.45Colt BlkHk Heavy Loads; why ?

[Walks]

I know I'm going to start something here.

Here goes?.?....

Why load the Ruger Blackhawk in .45Colt with Hot Loads ?

I have had a Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44Mag about as long as a .45Colt Blackhawk. 40yrs +
I can load .44Mag Full Power Loads, so why "Magnamize" the .45Colt ?
I currently have SBH's in a 7 1/2" bbl and 5 1/2" Heavy bbl's.
And a .45Colt Blkhk in a 4 5/8" bbl.

And while I have loaded a few RCBS 45-270-SAA over a stout charge of Unique.
I haven't done so in a very long time.

So why turn the .45Colt into a .44Mag ?

I Really do want to know ? as I see no reason for it.
Or for bullets heavier then 285grs. And I only mention that weight in particular because that's the weight the mold drops in 20/1.

 

[CZ93X62]

I think it is one of those "Because it is there"/"Because I can" things. I have done it with my BisHawk and a Lee 310 grain monster, and while it was fun I agree that the 44 Magnum was meant to do this stunt work. These days I seldom run even the 44 Mag much past 1000 FPS with 240-250 grain bullets.

What I do like about the safety margin offered by the overbuilt 45 Colts that Ruger produces is the ability to run the 250-260 grain castings at their full-snort blackpowder levels of 1000-1025 FPS without worry about the more dainty SAA repros by Uberti. I never liked running the 250s much past 900 FPS from the Pasta Coltas. 10.0 grains of Unique or 11.0 grains of Herco in the Rugers--both 45 Colt and 44 Magnum--yield the given velocities in both calibers in 7.5" barrels.

 

[Brad]

I have done it in the past. The 45 Colt is capable of some amazing things in a strong handgun or rifle.

I don’t do it today because I don’t see the need for heavy loads in anything for range use. My 44 special loads are not heavy either. Or my 32 H&R. I just dont need, or want, the recoil and noise.

Why do it? Because we can. No different from anything else, some just like to take it to the limit.

My 45 Colt BH with 4 5/8” barrel mostly sees a 300 gr bullet at 850. Recoil is manageable and it is accurate. My 45 Colt Marlin 1894 CB does very well with the same load so it keeps things simple.

If It is safe then do whatever floats your boat. I won’t criticize your loads as long as you show me the same respect.

 

[Axman]

If you don’t have a 44 and only a 45 Ruger you can go up or down with power as you wish.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have also done it for decades in my Marlin and Ruger. Then as I was able I bought a Colt then a couple clones then another Colt and began to fear one of those loads making it into a expensive revolver. I switched to all lead for COLT loads and Jacked for "RUGER"...
Then I made the transition to all hot loads only my Freedom Arms 454 And jacketed for the Marlins. (I was hunting)

I never was a 43 Mag fan. No need the 44 as to me the 45Colt was superior in every way and wasn't Braggadocious about it. The "44" Aint really even a 43 for christs sake!! . I fully realize its a name not a diameter. But its founded in actual numbers.

Today the FA has been sold, I still have the Rugers & Marlins. The 454 has been replaced with a 450 Bushmaster Bolt gun.

My 45 Colts are shot mostly @ sub 000fps ish loads as heavies. I dont keep many and what I have is kept in RED mtm 100/box well marked. 98% of the 45 Colt loads are 7-800 fps all are cast.

Im not opposed to heavies should I need them. But these days most of the Rhinos are in California and Dinosaurs extinct.
CW

 

[Matt]

I started loading the Lyman 454424 I’m my 4 5/8” Ruger at 1150-1200 FPS back in the days when the Ruger SBH only came with a 7 1/2 inch barrel. This load is reasonably pleasant to shoot and the 4 5/8” revolver is a lot easier to carry in and out of a vehicle, on and off a horse etc. The little bit of hunting I’ve done with handguns tells me that this load is as effective as a .44 Magnum with 240 SWC on deer. Easier to shoot too. Several years ago I converted my .45 Colt Blackhawk to the Bisley configuration which makes it an even more perfect carrying revolver with heavy loads.

John Linebaugh wrote a well reasoned article years ago that argued that a stout .45 Colt load was more effective and easier to shoot that .44 Magnums.

True 255gr 900 FPS loads in a Colt SAA recoil heavily and make me wonder how long my precious Colt would handle a steady diet of this. So I don’t do it. The SAA is an amazing creation with its combination of size, light weight, and power, but it is not durable. Ruger are tough as hammers.

The downside to any loads in .45 Colt is that brass does not last forever. I get mouth splits from crimps in 6-8 reloads. Winchester seems to be the worst offender and Starline is much better. Federal seems ok. .44 Magnum brass does seem to last forever.

