redhawk and 45 colt..

[kennisondan]

Veral : I have had a hankerin for a 45 colt... I have a chance to buy a ruger stainless D/A with 7.5  inch barrel in mint condition...I understand that in 44 there is room in the chambers for longer rounds and more performance (?) .. what do you think of that weapon ? And what ammunition would you suggest loading up for it ..  I intend to shoot a fairly heavy round around 900 or so fps... and will reload your lead cast for it perhaps the 300 to 350 gr range sounds devastating... I will take it out when I whitetail hunt and may try it out on a hog or two, and a lot of plinking...i i have shot 44 mag SBH for twenty years and the smith M29 for ten years or so...but want the larger diameter lead..
I really went to get a S Action 45 colt BH but all they had was vaqueros in stock and I walked out with an old bearcat and a 44 BH with 7.5 inch barrel today, and know I am going to trade off my smith M 29 .44 6" and go to the 45 long colt in either the ruger BH or ruger RH ... please give your insights ..
dk
I am drawn to the 45 long colt due to the infatuation with the 45 70 at present...slow and heavy and fun -- If I buy new I also want an opinion on 5.5 inch versus loner barrels for 45 long colt and 300 plus grain lead slugs.
THANKS
DK

[Veral]

A redhawk 45 Colt will handle bullet noses a half inch long, which allows enough powder behind my 320 gr LFN to ship them out at  1600 fps with very mild pressures (mild for the gun, not old Colts).
If you are planning only 900 fps with the Redhawk, don't go over 300 gr and choose my WFN.

[kennisondan]

Veral : thanks; Will this change your reccomendations : 
I went with a colt second generation clone, USFireArms  SAA  : .. "improved" a bit by a texas gunsmith : Finch;  called, after the workup, a 45 Long Hunter  .  It has the colt dimensions, I assume, being made in the old blue dome colt plant..etc. I already have a couple of 44 Mags what would you suggest for this packable gun will likely be used for 60 yard La. whitetail deer or hog, when opportunity arises, and a lot of plinking. Bought a few hundred cowboy loads to get used to the gun right quick then want to reload for it... I used to love 8 to 9 gr. of Unique behind a 240 gr Jacketed Flat Point in my old 7.5" SBH... I want a bullet that I can get from a reseller of your stuff; then I will graduate to casting my own of that bullet after a while with that option... the pistol is light with its shorter barrel... I am thinking of heavy and slow and accurate.. but you are the expert.. I hope the reccomendation is in the 300 or 315 gr. range and that I can get a little help on a load with a push instead of a snap recoil effect..
....Damned gun shows...
 
dk

[Veral]

  I am unfamiliar with the gun you have and it's strength.  Ask the smith who worked it over what pressure levels it is capable of.

  Since I assume you want to stick with loads around 900 fps,  I would consider 300 gr as the max, and perhaps 280 grains better.  Understand that heavy bullets at the same speed as lighter give a harder push than lighter,  but it isn't a dead slow push, or easier on your hand.  At a given velocity, heavy means a heavier snap of recoil, and the lighter the gun the worse it gets.  300 gr kicks approximately twice as hard as 150 gr with both fired at the same speed.   I personally prefer to take the punishment of recoil to carry a light revolver.

   I'd throw out the Unique and switch to Hodgen Universal for similar speeds.  There are other new powders which I hear are equal to Universal but I've grown very fond of this stuff, and did it quick!

[Graybeard]

The gun is a Colt Clone. It must be held to same pressure levels as the old Colt SAA.