What can the 45acp do in a strong revolver?

[hunter01]

I am flush with SR/SP primers and that seems to be all that’s available anymore. 101’s post on the small primer acp brass got me thinking about the possibility of the baby 45 being a viable hunting gun in the right platform. What can it do in a STRONG gun as in large frame ruger minimum. If it would do 1100 with a 255, that would get a lot of hunting done around here and put it right with my 44spl loads. I have the 454’s and could down load them or cut brass down for the colt in a worst case scenario, but another option never hurts.

[Encore64]

The large frame Rugers are successfully rechambered to 460 Rowland. I personally think 40k in that cylinder is ill advised. But, never heard of a failure either.

Certainly 45 Super +P 30k loads are fine.

I've done lots of testing and posted results. Also, Reflex264 has some excellent threads on his Blackhawk 460 Rowland.

You can search for those threads in the Single Action Section...

[harold89]

Following this, I’ve often wondered what I could do in my FA83 with a 45 ACP cylinder using Starline 45+P…

[bobwright]

many years ago I had a Jim Dandy .45 ACP load used in my S&W M625. It used the Siera 185 gr. JHC (Jacketed Hollow Cavity) bullet that clock at an average of 1290 f.p.s. using Accurate powder, No.5 I believe, maybe No. 9. Never took anything big with with. Harold Tibbits, then with Accurate, checked my loads in their lab and tol me never use these in an autoloader, but were o.k. in my revolvers.

Crows hit by one of these simply exploded.

Bob Wright

[Encore64]

Jan 20, 2024 9:58:40 GMT -5 harold89 said:

Following this, I’ve often wondered what I could do in my FA83 with a 45 ACP cylinder using Starline 45+P…

Not an answer for Hunter01, but I've done this.

Had a 45 ACP Cylinder added to my FA83. Then had it cut to accept 45 Auto Rim. There is a definite advantage to this and no disadvantage.

I emailed Starline and they confirmed their 460 Rowland and 45 Super are the same except length.

That being said, all these cases are acceptable in revolvers. The increased strength is useful in Autos as many chambers will most certainly blow out or bulge the case if not fully supported.

Longshot and Power Pistol will get the most velocity in my testing. AA#7 is another excellent choice.

In a revolver, I suspect the weak area of the case would be the primer pocket. The small primer brass probably has the advantage...

[hunter01]

Sounds like it could be a decent lower recoil hunter and brass certainly isn’t a problem.

[Deleted]

Limitations of powder capicity is the big problem.

[potatojudge]

I've been prepping to do something similar in a 625 45 ACP using auto rim brass.

With heavy bullets loaded to nearly 45 Colt length, I think loading to standard 45 Colt power should be no problem which as you said makes the 45 ACP a more viable hunting round.

I have a 300 grain Lehigh penetrator sitting in a 45 AR case right now that comes nearly to the OAL given in the Lehigh manual. It's tempting me to put some powder under it.

[Encore64]

singleactions.proboards.com/thread/36213/old-model-45-auto-rim?page=1

A thread where I tried Pistol Power in the 45 Auto Rim...

[blackmamba]

I ran every powder I could think of through Gordon's Reloading Tool and it seems like with a 255 SWC about the most you can get in a 4-5 inch barrel is 1,000 fps @ 30 kpsi. Power Pistol was about the best. A longer barrel might add 50-75 fps.

[Odin]

singleactions.proboards.com/thread/30206/250gr-wfn-45acp-1911-value?page=1

Interesting data on page two of this thread using the Hunters Supply 275 grainer and Blue Dot. Somewhere is a thread discussing pressures produced. I've got it printed off, but can't find the actual thread. Top end loads were under 30k.

[Deleted]

Have pushed a 265 Beartooth wfn to something like 1060 fps with a starting load. Have played with other loads and got a 250 xtp over 1200, but it escapes me at the moment where that landed. I do remember it was with accurate no. 7. I am about to have a parts gun built with that cylinder and a 454 bisley barrel. Be interesting to see what the slow twist and taylor throat does for the cartridge. These things live on the faster burning powders.

[cas]

I don't think you can really do Apples to Apples comparison with Auto Rim brass, because the case is fully supported unlike the ACP case. (plus you can roll crimp)


Like doing chamfer jobs for USPSA guns years ago, people would sometimes ask "Isn't that too much?" Nope, that part of the cylinder isn't touching anything anyway.

[Encore64]

But, all bullets aren't created equal.

When testing the 45 Auto Rim Revolvers, I found a huge variance in seating depths.

The Gardners Bullets seat really deep, while the Matt's Wadcutters and GT HP Bullets seat shallow.

When I reached max with Gardners Bullets, the same load with other bullets would leave soot on the cases as pressures dropped so low.

So, for hot 45 AR Loads, I've learned to use the bullets that seat shallow. Short, low capacity cases are especially sensitive to seating depth as the combustion area is increased or decreased by a much greater percentage.

As with all things, advantages and disadvantages are ever present. The Gardners Bullets are excellent in my FA97 45 Colt for the same reason they're disadvantaged in the 45 ACP/AR.

Hope that rambling makes sense to a few readers...

[hunter01]

Jan 20, 2024 13:15:29 GMT -5 @flexjr said:

Have pushed a 265 Beartooth wfn to something like 1060 fps with a starting load. Have played with other loads and got a 250 xtp over 1200, but it escapes me at the moment where that landed. I do remember it was with accurate no. 7. I am about to have a parts gun built with that cylinder and a 454 bisley barrel. Be interesting to see what the slow twist and taylor throat does for the cartridge. These things live on the faster burning powders.

Sounds like a good hunting load! This was in a large frame Blackhawk?