45 Colt loads

[Rooster59]

That thought crossed my mind. If they shoot well with good velocity I'll just keep using the fcd. If not, a .452 sizing die is in my future.

[Missionary]

My Puma 92 must have the biggest 45LC chamber ever made. Even with 20+gr of 2400 under a Nosler 250HP and a very firm crimp I still get sooty brass and soot in the action.

Jeff

Greetings Jeff
Do not full length resize the brass for that rifle. Just neck size so you have good bullet tension. This way the brass is already expanded to your rifle's chamber. You will have to segregate the brass for that rifle but your brass will last longer and you will end up with better accuracy and powder usage as in FPS.
Far better is to switch to a fatter bullet. One reason I cast my own bullets (Boolits to some casters). By having a fat bullet up front the throat gets sealed, the case expands and the pressure stays behind the bullet base where it belongs.
I would not be surprised if those Noslers were also sooty as they traveled down range.
Mike in Peru

[Rooster59]

Thanks Mike. I may try that after I finish shooting these 300 grainers I have loaded. I'm anxious to see if these .454 bullets do what you described. Those Noslers are more like .451.

[Rooster59]

Finally got time to take the loads with Lee 452-300 (sized to .454) powered by Lil Gun to the range last Friday morning. All three levels of Lil Gun shot nicely but the higher Freedom Arms load gave me three shots that were .125" from touching in a perfect triangle. I was shooting 3 shot groups over the chrono then cooling the barrel. That load also gave an average of 1,469fps with nice looking primers and no other indications of unwanted pressure.

My shoulder was already a bit sore from shooting the 45-70 so these didn't help alleviate the discomfort. Next time I'll sight them in for 100 yards which should give me about 2.0-2.5" high at 50 if I remember the calculator numbers correctly. Now to decide on which aperture sight to slap on it for the venison targets in November.

If I used the formula correctly, that equates to 1,437 ft lbs of muzzle energy. That's probably correct since it felt like that much on the buttstock end too.

[Ranch Dog]

Sounds like that will do it!

[akuser47]

My .308 loads are all fire formed to my 700 for this reason and the results are worth it. My brass does last alot longer dooing this less stress on the brass. . I love to hear of others fire forming.

[cpt-t]

I shoot a Rossi 92 SS 45LC with a 20 inch barrel. I use 250 to 255gr RNFP hard cast bullets, that I cast sometimes, sometimes I buy them. With 7.0 grs of WIN 231 most all the time in both my Ruger Pistol`s and Rossi Rifle. It is great for both hunting or Cowboy Shooting. I have alway got full pentration on the pigs and deer, I have shot with them. This is not a hot load where you will notice alot of recoil it is very comfortable to shoot, even for a youngster or small adult. I shoot this load about 99 percent of the time, and I have for many years, with no problems or complaints. You might give it a try. Good luck to you.
ken

[donhuff]

That's the thing with a 45colt. you don't really have to push it, to get great results! Sometimes less, is more.

I have a 4lb jug of HP38 which is the same thing as 231. I'm writing down your load 7.0 HP38. I'll give it a try.

[Rooster59]

I'm out of the Lee 452-300GC bullets I tested earlier this year and it is still too hot to cast more. Going to the range tomorrow and thought I might load up the last of those Nosler 250HP's I tested with 2400. This time I want to try the Lil Gun that worked so well with the cast 300 bullets.

While browsing Hodgdon's load data for Freedom Arms 45LC I got real confused. Granted I am using a bullet not listed but it seems you can use more Lil Gun with with some of the 300gr bullets than with some of the 240-250 bullets. Since I got 1469fps with my 300gr cast bullet from 20.5gr of Lil Gun I thought it would be a good place to start safely and still get over 1400fps. Any opinions?

[sawzall]

I'm out of the Lee 452-300GC bullets I tested earlier this year and it is still too hot to cast more. Going to the range tomorrow and thought I might load up the last of those Nosler 250HP's I tested with 2400. This time I want to try the Lil Gun that worked so well with the cast 300 bullets.

While browsing Hodgdon's load data for Freedom Arms 45LC I got real confused. Granted I am using a bullet not listed but it seems you can use more Lil Gun with with some of the 300gr bullets than with some of the 240-250 bullets. Since I got 1469fps with my 300gr cast bullet from 20.5gr of Lil Gun I thought it would be a good place to start safely and still get over 1400fps. Any opinions?

I shoot 250gr Hornady XTPs over 24.5gr of Lil Gun. Don't know how fast they are going, but it's a midrange Ruger load. Hodgdon reloading data center lists 25.5gr as max with the 250gr XTP for a velocity of 1410fps. Starting load is 23.5 for 1331 so I'm pretty sure you're gonna have to step up the powder charge to max load level get your 1400fps with the 250gr jacketed bullet. You can go much higher if you want. I use the 24.5gr of Lil Gun behind either the 300gr Lee RNFP or a Lyman 290gr TC with gas check for my heavy load. No pressure signs but pretty stout recoil.