle.) So while the .45 Colt can perhaps approach the .44 Mag. "Speer Reloading Manual Number 14"; Osmark Industries Inc.; 2010. He felt that Winchester was the second best brand, and that Remington brass was inferior to both. At least I have never heard even the wildest .45 proponent claim that .45 Colt brass is more durable than .44 Mag. Reloading, firearm, and environmental components vary, too. But no exception is made for any of these guns, not even the excellent Anaconda and Redhawk. The "New Model" Vaquero, introduced at the end of 2004 primarily for cowboy action shooters (who use only low pressure loads), is built on a smaller frame--much like a Colt SAA--and is not recommended for high pressure loads. For example, what if I get a can of powder that produces greater than normal pressure? The Speer technicians used a Ruger Blackhawk revolver with a 7.5" barrel for velocity testing. I read an article by Mr. Linebaugh in which he claimed that Federal makes the best .45 Colt brass. The maximum loads in the Speer Manual give MV's of 1343 fps with the Speer 225 grain bullet and 16.0 grains of Blue Dot powder, 1183 fps with the 260 grain bullet and 20.5 grains of W-296 powder, and 1193 with the 300 grain bullet and W-296 powder. Copyright 2002, 2016 by Chuck Hawks. $40.33 Read more; GREAT LAKES AMMO .45 LONG COLT 250GR. Matt Foster has worked for more than 10 years as an online content producer, SEO consultant and Web development manager. I have been asked specifically about this revolver in the past, as their owners sometimes conclude that if the Model 29 can withstand the 36,000 psi (43,500 cup) of a .44 Magnum cartridge, their revolvers should be able to withstand the same pressure. Insert new primers into your .45 Colt cartridges. In fact, I just completed a long e-mail exchange with a correspondent interested in purchasing a .45 LC gun, the second this week. and that was a commercial round: winchester's 250 … But when reloading .45 ACP, don’t even bother reaching for those calipers, Bub. The point is, be satisfied with the high pressure loads listed in the Hornady, Sierra, and Speer manuals. The following quote from the section of the Speer Reloading Manual No. Its cylinder was not bulged or damaged in any way. These velocities were measured in a 10" Contender barrel. I basically stay with the old reloading manual levels of pressure for the 45 long Colt in reloading the modern repo ‘73s. Both of these pistols are of stronger construction than any of the other makes chambered for the .45 Colt cartridge.". Glad you guys helped out. It states that, "Loads for the 300 grain bullet were developed in a copper crusher test barrel; they operate at higher pressure than those for lighter bullets, up to 25,000 cup.". Register; Log in; Wishlist (0) Shopping cart (0) You have no items in your shopping cart. The Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum is the top of the line and a little bit nicer gun than a standard Blackhawk, anyway. You can reload .45 Long Colt for approx. This is not hypothetical, as I have actually had it happen. I can't recall ever reading any such caution regarding .357, .41, or .44 Magnum cases. .45 Automatic Colt Pistol Reloading Case Prep. So what's not to like about the .44 Mag? "Although it has internal capacity comparable to that of the .44 Magnum, the thickness and strength of the .45 Colt cartridge case is much less than that of the .44 Magnum, imposing a limiting factor upon the older cartridge which cannot be avoided." Some of these high pressure .45 Colt loads are way beyond the pressure of proof loads, and while a good gun can survive a cylinder load of proof loads, it was not built to withstand a continuous diet of such loads. I can tell you as an experienced reloader that I get much better case life from all .44 Magnum reloads than I do from standard pressure loads in .45 Colt brass. Only use loads based on IMR 4227 in firearms manufactured since the end of World War II. (There is a question/answer addressing this on my Handgun FAQ page.) The cartridge, also known as the .45 Long Colt, served the U.S. military for 17 years, but persists as a popular "cowboy shooting" and handgun hunting cartridge to this day. Reloading The 45 Colt is a great choice for reloading. Actually, I have never shot a .45 from a bench rest that could equal the accuracy of any of the .44 Magnums I have shot from a bench rest. There is nothing magical about .45 caliber bullets, although some folks seem to think that there is. .45 Colt Rifle Data (Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition) reloading data with 0 loads. Free Shipping* on Orders over $25. If you're using an automatic powder trickler mounted on your reloading press, periodically check the load delivered to your cartridges by using a powder scale. I have, a .45 Long Colt case in fact. The Colt Single-Action Army revolver, chambered for the .45 Colt, has been in production longer than any other type of American-made handgun. There is no question that a .44 Magnum can handle high pressure loads, as that is what it was designed for. Speer's top load for both the 260 and 300 grain bullets used Winchester 296 powder. The loads in the Hornady, Sierra, and Speer manuals have been used in thousands of Ruger Blackhawk revolvers for many years without a problem, so it seems reasonable to accept that they represent a safe and practical maximum for .45 Colt cartridges to be fired only in Blackhawk revolvers and Contender pistols. Close. The strength of .45 Long Colt cases. ", High pressure handloads for the Blackhawk and Contender pistols. It made a heck of a bang, and sprayed my shooting hand with hot powder and bits of brass. in all that time, i've only found one load that shot true point of aim, with any kind of accuracy. Marked "RN" for round nose I … I also have a shooting buddy who regularly shoots very high pressure loads in his Ruger Blackhawk Bisley Model, and we have discussed the wisdom of so doing on occasion. Actually those 2 powders would work best slightly compressed according to Mr. Linebaugh. Colt, Ruger, and Cimarron revolvers have given excellent results with handloads. "IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE. 7 S 0 P O N S O A R P A 7 E E D-1-1 U J-1 0 F J-1-1. In this visit, I revisit the topic of how to load .45 Colt black-powder cartridges for authentic wild-west cowboy shooting. Back; Once