Load Data for 45 Colt

[TC8500]

I would welcome some recommendations on a load for a 45 Long Colt. I want to get 900 fps using a 250 Hornady XTP. I have W231 but have found no data that reaches 900 fps. I also have W296 which in the 4th edition of the Hornady Reloading Manual lists 16.1 grains of W296 at 900 fps and is a max load.

Any data out there for 231 reaching 900fps?

What are the thoughts on W296? If you have used W296 for a 250 XTP please give your comments. Thanks.

 

[Don McDowell]

You probably won't be able to find data for 231 that will make 900 fps using that jacketed bullet, as the saami pressure are going to be exceeded , and 231 is seldom used in the +P data.
Bludot might get you there.
296 works alright in the 45, but I never did really get the accuracy from it or 110 that 2400 would give.
Have you looked at Hogdons online data?
Alliants online data is a bit more aggressive than Hogdons.

 

[rcmodel]

A more important question is, exactly what model gun you are shooting them out of?

The +P loads are not suitable for use in Colt & Colt clone SAA's.

You should be able to safely get 900 FPS using Unique or 2400.

I cannot recommend you try it with W-231, and I would not recommend W-296 either without knowing the strength of the revolver you have.

rc

 

[USSR]

TC8500,

You don't say what make and model your revolver is, so kind of hard to give you advice. That being said, you definitely don't want to use W296 if you want a 900fps load. Personally, I would suggest either Unique or HS-6, but W231 can be made to work with the right revolver.

Don

 

[RealGun]

in the 4th edition of the Hornady Reloading Manual

Hornady is in their 9th edition.

It looks like you would be pushing W231 off the charts.

Why is 900 fps so important? I find that you can achieve that, but you will have to obtain the powders that enable it.

W296 ratings are well beyond any 900fps and any ordinary .45 Colt. What are you shooting?

 

[TC8500]

45 Colt Load Data

Thank all of you for your prompt reply. The weapon is Ruger Blackhawk with a 5 1/2 inch barrel.

 

[Don McDowell]

You'll be fine with that.
The main thing when using 296 is to make sure there's good firm contact with the powder and bullet base, and that you use a firm crimp.
I have come to prefer bludot for most 45 colt shooting the velocity and the accuracy it gets with saami spec loads has made it my #1 choice.
A good place to get plenty of data is taking a subscription to loaddata.com

 

[gamestalker]

That was my first though as well RC, what model firearm is he loading for. 296 or 2400 would be about the best options if the firearm is accpetable for those pressures.

GS

 

[Don McDowell]

There is pressure tested saami spec data around for 2400 and 296, just need the right manuals. The OP has the Hornady #4, I have the #3 purchased brand new and the data in that works just as well today as it did way back when.
Also have one of the older Hogdon's handout load booklets that lists 110 for both the 44 special and 45 colt..

 

[warhwkbb]

231 is a little too fast to get you there. Unique, 2400, N110 are better options. 296\110 could be used for loads approaching 30k psi, and would probably not burn well at the low pressures to get 900fps. BTW, Ruger in no way endorses those kinds of hot loads through their 45 Blackhawks.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I would go with Unique or 2400.
Try 8.5-9 grains of Unique. It should do what you're wanting.

 

[bergmen]

My Nosler fifth edition reloading guide lists a starting load of 9.0 grains of W231 for a velocity of 981 fps out of a T/C Encore 12" barrel for a 250 grain JHP. Max load is 10.0 grains of W231 with a velocity of 1078 (loads for Ruger and TC Contender only).

In my Ruger Bisley with 7 1/2" barrel I chronograph velocities from 982 to 1038 with an average of 1016 with 9.0 grains of W231 and 250 grain Power Bond plated flat point (max velocity recommended = 1300 fps.). I have gone as high as 10.0 grains of W231 but prefer to switch over to W296 for that velocity range.

With 20.0 grains of W296 I'm recording 1106 to 1135 with an average of 1122 under a 250 grain Hornady XTP.

I've shot these loads for decades with no issues. Very accurate and loads of fun.

Dan

 

[bergmen]

I would welcome some recommendations on a load for a 45 Long Colt. I want to get 900 fps using a 250 Hornady XTP. I have W231 but have found no data that reaches 900 fps. I also have W296 which in the 4th edition of the Hornady Reloading Manual lists 16.1 grains of W296 at 900 fps and is a max load.

Any data out there for 231 reaching 900fps?

What are the thoughts on W296? If you have used W296 for a 250 XTP please give your comments. Thanks.

This is a max load given for "...older Colts in good condition and replica reproduction models from other manufacturers." in other words, the old Single Action Army and equivalent clones. The next chapter in the fourth edition covers "Ruger and T/C Only" loads.

Dan

 

[USSR]

TC8500,

With your large frame Ruger Blackhawk, I would not hesitate to use 8.0gr of W231. Hodgdon lists 7.3gr of W231 at just south of 800fps at 14k psi with that bullet, so 8.0gr will put you in the neighborhood of 900fps at probably less than 20k psi which your Blackhawk will handle without breaking a sweat. Hope that helps.

Don

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm not a fan of W296/H110 in the 45 Colt. You can however use 2400, Unique, Universal, Longshot, SR 4756 and my favorite HS-6 to get what you're looking for. 2400 would be on the slower end and should be used for the highest pressure loads you make.

