Need a 300g .45 Colt load

[Doctor Sam]

Please see my post on the Cast Bullet forum.  If you have a good midrange load for the Lee Precision 300 g in a .45 Colt I would sure like to hear about it.
Many thanks.
Doctor Sam

[HOS]

Doc, What gun do you want this load for?
HOS

[Glanceblamm]

HI Doctor
I too have searched for cast bullet data with little or no sucess.
My own manuals dont have anything heavier than 255gr.
I found Sierra JACKETED 300gr
Accuracy Load:Unique/9.4gr 900fps/539 ft.lbs
Hunting Load:CCI 350 Win296/20.5gr 1,100fps/806 ft.lbs
.45 Colt of course

I am highly interested in the LBT bullets and in fact have a box of the .452
265 WFN bullets which I have not tryed  and do not plan on trying YET

I have also been to the cast bullet site. I think guys like me & you need to jump in whole hog here and follow Veral Smiths advice. I interpreted this as...
1. Purchasing the Jacketed performance with cast bullets book.
2. Purchasing the push through slugs at the same time.

This should give us a good start on understanding on the how's & why's in addition to getting good advice on bullet seating and working up loads.
My main concern with all of this is to eliminate excess lead fouling and to get tight groups.

[Doctor Sam]

HOS, I'm using these in a Ruger with a short 4 3/4" bbl.

[HoCoMDHunter]

I have had excellent success using D&J's 300 gr cast bullets and Lil-Gun.  Both my SRH 454 and 45 Vaquero like them.  I used Hodgden's listing to work up a load.  
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/45coltlil.php
I don't have my load notes with me, so I don't know how many grains of powder I am using.  I load these by the hundreds and the loads haven't been picky +- .1gr , so I load by volume.  Using 1.09cc.

[140orbetter]

Try this load my Ruger 5.5" Blk Hawk loves it and I also use it in my Winchester Legacy
22.0 gr H110/300 gr GCcast --she's a game stopper and very accurate. 140OB

[unspellable]

I'd be interested.  I need loads for the 1909 Colt 45 for which the standard bullet weight is 300 grains.  No data around for this cartridge although it's safe to say it would take the same powder charge as a level one 45 Colt load as suitable for post 1900 SAA's, New Service, etc.

My Model 1909 New Service will go bang with factory 45 Colt cartridges, but does not shoot to point of aim since the sights were not set up for the 45 Colt.  (The model 1909 was intended to go bang with a 45 Colt cartridge in a pinch as a backup when the proper cartridge was not available.)

As a minor complication it should take 0.454 diameter bullets.

[Lloyd Smale]

IN A RUGER ONLY try 21 grains of h4227 and a 300 and a mag primmer. its the most accurate midrange load ive found it shoots well in all my rugers.

[Doctor Sam]

Many thanks to all of you for your interest and suggestions.  I have recently worked up loads with H110 and Lil'Gun using the recommendations from another board.  Can't tell much difference as both have lots of recoil and a BIG muzzle flash.  These were maximum loads running around 1200 fps.  Way too hot for me and I can't make either group worth a hoot.  They would work great up close and personal for bear in Alaska while fishing.  With two cans of HS5 on hand, a moderate load grouped into three inches at 25 yards.  I am now waiting for the range to open this weekend to try 17 - 19 gr of 2400 as recommended on the cast bullet forum.  I am still having fun trying to get this combo to work.  The mould is one that casts great bullets from the start.  Always a pleasure when that happens.  Another Lee mould received at the same time for a rifle bullet has not cast a good bullet yet.  Should these 2400 loads work, I will let you know.
Doctor Sam

[tominboise]

You might want to slug your barrel and throats.  I did mine and discovered I had to ream the throats.  It made a difference in the accuracy.  (My ss ruger 45 Bisley with 5-1/2 barrel had a .452 barrel and something like .449 throats.  I reamed the throats to .4526").  I shoot only cast bullets in it - 255 and 300 gr.

Tom

[Lloyd Smale]

Reaming the throats in a .45 ruger is just about allways helpfull I have all of mine done. ALso a belt mountain pin and a good action job. If you are shooting that lee 300 rfgc bullet. I never did get any better then about 2-2.5 inches out of it. It would make a good hard hitting bullet but i like a little better accuaracy. Another thought is that if your only going to shoot in the 1000-1100 range dont get carried away with hardness. WW is about perfect for those speeds. You may even find a little better accuracy if you try 2/3 ww and 1/3 pure. If you use a good soft lube like Javalina you wont have any leading problem at that bhn. The hardness thing was brought up because changeing just the alloy of a bullet can make a big difference in accuaracy and a bullet that wont shoot well with a certian load will really wake up with the right alloy and i when i bought that lee mold and tested it i was testing many different bullets and may not of really gave it a fair shake.

[Lloyd Smale]

ps that 4227 load was given to me by John Taffin as an accuracy load and it has never failed me yet. I shoot it with the rcbs 300 swcgc the lyman 300swcgc the ballistic cast 320lfngc and the lbt 330swc and it has been accuarte in all my guns.

[140orbetter]

try 16.0 gr 2400 nice mild an accurate in my 5.5 45LC Ruger too

[myronman3]

i use 9 grains unique in my 44 with 310 gr. cast.  nice and mild.  in my casull i use the same powder and 12 grains unique; again, nice and mild.  i would think that somewhere in that area would work o.k. for you.  plenty potent on venison, too.

[Doctor Sam]

Thanks all.  My bbl is .452 and the cylinder throats are also.  Never had any work as far as I know this is a stock RBH.  Tried the 17 -19 grains of 2400 with good results.  17.0 shot about 3" at 25 yds.  17.5 closed down to about 1.5", 18.0 and 18.5 about the same, and 19 opened them up again.  I am pretty well satisfied with the 17.5g load.  I will try some air cooled bullets next time I cast.  Shot a foot high.  Getting info out of Ruger about a replacement front sight is like pulling teeth.  Three letters now back and forth and they have just told me to send them the caliber, serial #, and model and they would give me order info on a replacement.  Then I will have to find someone to put it on.  I don't know if it is worth it or not.  I will remember that 4227 load and if I can beg some from friends I will give it a try.  I do appreciate all your comments.  I am much more pleased now.
Doctor Sam

[daddywpb]

My favorite is a Cast Performance 300 gr LFNGC over 15.5 grains of 2400. Velocity is about 1100 fps.

[JohnK]

9.0gr of Unique under a 310gr LFN from Leadheads has worked well in my Blackhawk, at 960 fps it's about as mid range as 300+ gr bullets get.  :grin: