395 gr in a 6 Shot .45 Ruger

[Alaskan454]

I just got a shipment of 395gr .45 bullets for my 5 shot .45 and Redhawk. I saw some data for a 405gr bullet at 6 shot pressure levels and was curious if anyone had tried it.

I figure they'd have trouble breaking 1,000 fps at 6 shot Ruger Only levels. Would likely start at 17.0 gr of 296 if I tried it. It seems the higher pressure guns can take quite a bit more powder.

[whitworth]

Garrett loads a 405 grain bullet to a claimed 1,250 (I think). If I can recall they ran 1,200 + fps out of my 6 1/2-inch .454 Bisley. He loads them to 50,000 PSI give or take.

[coldtriggerfinger]

I don't know ?? But I used to shoot the 360 gr Oregon Trail cast boolits from my 4 5/8 Blackhawk @ 1160 fps Iirc.
The 395 is only 35 gr heavier.
I bet in a Redhawk you could get 1100 fps with safe pressures.

[whitworth]

What’s the barrel length on the Redhawk?

[450ak]

We have loaded and shot 420s from Ruger black hawks, 15 grains of WC820( lot 47320) starliine cases, Remington 2 1/2 primer. Velocity was a thousand . You’ll need a tall front sight. Interesting but not particularly useful to us.

[cmillard]

I’ll bet they penetrate deep!

[Snyd]

I'd figure out how much H110/296 fills the case to the bottom of the boolit, back of 1-1.5gr, break out the chrony and start from there.

[Alaskan454]

I understand the firearms I'm about to list cannot share the same pressure loads. Each would get its own load development.

The Redhawk has a 4.2" barrel, the Blackhawk (factory 6 shot cylinder) has a 3.75" barrel, and the FA M83 has a 4.75" barrel.

I don't usually look for more than 1,100 fps out of a slug this heavy. Was planning to use Snyd's recommendation and back off 15% from a 100% volume of 296 to the bullet base. I also have 4227 which is a bit more forgiving on lighter charges. Just didn't see any data out there to confirm starting/max charges.

Right now my heavy .45 load is a 350gr bullet over 20.5 gr of 296. I was curious to see what I could do with a heavier slug.

[whitworth]

That Redhawk can take a pretty steady diet of heavy loads. That Garrett load is called “RHO” for Redhawk Only.

[bigbrowndog]

Here is some data from LoadData, 7.5” barrel Redhawk 45 colt.

400 WLN-GC Custom Hodgdon H-110 20.0 1183
Remarks: overall loaded length (inches): 1.720
400 WLN-GC Custom Hodgdon H-110 21.0 1239
Remarks: overall loaded length (inches): 1.720
400 WLN-GC Custom Hodgdon H-110 22.0 1291
Remarks: overall loaded length (inches): 1.720
400 WLN-GC Custom Hodgdon H-110 22.5 1314
Remarks: overall loaded length (inches): 1.720

Warning! Notes: A Ruger Redhawk .45 Colt with a one-in-16-inch twist. 7 1/2-inch barrel was used to test-fire these loads. Starline cases and CCI 350 Large Pistol Magnum primers were used throughout. Loads approach 50,000 psi. (Handloader Issue #292 - October, 2014)

Trapr

[singleaction]

On this page you will see the Beartooth 405 WFN driven to 30k and 50k in a five shot 45 colt Blackhawk. Might help you out.

www.singleactions.com/FiveShot45Colts4.html

[Alaskan454]

Thanks for the data gentlemen, after looking at some numbers either 17 or 18 grs of H110/296 should be a good starting point depending on which crimp groove I use.