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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Cast Bullets
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Homer
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Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle?
      #268857 - 01/08/15 06:16 PM

G'Day Fella's,

I've recently purchased a Ruger Redhawk and Blackhawk revolvers in .45 Colt.
I also have a Winchester/Miroku 1892 in .45 Colt.
I was just wondering if any of you blokes have any experience with cast bullets in this calibre and can recommend a or some bullet moulds for it.

Lyman make a nice 0.452" Gas Check mould of around 250grns that got my attention.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Regards
Homer

--------------------
"Beware the Lolly Pop of Mediocrity,
Lick it Once and You Will Suck Forever"

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DarylSModerator
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: Homer]
      #268870 - 02/08/15 01:34 AM

Homer - I used a .45 cal 300gr. RCBS mould for my .45 Colt Model 94 Trapper. The front cavity, I converted to a HP design which cast a 300gr. Hp for me, the back cavity a 320gr. - when using WW alloy.

I usually water-dropped them into a bucket of water from the mould, passing through a slit towel across the top of the bucket. I cast a quite a high temp so they'd harder more after hitting the water. If let sit for 24 hours after heat treating, they will harden up to about 34 Brinel (oven soak). With the water drop, their temperature had dropped enough that they don't harden quite as much, thus end up varying some, like from 26 to 32 Brinel depending on their temp when they hit the water.

After the casting session, I'd take them out, dry them off and quickly lube/sized them to .452". This prevented the sizing operation from softening the bullets which will happen if you let them sit too long after casting. If not sized right away, any sizing of the bullets will re-soften them and they will not harden.

After 12 hours of sitting they will attain full hardness of about 26 to 32, which seemed to work well for me.

I shot 2 elk with the 300gr. HP's - wonderful performance - both bullets exited - Bull Calf and a nice dry cow - shot on special licence.

I used Ross Seyfreid's .45 Colt at .44 mag pressure loads using W296 powder. The Winchester's 16" bl. recorded 1,584fps with that load and bullets, which duplicated the Original Winchester .45/90 BP 300gr. factory load.

Later, I had worked with W680 powder, which is no longer available, unfortunately. At the same pressure, I was able to up the velocity safely, to almost .45 BPE speeds. I achieved 1,740fps with those bullets. Hodgdon was selling the same powder as H116 for a while. (the last 3 tons made by Winchester) None of THAT powder made it to Canada, that I know of.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Iowa_303s
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: DarylS]
      #268883 - 02/08/15 06:41 AM

Homer,
My every day load load for my 5 1/2" barreled Ruger Blackhawk is as follows:

Wincherster case
CCI large pistol primer
7.0 grains Winchester 231 (or HP-38)
Lyman 452242 255 grain SWC cast from wheel weights
Velocity 800 fps

I have used this load to take whitetailed deer at 25 yards. It has always left 2 holes in the hide that leak very well.
A freind of my also uses this combination in his Rossi M92 carbine.

8.5 grains of Unique is the classic load for the 45 Colt load and is a good choice for standard velocity loading.
I have used hot loads like those that Daryl states in his post but I really find that 99% of what I use the Blackhawk for is covered by standard loadings.

--------------------
Matt

formerly known as Iowa_303

"Once your reputation is ruined you can live your life quite freely."

"Enkelkinder über alles"

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Homer
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: Iowa_303s]
      #268889 - 02/08/15 08:45 AM

G'Day Fella's,

Daryl and Iowa Thank You both for your great info on this!
The more I read (above) and think about it, the more I believe I need both 250grn ish and 300grn ish bullets for these firearms.

Best regards
Homer

--------------------
"Beware the Lolly Pop of Mediocrity,
Lick it Once and You Will Suck Forever"

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eagle27
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: Homer]
      #268890 - 02/08/15 10:23 AM

I cast and loaded the Lyman 452190 cast bullets (250gr) in my .455 Webley revolver using shortened 45 Colt cases and 5.5-6.0grs Unique powder. They grouped well in the old Webley and accounted for rabbits, hare and a few feral goats. I don't know that you need to use gas checks when working with pistol velocities, the plain cast flat base seems fine.
The Lyman 452190 bullet, round nose with a flat meplat was the original design for the 45 Colt.

Example shown in the right of the line up below


PS. Also accounted for one cattle beast, short range in the head.

Edited by eagle27 (02/08/15 10:26 AM)

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Homer
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: eagle27]
      #268916 - 03/08/15 08:06 AM

G'Day Fella's,

Eagle 27, Thank You for those details and information!
I will probably want to use any cast bullet I make, in both the revolvers and also my 92 lever action (If we are still allowed to own them?). So I need a cast bullet with a nose shape, that will feed into the chamber of the rifle. And that Lyman mould, looks pretty good for that double duty!!!

