(II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. About 1200+ fps in the 7.5 SBH, 1150fps out of the 4" Redhawk. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. SWC), 853 (Powder UP see note) (Hi=872.5 Lo=827.5 Spread=45 fps)(some unburned powder), 802 (Powder DOWN see note) (Hi=809.2 Lo=792.6 Spread=16.6 fps). Subscriber Services. There are now 25 states with so-called Constitutional carry and Florida appears to be approaching permitless carry, which translates to more citizens S&W Set The Bar For Magnum Handgun Performance 50 Years Ago. SWC - 9.6 grains Unique Lyman # 454190 , 250 gr. In 1935 we entered the Magnum Sixgun Era with the arrival of the 357 Magnum; however, long before that we had the 45 Colt. Pennsylvania Game Commission, State Agency: and how they grouped at ther yrds. 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. When he died in 1862, the company was dedicated to producing the same percussion revolvers. Contest open to U.S. residents only. SAAMI pressures for STANDARD .45 Colt is 14,000 PSI MAXIMUM, but 454190 (255 grains) shares a similar profile as the original Government bullet but is a plainbase design that is generally very accurate and can be sized to around .454 to .455 inch for guns with larger throats. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. Contest open to U.S. residents only. The new RIA 5.0 Sporting Pistol from Rock Island Armory features a patented RVS Recoil system that maximizes barrel mass and linear movement to give shooters super soft recoil. The vast majority of my 45 Colt handloads over the last 60 years, however, has been put together with cast bullets. The original loading was a bullet of approximately 255 grains with a muzzle velocity of somewhere around 850 to 900 fps. That brings us to the next level, which includes 45 Colt revolvers built on the Ruger Super Blackhawk frame and the Ruger Old Model Blackhawk, the arrival of which led to two separate load sections showing up in loading manuals. The same load in a Jim Stroh custom 5-1/2 Bisley has the same accuracy with more . To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. In 1898, Colt made the necessary changes to permit its guns to be used with smokeless powders; however, it wasnt until 1900 (revolvers with serial number 192,000 or higher) that Colt began to officially warrant its guns for such. Cast bullets in both plain-based and gas check versions are available from 260 grains to 325 grains. This lets it feed in many cowboy-action guns and use common 45 ACP load data. Use 10% UNDER any values you see here for N-100. S.A.A.M.I. His #452490GC was originally made for the 45 Auto Rim cartridge for use in the Smith & Wesson 1950 Target revolver, but I also use the Thompson design, which weighs around 255 grains, for heavy-duty loads approaching the energy of the 44 Magnum in the Ruger Blackhawk. Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, State Agency: 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! Contest open to U.S. residents only. For the 45 Colt, I especially prefer the 250-grain RNFP and the 255-grain SWC. 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. 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. 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. Normal powders vary quite a bit and also have a larger spread between shots. 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. Because case capacity is large, trying to produce lighter loads with slow-burning powders can give very poor results. We are currently populating the cartridge drop-down menu with updated cartridge renderings, new propellants and bullets, and links to complimentary product pages. Contest open to U.S. residents only. During my early teenage years I acquired a beautiful pre-World War II Colt SAA .45 that was customized by one of the masters during the 1920s. Your load at 6.0 gr Unique is dangerously unsafe. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM April 2023, P.O. in pistol calibers than the old. The 9.2 got the best SD and EP, if that means much to you. Discussion: The old Western Style COLT normally uses big, heavy and slow lead bullets. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. That is, until I tried IMR 4227 with Lymans #452424 and a 20.0-grain load, and that combination produced one-hole groups. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up. 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. The final level includes custom five-shot Rugers and the Freedom Arms Model 83. The minimum load for a 200 gr cast SWC in 45 Colt is listed as 8.6 gr Unique for 918 fps. The final level includes custom five-shot Rugers and the Freedom Arms Model 83. 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. A gun with these internal dimensions offers a much fairer assessment of the accuracy potential of all data. By this time Winchester had changed its name to USRAC (United States Repeating Arms Co.) and the Trappers were offered in two versions, a blued receiver or a case-colored receiver. The only 456 bullet I am aware of is a conical made for Ruger Old Armys, so Lyman saying that is the right bullet for 45 Colt makes no sense. These can be safely driven to 1,200 fps in the Ruger Blackhawk. Weights in parenthesis are as-cast from wheelweights. The charge weight is 9.2 grains. 