Starting Out Reloading 45 Long Colt

[feathers73]

I have a question about bullets. I see in 45 long cold .451, .452 and .454 bullets. If I was to buy say 255 SWCs would I have to be concerned about this dimension in a blackhawk? Is all the loading data for 255 SWC the same regardless of the bullet diameter? Any help would be appreciated.

[Doc Unique]

The .454 bullets are primarily for older looser barrels......
The .451 or .452 would be for a modern six shooter.
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Missouri Bullets Cowboy #9
.452 Diameter
.45 Colt (.452)
255 Grain SWC
Brinell 12
For Cowboy Action Velocities
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work beautifully in my Vaquero and my Blackhawk.

all the best
Doc

[TEXASFIVEGUN]

"45 Colt" NOT 45 long colt. The most popular size for jacketed bullets is .451" and for cast lead is .452. You should slug your barrel and cylinder and correct any throat or constriction problems.

[AxeHandle]

Shoot that thang! I think most commercial casters size 452.

Now that we actually know who you are ..... Magnus makes a beautiful 250K and the standard 255 SWC.

[nobearsyet]

Measure your throats and size accordingly, that's the best way I've found to get good accuracy out of a sixgun, my thanks to TAFFIN for his article in AH about it.

[TEXASFIVEGUN]

If you don't want to measure you gun you should be able to get good results by just fitting the bullet to the cylinder throats. With a clean cylinder try to push the bullets through by hand anything from almost snug to tight fit will work. I like mine to fit from almost falling through needing only a slight push too pressing hard but not shaving lead to get them through.

[Fowler]

If you have a friend that has or works in a machine shop you could also drop by with your cylinder and in about 60 seconds with pin gauges get accurate measurements in all of the cylinder throats (amazing how many guns have different sized throats depending on the charge hole). If you don't know any one I bet asking nicely at a small shop they would be happy to help you.

[Cucuy]

I picked up a set of pin gauges from MSC Industrial for around $100. They range from 0.250 - 0.500. That pretty much covers it!

[nobearsyet]

I got mine from Enco, they're made in China but they are right on the money as far as diameter goes, and I think they only cost me like 50 or so.

[Markbo]

All loading data is the same, no matter what diameter. You can shoot anything from .451" to .454" and possibly larger in your Blackhawk. The issues will be accuracy and leading.

You cannot know for certain what will be optimum in YOUR gun without slugging the barrel and checking the cylinder throats. I started reloading just a few years ago - rather late in life - and got into trouble with a couple of revolvers. After a quick trip to Alan Harton's shop to measure and clean up some cylinder throats, my leading and accuracy issues were solved simply by being able to choose the right bullet for each gun.

What seems like a pain now will pay off in spades later. There is nothing more aggravating that having to pull out the Lewis Lead remover tool constantly while testing loads. I rarely have to use it at all any more.

ETA: I also invested in a couple of sizing dies. I have a lot of lead bullets in different hardnesses. The hardness of a bullet will determine what speed it can be (should be) shot at to avoid leading and being able to size some of them to accomodate that speed to a specific revolver makes it all a little easier.

[nobearsyet]

Ditto, I really don't think slugging the barre lis as important as slugging the throats, and check them all because they have been known to differ, but if you're going to shoot commercial cast bullets, remember if the dimensions ain't right they size just like home grown jobs.