TC rookie handgun reloading question.

[Anthropas]

Hi all,

I'm curious if you all can help me with a rookie reloading question.  My father does all the reloading in the family, but he's never reloaded for TC's before.  We have several reloading books that list safe loads for the TC's and Rugers in .45 colt, but does the longer barrel lengths of TC's require you to back down the loads at all?  Does a 14 to 16" contendor barrel add pressure to loads or anything else we should know about or can you load .45's as hot in TC's as you can in 7.5" barreled Ruger's?  I'm looking to get a 15" .45 barrel, so I'm curious and don't want to blow myself up!  We primarily use Win 296 powder and JHP bullets.  Anyone with experience on this chime in.  Also, how much recoil difference is there between light (225gr.) bullets and heavy (325gr.) bullets in the longer barrels?  For my own curiosity, can either .451 or .452 bullet diameters be used safely?  

Thanks,

Anthropas

[skb2706]

The length of your barrel will have little to do with the ability of the gun to handle the pressure. In other words no the pressure will not change. The pressure spike in a firearm peaks almost immediately and as the bullet travels down the barrel the pressure actually goes down as the volume that the pressure is contained in (the barrel) becomes larger.
I would highly recommend using data specifically recognized as suitable for your Contender.
Although I don't have it right here in front of me there is a formula for computing recoil based on these factors, weight of the charge in grains, weight of the projectile in grains and weight of the gun. Obviously changing the projectile weight by 45% will change the amount of recoil even as the charge weight will be reduced. Answer  - yes......how much.....recoil is a subjective thing........might bother you more than me.

[Catfish]

skb2706 covered it pretty well, but felt recoil will be different from one person to then next. Alot depends on the guns grips and how well they fit your hand. Some of the older Contenders have a nut behind the trigger gard that will really dig in your fingure with any recoil while others don`t and with those that don`t you can fire alot heaver recoiling loads with less pain. How much recoil bothers you really depends on the individual.

[Anthropas]

Thanks for the info guys.  I agree tolerable felt recoil obviously changes from person to person.  But I was just curious in more experienced people's opinions how much a heavier bullet weight affected recoil.  Also, I'm still curious about my reloading question.  What's the difference between .451 and .452 bullets in application?  Can both be used safely for .45 Long Colt reloading?  Thanks for the help and if anyone wants to recomend some different bullet types/brands in .45 other than the major manufacturer's I love to hear about them!

[skb2706]

First understand I have no experience reloading for a 45 colt.....with that thought in mind all of my data lists a 'jacketed bullet' diameter of .451". In other applications .001" makes little or no difference at nominal pistol cartridge pressures. Lead bullets are much softer and will conform to the barrel diameter much easier.......and are generally at least .001" and often more.......larger than a comparable jacketed bullet.
As always work up loads per published and tested data.