Hello,

I am looking for a good hunting and plinking load for a 45 Long Colt. I will be shooting it in a Ruger New Model Blackhawk. I prefer shooting cast. Any opinions and information would be appreciated.

Thanks guys,


ddj

18.5 gr. 2400 with any cast bullet weight

280 gr LBT WFN-PB cast from straight WW with 9.7 gr Universal capped with F150's. 1023 fps from 4-5/8" barrel.

Alan

Thanks guys.


ddj

never use internet loads
my all around load is a 250gr jacketed HP with 17gr of 2400 ... mild load, barely above cowboy loading.. accurate as a snake, in my 625-9 ..

Thats a good'un Jeffeosso!

250 grain Lyman cast Keith style SWC, 8.5 Unique - 900 fps from my 5 1/2" SAs and plenty accurate. Can go up to 9.5 for 1000 fps if want more velocity.

I use a good many loads of 13.0 of HS-6 with the Lyman 250 "Keith".

12 grs of HS-6 and the RCBS 270 SAA from MBW.

250 RNFP w/8 grs of Unique.
Mild load but will kill anything I'll run into.
Cowboys used it for years.

Two of the long time "standard" loads in a strong, Ruger type 45 Colt is, 9 grs of Unique with the 250 Keith or 18.5 grs of 2400 with the same slug. If you want to get real serious switch to H110, a mag primer & a 300-325 gr slug. Don't used reduced loads with H110-296 powder.
A 250 gr slug at 900 fps or so will kill anything out there with good bullet placement & reasonable distances.

Dick

follow sixshots advice. I have tried his advice on several occasions and it has put me ahead.I really like his 2400 load,I also like 12-13grs of HS-6.

Last year I took a deer with a 300gr slug and a stiff charge of H110 and this year I took a deer at 110yards with his 2400 load and a 255swc.Couldn't tell a whole lot of difference in the deers reaction between the two,both have tasted great.

Mild = 230g. cast slug with 7.5g of HP38 = 898fps & 411ftlbs

Wild = 300g cast slug with 24.0g of H110 = 1,223fps & 996ftlbs

Both out of a Old Ruger Vaquero Bisley 4.75" barrel.


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Mild is a fun load to shoot all day long and a good introduction to the cartridge as well as close to the "Ole West" loadings.

Wild does have a wee bit of recoil and after a couple of sixes you will feel it somewhat.

Thanks Guys,

I like the Unique loads with a 250 cast Keith. I bought 2 4# cans of unique when a local shop closed.

I use Skeeters load of 7.5 gr of Unique in my FA 44 special under a 250 gr. Keith. Would I be better to go up in bullet weight since I am shooting a similiar load in the 44 special.


Thanks again for the help.


ddj

I have played with a few powders and boolits here lately with my newly acquired Redhawk in 45 Colt. With weights ranging from 200grs through 300grs I really haven't found anything it doesn't shoot well.

This said however it excels with the Lee 255gr RF I am pouring which with my alloy come out at just over 260grs. I tried Unique, and 2400 both with good results but when I switched over to some 540 I had on hand things went to awesome. I am hitting right at 1100fps form the 7.5" barrel, and my ES is below 20fps for 25 rounds that I have checked. While this is a Ruger only load the same performance can easily be had at lower velocities, as I have done with my revolver as well. I was simply looking for this particular velocity range specifically for hunting.

For more on this fine round I highly suggest reading through the articles written and posted here,
Customsixguns Articles

I'll turn out several thousand rounds of home cast 255 grain SWC, sized .454, using 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique for use in my S&W model 25s. I also turn out a quanity of loads for my Rossi 45 Colt and Colt Anaconda using a Saeco 300 grain gas checked SWC, 20 grains of H110, also sized .454.

Jim