.45 Colt Reloads

stumungus · Post by **stumungus** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:38 pm

Does anyone know of safe .45 Colt reloading data for .45 Colt in model 92 Winchester rifles for metallic silhouette that is somewhere near comparable to .44 magnum.

twidpa · Post by **twidpa** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:31 pm

Comparable to 44 mag in power or accuracy? I have been chasing accuracy in a 45 colt lever for sometime now with out success.
T

stumungus · Post by **stumungus** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:29 am

I know I might be expecting too much but I'm looking for a calibre that does everything that is considered a "classic calibre" i.e. introduced prior to 1939 and eligible for classic calibre lever action competition. Also with power and accuracy to hunt medium size game and metallic silhouette. I thought .45 Colt might be an option. If not I'll have to compromise somewhere. I was trying to find out how the .45 Colt was considered in comparison with the .44 Magnum (and .357 Mag.) and if it was a worthwhile option for a "do it all".

Baja_Traveler · Post by **Baja_Traveler** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:44 am

You are running down the same path I was on a year ago. I searched for reloading data for months just to discover that it just cant be done using that cartridge.

So I found a nice 30-30, but I still shoot the pistol cartridge match with my 39a until I can afford a proper rifle for the match - and it will be in .357 when I get it. But I still knocked down 27 in Saturdays shoot (and rang 4 rams) and won my class, so it ain't all bad...

Of course I had to blow my whole years budget on a Sharps to shoot the BPCR Silhouette matches, so it will be awhile before I see a .357.

w30wcf · Post by **w30wcf** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:09 pm

stumungus,
No doubt in my mind......the .45 Colt can do it all. I have 3 revolvers and a Marlin Cowboy rifle so chambered.
I have owned a 44 Mag levergun and found that the 45 Colt levergun loaded properly was more than it's equal.

I have used bullets from 250 to 350 grs. with good success.

Here's a geat article......
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/ ... vergun.htm

w30wcf

twidpa · Post by **twidpa** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:33 am

w30wcf wrote "I have used bullets from 250 to 350 grs. with good success."

I have not been so lucky. Did you measure this success? I have been looking for 2 moa at 100 yards. I am just geting into the heavier bullet selections. 250 grain cast bullets with many powders has been bad for me so far. 300 grains is next for the tests.
T

glen ring · Post by **glen ring** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:08 pm

Stumungus

I had a 45 colt cowboy for a while. I tried every bullet and load combo I could think of . I tried different diameter bullets, powder and brass. I could never get any better than a five inch group at 100 yards. I LOVE the 45 colt and I really like shooting that big ole slow bullet, but there are better calibers. I bought a 22 magnum and 25-20 for pistol caliber and went with the good ole standby of the 30-30 for the 200 yard event. I bought a cheap Winchester 94 Canadian centennial for $400.00. I had a trigger job done, put on a tang sight and things have become MUCH better at 200 yards. Any legal 22 with a good trigger and sights will get you going on small bore, but a Marlin 39 is hard to beat.

If you like the 45 colt and aren't bitten by the competitor's bug, shoot that gun and have fun.

stumungus · Post by **stumungus** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:31 pm

I've noticed that the Marlin 94 has huge difference in rifling twist rate between the currently available calibre's.

The .45 Colt and .357 Magnum are 1:16 and the .44 Magnum is 1:38. (Marlin website)

My very basic understanding is that faster twist rates are required for longer bullets to stabilise them???

Are .45 Colt shooters generally selecting shorter bullets (i.e. smaller bullets, lighter loads for western action).

If so, how does this compare with bullet selection of those shooting .44Magnum?

Stumungus.

w30wcf · Post by **w30wcf** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:11 am

twidpa wrote:w30wcf wrote "I have used bullets from 250 to 350 grs. with good success."

I have not been so lucky. Did you measure this success? I have been looking for 2 moa at 100 yards. I am just geting into the heavier bullet selections. 250 grain cast bullets with many powders has been bad for me so far. 300 grains is next for the tests.
T

twidpa,

Regarding 250 gr bullets.....the very best shooting 250 gr. bullet I have found for shooting in my Marlin Cowboy is the RCBS 250-FN made in w.w. +2% alloy. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... ber=624669
I don't know of any commercial caster that offers this bullet. WIth 7.1/231 this bullet will group in the 2-3" range (10 shots) @ 100 yards if I do my part.
Bullets drop from the mold at .456" diameter and I lube them and shoot them at that diameter.

Special Note: The original .45 Colt artridge was factory loaded with .456-.457" diameter bullets.

