A few small ammo manufacturers do sell such ammo, but the large manufacturers don't due to concers about the ammo making it into guns not up to the strains.

THE website for 45 colt info is sixgunner.com There are some excellent articles by John Linebaugh, Paco Kelley and John Taffin that discuss what is possible with the 45 colt when loaded for the ruger.

You can push a 320 gr hard cast bullet 1200-1300 fps, which will do just about all that needs doing with one of these guns.

I went through the same thing (didn't have a 45 Colt and just wanted one) a few years ago. Now I have three!! They are a lot of fun to shoot, and, properly loaded in a revolver that will take it, will handle just about anything. Ross Seyfried shot a Cape Buffalo with one http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/article.cfm?tocid=321&id=24

For the money, a Blackhawk is really hard to beat, especially if you're after the "Old West" feeling. I have one each with 5-1/2" and 7-1/2" barrels. The 5-1/2" is definitely better balanced and easier handling.

Personally, I'm not really crazy about loading/unloading one at a time through the loading gate, and the Redhawk (not that UGLY Super Redhawk thing) offers the convenience of a swing-out cylinder. It's also a massive revolver, capable of handling heavy loads.

Get one (or more), you'll have a blast.

R-WEST

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"the spotlight of truth will cause the cockroaches of deceit to run for cover every time"
Rush Limbaugh

[This message has been edited by Woodrow (edited 04-21-2002).]

Lay in a stock of H110/W296 (they're the same), and maybe some LilGun, then get some of whatever bullet you intend to use (Cast Performance LBT heat treated cast solids http://www.castperformance.com/ are pretty good) in whatever weight you like, get some W-W WLP primers and W-W, Hornady or Starline brass (R-P brass is a bit soft), then go to the various sites noted for load data, and let your conscience, common sense, and wrist strength be your guide.

You might consider a different set of grips with the heavy loads. The smooth factory wood grips are hard to hang onto, especially if they get damp. I have a set of Butler Creek rubber, or some high tech material, grips on my Blackhawk, which makes a big difference in handling the recoil these loads will generate. I don't recommend using the 'combat' grips with individual finger grooves, because the upward twisting motion will try to tear your fingers off.

R-WEST

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"the spotlight of truth will cause the cockroaches of deceit to run for cover every time"
Rush Limbaugh

quote:

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Originally posted by yukon delta:
Constance, the strong 45 colts are not only equal to the strong 44's but they exceed it considerably. This is simply fact that can be discovered by a little research. Many are doing it. The reloading manuals acknowledge it. This doesn't even take into consideration having 5 shot cylinders.

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If you calculate the energy levels of the published data for the +P colt loads listed for the TC Contender and Ruger Revolvers, you will find that they are just slightly behind the 44Mag.

Sure, plenty of people load above that. I don't. I value my eyesight and don't relish a gun blowing up in my face from excess wear and tear from shooting loads that are too hot.

The question I was answering was about plain 45 Colts, not custom guns with 5 shot cylinders designed to handle 454 pressures. Nor was it about what "Many are doing."

Most of the 45 Colts are based on the same outside cylinder dimensions as the 44 mags. If you remove more metal to chamber the 45, the metal that is left is thinner and less able to take the higher presssures. When you compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges the 45 Colt +P comes out just a bit behind the 44 mag.

quote:

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Originally posted by Woodrow:
So, now, how about giving me some load info that you are talking about. The stuff that exceeds or is comparable to the .44 MAG is what I'm interested in. Also, what brand of cases will handle these loads?
CDW

[This message has been edited by Woodrow (edited 04-21-2002).]

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Speer and hornaday both list a goodly collection of the loads you are looking for.

As for cases, supposedly all the ones on the market will handle those pressures, however, I have a batch of Remington cases that split after one or 2 reloads even with light Black powder loads. If you are starting from scratch, go with Starline brass. Starline is nearly as tough as Federal, much easier to get and cheaper. I have loaded some 454 level loads in the Starline 45 Colt brass ( with the primer pockets reamed deaper for rifle primers) and they held up for 15 reloads so far. Loaded with 45 Colt +P loads they should last just fine. The # of reloads you get depends on too many things to predict accurately, but good brass always is the way to go.

I like the 44 alot. I happen to load for it more than the 45. I also happen to know that the 45 keeps going when the 44 stops...and like I said that does NOT take into consideration 5 shot cylinders for BOTH calibers.

