Question on loading Colt .45

[painted horse]

The throat measurements of .448-.449 has been the norm for every Ruger 45 colt that I've bought and a couple friends have bought over the past 20 years. Thats over 10 total. If you send it back to Ruger they won't do a thing for that issue. Those figures are within their "specs". You should be fine as long as you're shooting jacketed. Lead will be the problem.  Lots of info here and other places on lead bullet accuracy and reducing leading. Most all will say "bullet fit is king", I agree. There's a guy called cylindersmith who does cyls for around 30 bucks. Thats a good deal, but if you're going to be doing more than one, then buy a reamer and cyl guides from Brownells or whoever and do it yourself, it's not difficult. Opening the cyls to .452 and possibly firelapping (as I've never seen a Ruger without barrel constriction at the barrel/frame)  should make a big difference in both leading issues and accuracy. I've done all my personal Ruger 45's and a couple friends guns. There was improvement in all. 

[poorcountrypreacher]

Thanks for all the new replies. I shot my gun yesterday off sandbags, and got results about the same as I did shooting from a sitting position. The .452 XTP bullets shot into a 3" group at 25 yards, and the 250g cast bullets threw a 5" pattern. I guess I will give the cylindersmith a try; he seems to have a good rep.

[jcn59]

IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT IT WOULD BE SELF-DEFEATING TO HAVE THE CYLINDER THROATS OPENED UP JUST SO THE THE CONSTRICTION AT THE BARREL-FRAME JUNCTURE COULD SWAGE THE BULLET TO THE SAME UNDERSIZE DIAMETER AS THE UNDERSIZED THROATS WERE DOING.  I SHOT A DOZEN OR MORE GRIT COATED BULLETS AND THAT SEEMED TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL ACCURACY, PLUS DID A POORMAN TRIGGER JOB, AND OF COURSE THE BISLEY COMPONENTS.  ALSO PUT A PIECE OF IVORY ON THE FRONT SIGHT.  YESTERDAY I SHOT A 3" GROUP AT 50 YARDS OVER BAGS WHICH IS BETTER THAN I CAN SHOOT.  LOAD WAS 360 GR. LWFNGC AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF LIL GUN, (per the loading manual).

[Lloyd Smale]

had to remove a couple posts here. Remember guys no load posting.

[TommyD]

If it were my gun, I would just assume the throats need opening and send the cylinder to Cylindersmith.com. It will cost around $30 plus shipping and you will have the cylinder back in about a week. At least then, you know the cylinder is right.

I would second the vote for cylindersmith.com. My convertible Blackhawk had both the 45 Colt and ACP cylinders too small for the barrel rifling. Accuracy was terrible. Barrel was .4525 and the 45 Colt cylinder was so tight I couldn't slip a .451 slug through it.

After it was opened up by cylindersmith.com, the group sizes were cut in half.

Tom

[Swede454]

I bought a Old Ruger Vaquero the throats were smaller than the barrel I ordered the reamer from Brownells along with the bushings necessary to do a good job.
There was a lot of difference in all the cylinder throats but now they are .4525 If my memory serves me correctly.
I had never fired the Ruger but had the same problem with a Dan Wesson.
I did read on the forum to take a 45 Colt shell cut off the base to make a bushing to protect the inside of the cylinder while reaming out the throats.
I found it out after I had finished but the Vaquero shoots great.
 
Last but not least I would never wrap a piece of sand paper and try to sand the throats out to size the pistol cost to much to make a paperweight out of. IMHO

[gcrank1]

I had a chance at a refinished Colt's New Service in 45C, fortunately I was able to bring it home to check out first. Among other issues, the 45ACP chambers had been DRILLED out with a fractional drill (I dont know if they even used a drill press) so it would chamber up 45Colt! What a mess.......... .

[frontloader1]

Do NOT go digging around inside a cylinder with a dowel and emery cloth. You think you have troubles now just wait until you get those cylinder throats shaped like a AA grade medium egg.That sort of thing is best left to folks with the proper machining tools and the ability and knowledge to run them.
 If your gun is getting decent groups with the heavier bullets then take a clue from that and go to work on load developement.
 I don't know how many countless times we've read about the bad cylinder throats on Rugers, yet I don't have a clue on what my nearly 40 year old blackhawk 45 measures, but it will handle bullets both cast and jacketed from .451-456 just fine, as will the new version Vaquero.
 You might want to try a "poor" mans trigger job on your gun and see if a lighter trigger pull doesn't help things along some.
 You haven't said what powder you're using, but if an accurate load with quality bullets can't be found with unique,2400 or bludot, then it may be time to have a professional look at your gun and fix what they find wrong with it, and if it's judged to be a factory defect then by all means ship it back to either Lipseys or Ruger and get it fixed proper..........,,WHAT HE SAID. I USED THE DOWEL AND SAND PAPER.....HAD TO BUY A NEW CYLINDER