Fired Brass; Pistol. Now it sells in boxes of 20 so you are best off reloading your own. My approximately 10 years of experience reloading the .45 Colt and 35 years of experience reloading the .357 and .44 Magnum cartridges (in both Colt and Ruger revolvers) leaves me with the definite impression that .45 Colt brass is indeed weaker than magnum brass. Shop by Category. Different cartridges are designed for different purposes, and may require different safety margins. The world that we hunt and shoot in is not the same as the controlled environment of a ballistics laboratory, and our Blackhawk and Contender pistols are not manufactured to the same strength and tolerances as a pressure test gun. Even Federal .45 Colt brass lasts only about half as long as magnum brass. The authors of the major reloading manuals were aware that there are modern guns other than the Blackhawk and Contender that are chambered for the .45 Colt cartridge. Rubber, tire pumps, tire gauges, inner tubes (which perform a sealing function much like cartridge cases), valve stems, rims, air temperature, bicycle weight, rider weight, gross vehicle weight, riding style, road surfaces, and so forth all vary. Friend recommended using "Mountain Gold" Bullets to prevent leading. (Not in my gun or with my loads, though!) Advanced embedding details, examples, and help! Winchester Super X .45 Colt 225-gr. The top Sierra load uses more powder but a lighter bullet, 25.0 grains of 296 behind a 240 grain bullet for 1250 fps. This is the exact reverse of what would normally be expected. This is 45 Long Colt, also known as 45 Colt. Here is a no frills video of my process for reloading 45 Colt. Keep in mind that we are supposed to be enjoying a recreational activity, not performing death defying stunts. Further, I'd guess that the maximum pressure of that 300 grain bullet load was pretty close to the maximum pressure of the Hornady load for their 250 grain bullet or the Sierra load for their 240 grain bullet. Use the same brand of primer, brass, bullet, and powder; do everything just as they did. NEVER use any high pressure .45 Colt load in a S&W revolver. These are cosmetic variations capable of handling the same pressure as the standard Blackhawk, and fall under the general heading of "Ruger Blackhawk revolvers." Some (not all) of the major reloading manuals list two categories of .45 Colt loads. All guns are different, and what is "safe" in one gun may be unsafe in another. I can only conclude (as they did) that the loads for the 300 grain bullet were indeed the higher pressure loads. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and Russian area studies from the University of Georgia. Air temperature and density, bullets, powder lots, primers, cases, crimp pressures, powder measures, powder scales, chambers, barrels, barrel and chamber temperature, and so on are all variables that can affect pressure. But like I said, I was probably just wanting to believe the gun could handle it. Powders include All rights reserved. Then those hot powder loads might have been right around the yield point of my gun's cylinder. I suspect that all that saves some of these guys and their guns is that they don't actually shoot enough of their super powerful loads to reach that point. But what if I had been loading SAAMI maximum pressure loads? Also, the handloader has many component options to produce high quality ammunition at a cost much lower than purchasing factory new ammunition. For many years Smith & Wesson built a .45 Colt DA revolver on their large "N" frame that looked nearly identical to their .44 Magnum Model 29. If I remember correctly, it was an Italian-made Peacemaker replica, which did sour me on replicas, probably unfairly. This load is NOT intended for handguns such as older Smith & Wesson, Colt Single Action Army, or the Colt clones imported single action revolvers. I have read articles for and against the use of high pressure loads in the .45 Long Colt cartridge in the very strong Ruger Blackhawk SA revolver and Thompson/Center Contender break-action single shot pistol. My purpose is to present what I hope is a balanced and responsible view, not to promote or condemn the use of all such loads. Hunting Gun Reloading Manuals & Instruction Materials. I don't ride on a prepared track; I ride on city streets and bike paths. Run your cartridges through the resizing and decapping die on your reloading press. If your reloading press features a priming attachment, you can make use of it to speed the hand-loading process. in performance (with very hot over-pressure loads), the .44 can do the same thing at standard pressure with standard factory loads--which has got to be an advantage in anyone's book. John Linebaugh is a gunsmith who is one of the best known proponents of very high pressure .45 Colt loads, and his principal business is modifying Ruger Blackhawk revolvers for use with such loads (and also re-manufacturing them for his line of proprietary revolver cartridges). I explain how to re-prime and prepare rimfire cases to be reloaded. Fortunately Capital Cartridge has a plentiful supply of 45 Long Colt once-fired brass you can buy at a substantial savings compared to buying new brass or factory ammunition to reload. Elmer Keith’s custom Colt single action was used to develop his heavy 44 Special loads in the late 1920s, and for a long time the 45 Colt cartridge was accused of being weak. Complete the assembly of your hand loads by topping each cartridge with a copper-jacketed bullet and running it into the bullet seating die on your press. They are not to be used in any other make or model of firearm! (No two chronographs seem to give identical results.). EMBED. The Complete Reloading Manual For The 45 Colt … They got 10 fps greater velocity with the 300 grain bullet than with the 260 grain bullet, also the opposite of what one would expect. Do not substitute components, or try to load higher than the data presented.". "Some handloaders have assembled .45 Colt loads that exceed the pressures of the .44 Magnum! In my own chronograph testing, Remington 158 grain JSP .357 Magnum factory loads averaged 1580 fps from my 10" Contender and 1325 fps from my 6.5" Blackhawk revolver, so I suspect that most of the advantage shown by the Hornady load is due more to the test gun than the extra pressure provided by the additional 1.9 grains of powder.