Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. If you want those speeds and power, buy a .44 magnum. They are my choice for everyday use and also for hunting larger, tougher game. Cast bullets in both plain-based and gas check versions are available from 260 grains to 325 grains. Marlins from the era have Micro-Groove rifling which may or may not work with cast bullets. All right are Reserved Reload Ammo, Reloading The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), Hi=670, Lo=521, ES=148 (too slow, wide spread), Hi=677, Lo=594, ES=8.3 (too slow, but good spread), Hi=673, Lo=594, ES=80 (too slow)(old formulation), 833 Hi=873, Lo=783, ES=90 (old formulation), 866 Hi= 890 Lo=855 ES=35 (good Cowboy load), 836 fps (powder pointing UP) (Hi=877.7 Lo=803.0 Spread=74.7 fps), 771 fps (powder pointing DOWN) (Hi=783.1 Lo=760.3 Spread=22.8 fps), Hi=622, Lo=491, ES=131 (WAY too slow-stuck bullet possible)(old formulation), Hi=750, Lo=735, ES=15 (good spread, should have used more powder), use 6.1 to 6.8 for normal Colt 45 loads (old formulation, use 7.7 to 8.6* for +P Ruger and T/C Only (old formulation, 871 Hi=938 Lo=797 ES=141 (Colt Anaconda 6), 1024 MAX+ (Actual in 7 1/2 bbl 250 gr. Joe Kurtenbach, Executive Editor of Gun & Ammo, and John Myles from Smith & Wesson discuss features of the Equalizer 9mm micro-compact pistol and new-for-2023 M&P 5.7. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. On paper, the 357 Magnum was the first cartridge to exceed the 45 Colts muzzle energy, but many knowledgeable sixgunners, Elmer Keith included, believed the 45 Colt actually offered more practical power than the First Magnum. Today, it remains one of our most popular sixgun cartridges. My loading dies are from Lee, Lyman, and RCBS, and all of them give excellent service. REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD. I did find a 225 grain jacketed bullet. The Hornady 225-grain FTX bullet should be loaded in cases trimmed shorter than the industry standard of 1.215 inches. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, State Agency: No purchase necessary. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM April 2023, P.O. Share to Reddit. Reddings excellent Dual Ring Carbide sizing die was used to prep cases as it works the case less, results in longer case life, seems to improve accuracy and eliminates the Coke bottle shape forward of the head. For example, the .45 Colt with a 255-grain bullet at 860 fps (Winchester) generates 419 ft-lbs, while the .44 Magnum with a 240-grain bullet at 1,180 fps (Remington) generates 741 ft-lbs. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, State Agency: This significantly improved its accuracy when compared to the original cylinder with its typical oversized throats, and resulted in increased velocity. VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. It is my most used powder both in cap-and-ball and cartridge-firing sixguns when black powder loads are desired. Taurus Marketing Manager Caleb Giddings highlights the features of the new Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum, a purpose-built revolver with a 10.5-inch barrel and an effective recoil-taming brake, with Guns & Ammo Executive Editor Joe Kurtenbach. Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Rhode Island Department of Fish & Wildlife, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, Minnesota Deptartment of Natural Resources, Michigan Deptartment of Natural Resources, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. The 45 Colt also predates the 38 Special, the 44 Special, and the 45 ACP, and not only is it more than 80 years older than the 44 Magnum, but it also has more case capacity and in the proper sixguns can outrank the 44 Magnum. A Modern rifle should handle these loads equally as well, such as the Winchester Model 94. When loaded in the Colt Single Action Army at around 850 fps, it is a most powerful everyday working load. Low Recoil Loads | Hodgdon Reloading Handloading allows the flexibility to adjust load ballistics for a particular purpose. I didnt think I could shoot this well! There are many outstanding cast bullets for the .45 Colt. Illinois Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Bullet sizes vary from .450 for jacketed to .454 for some lead in diameter. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, State Agency: We are currently populating the cartridge drop-down menu with updated cartridge renderings, new propellants and bullets, and links to complimentary product pages. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th edition. 