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Author Topic: .45 Colt Level .454 Casull Light Loads?  (Read 753 times)

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Offline Biscuits

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.45 Colt Level .454 Casull Light Loads?
« on: December 29, 2006, 04:40:15 PM »
Hi all!
    I recently started loading 45LC loads for my friend and his Puma 92. I usually load a nice light subsonic cowboy load of 8grs Unique(my favorite powder!) under a 250gr Oregon Trail LRN. I love the .45 Colt it is by far the most fun caliber I have loaded for and shot. Unfortunantly I dont have any firearms of my own that are chambered for it. I do however have and shoot a Freedom Arms 83 .454. I am not suposed to use the shorter .45 Colt cases in it because of the extra tight chambers and that could lead to .454 case extraction problems. I was wondering if I could load some .45 Colt level pleasent shooting loads in the .454 cases or could this create problems? Its probly a dumb question but I dont know. I know I want to use Unique and the 250gr LRN caus I got a lot of them. If this is a bad idea it will just be an excuse for a new gun in none other than .45 Colt! I like the look of those Cimarrons(Model P 4 3/4"). I may get one anyway though!
Thanks so much guys and gals!
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Offline Lone Star

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Re: .45 Colt Level .454 Casull Light Loads?
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2006, 04:55:16 PM »
Lyman #48 lists loads for a 255-grain cast bullet and Unique, but their lowest load is 11.6 grains for 1237 fps.   That is probably too high for the bullets you have.  I supoose you could "work down" in your load development, but get too low and you could stick a bullet in the barrel - bad scene.  I don't think I'd go lower than 9 grains just to be safe. 


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Offline Biscuits

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Re: .45 Colt Level .454 Casull Light Loads?
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2006, 06:01:13 PM »
Thank you so much for your research for me!
Also, does anyone know if I should be using a regular small rifle primer or the magnum small rifle that I use for regular .454 loads?
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Offline BIG Dog454

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Re: .45 Colt Level .454 Casull Light Loads?
« Reply #3 on: December 30, 2006, 05:10:15 AM »
I use winchester WSR (small rifle), have had no problems with many different powders.  I have had problems with CCI, both the mag and reg. 
 I have used unique with good results from 9 to 15 grains in my 454, pushing a 250 grain bullet, when I get above 11 grains of unique I switched to a jacketed bullet (XTP).
my favorite target load is 11 grains of Herco, fills the case well and has excelent accuracy at about 950 fps.
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Offline PaulS

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Re: .45 Colt Level .454 Casull Light Loads?
« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2006, 06:32:29 PM »
8 grains in a 454 case can't be less dense than 12gr in a 30-06. 10 - 12 gr of Unique is a standard reduced load for 150 grain bullet in a 30-'06, I doubt that 8 grains in a 454 is going to cause problems. Try the load, if you are concerned about it then seat your bullet to the same overall length of your 45 colt round. That will give you the same pressures, ignition characteristics, and interior ballistics of your 45 colt round. I don't think it is necessary but if you are concerned about failure to fire or sticking one in the barrel then you can always just load it to the same length and then no more worries.
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PaulS

Hodgdon, Lyman, Speer, Sierra, Hornady = reliable resources
so and so's pages on the internet = not reliable resources
Alway check loads you find on the internet against manuals.
NEVER exceed maximum listed loads.

Offline Biscuits

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Re: .45 Colt Level .454 Casull Light Loads?
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2006, 07:35:15 PM »
Hi guys thanks for the replies.
I tried 9grs of Unique today and wasn't impressed at all. The load shot very high and I just didn't get what I wanted. I may decide to part with my Freedom Arms 83. It is a beautiful, extremly well made piece, and I know it is more accurate than I am but I just don't shoot it near as well as anything else for some reason. I have always shot .357s well and .44 Mags in praticular really good especialy at long ranges.
Thanks again all for your help
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