Since most of my shooting involves punching holes in paper or ringing steel targets I suppose I don’t need anything more than a .22 LR or maybe an air gun. Thankfully we can own the guns we want and load them how we see fit. Shooting heavy revolver loads well is fun and satisfying. That’s enough of a reason.

 

[Winelover]

Because it's capable of 44 magnum velocities with a tad larger diameter bullet. Accuracy of Cindy's 45 LC BH is on par with my 44 Mag RH, at those velocities. Takes deer just as easily as a 44 Magnum. She has two deer to her credit. Both with RCBS 250 SWC's and 2400 powder.

Only own two moulds for 45 LC. The other is the MP 270 SSA. We have no need or desire to shoot anything heavier. Sure we could down load it but it's a dedicated hunting arm, not very holsterable with a 7.5 inch tube, and a Ultra Dot scope/site. Have lesser calibers for paper punching.

 

[DHD]

We reloaders that also are afflicted with bullet molds live in a world where tenths are huge.

As an answer to your post, I'll just say that the heavy loaded 45 Colt is more accurate than a 44 Magnum (unless it isn't), is obviously more powerful (except when it's not), and has the ability to use up more lead per shot which has to be a good thing (unless you are a hoarder), and lastly recoils more and that is surely a plus. So to recap, a heavy loaded 45 Colt is everything that a heavy 44 Magnum is, only larger by .022" and that's huge (except when it's not).

 

[Rick H]

My only 45 Colt is a Stainless 4 5/8" Blackhawk. I am comfortable with the Lee 255 RF at 900 fps or so and for heavy use the RCBS 270 SWC (285 gr. actual) at the same velocity. Anything more is painful. Either is more than enough for anything I am likely to run afoul of wandering around Michigan.

 

[Winelover]

The downside to any loads in .45 Colt is that brass does not last forever. I get mouth splits from crimps in 6-8 reloads. Winchester seems to be the worst offender and Starline is much better. Federal seems ok.

Had to go down to the shop to check my 45 Colt practice load. RP brass has 24 reloads on it, currently. Thirty two rounds left out of 50, at the most............been too long, can't remember if I started with 40 or 50 pieces. That's using RCBS carbide dies and a Lyman M expander. Load is 17 grains of 2400, most of it magnum primed with the 250 RCBS SWC.

The brass before that was W-W, obtained from shooting the now discontinued Silvertip load. Got very good life out of that. I never anneal, any brass, rifle or pistol.

 

[Ole_270]

So far I’ve only used the Lee 255rf in my medium frame Flattop Stainless 4 5/8” 45 using the colt case. I was never a handgunner until the kids got me a Sig 1911 45 when I retired. The heaviest load I’ve tried so far is 13 gr Blue Dot, but just a few of those. Shot up a lb of Green Dot at 7 gr each for just under 850 fps, worked well but kind of dirty. I’ve pretty much settled on 8 gr Universal at 850 or so for standard gong ringing use. I doubt I’ll go much higher than 1050 or so in this smaller gun, it really raps my middle knuckle on the heavier loads. I’ve seen guys say the 255 at 850 or so will penetrate full length on a deer anyway, so why take the chance of throwing a shot because of the heavier load?

 

[Missionary]

That is why we have a BFR 454. A 45 magnum it is and far safer with those Ruger Only loads.
But actually the BFR 475 is alot more fun !!!

 

[DHD]

I have and still shoot heavy loads in both 44 and 45. Both can be stupid accurate at the FA83 level or even Ruger BH level. That said, none of my BH's have the standard grip frame. The BH's are either Bisley's or have the Huntington grip mod done to them. The shapes simply handle heavier recoil easier.

A heavy dose of HS6 (12-13 grains with either caliber) and a cast bullet tends to be as accurate and more fun to shoot. The steel I shoot moves more when shot with heavy loads and I don't plan on being attacked by that steel!

 

[Winelover]

I keep the standard grip frame on the BH, since it fits Cindy, the best. Put a set of Pac's on it to mitigate the recoil. They also insulate for cold weather hunting.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I started loading the Lyman 454424 I’m my 4 5/8” Ruger at 1150-1200 FPS back in the days when the Ruger SBH only came with a 7 1/2 inch barrel. This load is reasonably pleasant to shoot and the 4 5/8” revolver is a lot easier to carry in and out of a vehicle, on and off a horse etc. The little bit of hunting I’ve done with handguns tells me that this load is as effective as a .44 Magnum with 240 SWC on deer. Easier to shoot too. Several years ago I converted my .45 Colt Blackhawk to the Bisley configuration which makes it an even more perfect carrying revolver with heavy loads.