The next most accurate for me is a tie between the Remington commercial bulk hollow base 250 gr. bullet (.455" diameter) http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... 1601446981
and the Magma 250 RNFP that I cast myself which is also .456" diameter.

Another bullet that shows promise is the Hornady 255 lead flat nose (.454")
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... ber=616817
5.8/Trail Boss printed a 5 shot group @ 50 yards that was a bit over 1". I have not tested it at 100 yards yet.

CRIMP OR NOT....I did not crimp any of these bullets since these loads do not generate much recoil. I use the Lyman "M" die to expand the mouth and just seat the bullet. The expanded case mouth aligns the cartridge in the chamber for a more precise alignment with the bore. I also just neck size the cases to about 1/16" below where the base of the bullet rests.

The worst shooting 250 gr bullet was the 250 gr SWC bevel base. Also the Keith type SWC did not shoot well in the 1/38 twist at the 1,100-1,200 f.p.s. level. However it did at 1,500 + f.p.s. using a near capacity load of H4227.

w30wcf

w30wcf · Post by **w30wcf** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 9:09 am

to continue.......

For Pistol Cartridge, 250 gr bullet at moderate velocities is all one needs if an accurate load can be found.

For the 200M game though, a heavier bullet would be preferred....at least on the rams. I'll post more on that later.

stumungus,
I believe the 1/16 rate on the 45 Colt Marlin is an error. THere has been disussion about this on Marlinowners and that is the consensous. Mine has the 1/38 twist and it shoots bullets up to 350 grs; very well.

w30wcf

stumungus · Post by **stumungus** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:32 pm

w30wcf,

I think you're right about the misprint. I noticed in the Marlin catalogue they have the .357 at 1:16 and the .44 and .45 at 1:38.

w30wcf · Post by **w30wcf** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:52 pm

For the 200 meter game I would suggest at least a 300 gr bullet at around 1,400 f.p.s. just to be sure that the rams cooperate.

A universal load that has worked for me with the 300-350 gr bullets is 20.0/296/WLP.

A friend has a '92 that he tried to get to shoot with his 250 gr. cast bullets.....even jacketed.... but could not get it to group well enough to satisfy him (master class shooter). One day we were at the range and I gave him some cartridges loaded with the 300 gr RCBS (320 grs, in W.W + 2% tin alloy) to try. Bullets were .457" diameter. Result - 1" five shot group at 50 yards.

To say he was pleased would be an understatement.

Below are the 300-350 gr bullets that have shot well for me in my 1/38 twist Marlin Cowboy rifle. I have also tried the Lee 340 gr. but didn't have any left from my last run so it's not included. I shoot them at .457" diameter and they size down nicely to .4525" the groove diameter of my Marlin.

They should be seated so that they do not exceed 1.59" for the '92's. My marlin will feed cartridges loaded to 1.70" o.a.l. but the accuracy seems to be the same at either OAL. I have shot the RCBS, the 457192 and 457192 out as far as 500 meters from the bench. If the conditions are good, the rams on the high power silhouette will fall........

w30wcf

twidpa · Post by **twidpa** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:32 pm

Another bullet that shows promise is the Hornady 255 lead flat nose (.454")
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/de ... ber=616817
5.8/Trail Boss printed a 5 shot group @ 50 yards that was a bit over 1". I have not tested it at 100 yards yet.

w30wcf

I tried this load as it is the only one of your loads that I have components on hand. This load shot well for the cold bore shot plus 4 more then opened up in a big way. First 5 shots were 1.25 inch at 40 meters then went to 4 inches or more. Same thing after cleaning barrel and the do over. I am thinking of revisiting this trailboss load under a harder bullet.
T

twidpa · Post by **twidpa** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:09 am

I tried trail boss and the 335 LBT, 250 FMJ and Hornady 250 all with same results. First 3 to 5 rounds seem good them group opens up in a big way. The firearm is a new Winchester takedown with a 24 inch barrel, globe front and marbles tang sight. I get 1 inch at 50 yards with same sight set up on my 39A at same distance. The rifle is made by the Jap Miraku(sp) factory and looks really nice but it shoots like a sling shot. Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
T

Ramslammer · Post by **Ramslammer** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:33 pm

Stumungus
Classic Calibre is only shot here in Aus so the US members on this forum wouldn't understand your requirements. If you had a 44mag, you could load it with 44specials and it would be legal for Classic. Then it could be used as a 44 mag in CLAS. Hope you have it by Augest for the ACT CLAS Titles.
Juddy

.45 Colt Reloads

.45 Colt Reloads

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