I don't have the data in front of me, but will recheck it soon. I am inquiring if anyone else read the Handloader a few months back with his data for all 45 Colt's. He broke each range down and supplied loads. I am not one who cares for fire breathing handgun loads. I started off with my Bisley and 18.5 of XMP 5744. The load feels good, until I just got my chrony. A pretty sedate 945 fps average. I'd like a little more than that. I had cut out Pearce's load and put them in my load box. I was going to the range to test some rifle stuff and wanted to shoot some 45 Clt thru while waiting for the barrel to cool. I chose a load that he rated OK for Ruger handguns. Not the 5 shot conversions at 50,000PSI, but 32,000. The load was listed as 27.0 of H110. I had W296 which is argued to be the same powder, but I still cut it a grain, and used 26.0 over a 262 cast bullet. The two shots over the chrony listed as 1542 and 1478 fps if my memory is correct. This is in a 7 1/2" Bisley. The were pretty hot from the bench, so I blew the others off free hand and saved my elbow meat.

These seemed too hot, so I checked a few books when I got home. The hottest I saw was in a T/C with 23.0, similar weight bullet and a listed 1350 fps.

Am I lucky to have my hands and face? Did I missinterpret the data??

That's what happens when you "guess" at data. Somewhere, somebody, has something like what you want. You can't own too many reloading manuels.
I just reviewed a Load Book of the .45 Colt data. All the Manufacturers load to about 25,000 lbs. Any chance they know something ?
This fascination with extra gun busting power, and extra heavy bullets makes no sense to me. The .45 Colt, and the .44 Special have been hot loaded for many years, and used all over the world. Take a good, tough 240-250 gr. bullet, and push it 1100-1300 fps. out of a .44 Mag., or a .45 Colt and you can handle anything you need to do. It's been done for many years. Try getting a copy of Elmer Keith's book, "Sixguns, by Keith." Lot's of stories about powerful, practical handgun loads. E

Jesse,

You are fine with 26 grains. That is the load I usually use. The Hodgdon manual lists 27 grains as max. Here is a real good online reference: http://www.sixgunner.com/linebaugh/dissolving.htm

Ditto Sean's post. If you read through all of Linebaugh's articles at sixgunner.com, you can find quite a bit of pressure-tested data. Also, Jim Taylor had Hodgdon pressure-test a bunch of his loads, and the results are written up at http://www.singleaction45.com/ruger.htm.

Linebaugh, Pearce, Taylor and others have convinced me that 32-34k psi is a perfectly safe working maximum in Ruger 45's. Based on the data in the above articles, as well as Hodgdon's published data, I would say you're right in that ballpark.

my hunting load for my vaquaro is 25 grains with a 320 lfn I have shoot a couple thousand of these though this gun with no ill effects so you should be fine with a 260 grain bullet.

I've never been one to attempt to set the world on fire with my handgun loads, I found that 20 grains of H110 behind a 300 gr gas checked. Saeco cast bullet works great.
Fun spin off from developing the revolver load is the same load does well in my Rossi 1892.
Jim

Do your own research and put a lot of weight on it. In my opinion, putting weight on Eremicus's statements would leave you not using your .45LC to it's full potential. Just my opinion based on discussions / posts that I've had before with Eremicus. A lot of opinions regarding the .45LC from someone who doesn't own / or shoot one. HOWEVER, I will admit that using the loads I've seen him quote, will ensure a large safety net many times over.

The problem with good reliable 45 Colt data is that many or most sources are shy of giving out data that isn't safe in older revolvers chambered for 45 Colt or for replicas of those. The modern ruger revolvers, for instance, can handle considerably more safe operating pressures. My pet load for my Ruger Vaquero would likely destroy a Colt SAA (Peacemaker) and likely some bodily injury would also result. The load I use is quite safe in my ruger however, and the load is as follows...
CCI L Mag Pistol Primer...20g H Li'l Gun...260g Nosler Partition HP
This is a fairly stiff loading but works well in the field.
Here's a Texas dall I killed with the combination earlier this year.

Gila Monster nailed it. There are a lot of older, weaker 45's floating around out there, so, the liability concerns of the guys doing the manuals governs a lot of the conflicting data you see.

With good modern brass (Starline and Hornady is the best currently available; R-P and W-W is soft), the 45 in a good modern single action (Freedom Arms, Ruger - NOT an old SAA or one of the Italian clones) or double action (Redhawk) revolver can be loaded pretty hot, safely. The nice thing about Pearce's article is the loads he listed in various ranges, like (trying to remember, don't quote) under 18K for the old stuff, 24K or so for Smith doubles (25 & 625) and 30K for the Ruger, although I still think some of those last loads were on the weak side, based on in-depth testing by Linebaugh, Seyfried and others.

What I do when loading for the Blackhawks and Redhawk is use 44 Mag data for the 240 grain with 45/250 grain, for instance. The larger case/bore diameter of the 45 will cause those loads to operate at lower pressure, as the laws of physics dictate.

All that said, I don't really enjoy twisting my wrist off, which is what those heavy loads do, especially in single action revolvers. As Eremicus noted, a 240 - 250 hard cast bullet at 1100 - 1300 will do about everything you need, and, those loads can be generated with a lot less pressure/blast/recoil. I've been doing a lot more pleasant shooting with 14 - 16 Blue Dot and 265 CastPerformance bullets at around 1150 - 1200 FPS, and, the way they penetrate, I can't imagine a need for any more. That load is also a great one in the 44 Mag with 240 grainers.

I noticed a real avid 45 user from over at HA has posted in here lately. His handle is mikga, and he's been doing a lot of work with the really heavy cast bullets and Li'lGun in a Vaquero. Maybe he'll chime in here with some of that info, for those who have Schwarzenegger wrists.

R-WEST

I understand all of the above and have read several articles on the subject as well as the comparison between the 44/240 and the 45/250. I am just in disbelief as those loads were over 1500 fps with a 264 grain cast bullet. These were no fun to shoot. This is with a grain less powder than recommended. I will see what happens with felt recoil, pressure and velocity, when I try my cylinder with the throats opened to 452 instead of 449 later this week.

Jesse,

1542 fps is a little more than I would have expected with that load, but 1478 sounds just about right. I shoot Cast Performance 265 gr. WFN's over 26 grains H110 in my Blackhawk. These loads clock right at 1330 fps from my 4 5/8" barrel, and with nearly 3 inches more barrel, I would expect you to be about 150 fps faster.

Cannon