John Linebaugh wrote a well reasoned article years ago that argued that a stout .45 Colt load was more effective and easier to shoot that .44 Magnums.

True 255gr 900 FPS loads in a Colt SAA recoil heavily and make me wonder how long my precious Colt would handle a steady diet of this. So I don’t do it. The SAA is an amazing creation with its combination of size, light weight, and power, but it is not durable. Ruger are tough as hammers.

The downside to any loads in .45 Colt is that brass does not last forever. I get mouth splits from crimps in 6-8 reloads. Winchester seems to be the worst offender and Starline is much better. Federal seems ok. .44 Magnum brass does seem to last forever.

Since most of my shooting involves punching holes in paper or ringing steel targets I suppose I don’t need anything more than a .22 LR or maybe an air gun. Thankfully we can own the guns we want and load them how we see fit. Shooting heavy revolver loads well is fun and satisfying. That’s enough of a reason.

I dont see a problem with my 45 Colt brass either. But I have read a few times from others that they did. Some years ago a guy I worked with split two cases if brass. Federal 45/70 and 45 Colt. We each bought one and split them. 45/70 was more but ya got less so we figured it was fine between us.
That was over ten years... Heck it's closer to 20!! But I still have and am using that brass. I wont even venture a guess at the Colt. But all started life as my heavy loaded brass! I know I have a dozen loads on most all thats been fired!!
Sure I have lost some. But honestly not enough to have formed a opinion that this or that always splits or loosens primer pockets.

Unless ya wanna talk Fed 223... Not THAT get loose pockets too fast!! I bought two hundred for making 300 BO and 25/45. Ill bet a honest 1/3 have been tossed after 2/3 firing cause the pockets loosened excessively. The BO dosent see stiff loads. The 25/45 could as I was building for three barrels and wanted to get factory ballistics. I discovered that factory is TOO HOT! And settled for a heavier bullet at lower vel and Im happy.
CW

 

[Rick H]

I often hear people complain about Federal 223/5.56 brass but I have never had a problem. I had access to literally thousands of once fired Federal Gold Metal Match .223 cases and have many loaded 5-10 times. Primer pockets seem fine, I load 55 gr. jacketed to 3100-3200 fps out of a 22" bbl or 2900+ out of 16" and 18" AR's.
I still have 3-4 thousand. There may be better brass but its hard to argue with free.
I have a bunch of Federal (LC) 5.56 Nato brass as well. Except for the primer crimp they seem to be fine as well.

My worst brass is Remington in 6mm Rem. 3-5 loads and split necks if I don't anneal.

 

[Glaciers]

Started out big bore sixgun life in the late 60's with a Ruger 44 Flat Top. When I came to Alaska in 74 the "44" was the "bear medicine" handgun. Not to many people up here were messing with the 45 in heavy loads at that time. Since then the 45 and Ruger BH have become much more popular. The 44 still seems to be the go to heavy for the most part. Speaking of the 44 and 45 here, not the "heavier 454 or 480, and God for bid the X frame guns.
So for me it's the 44 in the model 29 with 300's for the most part, short of the redline because of the lighter N frame. For heavier needs I passed the 45 Colt as it was just a slight amount larger diameter. But I was already heavily in vested in the 44 department. The 454 never interested me with the high velocity, so I went with the 480 Ruger bypassing the Colt and 454. If the 310 in the 44 can't get it done then the 480 with 410's and larger diameter should. No need to goof around in between. The 45ACP revolvers, now that's the 45's I like.

 

[358156 hp]

I've had enough problems with Federal 223 brass that I recently scrapped over a thousand once-fired cases in one big batch. I was plagued with leakage around the primers, even with moderate loads, and ended up replacing three AR bolts because of it. I tend to keep my once-fired brass separated by headstamps, and process pretty large lots at a time so I had a decent amount of cased that had been fired in my rifles. When I saw the bolt faces damaged by gas leakage I went through my unprocessed cases fired in those rifles and found most of the fired FC headstamp cases showing leakage around the primers. The fired and unfired FC cases went immediately into the scrap bucket, and I pulled down the remaining ammo loaded and salvaged what components I could. Those three bolts were worth far more than the brass cases ever could be. In fact, any one bolt was worth far more than the brass. Lesson learned.

 

[Ole_270]

Hate to hear this, I've picked up 3-400 Fed 223/5.56 cases at the range. Guess I better move them on.

 

[Ian]

Why? Simple. A .45 COLT +P 255 grains at 20,000 PSI will run with a 240 grain .44 Magnum at 36,000 PSI. No need for all that pressure, sharp recoil, and blast when you apply the pressure to a larger piston. Same deal as a turbocharged 4-cylinder vs. a naturally-aspirated V-8.