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How hot to load 45 Colt with leadbullets
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Picture of 900 SS
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How hot can i load my 45 Vaquero (old model before) I need bullets with a gascheck or jacketed bullets?

I have just started to reload for this gun and the load I have tried is 235 gn roundnose, unknown type but probably a 45 ACP bullet. Accuracy is around 5" at 25 meter with some far flyers now and then. I get some lead in the barrel and a fair share in the cylinder. The leading and poor accuracy is probably partially because the bullets are a bit loose in the cylinder. The load was 10 gn N340 and felt fresh.

I have some 245 gn flatnose bullets that fit the cylinder tight. I thought I'll try them next over 9 gn N340, and go from there to find a load that hit dead on at 25 meter. As a newbie I really dont know what accuracy to expect but better than 2" is is hopefully easy to get.

More stupid questions will follow but I'll try to make up for it by beeing overbearing with you as well.
 
Posts: 408 | Location: Bardu, Norway | Registered: 25 August 2007Reply With Quote
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Howdy

I'm sure that a 45 Colt in Norway is a rarity.
My favorite load for my Colt Anaconda is 20 grains of H110, Winchester regular primer and a 300 grain SWC gas checked bullet sized .454. For my S&Ws I use 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique with plain base 250 grain cast SWC, sized .454.
I've shot some loads in my Ruger Blackhawk that nip on the heals of the 454 Cassul using the 300 grain bullet above. Most unpleasant to shoot in a 4 5/8th inch barrel.

Jim


"Whensoever the General Government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force." --Thomas Jefferson

 
Posts: 6173 | Location: Richmond, Virginia | Registered: 17 September 2000Reply With Quote
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Find a load for 454 Casull that's 1450 FPS with a 250 grain bullet. that is the load Buffalo Bore sells as there 45 Colt +p loads but they are actually very close to proof loads.
Say right on the box "For heavy framed revolvers and old model Vaquero's only"


www.KLStottlemyer.com

Deport the Homeless and Give the Illegals citizenship. AT LEAST THE ILLEGALS WILL WORK
 
Posts: 2534 | Location: National City CA | Registered: 15 December 2008Reply With Quote
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I've worked up a load in my .45 Colt Old Ruger Bisley Vacquero of 22.0g of H110 and a Laser Cast lead bullet of 300g. Having the Bisley stock helps a lot with the recoil as this load is warm. This load would be a big game stopper.
 
Posts: 1788 | Location: IDAHO | Registered: 12 February 2005Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by TEANCUM:
I've worked up a load in my .45 Colt Old Ruger Bisley Vacquero of 22.0g of H110 and a Laser Cast lead bullet of 300g. Having the Bisley stock helps a lot with the recoil as this load is warm. This load would be a big game stopper.


Substitute WW-296 for H-110 and that's the load I use in my Blackhawk. 25.5 grains of 296 and a 255 grain SWC is a handful too!
 
Posts: 3889 | Registered: 12 May 2005Reply With Quote
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Since you have the old style Vaquero, I understand it will take full power loads.

For practice, I like to use the RCBS SAA 270 Keith style SWC & 5.5 gr of Titegroup. You can go upto 10.5 gr of Titegroups, but in my 4-5/8" stainless steell blackhawk accuracy is not good.

For hunting this past September in Alaska I put together a max load of 20 gr of Lil'Gun, WLP primers, Starline brass and the wonderful Cast Performance 335 gr WFNGC bullet for 1170 fps. It's gives me 1" groups and kills like the hammer of Thor as you can see below....15 yds.



The Cast Performance 265 gr WFNGC is also a very accurate bullet as well.
 
Posts: 1719 | Location: Utah | Registered: 01 June 2004Reply With Quote
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Originally posted by 900 SS:
How hot can i load my 45 Vaquero (old model before) I need bullets with a gascheck or jacketed bullets?

When you get up to around 1000fps you need a moderately hard bullet (15BHN or higher). Usually you get leading as velocity increases; just go up to a harder bullet. You probably won't need gas checks in a handgun unless you're really pushing it. A very light coat of lead is normal and doesn't affect accuracy.
 
Posts: 1184 | Registered: 21 April 2007Reply With Quote
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Cool picture GSSP! How was penetration and where did you hit it?

I'm not good enough yet to go moosehunting without a rifle, but I think I could hit that one at 15 yards as well. Did you stalk, call or use a dog to get that close?

Thank you for all the advice.
 
Posts: 408 | Location: Bardu, Norway | Registered: 25 August 2007Reply With Quote
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Here are some interesting details on what you can do with that gun:

Ruger Vaquero.

I used H110 and bullets with 250 grain lead and 300 grain SP for my 7.5 inch Blackhawk. Very precise loads, both of them.
 
