Picked up some hardcast 300gr for 45 colt.
Sized to .452, with gas checks. (LFNGS)
Shooting Ruger Redhawk with 5 1/2" barrel.
Looking for a beefy load between 1000-1200 FPS.
Basically trying to shoot a heavy cast that will shoot more accurate then factory Buffalo Bore.
Seems like they shoot way to high.
So, with these bullets and info, what powder would you try? H4227, IMR 4227, 2400, H110,296?
And any other information you can give me.
-The Rookie-

Your Factory Buffalo bore are probably loaded to 850-900 FPS. Heavy slow moving bullets will shoot higher than light fast moving bullets. The bullet leaves the bore sooner on the higher velocity thus a lower impact due to lower muzzle rise. Many people can't grasp the concept since their logic tells them that faster bullets have a lower trajectory and they reason that they will hit higher on the intended target.
I shoot a 44 special with 240 gr cast bullets @1000fps. This load impacts about 2" higher @ 25 yards than a 180 gr JHP @ 100 fps out of the same gun at the same range. Recoil energy has a direct effect on muzzle rise in an unpensated/ported handguns. Hope this helps. Your choice of powder is right on. Start off with 2400 - it works ok for me but I use 4227, Unique, Lil Gun, and Accurate #5 also. Good shooting.

Unique and 2400 should should work well for what you are trying to achieve. You may be at near bottom end for H110 or W296.

I have only one load for the .45 in my Vaquero. I use the 335 gr WLNGC or the Lyman 325 gr. I use 21.5 gr of 296 and a Fed 150 primer. I get 1160 fps.
With the 300 gr you might try working slowly to 22 gr.
Have you measured the throats yet? They might need reamed out on a Ruger.

Ruger's shooting high w/ heavy bullets is a classic problem. I removed the rear sight & filed off the bottom so I could get a couple of xtra clicks.
I shoot a 300gr cast LFPGC from my 4 5/8"SSBH as my backpack gun. You can easily make 1000fps w/ several powders; Unique, 4227, 2400, BlueDot, HS7, H110 & W296. I haven't gone much beyond 1100fps, too, much recoil from the light RBH, but even @ 1000fps, that big bullet goes all day, penetrating as far as 400gr softs from my 404jeffery. Try 9.5gr of Unique or 16.5gr of 2400.

You have that right! The Vaquero rocks and rolls with my load so I had to put Pachmeyer grips on it to save my knuckle.
I have dropped deer in their tracks at 100 yd's with it and have killed many deer closer. You can't stop that boolit. I shot it through a 16" tree. Line up two or three deer and end your season fast!

I would use H110 for loads in the mild range from 1000--1200 and then if you want to move up to more power you have the room to do so. Just use a good crimp.

Steve E......

Picked up some powder today. They didn't have 2400 or 4227, so I picked up a pound of AA#9 and # of
W296. So what do you think? I already made up some
250 gr. hp/xtp with 17 gr. AA#9, haven't shot yet.
Also tried 19 gr. of Unique in the 300 casts, they
shot pretty good, 1" high.
Any W296 loads on the low end to try for either
bullet?

Chumly--Say again please..19 gr of Unique in 45 Colt with 300 gr Bullet ??????? Idabull

Whoa,
Take away the one. 9 gr. Unique.
Sorry about that.

I use bullseye ! Burns clean and .250 bullets for cowboy shooting 900 fps

At 25 yards and at 1150fps I changed fron 296 to imr4227 and the bullet drop was considerable. About 4 inches. Try changing powders or other components before making sight changes. May save some aggrevation.

2400 or 4227 would be ideal for what your doing.

quote:

Originally posted by bishopgrandpa:
At 25 yards and at 1150fps I changed fron 296 to imr4227 and the bullet drop was considerable. About 4 inches. Try changing powders or other components before making sight changes. May save some aggrevation.

If you got the same velocity from both those powders, I can't see how there would be that much difference in bullet drop. Was the velocity exactly the same for both powders?

quote:

Originally posted by Concho42:
I use bullseye ! Burns clean and .250 bullets for cowboy shooting 900 fps

If you like the fast burning powder, you may try Winchesters 231 or one of the Hodgdon's International lines at they burn much cleaner. This coming from a fellow that loves both Bullseye and Unique. Alliant has cleaned up most their powder line to burn cleaner.