Author Topic: Is this book load too hot?  (Read 615 times)

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Offline Dusty Miller

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Is this book load too hot?
« on: January 31, 2005, 08:59:30 AM »
The Hodgdon book of reloads lists a starting load of 27.2 gr. of H110 for the 45 Colt (Ruger & TC).  The velocity is supposed to be 1400+ fps.  I filled a case with that amount of H110 and it is very obviously a compressed load.  Has anybody here ever tried that?  I'm not going to shoot that much H110 in my Vaquero until I get some kind of confirmation that its an OK load.
When seconds mean life or death, the police are only minutes away!

Offline Haywire Haywood

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Is this book load too hot?
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2005, 09:18:37 AM »
What weight bullet?  Check this out and choose your weight, you can pretty much count on Steve being on the money.  
http://stevespages.com/451p_3.html
Ian
Kids that Hunt, Fish and Trap
Dont Steal, Deal, and Murder


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Offline Dusty Miller

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Is this book load too hot?
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2005, 10:45:57 AM »
I shudda told ya its 240 cast bullet.  Thanks for the info Haywire.  The load listed there is 21.7 to 28 grains and that looks a lot more reasonable to me.  I'm still apprehensive about the hotter end of that load though, a compressed load of H110 is just one damned hot load.  I've shot'm in my FA 454 Casull and I'm here to tell ya they'll get yer notice mo-scosh-kwik.
When seconds mean life or death, the police are only minutes away!

Online Lloyd Smale

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Is this book load too hot?
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2005, 01:24:15 PM »
yup many times but do it at your own risk and understand your gun will wear alot faster.
blue lives matter

Offline Ron T.

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Is this book load too hot?
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2005, 10:01:18 PM »
Dusty...

That load sounds dangerously "HOT" to me.

It appears to me that a 27.2 grain load of H-110 in your .45 Long Colt may be a mis-print and very possibly a DANGEROUS over-load in your .45 Colt pistol.

I have shot a load of 24.0 grains of H-110 (shown as a maximum load in Hodgdon's "Basic Reloaders Manual-2003)) behind a 240 grain jacketed hollow-point in my old 3-screw, .44 magnum Ruger Super BlackHawk (7½" barrel) as a hunting load... and it's surely a "max" load in the .44 Remington Magnum.

This same load also strongly operates the semi-automatic action of my old/style Ruger .44 magnum Carbine indicating it is a powerful load.  A "light" load won't operate the carbine's action properly.

The Hodgdon "Basic Reloaders manual-2003" lists the chamber pressure of a 240 grain bullet using 24.0 grains of H-110 as being 36,200 C.U.P. for the .44 Remington magnum.  This same manual lists 28.0 grains of H-110 behind a 230 grain bullet as a MAXIMUM LOAD (@ 29,000 C.U.P.)  for the ".45 Winchester Magnum" cartridge.

I noticed, in Hodgdon's complimentary "Basic Reloaders Manual-2003" (given away free of charge at retail gun shops), that NONE of the "maximum loads" shown for the ".45 Colt" ("Long Colt", not the "ACP)" exceed 14,000 C.U.P. with ANY weight  bullet.

Another thing I noticed is that this Hodgdon-published complimentary reloading manual does NOT list H-110 as a powder SUITABLE for the ".45 Colt" in ANY bullet weight.

There's a HUGE difference betwen 36,000 CUP & 14,000 CUP.  And so, I seriously question using that big load (27.2 grains) of H-110 in your .45 Colt.

In conclusion, it appears that you are RIGHT to question this load... I'd check it out further... especially since the Hodgdon-published complimentary reloaders manual does NOT list H-110 as a powder SUITABLE for reloading the .45 Colt cartridge.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."  - Thomas Jefferson

Offline Haywire Haywood

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Is this book load too hot?
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2005, 10:58:40 PM »
My old Speer #11 book (circa 1988) lists a load for a 250gr plain base cast bullet in the 45 colt ruger/contender section as 18-20gr with H110 and CCI mag primers.  My newer Hornady book doesn't list H110 at all.  I suspect Steve's Pages info is for Jacketed bullets that you can push a lot harder than cast.  I used H110 in a hunting load a couple years back for a 250gr Jacketed bullet, but I don't think I went that hot, I'll check my notes this evening.

Ian
Kids that Hunt, Fish and Trap
Dont Steal, Deal, and Murder


usually...

Online Lloyd Smale

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Is this book load too hot?
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2005, 12:53:01 AM »
blue lives matter

Offline jd45

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is this book load too hot?
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2005, 01:48:40 AM »
Thanx, Lloyd for posting that Linebaugh article. jd45

Offline Robert

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Contender Loadbook
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2005, 05:11:00 AM »
Most of the bullet companies are up around 24 grs.  However, the section for Hogdgon Powders lists a 240 gr jacketed bullet with 28.0 grs H-110 for use only in Ruger, Freedom Arms and T. Contender.
....make it count

Offline Leftoverdj

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Is this book load too hot?
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2005, 08:41:09 AM »
On another forum, I ran across a discussion that said the Vaquero has a smaller cylinder and frame and that so-called "Ruger loads" should not be used in them. Apparently, there have been a sizeable number of blowups of Vacqueros with loads for Blackhawks and Redhawks.

I've never owned a Vacquero and can't speak to this from personal knowlege, but I'd sure heed the warning if I did.
It is the duty of the good citizen to love his country and hate his gubmint.

Online Lloyd Smale

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Is this book load too hot?
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2005, 12:20:23 PM »
what there refering to is the new vaquero that ruger just came out with this year. DONT use ruger level loads in that gun. The old vaqueros built before this year have the same strength as a blackhawk. As with anything in life if you dont know enough about what you have and are loading for you should even be loading at all!!
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Offline Mac11700

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Is this book load too hot?
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2005, 07:57:58 PM »
I just checked my Hodgdons Annual...they list that load...but for a 240 gr. Sierra JHC bullet...from a 7.25" barrel.....27.2 grains at 1483fps...27,900 cup.....and 28.0 grains..at 1532 fps...30,000 cup.....they don't list it as a cast bullet...

Mac
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Offline Dusty Miller

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Is this book load too hot?
« Reply #12 on: February 01, 2005, 09:46:38 PM »
I e-mailed Hodgon and asked them if it was a safe load in a Vaquero and they said it was.  I'm sure what has been said about the new Vaqueros is true, they just are not as robust as the older modles.  Lloyd, that article is great, I made a hard copy to share with my shoot'n friends.
When seconds mean life or death, the police are only minutes away!