1,578 fps from a 24" universal receiver (all use rem brass and rem 9-1/2 primer). Keith bullet, the Lee 452-255-rf 250gr bullet and the RCBS 45-270-SAA for .45 Colt. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Quality 300-grain jacketed bullets are also offered by all three of these manufacturers. With their 16 barrels the Winchesters weigh right at 6 lbs. Quality 300-grain jacketed bullets are also offered by all three of these manufacturers. And about 1450+fps out of the 20" 454 Puma Levergun. A gun with these internal dimensions offers a much fairer assessment of the accuracy potential of all data. I shot all kinds of bullets and powders from my 45 colt from 200gr to 350 gr trying to find something that was better than the other. It is an excellent compromise between the 250- and 300-grain cast bullets. RF - 8.2 grains Unique Now we are all confused! for Ruger Blackhawk and T/C, levels in the 20,000 to 25,000 range are Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, State Agency: You can certainly use the Jacketed bullets fine, but dont look for incredible speeds. However, the first known commercial listing is found in the 1880 UMC catalog. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. Those first Winchesters were 16 Trapper Models, with mine being purchased in 1985. I use the same industry measurement as the .45 ACP .470 inch. Wyoming Game & Fish Department, State Agency: I have found 5.0 grains of Clays under a 250-grain bullet delivers a very pleasant-shooting load at 725 fps and will group all its shots in 0.63 inch at 20 yards. Pyrodex P is the equivalent of Triple-F or FFFg black powder. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. It didnt take long for manufacturers to offer heavier bullets, and two of the best came from NEI. Here is what Lyman #4 has to say on 45 Colt, maximum Unique , standard pressure loads: Lee 452-200-RF , 200 gr. Most of these are custom, tuned and have accounted for several head of big game. Purchase A PDF Download Of The GUNS Magazine February 2021 Issue Now! Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: I found both of these on the shelf of a little gun store, actually a small gun department, in a local grocery store. patterned after the one worn by Theodore Roosevelt. and other smokeless cartridges were introduced. Note that the Ruger New Vaquero uses a smaller frame and cylinder The availability of all of these bullets is dependent on how much time I have to cast my own. Addeddate 2019-02-26 16:21:01 Identifier References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders Guide (1995) Hodgdons Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) Speer Reloading Manual, #12 Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. Generally, when revolvers with such grossly oversized throats are fired with modern cast and jacketed bullets accuracy is poor. If I had to shoot only one factory ammunition the rest of my life, I would. We are blessed to have many excellent cartridges and sixguns available to us, but it would be hard to find any cartridge that is as versatile as the old 45 Colt. Over the past 35 years all four of these leverguns have shot extensively with both jacketed and cast bullets. For little more power I move up to the above-mentioned #454490 GC with 10.0 grains of Unique for just over 1,235 fps and groups of less than 1". Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. Notes: cases: Winchester; trim-to length: 1.275"; primers: Winchester WLP; primer size: Large Pistol; Lyman shell holder: No. Lyman has a 255 grain .45 Colt gas-checked bullet, #454490GC, that was designed by Ray Thompson who also brought forth the .357 Magnum #358156GC and the .44 Magnum #431244GC. I was fortunate to find one of each. .45 Colt - Published Manufacturer Loading Data Shellholders: Lee #11 Lee #14 Lyman #11 RCBS #20 Recipe Type: Pistol Ruger, Freedom Arms & Thompson / Center only 30,000 PSI-HIGH PRESSURE LOADS 14000 PSI-STANDARD LOADS Ruger and Contender Only Cowboy Bullet Weight: ALL 135 gr 160 gr 180 gr 185 gr 200 gr 210 gr 215 gr 225 gr 230 gr 240 gr 250 gr HS7 is slowest of the group (Similar to 2400) Over the nearly 15 decades since its arrival, there have been many attempts to pronounce it dead. Their max load is 6.2 grains for an approx 881 feet per second and a pressure of 13K cup. His 45 Colt bullet was #454424 and was available for decades from Lyman. The original conical bullet found in black powder 45 Colt loads from the 1870s is very close to the Lyman #454190 and the RCBS #45-255 FN. For many decades reloaders have been arguing over whether or not H110 and W296 were identical. The new 9mm suppressor can mount easily to any pistol barrel threaded x28 inches and doesn't compromise on sound suppression, gas blowback or recoil. It is often associated with its vital role in settling the western frontier, where it found favor with lawmen, outlaws and anyone that needed a potent sixgun. I have found two things necessary gas checks and hard alloys, also in most cases muzzle velocities over 1,200-1,300 fps. