45 Colt .vs. 454 Casull

[rocky_taco]

I'm interested in hunting with a 45 in the 1000 to 1200 fps range.  Just wondering if I'm better off with a Hot 45 colt load or a reduced power 454 load?  Or does it make any difference?

[Redhawk1]

I'm interested in hunting with a 45 in the 1000 to 1200 fps range.  Just wondering if I'm better off with a Hot 45 colt load or a reduced power 454 load?  Or does it make any difference?

I would go with the 454 Casull, but the 45 L/C will work, as long as you have a strong action revolver like a Ruger or a Freedom Arms or S&W. The 45 L/C can be loaded to compare with the 44 Mag.  

[msmith]

That is pretty hot for 45 unless it is in a Ruger. It is also very slow for a 454. In my opinion, the 454 kind of picks up where the Ruger 45s stop.

[jar-wv]

Depending upon the bullet weight, 1,000 fps may not be all the hot. What bullet are you looking at loading?

jar

[jd45]

RedHawk1, could you expound a little on the N-frame Smiths in .45 Colt,....how they compare strengthwise. I'm toying with the idea of getting a (dare I say it!) double action!!! I'd be wanting to run warm loads in the 20,000 to 25,000psi range in it, as well as standard pressure loads, Thanx, JD45

[rocky_taco]

This bullet or a similar one.

45/300gr. LFNGC 100 per box .452 dia

[jar-wv]

I have chrony'd 260 gr LFNGS Cast Performance Bullets out of my BH at 1260 fps average. I only hunt whitetail and that is way more than necessarly for that chore. I got that load of h110 from an article written by John Linebaugh. Is a hotter than published load so I'm not going to post it here. If your looking to buy a firearm, and have a load in mind, I would err on the side of bigger. Get the .454. Then one of these days you will come full circle and realize you didn't need it. But hey is good to have. :grin:

[Redhawk1]

RedHawk1, could you expound a little on the N-frame Smiths in .45 Colt,....how they compare strengthwise. I'm toying with the idea of getting a (dare I say it!) double action!!! I'd be wanting to run warm loads in the 20,000 to 25,000psi range in it, as well as standard pressure loads, Thanx, JD45

I have a Model 629 in 44 Mag. I reload for it at the high end of the scale. I have not had any problems at all in my 629. All though the S&W is not as strong as the Ruger, it comes very close. The 45 L/C should be no problem either. Give Smith & Wesson a call and I am sure they would be glad to give you all the information you may require. Good luck in your gun selection.  

[Lloyd Smale]

a smith 25 will take loads that push a 260 to 1000 fps but i wouldnt go any hotter at least for long termed use.

[jd45]

Lloyd, that 260 @ 1000fps sounds like a 20,000psi load, at least from Brian Pearce's article"Understanding the .45 Colt", in Handloader, June 2002. OK, Thanx. And RedHawk, I'm concerned about the material thickness between the chamber wall & the o. d. of the cylinder in the .45 Colt chambering. I will call S&W, & thanx to you, too. JD45

[EdK]

Brian Pearce's article"Understanding the .45 Colt", in Handloader, June 2002

Sounds interesting. Is it available on-line anywhere?

[jd45]

Ed, e-mail me your address & I'll mail you a copy. Dalesandroj@aol.com, JD45

[Will52100]

I'm not sure what the CUP is, and I know your probably not even gonna consider black powder, but I push a 250 grain fnrp out of my henry rifle at an average speed of 1142 with 38 grains of Graf's black powder behind it.   Could get a bit faster with Swiss powder, but a full power 45 in a peacemaker frame kicks hard enough as it is.   Don't know what that is in a revolver, had to give the crony back that I was borrowing, but should push it over a 1000 fps out of a wheel gun.  The beuty is that I can use that load in my 1860 Henry or 73' peacemaker clone and still keep the pressure down.  Last year I took a running deer with it out of my Henry at just under 75 yards.  The 45 realy is very versital, and black powder has a lower pressure and recoil impulse.  A smokless load that would be safe in those firearms would only go around 8-900 fps.