Regards
Homer

--------------------
"Beware the Lolly Pop of Mediocrity,
Lick it Once and You Will Suck Forever"

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Homer
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Reged: 07/04/09
Posts: 3081
Loc: Canberra, Australia
Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: Homer]
      #269106 - 10/08/15 07:39 AM

G'Day Fella's,

Whilst I was looking for some mould options for these above firearms, I came across this mob;
www.mp-molds.com
If you are looking for increased bullet expansion, this may be what you are looking for.

Doh!
Homer

--------------------
"Beware the Lolly Pop of Mediocrity,
Lick it Once and You Will Suck Forever"

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DarylSModerator
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: Homer]
      #269114 - 11/08/15 01:02 AM

Homer - that's quite a cavity. The design with only one small grease groove might not be good for the higher speeds from the rifle. However, it might be just fine. Trying it is the only way to find out.
LBT Blue lube works wonders if you can find it.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Homer
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: DarylS]
      #269141 - 11/08/15 05:39 PM

G'Day Fella's,

Thank you for that info/advice Daryl!

What I was planing to do, was Powder Coat (PC) any bullets I was going to use in the .45 Colt rifle and revolvers.
Also, when the PC supplies arrive, I'll see if I can add some HBN (or maybe Moly?) powder to the PC mix and see if it still applies and bakes on OK? The reason I was hoping to include HBN powder, was to help lube the bullet.
I'll let you all know how it goes, once I've had a try!

Doh!
Homer

--------------------
"Beware the Lolly Pop of Mediocrity,
Lick it Once and You Will Suck Forever"

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DarylSModerator
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: Homer]
      #269162 - 12/08/15 12:11 AM

Perhaps no lube is needed for PC? I'm also interested in what transpires with powder coating, Homer. Might be very interesting with moly in the mix.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Homer
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: DarylS]
      #269175 - 12/08/15 08:22 AM

G'Day Fella's,

Daryl, I'll give HBN (Hexagonal Boron Nitride) coating a try first, and see how that goes.
Apparently, HBN is a totally inert material/dry lubricant, as opposed to Moly with it's Sulfur content!
The main concern that I have, is that the HBN may counter act the Electro-Static attraction between the Powder Coating material, and the cast bullets? Only time (and delivery of my PC supplies), will answer this question!

Doh!
Homer

Edited by Homer.
Further to this subject; http://www.chuckhawks.com/boron_nitride_lubricant.htm

--------------------
"Beware the Lolly Pop of Mediocrity,
Lick it Once and You Will Suck Forever"

Edited by Homer (12/08/15 03:10 PM)

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Gunnie
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: Homer]
      #376479 - 01/05/23 07:47 PM

I run powder coated 300gn RNFP from a Lee mould, in my Uberti 1873 for SASS comps here in Australia. I don't run a warm load as we're pow3r factor limited. My load using Alliant Unique powder produces 940fps from my rifle.

--------------------
Reach out, way out, one shot & one shot should do the job!

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: Gunnie]
      #376498 - 02/05/23 02:33 PM

Good question. I want a 1873 revolver and lever action in .45 Colt one day.

If using the same loads for a lever action and revolver, does the load need to be a little weaker?

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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Hoot
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: NitroX]
      #376504 - 02/05/23 11:11 PM

Quote:

Good question. I want a 1873 revolver and lever action in .45 Colt one day.

If using the same loads for a lever action and revolver, does the load need to be a little weaker?



The 1873's and reproductions, respond well to the original Colt loads, e.g.: 250gr over 8.5 Unique or equivalent. The lever actions should handle that easily. I have a Winchester '94 in .45 Colt and run that as hard as my Blackhawks, that is, 265gr at 1200-ish (out of the pistol--never measured the rifle). But the '94 is a strong action. Other levers may not like this.

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DarylSModerator
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Re: Recommended cast bullet for the .45 Colt revolver/rifle? [Re: Hoot]
      #376510 - 03/05/23 01:27 AM

The 'trouble" with the model 94's is the scooped out bottom rear of the chamber, like a 1911 .45 ACP. In order to use higher than factory ammo, one must use a brass that is strong enough in that area to resist ballooning. Ross Seyfreid used Federal brass, but I found R-P to be the strongest with ZERO ballooning at that spot, whereas the Fed still expanded there more than I liked.
.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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