M97 - 45 Colt - most accurate cowboy load?

[Lee Robinson]

What is your most accurate cowboy load in this gun. I have a heavy load I like, but haven't found a good light load.

[TommyD]

I have a M83, not a 97, so this may not be 100% applicable. But here is my experience.

I believe that the bullet style in lightweight bullet (250 - 260) loads is more important than I would have expected.

While I could get some good accuracy with hot loads, I always found the accuracy unsatisfactory at slow 900 fps speeds.

I tried Oregon Trail, NBC, Hornady, and hand cast the Lyman 452424 and 452490 (gas check) bullets. Accuracy was OK at 25 yards, but all over the paper at 50.

I recently tried the LBT 260 grain long flat nose gas check bullet sold by Montana Bullet Works. Using the load of 231 recommended by John Linebaugh at the bottom of his "dissolving the myth" article, this 900 fps load gave me 2 to 3 inch groups at 50 yards. Side by side comparison with the lyman bullet showed the lyman all over the paper with the identical powder charge.

I have the mold on order from Veral Smith of LBT.

Tom