Pet .45 Colt handloads

[jd45]

Happy New Year to All! I was just wondering if there might be any updates on anyone's favorite loads with heavyweight cast or jacketed bullets for use in rifles in this caliber. I've got an 1892 replica with a 1 in 12 twist barrel that I'll be using for deer & hog that these should work well in. Thanx for your feedback. jd45.

[John R.]

My brother has a Win. 94 in 45 Colt, we use the same loads that I use in my Bisley. 25 to 27 grs. of H-110 with a 250 gr. XTP or 260 gr. hard cast.For a heavyweight bullet we load 24 grs. of H-110 with a 310 gr.hard cast. The XTP's with 27 grs. shoot 2" @ 100 yds (open sights). You probably need to start with the lower loads as we worked up to max. Hope this helps.

[jd45]

Thanx, John.........I've seen 27.5grs of 296 under the 250 XTP in Handloader Magazine a while back, as well. I don't know if the "lighter" weight bullets will group as good as the 310 you mentioned because of the 1 in 12 twist. I have a 310 hard-cast from Leadheads(ProshootPro), that I'll try the 110 under. I think it might be better for hog than an XTP, even a 300 Mag XTP, tho I might call Hornady on it. jd45.

[John R.]

Yeah I definitily like the 310 HC better for hogs. Some of the hogs around here easily exceed 300 lbs. I haven't had any problems with penetration using the 310's even with a 90 degree shoulder shot.

[daddywpb]

jd45,
I use a Cast Performance 300 grain LFNGC bullet over 25.5 grains of 2400 in my Winchester Trapper. I also use this same load in my Ruger Bisley. Recoil isn't bad and Cast Performance bullets are outstanding, however they don't feed very well in my rifle. Have to work the lever slowly.

[jd45]

I've been thinking about 2400, too, altho I don't know if I'd want to go beyond Paco Kelly's 23.5grs for that weight bullet, & he's using the load in a '92 action rifle, which, so says he, is the strongest action among the short cartridge chambered rifles, (Marlin & Win. '94 being the other two).Another possibility maybe Hodgdon's L'il Gun. I hear it'll give the velocity with heavyweight bullets, but with reduced pressures, altho I don't quite understand the concept. I thought pressure ='s velocity. Any thoughts?jd45

[C A Plater]

I've been using Blue Dot for a lot of my .45 loads.  I prefer to keep them in the mid velocity range for more comfortable shooting.  With 270 grain Keith I like 15.0 grains making 1200fps from my revolver.  I'm working up new loads with the 310 grain WFN starting with 13.5 grains.  No velocity data yet but judging from the ease of extraction, this is a relatively mild load.  Accuracy was better than the keith bullets and I intend to work them up a bit more.

[jd45]

I just went to the Hodgdon website & looked up heavy bullet .45 Colt loads. I found that between H110 & L'il Gun, the H110 gives more velocity with lower pressure. So, I guess that settles that. jd45.