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. Deployed military should use stateside address. No purchase necessary. 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. For loading black powder 45 Colt loads, I use Goex as well as Pyrodex and Triple Seven. No purchase necessary. Contest void where prohibited by law. What has varied significantly is the throat diameter (ball end, chamber mouth, etc.) I have tested vintage loads that produced an honest 1,000 fps. While only sporadically available as a component, the Remington .456-inch 250-grain lead hollowbase bullet will obturate to minimize bullet tilting. By the standards of the day when it arrived in 1873, and even to this day, the 45 Colt was and is a powerful cartridge. A favorite pastime of many dedicated sixgunners is sitting around a campfire arguing the merits of their particular choice of caliber. RCBS also offers an excellent bullet of standard weight with the #45-255KT that has a better crimping groove than the Keith bullet. Velocities in a test The proud tradition and history of Lyman Products began simply in the late 1800?s when William Lyman, an avid outdoorsman and inventor, created a product that resolved problems with gun sights of his day. 310 Tong Tool. They include a (1) restored 1900 revolver with carved grips, (2) 1903 custom engraved, (3) 1901 with carved pearl grips, (4) 1899 with carved grips, (5) 1957-era custom, (6) custom 1901 with stag grips, (7) 1903 with custom carved grips and a (8) Colt New Frontier SAA with custom carved grips. However, a tight-chambered 45 Colt cylinder may require tolerances offered by a 454 Casull full-length sizing die. The revolver and ammunition were officially adopted for service in 1873. This load will certainly handle deer-sized game. I use the same industry measurement as the .45 ACP .470 inch. My most used powders for these loads are #2400, #9, #4227 and H110. 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. Pyrodex is cleaner burning than black powder and results in less fouling of the barrel. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, State Agency: Failure to do so could result in severe personal injury (or death) and/or property damage. 458 is a rifle bullet. It served me well while riding the ranch on horseback, running a trap-line, hunting big game, varmints and pests, etc., and it even saved my skin a time or two. LYMAN Reloading Products A trusted Brand since the 1800?s. The weight would more properly be closer to 32 grains. Dropping down to 30 grains results in an easier-shooting 835 fps and a group of 1.13 inches. (I) Giveaway ends September 30, 2021. All Guns and Ammo subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. 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. 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. To protect the privacy and security of winners, names will not be made public. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. Bullet sizes vary from .450 for jacketed to .454 for some lead in diameter. SCCY DVG-1 Sub-Compact Striker-Fired Pistol: Full Review, Buyer Beware: Buying 'Bargain' Guns Can Be Risky. With their 16 barrels the Winchesters weigh right at 6 lbs. check out the. Box 488, Escondido, CA 92033. 2020, Lyman Products Corporation, printed in U.S.A. All other trademarks in this catalog are the property of their respective owners. * which is just a little over maximum Colt loads (but mild for Ruger) shot an average of 880.2 fps pointing up and 708.0 fps pointing down, but the spread between shots was 146 fps and 235 fps respectively. 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. Western Powders (Accurate and Ramshot) are about the only ones publishing higher pressure 45 Colt cast bullet data. Give a Gift Indiana Department of Natural Resources, State Agency: Those first Winchesters were 16 Trapper Models, with mine being purchased in 1985. It also is a most versatile powder as it can be used for standard loads for the Colt SAA and heavy loads for the Blackhawk. The Judge has been promoted! The .45 Colt is rapidly approaching 150 years in existence, and it remains one of our finest, most useful, versatile and handloaded sixgun cartridges. In actual weight, Pyrodex is lighter than black powder, being about 80 percent of the weight of black powder. : .451" Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data. Nitro 100, No.2, No. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. However, none of these loads should be taken for granted and should be worked up very carefully. Employees and agents of Publishers Development Corp. are not eligible. My connection with Lyman goes back more than 50 years when I loaded my first ammunition using the No. Before I discuss handloads for the 45 Colt, we have to acknowledge there exists such a wide range of revolvers accepting the 45 Colt that great care must be used in assembling loads and choosing which guns will safely accept them. In his classic 1955 book Sixguns by Keith, Elmer Keith stated, As one grows older and his hair starts to turn grey, his respect for this grand old load increases. Marlins from the era have Micro-Groove rifling which may or may not work with cast bullets. 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.