Posts: 8211 | Location: Germany | Registered: 22 August 2002Reply With Quote
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Be aware that bullet diameters for the 45 Colt are not the same as for the 45 ACP. As I recollect (you should check, or perhaps someone else on this forum can verify) in the 45 Colt you should use 452 sized bullets, whereas the 45 ACP are sized .451. I shoot up to 1300fps in my 45 Colt and 44 Mag. without gas checks. The bullets are hard cast however.
Peter.


Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;
 
Posts: 10515 | Location: Jacksonville, Florida | Registered: 09 January 2004Reply With Quote
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Be aware that bullet diameters for the 45 Colt are not the same as for the 45 ACP.


As an aside, as it is not relevant here, but I need to use .454 in my Colt Peacemaker.


RC

Repeal the Hughes Amendment.
 
Posts: 1147 | Location: Ohio USA | Registered: 21 April 2001Reply With Quote
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In the old model, larger frame vaquero, you can load the 45colt to 44mag pressures. This easily pushes a 300grLFP @ 1200fps from a 6 1/2"bbl. I cast mine in a Lee mold w/ a GC. They run 1000fps from my 4 5/8"SSBH (all the recoil I want) & penetrate all day, at least as far in wetpack as 400gr softs from my 404jeffery. Accuracy is easily 3" @ 25yds. I would not hesitate to hunt game upto moose size with it. Nice pic GSSP. I have that same RCBS mold & have on cav. HP. I am going to try some diff. alloys & see what I get, but cast 20-1, I am getting a 285grLSWC from tyhe 270mold.
Leading is more a factor of bullet size 7 lube than alloy. I have no problems w/ leading using straaight wheel wt alloy upto 1200fps.


LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT!
 
Posts: 7752 | Location: kalif.,usa | Registered: 08 March 2001Reply With Quote
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How hot can i load my 45 Vaquero ... I have just started to reload for this gun

As a young fellow, I once asked an old dude how hot I could load my new rifle and still be safe. He said, "Start at book max and increase charges in half grain steps until it blows up, then back off a full grain."

After thinking about it a bit I decided to just accept book max. Now I'm old and still have all my fingers so I pass his wisdom on to you young guys for what it's worth.
 
Posts: 1615 | Location: South Western North Carolina | Registered: 16 September 2005Reply With Quote
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Like GSSP, that 335gr load he uses is my favorite too, and most accurate.


life member NRA (Endowment)
member Arizona Big Horn Sheep Society
member Arizona Antelope Foundation
member Arizona Wildlife Foundation
 
Posts: 146 | Location: Oracle, Az. | Registered: 01 October 2007Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Jim C. <><:
quote:
How hot can i load my 45 Vaquero ... I have just started to reload for this gun

As a young fellow, I once asked an old dude how hot I could load my new rifle and still be safe. He said, "Start at book max and increase charges in half grain steps until it blows up, then back off a full grain."

After thinking about it a bit I decided to just accept book max. Now I'm old and still have all my fingers so I pass his wisdom on to you young guys for what it's worth.


The question really was how hot can loads be with bullets without gascheck or jackets, but I see your point and my real aim is to get good groups dead on at 25 meter.
 
Posts: 408 | Location: Bardu, Norway | Registered: 25 August 2007Reply With Quote
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Over the past several years, Brian Pearce has written several comprehensive articles for HandLoader magazine addressing your question. He has discussed leading, pressures, and different guns, and has included specific loading information (including bullets and hardness). Back issues may be available, and Wolfe Publishing is re-issuing complete sets on CD. If you go to their website, you get will access to their indexes and the order information.

http://www.riflemagazine.com/b...ues/index.cfm?type=0

Download (Review) the February issues for each of the last several years; go to the back to the index for the past year. Look under Authors. Get the list of articles you're interested in. Download those issues. You may be able to copy some of your articles without having to buy them. You won't be disappointed in Pearce's work.


________________________
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Posts: 1184 | Registered: 21 April 2007Reply With Quote
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In a 45 Colt revolver bullet diameter can be critical. An undersize bullet can be a major cause of leading and poor accuracy. Sounds like your heavier bullet is larger diameter and may help. For what it's worth, my experience is that the 45 Colt prefers bullets of 250 grains and heavier for best results. As you increase velocity you should also use harder bullets to help reduce leading. Quality lube is also important when shooting lead bullets at any velocity. With the right bullets and lube you can likely shoot 1500 fps lead bullet loads without leading problems.
 
Posts: 669 | Location: NW Colorado | Registered: 10 December 2007Reply With Quote
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900 SS,

Here is the link to my story.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=496105339#496105339

Unfortunately, I never did recover any slugs.

Alan
 
Posts: 1719 | Location: Utah | Registered: 01 June 2004Reply With Quote
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900 SS,

Here is the link to the story.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=496105339#496105339

I never did recover a slug.

Alan
 
Posts: 1719 | Location: Utah | Registered: 01 June 2004Reply With Quote
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