hey guys, need help loading for 1905 45 colt revolver.

[brian923]

i was going to start reloading for my fathers 1905 colt revolver thats been handed down generation to generation. i would eventually like to try white tail hunting with it if i can get a good load worked up for it. the couple questions i have are... i can seem to only find loads for lead bullets. can i use copper bullets? also, i have some 185 grn hornady xtp bullets i bought for my EAA 45 acp. they dont work well in the EAA, so i was going to try to use them in the 45 colt??? is this possible?

also, any info on somewhere to start reloading for the lighter bullets, and for the older revolver would be apprecxiated. this is the first time reloading for a revolver, (i have loaded for auto loaders, semi auto rifles and bolt guns) and an old one at that, just makes he want to be causious.

thanks guys, for all your help, brian.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Your 1905 Colt probably has a .454" diameter barrel. You should slug it to be sure, and if it does, none of the .451"/.452" bullets are going to give you very good accuracy.

You should also load for the Colt SAA, which means loads that were meant for that gun. The steel in the older revolvers isn't the same steel they use today. Most manuals will have a section on loading the .45 Colt for the SAA, and that should give you the information you need.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[nicholst55]

+1; use data for the Colt SAA and respect that 103-year old piece of history!

Your 185 grain XTPs are poorly suited for this revolver for several reasons; first, as already mentioned, they're doubtless too small in diameter and would produce dismal accuracy. Second, they lack a cannelure, or crimping groove that revolver bullets need. They would likely 'pull' from recoil, and could conceivably lock up your cylinder. Third, the sights on your gun, if unaltered, are regulated for a 250-ish grain bullet at around 800-850 fps velocity. The 185 grain bullets would print way low in your revolver.

If you want to handload, there are any number of commercial bullet casters that offer .454" diameter bullets for the .45 Colt. Midway carries some, or you can run a Google search. They are what I would recommend for your old Colt.

 

[Archie]

In an older revolver like that, you'll want to be cautious. Keep the pressure levels down in the moderate range.

Having said that, and in line with the previous remarks about the chamber throats and barrel set up for .454" bullets, the old style 255 grain Keith style bullet has killed a fair amount of game over the years. The bullet gives excellent accuracy and plows a right big hole through whatever it hits.

I'd stick with that premise rather than try to hotrod jacketed bullets.

 

[Old Fuff]

Colt didn't make a "1905 Model .45" as such, so I presume you have an New Service revolver, and the 1905 is a patent date. Various Colts could and were manufactured long after the patent dates stamped on them.

I would expect the serial number to be stamped on the frame, under the back of the barrel and behind the crane cut-out. To see it you will have to swing out the cylinder.

Post that number, using xx for the last two ones, and the exact year it was manufactured can be determined. Thereafter a better discussion concerning loads can go forward.

 

[GaryL]

I can certainly understand wanting to shoot an old gun. However, before proceeding with shooting your old revolver, you probably should find out what it's worth. I can't claim to know much about old Colts, but some of them are fairly scarce and command quite a premium on the collector market. Shooting an old collector can significantly degrade the value if it is in "like new" condition. Even if you don't have an interest in selling it, you may wish to keep it nice for a family heirloom.

 

[rcmodel]

I kind of disagree.

Shooting an old gun with proper ammo isn't going to devalue it if you clean it and don't abuse it.
If it were new, unfired, in the box, it would, but this one probably isn't.

In this case, jacketed bullets are not recommended at all as they will cause undue barrel wear on the old soft steel used in them 100 years ago.

And your 185 grain XTP's will not even shoot anywhere close to where the fixed sights are regulated.

The gun was designed for 250 - 255 grain lead bullets of the day, not modern JHP stuff.

If the gun locks up tight, and everything else in in order, you can shoot low-end Colt SAA lead bullet loads in it until heck freezes over and not hurt it.

Don't take it to a Combat Pistol match and try to beat Jerry Miculek shooting it DA, and it will probably last longer then you will.

rcmodel

 

[Old Fuff]

Shooting collectables

Older collectable firearms should probably not be fired, particularly if they are in "like new" condition. But if they are in sound condition, and have at least 5% or more overall finish wear, moderate shooting with appropriate ammunition will not cause them to lose much if any value.

In the present case we can safely say that the revolver was made during or after 1905 (if it has a 1905 patent date stamped on the barrel), but until the actual year of manufacture and it's present condition is determined, any discussion concerning what loads to use in it (if any) must be highly speculative.

 

[highlander 5]

chamber mouth diameter is more important than bore diameter so check the chamber mouths first. Oddly enough I had a brand new Colt Anaconda years ago and measured the chamber mouths and was quite surprised that they were .455 rather than .452. Had to size to .454 cause that's the biggest sizer die I could find locally.

 

[brian923]

thanks for all the info. as to keeping the gun as a collectalbe, we through that out the window the day it was handed to us.

as the story goes, my great grandfather bought the gun brand new, and never shot it. it was handed down to my grandfather, who also never shot it. when my father and i got it, we recieved a lot of flack from other family members, but WE SHOT it. it is amazingly accurate, and a hoot to shoot!! we look at it as this... its a gun, guns were ment to be shot! so we shot it!!! i will try to get the date off the frame and let you guys now. as to some of the internet searching i did last night, from some pics i was able to find, it looks like the aformention COLT New Service Model.


again, thanks for the info, and Merry Christmas guys.

fellow shooter, Brian