From my quick scan of what is going on there are obviously some bad feelings towards Taurus at teh moment and I will see how it resolves and what rcommendation you make. For the mean time lets assume it all works out so that folks can respond to my question which is cming at a bad time. Greybeard, for perspective we wer in touch 4-5 years ago through Kevin, the hog hunter from Texas talking about ruger 45 colt loads.
Now I'm considering a lightweight mountain gun for hiking. Taurus will have a 4 inch 34 oz. Tracker in 44 Mag in July '04, but I really like 45 Colt caliber. Have a 5 1/2 Ruger Bisley single action that, isnsce we last conversed, Gary Reeder converted to .454 and can shoot anything from cowboy, to 5 cylinder 45 Colt Linebaugh loads to Casull loads. Love it. I'd like to stick with this caliber in the double action and most of the time plink with cowboy loads. But for the trail, especialy if I get out west someday, I'm wondering if anybody has shot stouter loads from either the steel (34 oz) or the titanium (24) oz 4 inch 45 Colt tracker. Taurus customer service tells me SAMI spec loads only, except that Robert thinks he has shot some Corbon and is checking on which ones. I'm guessing teh 200 gr JHP personal defense loads not the heavy stuff. I'm not looking for Ruger power but at 13,000 psi can only envision getting 950 fps in a 250 gr HC and 850 fps or so in a 300 grain, not shabby but not up to the 41 mag Tracker available in Ti and steel.
The steel tracker in 45 ACP has the same dimensions and weight in steel and same size cylinder holes with a SAMI spec of 18-19000 or 21000 psi for +P which is well short of the 28,000 psi loads shown for the Ruger 45 Colt, but promising if I can go to that modest level. The frame is the same as their 41 Mag tracker so it should be OK for lower 45 Colt pressures I think. If I go with Titanium I have much more strength than steel, though less stiffness. I don't know if the extra strength is offset mechanically by light weight in terms of parts accelerating and banging into each other harder but the cylinder should easily handle the pressure. Looking at the Hodgdon magazine of loads, some of the Ruger 45 Colt starting loads with H110 are in the 18000 - 20000 psi range, particularly 325 and 330 grain Cast Performance bullets at a little over 1100 fps. If I could achieve this, though short of the 1200+ fps Ruger loads, I would feel very well protected especially in either a lightweight 24 oz (Ti) or 34 oz (steel) "mountain gun".
Felt recoil is another issue but I can work on the balance between power and shootability over time, if I know that I am structurally and mechanically sound. I know the chambers are short (max COL= 1.63) and I might have to stuff bullets 0.05 - 0.09 deeper if I want t use the ones that are currently at 1.68 in COL, such as the CP 300 gr., to fit, or else, trim brass if I want to crimp at the cannelure. I contacted Hodgdon and they told me that for the same brass wall thickness, pressure should scale linearly with case volume. Did some calcs and determined that pressure should only jump 2,000 -3,000 psi if I shorten by 1/10" or less. Confirmed calculation approach with some 38 spec +P and 357 data in their load magazine with overlaping powder weights where measured pressures were published.
I guess I could wait for the 44 Mag in July and never worry if I'm pushing it, or even try the 41 Mag tracker ( Terry at CORBON tells me the 41 Steel Tracker will handle their stout 250 gr load, but some on other forums say thta heavy 260-300 grain bullets might jump the crimp in such a light gun. I like 45 Colt and the idea of 300 grain bullets and have all of the dies and components. I'm also told the recoil is less than 44 mag which seems significant in such a light gun.
Any (good) thoughts or experience with the Trackers? And how about the recoil in the 4 inch titanium version. Are bullets jumping crimps? Are hands bleeding? Will the load limitation be me or the gun. Any input or tested pet loads that would help me make a caliber decision would be much appreciated. If it makes sense to go with steel or 41 or 44 but the idea of a powerful 24 oz Mountain gun in 45 Colt sure is intriging.
Thanks again,
Phil Bogert