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Any time I have a 45 Colt that doesnt shoot the way I think it should, I dont give up until I try this load of IMR 4227 with Keiths bullet. Guns with larger throats will usually produce improved accuracy when loaded with bullets that measure .454 to .456 inch. Also slugged were guns 121xxx (1887) and number 134xxx (1890) that measured .4515 inch and .451 inch, respectively. With Accurates 5744 the speeds with 17.0 were 853 fps UP and 802 DOWN, but spreads were much better at 45 fps and 16.6 fps respectively. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. For loading black powder 45 Colt loads, I use Goex as well as Pyrodex and Triple Seven. 458 is a rifle bullet. | When time is a problem, actually when sometimes my own energy is the problem, I look to Oregon Trail Bullets. This is probably when it became so common to use cast bullets sized to .454 inch with pre-World War II guns but was largely confused with groove diameter. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2021. It follows Keiths original idea of three equally sized driving bands, one forming the base, the middle one serving as the top of the grease groove, and the front driving band helping true up the bullet in the cylinder and is located above a generous crimping groove. One problem inherent with the original #454424 was the fact that when sized to 0.451 to 0.452 inch, the crimping groove almost disappears. Arizona Game & Fish Department, State Agency: Share to Facebook. Next we will look at jacketed bullets in .45 Colt leverguns. RNFP), 1007 MAX+ (Actual in 7 1/2 bbl 255 gr. Members 4.5k Gender:Male Location:Dolores, Colorado Interests:All types of shooting, hunting, fishing, camping. Pyrodex is cleaner burning than black powder and results in less fouling of the barrel. Deployed military should use stateside address. With my alloys this bullet runs around 280 to 285 grains while at the same time having a slightly shorter nose than the original Keith design so it fits in all Colt cylinders. In ranking the various 45 Colt sixguns now in production from the least strongest to that capable of a handling the heaviest loads, I would set the following order. After all the work and expense, it turned out to be a somewhat mediocre performer. With the coming of Rugers Blackhawk chambered in 45 Colt in the early 1970s, we finally had a sixgun that could tap the tremendous potential of the 45 Colt cartridge. Elmer Keiths custom Colt single action was used to develop his heavy 44 Special loads in the late 1920s, and for a long time the 45 Colt cartridge was accused of being weak. Joe Kurtenbach and Caleb Giddings also look at the first-ever optics-ready carry revolvers with the new Taurus 605 and 856 T.O.R.O. I have been pleasantly surprised by the Marlin Trapper. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. in pistol calibers than the old. Share to Twitter. I have measured Colt revolvers with throats that run from. The Lyman bullet 452651 GC will cast 20-1 at about 325 grains including gas check. When using bullets designed for the .45 ACP that dont have a crimp cannelure, a taper crimp applied after bullets are seated to the correct overall length is the best option. Dropping down to 30 grains results in an easier-shooting 835 fps and a group of 1.13 inches. They do provide identical results of muzzle velocities and pressures using the same charge weights, and I use them interchangeably. I especially like the 260-grain Keith gas-check bullet which shoots exceptionally well using #4227, 20.0 grains is 1,115 fps for 5/8 and then it gets even better! Contrary to popular belief, the Mason patented spring-loaded, cylinder-pin release catch first appeared in 1896 around serial number 164,000, which were still black powder guns. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM March 2022, P.O. Minnesota Deptartment of Natural Resources, State Agency: In actual weight, Pyrodex is lighter than black powder, being about 80 percent of the weight of black powder. I found the following heavyweight bullets all would work through both the Winchester and Marlin actions: NEI 310 Keith, NEI 325 Keith, Lyman #454629GC 300-grain FN, RCBS #45-270 SAA weighing around 284 grains with my alloy, and I also checked the #454490GC design by Ray Thompson, which is a 255-grain Keith-style gas-checked bullet. It is superbly accurate and will often shoot well in sixguns that are cranky about shooting plain-based bullets. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. Chris Johnson, FN Senior Product Manager, walks us through two new FN striker-fired pistols at SHOT Show 2023: the FN 510 Tactical, chambered in 10mm Auto, and the FN 545 Tactical, chambered in .45 ACP. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. Moving up to the second level, loads at around 1,000 fps with the same-weight bullet are used in the Colt New Frontier, Smith & Wesson Model 25/625, Ruger Flat-Top New Model, and the Ruger New Vaquero. The Freedom Arms Model 97 also is in this group. However, Dick Casull started with the 45 Colt single action and the weak 45 Colt case to come up with his cartridge, which eventually became the 454 Casull. (I) Giveaway ends April 30, 2023. (NOTE: Sections marked Ruger Only are not for the New Model Blackhawk Flat-Tops or the New Vaquero!) Meet the all-new Taurus Judge Executive Grade, a revolver featuring a hand-polished satin finish, presentation-grade wood grips, a brass rod front sight and an exceptional hand-tuned trigger. take the .45 Colt as my game and defense cartridge. It is noteworthy that this statement was made 20 years after the development of the .357 Magnum, a cartridge Keith also tested and used in the field. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. I use WLP primers. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, State Agency: Mississippi Deptartment of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks, State Agency: Copyright. The Complete Reloading Manual For The 45 Colt Item Preview remove-circle Share or Embed This Item. flatpoint Keith-style bullets. sets maximum standards for cartridges; this standard must be set at a level safely usable in the weakest common denominator. The accompanying standard- pressure handloads are within SAAMI guidelines of 14,000 psi, making them suitable for modern Colt SAA revolvers and all guns chambered in .45 Colt that are designed to fire smokeless powder ammunition. The charge weight is 9.2 grains. My brass of choice is Starlines excellent 45 Colt brass with CCI 300 Large Pistol primers for all powders, except I switch to CCI 350 Magnum Pistol primers with IMR 4227, H110, W296, and all black powder and black powder substitutes. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. The availability of all of these bullets is dependent on how much time I have to cast my own. .45 Colt Handgun Data (Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition) Warning! For comparison the above .44 Magnum factory loads (which are admittedly conservative) have a TKO factor only slightly higher at 17.35. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, State Agency: In the large .45 case, a large difference has been noted in speeds. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. * Both of these are plainbased Keith-style bullets, and their numbers are #310.451 and #325.454, with the first three digits giving the approximate bullet weight. North Dakota Game & Fish Department, State Agency: New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: A bullet with a copper gas check or copper plating is best for INDOOR ranges to keep lead vapors out of the air. For example, No. The individual accessing this site assumes the risk of safe loading practices. There simply is not much that cannot be accomplished with the 45 Colt. For example, the most recent Speer Reloading Manual Number 15 states, Prior to 1945, most .45 Colt revolvers had a bore diameter of .454 inch. In the event that a bullet walks out of the case slightly from recoil, Brian suggests an overall cartridge length that is at least .010 to .015 inch below flush with the end of the cylinder. FWIW Dale53 #Permalink 1 0 The larger diameter ring that sizes the lower half of the case provides longer case life and eliminates the typical swaged bulge just ahead of the solid head. Just about all loads shot the same . . The new big bore pistols feature industry-first capacity, with a standard 15-round capacity and 22+1 rounds of 10mm or 18+1 rounds of .45 ACP from the extended magazines. Some of my most accurate loads are as follows: The Lyman/Thompson #454490 GC over 20.0 grains of #42274 gives a group at 1,275 fps or 20.0 grains of #2400 for 150 fps more velocity and a group just over 1. These two examples were produced in 1875 (left) and 1887 (below). Oregon Trails 250-grain RNFP over 8.0 grains of W231 clocks out just under 1,100 fps with three-shot groups of 1" or less. The final level includes custom five-shot Rugers and the Freedom Arms Model 83. Instead of being overly large, Rugers have been way too tight, with some measuring around 0.449 inch, but now Ruger is cutting all cylinder throats at 0.451 to 0.452 inch. My maine load is the Lyman 454190 cast of ww + 2% tin. For the .45 Colt my standard load is 5.5 grains of Clays, which gives from 780 fps to 840 fps depending upon the sixgun used. