45 Long Colt

[ScreaminEagle]

ok guys, I'm gonna be getting a six-shooter real soon and will be looking to reload for it. It will be used mainly for cowboy fast draw and just having fun!

i was thinking of loading some 200gr lead cast bullets from Suter's choice or Hunter's supply for plinking.

You guys have any favorite loads for this classic caliber? Also any experience on loading wax bullets?

Thanks in advance
Steve

 

[HTDUCK]

8 grs of Unique and a 255 Lead flat nose bullet.

Wax bullets?
Drill the primer pockets out to accept a shotgun primer.
Melt parafin and pour into a cookie sheet about 1/2 an inch thick.
Push the case neck into the wax, insert primer and blast away.

Word of warning, shoot yourself with a chunk of wax propelled by only a shot gun primer and you'll know it. :mrgreen:

(Dad was big into fast draw during it's hay days in the early 1960s. He won the Ohio state championship two years back to back. Still got all his rigs )

Howard

 

[ScreaminEagle]

Thanks htduck. I'm just starting to get into it. Seems like a lot of fun.

 

[Guy Miner]

"8 grs of Unique and a 255 Lead flat nose bullet"

That has pretty much become a commonly accepted standard load and it works well. I've been using it in Grandpa's .45 Colt for many years. Of course I only shoot about a box a year through the old revolver.

 

[GSSP]

Steve,

When you and your 45 are ready to expand your horizon......

Alan

 

[SJB358]

Al, that is just flat out AWESOME! Thank for posting that! What a take! Man, I am just a little jealous over that! Phew we, what a harvest. Give us some details. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

All right, Alan, we need some specifics here. Distance? Load? Great photo. When was this?

 

[RiverRider]

One of my favorite handguns is a New Frontier in .45 Colt which I inherited a few years back. I haven't shot it all that much since I've been really preoccupied with my rifles for over a decade...but last time I took it out I shot 250-grain commercial cast driven by varying charges of IMR Trail Boss, and 5.5 grains gave me very good accuracy. Velocity is only about 700 fps, but it's so much fun to shoot that I would retire all my rimfires if shooting them wasn't so cheap!

 

[GSSP]

Unit 22D, North of Nome, AK.
Sept 2008.
Outfitter: Brian Simpson, Wittrock Outfitters
Went up for Grizzly hunt and couldn't pass this guy up.
Ruger NMBH, 4-5/8", SS with custom Dave Clements high front sight.
335 gr LFN-GC LBT cast boolit
20 gr Lil'Gun
1120 fps
15 yds distance to animal. Hit him tight behind left shoulder, broadside. He was dead but neither of us knew it. So, I kept dropping lead in to him. Let me tell you, as the adrenaline starts pumping the trigger control goes to hell in a hand basket. My next two shots starting hitting low left; I'm right handed. He then turned straight at me and took a long look into my eyes. I thought, "Oh shit! I'm going to have to put one between his eyes 'cause he's about to turn me in to a hotdog on one of his brow tines." Fortuneately he turned and went back the way he came from. I put the remaining rounds in to his right side. My last shot; aimed for his right shoulder and hit him in the ass! Like I said, adrenaline! He only went about 10-15 yds and tipped over. Brian called him in by cow calling, grunting and raking the brush. The bull went friken besserk at the raking. He started coming for Brian. Brian freaked 'cause he wasn't even sure I had decided to shoot the bull. Brian's been guiding/hunting in Alaska for over 20 years and he'd never been so scared as he had no firearm. I was a solid 100 yds away from Brian when it all started.

Open country! Bull and two cows in this pic

These guys were about 150 yds from camp the morning I shot my bull.

Last day parting gift

Alan

 

[ScreaminEagle]

GSSP, man that looks like a freakin awesome hunt! I plan on shoot mine a lot. Once i get used to it I'll load something up for whitetail. Until then my 357 does the job.

I have a barrel of IMR 700X that needs used up. I think I'll load using that powder first. I've been loading it in 9mm, 38SPL, 45ACp, 357, and I still can't get rid of it all!

What company do you guys like to go with for your cast bullets?

 

[HTDUCK]

Al,
A moose with a 45LC handgun?
WOW!
A 335 gr bullet at 1100 plus FPS?
That's gotta have a bit of recoil.


Tell me more about that adorable,sweet little double gun.
What is she?
Beautiful wood!

Howard

 

[GSSP]

What company do you guys like to go with for your cast bullets?

700x is a great powder in 45.

For serious hunting I really like Veral Smith's LBT cast bullets. I cast my own. If your not in to casting YET 8) then I'd get them from Montana Bullet Works. He makes great stuff and uses real LBT molds, unlike Cast Performance Bullets.

http://www.montanabulletworks.com/45_Colt.html

Alan

 

[DrMike]

Yeah, a big bull moose in full rut can be pretty intimidating. More than one guy has lost his nerve on such close encounters. I believe my closest was about ten yards before the bull swerved and ran into the bush. I had already filled my tag, so I wasn't supposed to shoot him. Fortunately, he did turn away. Regardless, Alan you did very well with a great animal. Congratulations.

 

[GSSP]

Al,
A 335 gr bullet at 1100 plus FPS?
That's gotta have a bit of recoil.


Tell me more about that adorable,sweet little double gun.
What is she?
Beautiful wood!

Howard

Recoil is do-able, especially if your wearing gloves of some sort.

That little double is my upland laser. It's a Webley & Scott Screw-Grip BLE made about 1896. It's choked .010" and .023" (IC and Mod). It was retailed by Manton of London (on the barrels) 2-1/2" chambers, 30" barrels; long and light! Weighs 6 lb 2 oz. I cut my own Fiocchi 2-3/4" clear hulls down to 2-1/2" and roll crimp them with an old antique roll crimper device.

Here's some cameo shots

Alan

 

[HTDUCK]

She's certainly a dream date.
Long, light, slim and comes to life when caressed I'm sure.

Such a pretty young lady even for being over 100 years old.

Treat her well, she deserves it.

Howard

 

[SJB358]

Alan, man, that looks like a hunt of a lifetime! That 45 Colt loaded up to modern standards is a BEAST! Great load you have there. What a moose as well..

That shotgun is very pretty. Love them beautiful wood stocks!

Thanks for adding them details in there. How did those big 335gr Hardcasts work for you? Complete penetration? Any recovered?

Sorry for all the questions. I just got the taller front sight for my SBH 44 and wanna start shooting some heavy hardcast. Scotty

 

[GSSP]

How did those big 335gr Hardcasts work for you? Complete penetration? Any recovered?
Scotty

Scotty,


The LBT's worked great. Never did find any bullets, so I don't know if they went all the way through of ended up on some local Eskimo's dinner plate.

Alan

 

[SJB358]

How did those big 335gr Hardcasts work for you? Complete penetration? Any recovered?
Scotty

Scotty,


The LBT's worked great. Never did find any bullets, so I don't know if they went all the way through of ended up on some local Eskimo's dinner plate.

Alan

Alan, that was what I was looking for! Man, those things really do make tracks! I might have to try some heavies in the 44... Just gotta see what they'll do.