Author Topic: Handloading for the Taurus Gaucho .45 (Long) Colt? (Read 757 times)

Robert357 · « **on:** September 19, 2005, 06:11:32 AM »

I was at a gun show on Saturday and saw the Taurus 45 Gaucho. I liked the looks of it and the price seems very attractive. I already have a Ruger Blackhawk 45 (long) Colt, but with a very long hunting/target barrel. I was sort of thinking of something that would be a bit easier to carry in the field.

I asked the dealer if like my 45 Ruger Blackhawk, I could handload the Taurus to the higher (near 44 Mag) loadings found in many reloading manuals. Since the manuals are pre-Taurus Gaucho, and they usually only list Thompson Contender, Ruger Blackhawk, and Freedom Arms for the "heavy loads," I thought that I would ask the dealer.

He had no idea. We looked at the literature on it and of course the manufacturer strongly recommended against any non-factory ammo.

I know that Graybeard is not a fan of Taurus, but thought that I would try to satisfy my curiosity anyway as to whether the Gaucho is to be reloaded to standard pressure levels or if like the Ruger Blackhawk, it can be loaded much more heavily. I am not sure why I don't want a .454 Causal as it is a 45 LC on steriods, but I guess I prefer the 45 LC just powdered/powered up.

I will also a similar post in the single action handgun area.

Thanks

ricciardelli · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2005, 08:48:10 AM »

I like Taurus firearms...that being said, keep it in the class of the other Colt clones. It is not a Ruger SBH or SRH...

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2005, 08:57:57 AM »

Well it sure looks and feels more like a standard Colt. Not that heft and visual is sufficient to make the determination, but I would probably not research it too hard. Seems like a regular "Colt" pressure.

Robert357 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 19, 2005, 09:20:13 AM »

Thanks Steve & Black Jaque!

I have an older Taurus Double Action 357 Mag that I bought a long time ago and love it. Although I have far more Ruger Blackhawk revolvers than anything else.

The Goucho looked like Taurus decided that the Cowboy Single Action Shooting craze was a market they didn't want to miss out on, which is probably why they have marketed it. Most of the Cowboy Shooting competitions use either blackpowder or relatively modest loads, so I suppose you are both right.

Thanks again for the quick response. I guess, I will have to hold onto my money for a while longer and my 45 Colt Ruger blackhawk will not have any company in the gun safe from anything it its caliber.

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #4 on:** September 19, 2005, 11:21:56 AM »

Actually the non-Ruger construction is part of what caught my attention with that gun. It has the transfer bar safety mechanism which I like, but it is way lighter than a Ruger. And 250 grains of lead going 900 fps is a very potent round.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2005, 11:51:03 AM »

It's a Colt clone, treat it like one. No over SAAMI spec loads.

Robert357 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2005, 05:44:29 AM »

Thank you.

I am now convinced as to the Taurus being a standard load Colt 45. I also got an email from the Hodgdon Powder company staying not to load this revolver above their standard recommended loading (i.e. not to use their special Ruger, TC & Freedom Arms higher loads).