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. Subscriber Services. In fact, an axiom with me is, When all else fails, try IMR 4227 before giving up. Years ago, after tiring of oversized 45 Colt chambers in Colt Single Action Army revolvers and New Frontiers, I started with a 357 Magnum New Frontier, had the cylinder rechambered properly and tightly to 45 Colt, and then had a new 4.75-inch Colt New Frontier barrel fitted. Soon after smokeless powder came into use, throats were increased to .4555 inch (according to Colt specifications), which worked fine with .456-inch lead hollowbase bullets contained in Remington and Winchester ammunition. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. N340 is a tubular powder type with grain dimensions of 1,0mm length and 0,8 mm diameter. It follows Keiths original idea of three equally sized driving bands, one forming the base, the middle one serving as the top of the grease groove, and the front driving band helping true up the bullet in the cylinder and is located above a generous crimping groove. .45 Colt Rifle Data (Lyman Reloading Handbook 49th Edition) reloading data with 0 loads. Factory warranties may apply in some cases. Want to practice more with that big-bore hunting rifle or enjoy that magnum pistol more at the range? Loading the .45 Colt It's vital to understand today's loading manuals typically include .45 Colt loads at two different power levels: under 14,000 CUP and under 29,000 PSI. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. You may even have bullets stopping partway in the barrel with that light of a charge. Contest open to U.S. residents only. Everything really starts with our Vision, which is:To be the best-run business in America, and the most successful, most respected business in our industry, for the benefit of our Customers. This is a pretty bold Vision, but its absolutely real. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. A quote from Lyman Reloading Handbook, 49th Edition states, The grooves of pre-World War II revolvers normally measure .454 in diameter. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. (I) Giveaway ends February 28, 2023. Two other powders for standard loads include W231 and HP-38. The powder is Herco. In contrast, Ruger only revolver data uses slower powders like IMR 4227, Win 296 and 2400, and 250 gr velocities in the 1350-1450 fps range. Again, a groove diameter of .451 to .452 inch remains standard by all manufacturers. My connection with Lyman goes back more than 50 years when I loaded my first ammunition using the No. The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6, HS7 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. For the 45 Colt this is the Single Action Army revolver. about 175 fps and from 7 1/2 by 50 fps. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, State Agency: Federal Ammunition History: 14 Things You Didn't Know, SIG Sauer Custom Works P320 Spectre Comp Pistol: First Look, .224 Valkyrie Small Precision Rifle Cartridge: Everything You Need to Know, How to Choose the Best Scope Reticle for Your Application, SIG Sauer Announces New P320-XTEN 10mm Pistol, SIG Sauer P322 .22 Rimfire Pistol: Full Review, Non-Lethal Personal & Home Defense with Byrna, Range Tested: EAA Girsan Pistols & Shotguns, New for 2023: Christensen Arms Modern Hunting Rifle (MHR), New for 2023: All-American RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol, New for 2023: FN Rush 9Ti Pistol Suppressor, New Big Bore Pistols for 2023: FN 510 Tactical and FN 545 Tactical, New for 2023: FN SCAR 15P Rifle Caliber Pistol, First Look: Taurus Raging Hunter 460 Magnum Revolver With 10.5-Inch Barrel, New-for-2023 Taurus Judge Executive Grade 410/.45 Colt Revolver, Smith & Wesson Equalizer and the Brand New M&P 5.7 Pistol. I usually select an expander ball that is at least .003 to .004 inch smaller than bullet diameter, which helps prevent bullets from jumping crimp and aids in achieving consistent powder ignition. On the other end are the Ruger Only loads. Cast RCBS 45-270-SAA bullets are generally loaded to an overall length of 1.650 inches to not over 1.655 inches, utilizing the full length of the Colt cylinder. Then comes the Freedom