.45lc Recipe (Revolver/Lever)

[bsparker]

New to reloading and looking for recommendations. I'm looking for a recipe that gives me a good load for a SAA Clone (Taurus Gaucho) revolver and a Winchester 94 lever gun. I can load cowboys, but want to load something a little faster, still within SAAMI, that will run in both (not ruger levels).

Recommendations on projectiles and powder? What's your favorite load?

 

[Charlie98]

255grn cast bullet and Unique.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Get Lyman #50 and all your questions will be answered.

 

[bsparker]

Get Lyman #50 and all your questions will be answered.

Yep, coming in the mail soon. Haven't purchased any powder or projectiles yet, so was hoping to see what people have found worked well before I take a shot in the dark at which one might fit the bill.

 

[forty_caliber]

You can check load data here until your manual comes in the mail. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com
This will give you the data you need to order your supplies.

.40

 

[murf]

i would just add to the charlie98 post to get a round nose flat point bullet to feed that levergun. unique powder is the most accurate and least position sensitive i have found for the 45 long colt cartridge with that (255 grain) bullet weight.

luck,

murf

 

[black mamba]

The 250 gr RNFP bullet with the Hi-Tek coating is my recommendation, available just about everywhere. Clean to load and shoot, very accurate, and no feeding problems. My most accurate load is with 700X, but Unique should do fine as well.

 

[VandalBC]

Really like 255gr LSWC with 15.1gr of 2400 for my Rossi M92. Also ACME 200gr RNFP with 8.0gr of Unique are good as well.

 

[GaryL]

I happen to like 250 gr lead and 8.0 gr Unique. Easily my most accurate hand toy. Don't know about the lever toy, but I would expect it to work pretty well.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt45lc.htm

 

[Col. Cornelius]

Great load for both rifle and Colt style Single Action Pistols:
45 Colt
250 gr RNFP
6.0 gr Red Dot
Any Standard Large Pistol Primer

It's a standard pressure load
Pistol Velocity - 810 fps to 845 fps depending on barrel length
Rifle Velocity - approx. 1,000 fps

 

[Patocazador]

I load .45 Colt for hunting in my Blackhawk. I use a Hornady 250 gr. HP-XTP and 20.0 grs. of 2400. For plinking I use 255 SWC and Unique.

 

[Charlie98]

255grn cast bullet and Unique.

I’ll offer an addendum... if you don’t mind 2 different loads, as others suggested, a slower powder like 2400 or my favorite IMR4227 would work wonders in the carbine barrel. I use IMR4227 in my Marlin .41 Magnum, but not in the pistols... .41 or .45.

 

[Riomouse911]

I shot a bunch of 230 gr RN .452 bullets over 8.0 Unique out of my 16" Rossi '92 this weekend. I was ringing the plates and flipping the dueling tree paddles back and forth with ease. Not magnum loads for sure, but fun fun fun! In a sidearm they're just enough to let you know you're tossing a big bullet downrange without beating up your gun or your wrist.

Nicest part is the big RN bullets slide into the loading gate, and into the chamber, like they were greased. (I used them in SASS shoots because loading my old Vaquero was a piece of cake with them as well.)

Stay safe.

 

[cfullgraf]

255grn cast bullet and Unique.

That is the combination that I use for my 45 Colt revolvers. If I had a 45 Colt rifle, it is on the want list, I'd use the same load.

I see no need to hot rod my 45 Colt ammunition.

 

[BullRunBear]

I shoot 45 Colt in a Blackhawk, Winchester 1894 lever action, New model Vaquero, and an old Contender. The best overall load for all of them has been a 250 or 255 gr. SWC and 8 grs. Unique. (I believe John Taffin favors this load.) I regard this as a middle power load, nowhere near a 'Ruger only' level. I'm sure others will have equally effective loads but this has worked well for me for over thirty years.

Jeff

 

[Obturation]

250 +/- gr rnfp, I'd recommend getting a coated bullet , if there's a difference in bore dimensions between the guns it'll prevent leading. No need to use jacketed bullets for the 45 colt unless you want a hollow point hunting load too.

Any other cartridges you plan to load? If so you may try to find a powder that agrees with multiple cartridges to simplify life.

Either way, you'll find what you're looking for. You may have to do some tinkering to find a sweet spot for both but if you take your time it'll all work out. What shoots well in one may be not too great in the other. I'd figure out the rifle load first and then see how the revolver does with it.

---on a side note, a Taurus gaucho? Dang, don't see many of those. That was the first gun I ever bought myself, great gun with a 1# trigger, pretty too.

 

[wbbh]

250 grain led RN over 6.3 grains of Shooters World Clean Shot for older lever actions and SAA pistols.

For my .45 Colt BFR 16.8 grains of Shooters World Heavy Pistol is nice.

 

[Charlie98]

It's funny, I didn't post a charge weight in my original (#2) post... but it's interesting to find that almost all of you throw 8.0grn Unique, my load as well.

 

[Riomouse911]

It's funny, I didn't post a charge weight in my original (#2) post... but it's interesting to find that almost all of you throw 8.0grn Unique, my load as well.

It just works in every gun I've fired that load in...be it under 250-255 SWC or 230 RNL bullets.

Stay safe.

 

[Demi-human]

but it's interesting to find that almost all of you throw 8.0grn Unique, my load as well.

It just works in every gun I've fired that load in...be it under 250-255 SWC or 230 RNL bullets.

Stay safe.

Ah, some interesting information that would not be included with a manual. How ‘bout that!

 

[Bartojc]

Count me as one of the ~8gr Unique and 255 gr either RN or RNFP. Typically I now use MBC coated.
I’ve tried other powders and have a few I can use if I have to. I keep Unique for 45 Colt and in a pinch I can use it for other pistol loads

Jeff