[41 Magnum]

What's Your favorite plinker load for .45 L.C. ? :?:

I do have the box of 500 / 200 Gr. lead S.W.C.'s that I just got from "Chance", here in the "classifieds".

I also have Blue Dot, Unique, Red Dot, IMR 4227, 2400, WW 296,
& H 110.
WW large pistol primers, & CCI Large pistol & Magnum primers.
WW Cases.

I'm just interested in a mild to lukewarm load, that You Personally have used successfully, & accurately, in Your .45 LC. I realize there are probably hundreds of possible choices, but am looking to save a little time & money, with a favorite pre-tested load, perhaps even using the components I already have on hand.

My hunting load has been 25 Gr. WW296, & a 240 Gr. Hornady XTP, with WW Large Pistol Primers. I will probably stick with that, unless You have suggestions for that too.

I just got the cylinder back from "Cylindersmith" with the throats now @ .4525. They were originally .4497 !! I'm really hoping to see a rather notable improvement.

 

[Deadeye]

I don't have any personal loads for those bullets, I load all my .45Colt with 250gn. bullets. I can look up some start & max loads for you if you want. Send me a PM if you have trouble finding a load. I really like Titegroup for .45Colt its a lot less case sensitive than most powders so it gives more uniform ballistics.

P.S. You use less Titegroup (about 1.0gn. less) for the same performance as other powders so it'll save you a little $$$ also!

 

[Bountyhunter]

I'm going to load up some 200 grain LRNFP this week. I'll be using unique. Not exactly sure how much right now. I'm thinking about 9 grains.

Jim all my throats in my new Vaqueros are .446 - .447. I'll be reaming them this week.

 

[Montanan]

200 grain LRN or SWC (Lead Round Nose)
Bullseye 6.0 gr. 870 FPS
Bullseye 7.0 gr. 920 MAX. LOAD
Unique 9.0 gr. 895
HS6 13.5 gr. 870
HP38 9.0 gr. 884
No. 2 6.4 gr. 952 (Cowboy load)
No. 5 12.1 gr. 1,035
231 8.3 gr. 998 MAX. LOAD
231 6.8 gr. 775 Approx. (Cowboy Load)(RNFP)

all cowboy loads below:
Trail Boss 5.5 gr. 706 (IMR minimum load)
Trail Boss 6.5 gr. 855 (IMR Max load)
Universal 6.4 gr. 749 FPS minimum
Universal 8.8 gr. 1067 FPS MAXIMUM
HP38 5.9 gr. 761 minimum
HP38 8.0 gr. 1002 Maximum
Titegroup 5.0 gr. 731 minimum
Titegroup 7.7 gr. 1050 Maximum
Clays 4.6 gr. 777 minimum
Clays 5.9 gr. 931 Maximum

http://www.reloadammo.com/45cload.htm

 

[deputy125]

4.8 grs of Clays behind a hornady 255 gr lead fp bullet---very accurate out of the vaquero......

 

[Deadeye]

Hey, could somebody please explain this throat reaming business to me. I think I understand the basics of it, but would like some details on it. Thanks!

 

[Bountyhunter]

Deadeye the throat reaming is simply making your cylinder throats all the same size and at least .452" for lead bullets. Less than that and you end up getting some fouling going on. I did my Redhawk and the cowboy loads I put thru it didn't foul at all. I'll be doing both my Vaqueros this week hopefully too.

 

[Deadeye]

Deadeye the throat reaming is simply making your cylinder throats all the same size and at least .452" for lead bullets. Less than that and you end up getting some fouling going on. I did my Redhawk and the cowboy loads I put thru it didn't foul at all. I'll be doing both my Vaqueros this week hopefully too.

Why in the hell are they not reamed that way from the factory? Sounds like a defect to me!

 

[Bountyhunter]

That's Ruger for ya.

 

[b.roberts]

I shoot a lot of 200gr lswc out of my .45acp. Not so much in the .45colt. However, when I ran out of 255gr lswc's for the 45colt I used the the 200gr bullets with 9.0 gr of Unique. It worked great, recoiled significantly less than the heavier bullets. It was kind of a pain in the but to use my .45acp taper crimp die on the .45colt cases. The 200gr bullets I was using did not have a crimping groove for a roll crimp.

 

[41 Magnum]

Hey, could somebody please explain this throat reaming business to me. I think I understand the basics of it, but would like some details on it. Thanks!

Another problem occurs with tight throats is also ;
The most common bullet size for .45 LC is .452. If Your cylinder throats are as Bountyhunter's or Mine, firing a .452 bullet thru the .447 & .449 cylinder throat, resizes it immediately, thus creating quite a spike in chamber pressure ! Upon leaving the cylinder throat, the bullet is then too small for the bore diameter, creating a sloppy fit, except for the fact that the pressure of the powder gasses then expand the bullet base, back to bore size !!! So, . . . . . You are in effect, resizing Your bullets twice, each time You fire the gun !
To say this would effect accuracy is likely an understatement , to say the least !!! Ruger has likely known about this problem for many, many years, & has chosen to ignore it for some stupid reason, & continues to produce out of spec. cylinders by the hundreds, or thousands !

 

[jimbo1096]

Stay away from the slower powders for light loads.
I suggest start at 8.0gr and work up to 9gr Unique. Some case filler may be required to get proper ignition on the lighter loads due to too much empty space in the case. Load 5 or 10 in .2gr increments. Between each loading, check the bbl for leading, note accuracy and suitability to your shooting requirements. Then go back and load a box of 50 of the one recipe you liked the best to shoot for fun. If you got it right, then you should have the load that works best in your gun with that powder and bullet combo.
Red Dot would work well at a 6gr charge weight and save you a little powder with each load. BTW that same 6gr charge works well up to the 255gr LSWC.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

41 Magnum - I hope your cylinder throats aren't .479!

 

[Deadeye]

41 Magnum - I hope your cylinder throats aren't .479![/quote]

I think he probably meant .449, just a little slip of the fanger.

 

[41 Magnum]

Sorry bout that !!

I started out to write .447 & .449, & was struck down in mid-sentence by a
case of "brain fade" !!

:lol: :shock: :lol:

 

[Deadeye]

Whats the best way to measure the throats on a revolver? I have a pair of calipers are they precision enough or do I need a micrometer?

 

[Bountyhunter]

Calipers are fine. The easiest way to check them is to take a .451 bullet and set it in the throat. If it pushes thru with a little force the cylinder is set up for jacketed bullets. Do the same with a .452 bullet. If it goes thru all throats with a little pressure the cylinder is good. If the bullets don't go thru you should ream them. I can't even get a .451 bullet thru my Vaqueros. They are real tight. I measured them and they are .446 - .447. That's bad. That will cause problems with lead fouling for sure.

 

[jimbo1096]

Whats the best way to measure the throats on a revolver? I have a pair of calipers are they precision enough or do I need a micrometer?

Calipers won't give you an accurate reading. You need plug gauges. Use the jacketed bullet method like Bountyhunter said. Make sure you use a well known brand with the bullet diameter stated, then double check with your outside calipers to confirm bullet diameter. There are some bullets not made to close tolerances. Speer, Nosler, etc are usually good. You may well find a couple holes tighter than others. That happened on my KBN44, three were good, one a little tight and two waaay tight. If you have that problem and mark those chambers, you will probably find those are the 'flyers' when shooting for groups.

 

[Bountyhunter]

I agree that plug gauges are better, Jimbo, but with Ruger they are usually so far off that you'll know if they are undersized with calipers. Mine are very undersized. I'll be reaming them later today. Nothing wrong with having 6 throats all at .452".