Accuracy of your 45 Colt?

[tomme boy]

What are you getting at 50 yds an 100 yds from your colts? I think I need to try a new scope before I say how mine is. Post pictures if you have them.

[Land_Owner]

50 yards, off hand, open sights, is minute of target, which was the narrow end of a Sears multi-drawer metallic tool box.  I hated that box.  It is now a "Waffle House" for Field Mice...hehe.  I will be putting a scope on the Buffalo Classic shortly and reloading cast lead bullets and powder charges (someday) to that specific barrel.  It is a fun gun to shoot and I have not gotten serious about tuning it.  I am still just slinging lead through it and having a ball.

[cwlongshot]

I have a few...
 
My three Rugers 4 5/8, 5.5 and 7.5" will do 2"+ at 50 and 6" at 100. I have another 7.5"  Bisley that I "tuned up" that will do about 2" at l00. All with open sites.
 
My Colt New Forntier will do a about 4" at 100 and  another '50s  SSA with a 5.5 is good for 6" at 50, again with open sites
 
I have a couple Italian Colt copies 4 1/2 and 5.5" barrels that are never fired at 100 but will hit a cabbage or mellon at 50 yards.
 
All three of my Marlin rifles have open sites, My LTD has buck horns, my std 1894 a rec peep and my Cowboy tang peep. ALL will keep shots on a base ball at 100 with out too much trouble.

My lil H&R BC barrel will do one hole at 50 and under 2" at 100 and my 454 re chambered 45 Colt again one ragged hole at 50 and just over 1" at 100 all with my hand loads. Both these wear good scopes.

Even my 10" Contender will do 2" at 100. It wears a 2X Leupold.
 
Told ya I had a few 45's...   
 

CW

[kynardsj]

My best accuracy with these old eyes and the 45 LC's at any distance is with a scope. My SBH Hunter will touch the shots at 50 yards. My 20 inch Encore will touch them at 100 yards. All these results are if I do my job. My iron sighted Rugers are for closer stuff. Grouping ain't that great but I usually hit what I shoot at. I'll regularly hit a target the size of say a 24 oz beer can with open sights out to about 30-35 yards but not always in the same spot. Of the four 45 LC caliber guns I own they all like something different.   

[quickdtoo]

Here ya go Tomme, handloads from my 45 Colt Carbine at 100yds with a scope.

Tim

[tomme boy]

I'm going to switch out scopes this week and try some of the loads I feel like that should work. If I remember right, this scope was on a 30-30 marlin that I had problems with as well. I get a couple that will go into the same hole, then 1-2 will go about 6" out. Then I will stick a few more in the same hole.

[tacklebury]

This was a 50 yard standing fire group with Hornady 300 gr. XTP Magnums over Unique instead of Reloader7.  Was testing to see if my pistol versions were still as accurate as the Reloader7 Carbine only versions.  They were close.  This was 5 shots in about 10 seconds, so not too bad.  I think when I did this with Reloader7 they were slightly tighter and definitely developed higher velocity than with the Unique.  I was still pretty happy with this for not being from a rest.  Couldn't find my pic of the Reloader7 groups.  Guess I'm gonna have to retry those this spring.  hehe
 

[geezerbiker]

XTP Magnums over Unique instead of Reloader7.  Was testing to see if my pistol versions were still as accurate as the Reloader7 Carbine only versions. 

Where did you find Reloader 7 data for the .45 Colt?

Tony

[tacklebury]

Paco Kelly's done some pretty extensive .45 Colt testing through the years and he had this article a while ago:
 
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm
 
Specifically for the Reloader7 Question, the section is towards the end of this article. 

There is a whole world of surprises waiting the reloader using the rifle powder ReL#7 in the 45 long Colt case for rifles. (Rifle powder not #7 pistol powder) With the 260 Keith I start with 25 grains and work up. I want anybody that wants to try it...to work up slowly so I’m not giving the top load..but the top velocity from the Winchester is 1800 to top end 2000 fps. And in the Browning 1892 action it will reach nearly 2200 fps or more and a SK of 82. Go slow with mag/pistol primers, and ReL#7 and because of it’s slow burn rate, it gives great velocities. H4227 is the other really good powder, but obviously not as slow as ReL#7.

 
I have tested his data and found it spot on.  I shot my buck this year using RL7 under a 300 gr. XTP Magnum and it is a great combination.    I've also used his data in .32 Special, .223 Rem and 45-70, so I feel very confident of his research.

[HAMMERHEAD]

1" at 50 yards from a rest with peep sights and a light handload of a .452" 200 grain LSWC over 6 grains Trail Boss (875 fps). A light, fun plinker. Haven't loaded much else yet. Next load will be the same bullet at 1,050 fps using Clays.


I think I'm going to put the open sights and a 4X rimfire scope on it tonight and try it at the 100 yard line. It carries and shoots so well off hand with just the open sights that the scope will be temporary I think.


Didn't take any pic's of the groups.

[geezerbiker]

I have tested his data and found it spot on.  I shot my buck this year using RL7 under a 300 gr. XTP Magnum and it is a great combination.    I've also used his data in .32 Special, .223 Rem and 45-70, so I feel very confident of his research.[/font]

Thanx anyway I was hoping the same source would have some  RL7 .44 mag loads...  Anyway it makes me hopeful it'll work in the .44 mag.

Tony

[wasatch]

I have two .45 carbine's.  Both fresh out of the box, wiped down, one patch down the barrel.
 
One shot a group that could be covered with a quarter.
 
The other wouldn't even hit the target.
 
Both shot from a bench. Haven't been back out to work on sighting the one in.
 
 

[tacklebury]

I have tested his data and found it spot on.  I shot my buck this year using RL7 under a 300 gr. XTP Magnum and it is a great combination.    I've also used his data in .32 Special, .223 Rem and 45-70, so I feel very confident of his research.

Thanx anyway I was hoping the same source would have some  RL7 .44 mag loads...  Anyway it makes me hopeful it'll work in the .44 mag.

Tony

Just drop 10% off the .45 Colt data.  RL7 is not sensitive on the low side, so start at 21 gr. or so with a 240ish bullet and I bet you will find as others have that it's a very liberal powder.    Then let your velocity/pressure signs tell you where you are. 

[gomerdog]

Here is a target shot with 300 gr. Hornady XTP Mags and a cheap 4X scope at 100 yards.