I reloaded some 45 Colts with some Hornady 250 gr XTP’s. These are max loads (old model Vaquero type loads).

These loads shoot very low in my Ruger Vaquero and in my Win. 92. It is shooting so low that my sights on my 92 will not adjust for it.

Here’s my question: I this because of the particular bullet, or because of the hot loads?

What should I try?

Thanks,
Buck,

What powder are you using? What velocity are you getting? What load does shoot to the sights?

if the gun shot okay with about the same weight bullet before, odds ON you are going too fast, which makes a bullet hit low..

<bs jeffe or why jeffe?>
dwell time, plain and simple ..

1200 fps spends less time in the barrel than
1000 fps spends less time in the barrel than
800 fps spends less time in the barrel

if the gun is sighted in for 1000 fps, 800 hits high and 1200 hits low, as compared to 1000 fps ..

recoil may be faster in the faster loads, but the barrel length doesn't changes

guns rotate under recoil, and less time in the barrel means less time to RISE

USUALY faster loads hit lower

Jeffe is right on, as usual!

The hot loads explain the hand gun but not the rifle.

As already written here, you slower or use a heavier bullet.

Thanks for the input.

I understand that different loads shoot a little different, but I have always been able to adjust for the difference easily.

The different between the 250 gr. (cast) bullets at 800-900 fps and the 250 gr. (XTPs’) at 1300-1400 fps is around 16” at 50 yards in the rifle!! I was expecting 2”-4”.

Buck,

quote:

What should I try?

aim higher

quote:

Originally posted by Buck3:
I reloaded some 45 Colts with some Hornady 250 gr XTP’s. These are max loads (old model Vaquero type loads).

These loads shoot very low in my Ruger Vaquero and in my Win. 92. It is shooting so low that my sights on my 92 will not adjust for it.

Here’s my question: I this because of the particular bullet, or because of the hot loads?

What should I try?

Thanks,
Buck,

Aim HIGHER!!

take a piece of WHITE duct tape, and mask off the front sights, from the top, to make it LOOK like the sights are LOWER... front sights lower, means POI higher ..

i shoot the 250gr xtp mag in my 625-9 at 1000fps