Arms Model 97, the original Ruger Vaquero, Ruger Blackhawk, Ruger Redhawk, and the Ruger Super Redhawk. The other problem, that of cylinder throat diameters, centers around the fact that they vary considerably. within an inch or 2 of each other at 50 yards. Bob Meinert, FN Marketing Director, introduces FN's first commercial pistol suppressor, the FN Rush 9Ti. S.A.A.M.I. Sam Colt became a millionaire producing percussion revolvers. (WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter, HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose, FMC= Full Metal Case, FMJ= Full Metal Jacket, JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet), Loads for .45 Colt: New York Department of Environmental Conservation, State Agency: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Powders include I prefer to use 250-grain jacketed bullets in conjunction with +P loads, which is a subject for another day. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. But keep in mind, both Lyman and Alliant publish only standard pressure loads for the 45 Colt. With these bullets sized .452" and cast of 16 parts lead to 1 part tin, try this loading with 19.0 grains of WW-296 or 19.5 grains of H-110 in Star-line cases with Fed 155 primers and Bubba lube, or Javelina or NEI pistol lube. Although far from perfect, the old Taylor Knock Out (TKO) formula, which is caliber x bullet weight x velocity 7,000, is far more accurate. you use any of these loads listed below with STARS (*). Others are the New Model Blackhawks, the Bisley Model, the Redhawk, and the Super Redhawk. Load data for caliber ".45 Colt". This revolver and cartridge proved to be a great teacher as I learned how to shoot a big-bore single-action sixgun accurately. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. Instead of being overly large, Rugers have been way too tight, with some measuring around 0.449 inch, but now Ruger is cutting all cylinder throats at 0.451 to 0.452 inch. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. This Colt SAA .45 was manufactured in 1893 and saw extensive use on the frontier prior to being professionally restored. Because case capacity is large, trying to produce lighter loads with slow-burning powders can give very poor results. It is clear why the .45 Colt had such a stellar reputation as a man stopper and for its effectiveness on game. It's like shooting a .38 special in a gun chambered for .357 magnum. For something with more thump, it would be wise to find some published load data and buy some bullets that match that data. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. LYMAN Reloading Products A trusted Brand since the 1800?s. This revolver is fitted with a new line-bored cylinder that is tightly chambered with .452-inch throats, a .003-inch barrel/cylinder gap and the forcing cone cut to 11 degrees. Bullseye is a bit fast for this big cartridge and I dont especially recommend it, but it will work. In my opinion, throats that measure .452 inch are generally ideal with a variety of bullets. considered more the norm. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. The weight would more properly be closer to 32 grains. A roll crimp is generally preferred and should be applied as heavily as the bullets crimp groove or cannelure will permit. In actual weight, Pyrodex is lighter than black powder, being about 80 percent of the weight of black powder. Lyman now offers it as #452424, and it is a 255-grain bulletor thereabouts, depending upon the alloy used. Any time I have a 45 Colt that doesnt shoot the way I think it should, I dont give up until I try this load of IMR 4227 with Keiths bullet. Deployed military should use stateside address. All Freedom Arms cylinders are held to very tight tolerances and whether using 45 Colt or 454 Casull brass, I size with a special 454 die. Prizes will not be awarded if illegal in jurisdiction of winners. top notch work!! RCBS also offers an excellent bullet of standard weight with the #45-255KT that has a better crimping groove than the Keith bullet. Today the throats of most Colt revolvers measure .457 to .458 inch, which is the same dimension used by Smith & Wesson during the late 1970s, Uberti and others. replacement barrels from the 1930s, each slugged between .451 and .4515 inch. Pyrodex is cleaner burning than black powder and results in less fouling of the barrel. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM May 2023, P.O. Bad Idea! While there were multiple experiments with different cartridges, the .45 Colt was a joint development between Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and Union Metallic Cartridge Company.