 

[Kosh75287]

I concur with Arkansas Paul. 8.0-9.0/Unique/240-250 Cast or Jacketed always works well for me in my Redhawk or my M1892 Rossi Lever-action. The nice thing about the .45 Colt is that with a projectile weighing in at well over 1/2 ounce, you don't really have to push it hard to get good terminal results.
If there are no major problems with it, your Ruger is well up to loads in the 20K psi range. The limitation is the 5.5 inch barrel. I've never been able to get 2400 to burn completely in a 6.5" barrel, much less a shorter one. H110/W296 is worse and, unless pushed very very hard (@ 30,000 psi), I can't get it to burn completely nor group uniformly. I'm not willing to give either of my firearms a steady diet of those loads.
You may find that Unique, Herco (for my money, essentially a slower-burning form of Unique), or Blue Dot. It's sometimes forgotten that H110 was originally formulated for the .30 M1 carbine round, which has a nominal chamber pressure of 36,000 psi. Even at 20,000 psi, H110 loads are being ignited at more than 40% below their optimal chamber pressures, so iffy results should not be surprising.
Alliant 2400 seems somewhat more forgiving of such chamber pressures, though again, I'll be surprised if you get complete burning.
With the powders listed, I get best results with heavier (>250gr.) bullets, heavier crimp, and sometimes, magnum primers. The latter is rarely required, but seems to give me more complete burning.
I hope you find this of help.

 

[USSR]

TC8500,

If 900fps is your targeted velocity, then stay with powders no slower than Unique or HS-6. There are numerous powders available that will work for your Blackhawk, including the W231 that you currently have.

Don

 

[SDGlock23]

Unique will work very well if you're looking for 900 fps. My typical Unique load pushed a 250gr hardcast around 1050-1100 fps from my 5.5" Ruger Bisley.

It's been asked before, but why the target of 900 fps? The 250gr XTP won't open up much at all at those velocities, it's just a bit too slow. Hornady gives it a minimum velocity of 850 fps for the 250gr XTP, so that bullet needs to be driven faster than 900 fps. Ithink it's a fine bullet, but I usually load it up between 1250-1400 fps, it opens up nicely at those speeds. If you're going for 900 fps, why not just use a decent hardcast bullet since that XTP at that speed is going to act like a FMJ anyways.

 

[GaryL]

I have a 45 Colt load using 8.5gr of Herco pushing a 250gr L bullet. Does right around 800 fps. The Alliant manual states 910 fps with 9.0 gr of Herco.

 

[MEHavey]

Ruger Blackhawk with a 5 1/2 inch barrel.

Quickload tells me that

45Colt Ruger (only)
5.5" barrel
250 HNDY HP/XTP
W231/8.0gr (41.5% case fill/100% burn)
924fps

NOTE:
17,400psi
(That's medium pressure for a Ruger)

 

[USSR]

MEHavey,

Thanks for confirming that 8.0gr load.

Don

 

[RealGun]

Quickload tells me that

45Colt Ruger (only)
5.5" barrel
250 HNDY HP/XTP
W231/8.0gr (41.5% case fill/100% burn)
924fps

NOTE:
17,400psi
(That's medium pressure for a Ruger)

With all due respect, does this load have any credentials, or references from users of it, other than "I found it on Quickload"? It seems we're beyond what the bullet maker manuals offer and what Hodgdon/Western offers for W231/HP38.

 

[4895]

Unique is the powder of choice.

 

[MEHavey]

Tell you what.
I'll run the W231/45Colt/HNDY250 load tomorrow
5.5 Ruger
Oehler Chrono
(Today's load for me is Lyman's 452454 over 9 grains of Unique -- so I'm no stranger to Unique. But the OP has W231)

For record, however, many of us have been running Quickload for many, many years, and have come to both calibrate what it can -- and cannot do.

Case in point: I got my 458Win back from the gunsmith last week. Yesterday I asked QuickLoad to give me a fun 'sweetheart' load with one of my heavy cast 45 rifle bullets I run in a 45-70 and a 45-90 (Lyman 457132/Postell/535gr) -- and to do it w/ #2 alloy weight which happens to be 505gr. I also told it to give me max case fill for ~12,000psi, 1,200fps, and max burn completion -- and adjust pressures/velocity for an OAL of 3.22".

Racking & stacking the long list it gave me I chose IMR4198/28.0gr.
In the end the assembled cartridge info in my Range Log looked like this:

Ruger/M77/458Win Loaded 9/13/13
Lyman 457132_Postell #2 (505gractual/IMR4198 /28.0 /WinCase(95.0H2O)/FedLrgPstl
QL= 11,597psi/1,170fps(24")/Lym450Sized/Lubed:0.459"/OAL=3.22"/HvyCrmp_LstGrsGrv

Actual velocity over five rounds this morning at the Range?
1,194fps ± 09




But REALGUN is absolutely correct. The 45Colt/W231/HNDY250XTP/900fps load suggested above is not in the books.
So in keeping with caution: "your mileage may vary"
(which is also why I said "Ruger Only" and put expected pressure in red.)

 

[USSR]

With all due respect, does this load have any credentials, or references from users of it, other than "I found it on Quickload"? It seems we're beyond what the bullet maker manuals offer and what Hodgdon/Western offers for W231/HP38.

Hmm, let's see. Hodgdon lists a 7.3gr load of W231 at 14k psi. The Ruger will easily digest 30k psi loads. So, simple logic tells you that a less than 10% increase will not more than double the pressure. Sometimes ya just got to use your head.

Don