45LC Hunting Load Evolution

[Rooster59]

The range trip last week confirmed my loads of 2400 and Nosler 250HP are consistent. And it appears the top and next to top loads are the most accurate. Not too much recoil but enough to know the difference between the plinkers and business loads.

I'm puzzled though by the difference in velocity of my rounds versus some similar loads listed on Paco Kelly's website article. Granted my 92 is a 16" barrel versus possibly a 20" barrel used for the article (barrel length isn't mentioned). Granted the cast bullets may be more slippery than my jacketed bullets but the difference in mine and the 325JHP bullets is pretty wide. With 20gr/2400 and a 325JHP they got 1675fps and you can see below what I'm getting with my 250JHP.
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/ ... vergun.htm

THESE LOADS ARE NOT PUBLISHED ANYWHERE AND ARE MINE ALONE:
Nosler Sporting Handgun 250HP .451", 2400 powder, Starline brass, Win LP primers, COAL 1.590"

21.0gr - 1533fps avg
21.5gr - 1561fps avg
22.0gr - 1590fps avg

Does this sound odd or is it just the way things turn out? My chrono is only a few months old, proves to be pretty consistent with it's readings for other rifles, calibers, and loads versus my load books.

Puzzled,
Jeff

[Model 52]

I use 2400 with cast lead and plated 250 gr bullets and I don't see more than about a 50 fps difference between 16" and 20" barrels in .45 Colt, but I'm also shooting 18 grains rather than 21 grains, and getting around 1,350 fps. But there may be a bit more advantage with the longer barrel with the heavier charge.

I've noted that Paco also pushes the .45 Colt pretty hard in the Model 92, as in up to 55,000 psi or so in some loads. That's way outside my comfort zone, so I take that into account with some of his loads and don't expect to see the same numbers.

[Rooster59]

Ditto on some of those loads Paco lists. I used some info from RD's software to Taylor these or I would never of gone this heavy. Unless my beam and digital scales are both off I'm surprised my loads aren't well above 1600fps.

[runfiverun]

in my 45 colt i get 1650 fps
with 19.5 grs of 2400 a 250gr rnfp bullet and starline brass.
if i use win brass i get 1600 fps.
i'm using a 24" barell.
i get right near the same velocity's in my 44 mag 24" rifle using the same load ,same brand of brass,and a 245gr cast boolit.

[Ranch Dog]

I really doubt that it is the chronograph. You are seeing a very consistent, 2% linear increase with each .5-grain increase in powder. I reran the QuickLoad data Jeff and here this is the calculation results at 70° with the 16" barrel.[hr][/hr]21.0 = 1745 FPS, 40.3 KPSI, 103%
21.5 = 1783 FPS, 43.3 KPSI, 105%
22.0 = 1822 FPS, 46.6 KPSI, 108%[hr][/hr]I have never shot 2400 so I have no experience working it across my pressure trace equipment. The only two powders I have used with my Rossi R92 and the 290-grain bullet is H110 and Lil'Gun. The later is my choice with 25.5-grains producing 1760 FPS at 35.0 KPSI from the 20" barrel. H110 is a little slower in FPS than Lil'Gun for the same pressure.

[Rooster59]

That is a lot of pressure. Dropping back to 20gr would seem to be prudent for more safety and less wear and tear.

[Model 52]

That is a lot of pressure. Dropping back to 20gr would seem to be prudent for more safety and less wear and tear.

I generally think and act along the same lines.

If I really need that much punch, I just bring a bigger gun.

[Rooster59]

Yeah, the 45-70 would be happy to take over in situations where heavy work is on the agenda.

[Wills Point Pete]

You should bear in mind that lead alloy bullets will always run faster than jacketed with the same powder charges. Jacketed bullets have more bore resistance so you get higher pressures and lower velocities.

[ironhead7544]

Velocity can vary a bit between identical firearms. Speer did a test with 6 S&W M19 revolvers with 6 inch barrels and found up to 200 fps difference between some of them. So, I wouldnt worry about 100 fps or so. If you are not satisfied with the load try a different powder/primer/bullet combination.

With your bullet, I doubt if an animal hit with it would know the difference between 100 fps, more or less.