commercial load for 45 LC w/ hunting & practical applications

[Lee Robinson]

What rounds have you had success with or like for a 45 LC? Buffalo bore makes one for the 45 LC by FA, but I am curious if that load is too hot to shoot MANY MANY TIMES for YEARS? Will this load eventually put stress into the gun? I don't know the CUP of the load. Also, corbon has some, but they will not share CUP or PSI from their loads so they (IMO) are out of the question.

I want something I can hunt with, but with fixed sights I would like it to be a round not so extreme/hot...as I would like to plink and hunt with same round...which means a lot of these rounds shot over time, possibly up to a 1000 rounds or more each year.

[John R.]

Any of the Buffalo Bore stuff is fine in Ruger strength firearms. The problem with them is they are so expensive. ($58.99 per 50) The other commercial 45 colt ammo is geared toward cowboy action shooting. That being said it is one of my favorite handgun cartridges. The 45 colt really starts to shine when you reload for it. Options are endless. A load like you describe will be a 265 Hard cast @ around a 1000 fps. At this time I am unaware of a commercial load that fits this description. Best advice I can give is get a press and join the rest of us. 

[Lee Robinson]

I would really like to reload for several reasons...

1. I could shoot the bullet I want (weight, type, design).
2. I could shoot it at the speed I want and still be within the CUP by using the appropriate powder and load.
3. I wouldn't depend upon a company to exist 10+ years from now to remain in existence (being I may have to file my front sight (if needed) to shoot accurately...as I could maintain the same reload for as long as I live (or readjust to another that shoots similar point of impact).

My problem is this...I stay really busy and don't want to spend an hour to load up 100 rounds on a regular basis. But... I may have to I guess if I want the benefits listed above.

I think I would like around 260 grains going about 1200 fps if I can find a load that will do that well below 30,000 CUP (according to freedom arms). I would like to have a safety margin of at least 10% putting me below 27,000 CUP with a hunting sufficient tip. For white tail I have considered a JHP type over hard cast...although I would recommend hard cast though for sure if I was in bear or elk country (but then I would have probably got a 44 mag or a 454).

I am hoping to find such a load already in existence that is within these pressure limits. Any help here?

Your thoughts? I want to go through this some before I touch the front sight for sure and make sure I have not only have this well thought out, but tested true as well. Which may mean this year, I may have to leave the front sight totally alone and just learn how much below the point of impact (with close range hunting say 30 yards or so) is below the sight should I hunt to test the efficiency of a round and load this year. In fact, on this note I will probably just shoot the buffalo bore this year and adjust accordingly if needed. Making any final decisions later. This way I have more time to experiment before taking a file to the front sight.

[4MUL8R]

I think the reason there is no 45 LC load like you describe is that the same load exists in another caliber that is far more popular.

I have written to small ammo producers asking for a 325 grain 1050 fps (subsonic) load in 454 Casull which of course was ignored.

I am learning to shoot hot loads better so I can just use what is out there.  Like you I have very little time to reload.  Or, I take very little time to reload.  Part of it must be that all the reloading equipment is stored away...no setup exists.

[Lee Robinson]

Yes, the 44 mag is a tremendously popular handgun and there is a huge selection of ammo for it, but there are still a LOT of 45 LC out there. You would think at least a few companies would make a few rounds for the 45 LC in a hunting weight caliber without being extreme. The rounds out there for the 45 LC seem to go from cowboy plinking (200-240 gr @800 fps) to elk and bear rounds (300 gr at 1300 fps) with little in the middle...as I would like to find a 260 gr around 1200 or so...or a 300 gr at around 1100.

So far, the buffalo bore seems to be the best option.

[John R.]

Get a Dillon 550b and your in business. You can easily load 300 to 400 rounds an hour, and it will pay for itself for the cost of 8 boxes of Buffalo Bore. Plus you can load what you want.

[Lee Robinson]

John, thanks for the info. I will DEFINATELY check into it. I just got off the phone (while on my planning period) with John Linebaugh and he informed me of a JSP made by PMC that may also meet my specs. It is a good strong load, but not as extreme as some of the other hot loads. I don't know if it will fit into the cylinder of the freedom arms which limits case length to 1.6 inches. I also don't know what powder PMC uses. John Linebaugh was very helpful. He also suggests I load my own and use only H110 powers. I am pleased to get your info as well. Consider now...I am new to this so excuse my questions if I come across as not knowing much about reloading...because I do NOT know anything about reloading...yet.   Do you use a dillion 500b? Is it a good one? Definately seems reasonably priced if you can load that fast. Of course power, case, bullets, primers won't be free so I suspect it will take more than just a few thousand rounds to pay for itself, but if I can load several hundred rounds in an hour it may be worth it in time for sure.

http://www.pmcammo.com/handsilver.php

[John R.]

Lee, I've talked to John Linebaugh also. He gave me some great info on heavy loads for Rugers. I've had a Dillon 550B now for about 12 years. I load six different calibers. It has paid for itself many times over. You simply cannot beat a Dillon product or their customer service. All top competetive shooters use Dillon hands down. If there was something better out there I can assure you that they would be using it. Contrary to popular belief it is just as easy to get started on a progressive machine as a single stage. Buy a Dillon and you will never be sorry.

[EdK]

Lee,

I am basically doing exactly what you describe using a Dillon RL550B which I've owned around 12-14 years also. I've never hit the advertised rate of 500-550 per hour but do half of that, am sure they're safe and get exactly what I want in a load.

Now I do not have much "free time" either and really do not use the press all that often - maybe an hour every month or two. Still, to be able to shoot say 100 rounds of "custom" ammo that you assemble yourself for only $10 - how can you beat that?

How much does saving even $100/month add up to over 10 years? A lot!

[jro45]

I have my Blackhawk 45 LC New Model revolver loaded to 1450 FPS and have it sighted in at 100 yds. I reload my own bullets for it. I might use it for deer hunting this year during handgun
hunting season with Hornady 240 gr bullets. Thats what it sighted with.

[Sverre A.]

<I have written to small ammo producers asking for a 325 grain 1050 fps (subsonic) load in 454 Casull which of course was ignored.

That`s my favorite load for my Bisley 5,5 (325 gr. hard cast/H110-21 gr.) 

And my FA 83 - also like it