Do what you want Constance but I'll follow the experience of Ross Seyfried, John Linebaugh, Hamilton Bowen, John Taffin, Kelly Brost, Lee Jurras, Ashley Emmerson, Dave Clements, Brian Pearce, Hodgdon Powder Co., etc. But of course, you don't know who any of these guys are or you wouldn't feel the way you do.

There's no point in me trying to convince anyone else. No one twisted my arm...I just did the research. I encourage you to at least read the work of some of these guys (say Ross Seyfried and John Linebaugh) and THEN make a decision for yourself. You might be surprised at what they have to show you.

quote:

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Originally posted by yukon delta:
I guess I should not try to talk to Constance as he is not understanding simple ballistics. Suffice it to say that the 44 works harder than the 45 in similar bullet weights to achieve the same or less velocity. To get a 44 to keep up with the 45 requires much more CUP (say 10,000 units) and even that won't keep it going when heavy bullets are factored in.

I like the 44 alot. I happen to load for it more than the 45. I also happen to know that the 45 keeps going when the 44 stops...and like I said that does NOT take into consideration 5 shot cylinders for BOTH calibers.

Do what you want Constance but I'll follow the experience of Ross Seyfried, John Linebaugh, Hamilton Bowen, John Taffin, Kelly Brost, Lee Jurras, Ashley Emmerson, Dave Clements, Brian Pearce, Hodgdon Powder Co., etc. But of course, you don't know who any of these guys are or you wouldn't feel the way you do.

There's no point in me trying to convince anyone else. No one twisted my arm...I just did the research. I encourage you to at least read the work of some of these guys (say Ross Seyfried and John Linebaugh) and THEN make a decision for yourself. You might be surprised at what they have to show you.

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"If it ain't a 45/70, it's just a passing fad"

A classic, albeit rather extreme, example is a 55 grain bullet from a 22-250 vs a standard factory loaded 405 grainer in a 45-70. Both have roughly the same energy, but, which would you rather have in your hands when an irate grizzly charges?

The 45's superiority over the 44 has strictly to do with physics, is irrefutable factually, and has been demonstrated repeatedly. Animals don't read advertising hype.

Shark Bait -
You're right about the cast bullets. It's AMAZING how much they'll penetrate, at least the Cast Performance LBT's I've tried.

I really like my Smith 29, but, if a brown bear suddenly pops up in the back yard (hey, anything's possible), and my only choices are between it and a 45, the 45 will get the call every time.

R-WEST

[This message has been edited by R-WEST (edited 04-23-2002).]

In years past, I've owned three 44 mags, and now only have a Ruger 45LC Silverhawk. The 45LC was also spoken highly of, by Ross Seyfried, of which he hunted African game with. (Heck, he even wrote about taking his 475 Linebaugh as his only back-up gun, simply because he knows what they can do.)

I highly recommend the 45LC. Buffalo Bore maes ammo for it, handloads can be made to any power lever, and plenty of ggod bullets are available. ~~~Suluuq

quote:

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Originally posted by Woodrow:
I'd like to pick up a plain ol' single action .45 Colt. Not sure what make or model I want yet. Price, reliabilty, and appearance will help me decide that. I'm not a competition shooter, and don't hunt with handguns, just a target plinker. I may however carry it while working. Knowing that, my questions are as follows. I've read that the .45 Colt can be loaded up to equal the performance of the .44 Rem Mag, yet factory loads don't even compare with a .357 Mag. Are all new SA revolvers chambered for .45 Colt safe to shoot this hot ammunition in, or just the Ruger? If yes, why doesn't anyone make factory ammo producing these documented energies? The plain and simple reason I'm looking at this calibre is because I don't yet have one, and I want one! I'm a bit of an old west buff. I want it for what it is, and am just curious at possible loads, and results.
Thanks fellas,
CDW

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Best choice is any factory Ruger SA in .45 Colt. Good price, good accuracy,...

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BER007
Keep the faith in any circumstances
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BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM

Did you see the latest (June 2002) issue of Handloader? Brian Pearce does a workup of 45 Colt loads ranging from 14,000 CUP (old SAA types) to 19,000 CUP (newer SAA's and Smith 25's) to 30,000 (Ruger Bisleys, Redhawks, Blackhawks and Freedom Arms) all the way to 50,000 PSI (Bowen and other custom five shots). Very good article.

He also has another article in there on the 38 Special.

R-WEST