Warm loads in replicas

[timothy]

I was wondering how many of you shoot warmer loads in replicas and what loads they are. I'm not refering to any of the +p hunting loads but some that are a little closer to the original 40gr blackpowder load. I dont see any reason why you couldnt carry one afeild as a GP utility gun with adequate loads rather than using it soley as a plinker with anemic cowboy ammo. The SAA was very usefull powerfull gun for a long time and I think it still has that capability as a working tool. However I dont want to blow mine! So I'm curious what you all have run through yours! :lol:

[Mikey]

Yo timothy:  the replicas are no stronger than the original desings of those revolvers, modern steels or not.  I was once (and still am) enamored of the 1873 Colt design and had thought about the same issues - a 45 LC with a semiwdcutter bullet at acceptable velocities and pressures would make an excellent small to medium game field piece.  However, I ran my concerns past the folks at Cimarron Arms and their position was that these revolvers were not made to shoot heavy reloads, they were meant to shoot loads in the same pressure ranges as the original loads were, even if the pistols had been 'gone over' for continued use in the CASS games.  

That being said, my older Lymna manual shows factory loadings for the 250 gn cast slug to be at 800'/sec, but reloading heavier brings that to higher pressures.  Accuracy loads however are in the 830 - 850'/sec range.  The 255 gn Keith style semiwadcutter can be loaded safely to that velocity range and I had thought about that same slug at about 850'/sec should offer an adequate close range small to medium game round.  JMO though.  Mikey.

[Questor]

Those hot loads are usually annotated with qualifiers like "Ruger and Contender only".  So if the replica isn't a Ruger or a Contender, I would say that you shouldn't try them.  Ruger makes some replicas that will take hot loads.

[Glanceblamm]

I thought of my Hornady manual since you mentioned the .45 colt.
It say's.....
We were able to reach, and safely 1,000 fps using...
Fed 150 primer
21.6gr of Win 296
Hornady 250gr XTP

The test firearm was a Colt buntline special with a 4-3/4" barrel.
A final note say's the Colt's barrel was indeed only 4-3/4" having been cut before they got it.
..........................
I am not trying to get you blown up or anything but I figure that these are some pretty smart people.
It has been my experience that the .45 has plenty of power when loaded to only 900fps with the 250gr bullets.
I only pushed my .45 Ruger to around 1,150fps for whitetail with great results.

[rockbilly]

:shock: Back in the early sixties while stationed at Robbins AFB GA a friend who ran the armory gave me some reloads for my 44 mag Ruger.  He told me he reloaded them.  The first time I took the Ruger to the range I fired about 20-25 factory loads and then decided to try his reloads.  I loaded her up and popped one off.  I was lucky I had glasses, all kinds of trash flew in my face.  I looked down at the gun and found the top strap bowed up, the barrel was pointing downward and the cylinder would not move.  The gun was trashed.  I took the gun to a gunsmith and he suggested shipping it back to Ruger.  He managed to get the cylinder out and remove the unfired bullets.  I talked to my friend that provided the reloads, he said they were loaded to max according to his manuel.  I remember him saying "there is only a tinny bit difference between a hot load and an overload."

After about three weeks I received a letter from Ruger asking that I send one of the bullets I was shooting to them, I sent a couple of the reloads and the load data my friend used.   About 8-10 weeks I received a letter from Ruger, they would not warranty the gun because the loads were too hot.  I don't remember the actual data, but according to Ruger they were loaded almost (?) a grain too high.

What are the chance of this happening again, I don't know.  But I do know several people that max out every reload and never have any problems.  For me, I have been there and think it is wise to stay on the safe side, experimenting with hot loads can get you in trouble.

Just my two cents worth......... :roll:



Calling an illegal alien an undocumented immigrant is like calling a burglar an invited house guest.   Illegal aliens are stealing from, not benefiting Americans.

[leverfan]

I talked to my friend that provided the reloads, he said they were loaded to max according to his manuel.  I remember him saying "there is only a tinny bit difference between a hot load and an overload...according to Ruger they were loaded almost (?) a grain too high.

Ruger's various 'Hawks can handle about 180%-200% of SAAMI pressure for the 44 mag before they actually explode.  Some of the custom pistol smiths repeatedly tested Rugers to the point of destruction in order to determine this.  Yeah, 1 grain over book may be an overload, but it won't blow a Ruger sky high.  I'd be willing to bet that a closer examination of the powder in those reloads would have shown that he used the wrong powder.  There are several blown up guns in a display at a shooting range north of Seattle, and they tended to be blown up with heavy loads of fast powders put together by careless reloaders.

To get to the original question, replicas will handle SAAMI standard loads that easily make 850-900 fps out of even 4 3/4" barrels.  Follow the load books' recommendations for "Colts and replicas", stay away from the Ruger loads, and you'll be fine.  250 grain bullets at 900 fps will handle most chores, anyway.

A case full of fffg blackpowder will also give impressive velocities, at safe pressures, and it's really not that hard to clean up after.