Six different .45s!

[tinkerpearce]

As of today I now load six different .45 caliber cartridges, though two of them pretend to be .44s...


From left to right- .450 Adams, .45 Cowboy Special, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .44 Colt and .44-55 Walker
The last two actually use .452 heel-base bullets.

[Apples]

Nice. I still shoot commercially-loaded .45 auto (half of it from a local reloading company that also makes new), but am now handloading my .41 and .44. I'm not asking for any data, but, what different (if more than one) powders are you using to run these things?

[magnumwheelman]

for 45 handgun... I load... 45 Auto, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Colt, 454 Casull, 45 Walker, 45-70 ( in a Contender )... plus more if I counted rifle... the 450 Adams is interesting... I've not run across it... what do shoot that one out of???

[tinkerpearce]

May 7, 2018 9:37:09 GMT -5 Apples said:

Nice. I still shoot commercially-loaded .45 auto (half of it from a local reloading company that also makes new), but am now handloading my .41 and .44. I'm not asking for any data, but, what different (if more than one) powders are you using to run these things?

Mostly Unique and Trail Boss.

[tinkerpearce]

May 7, 2018 10:44:49 GMT -5 magnumwheelman said:

for 45 handgun... I load... 45 Auto, 45 Auto Rim, 45 Colt, 454 Casull, 45 Walker, 45-70 ( in a Contender )... plus more if I counted rifle... the 450 Adams is interesting... I've not run across it... what do shoot that one out of???

.450 Adams is also known as .450Boxer, .450 Corto, .45 Webley and a few other names. It was the standard caliber for the Webley RIC and Metropolitan Police revolvers, and was used in many British Bulldog revolvers and clones. The original loading was a 225gr bullet over 13gr. of FFFFg black powder.  (While mainly used as a priming powder in the US, FFFFg was commonly used in pistol cartridges in Europe.)  This yielded a velocity between 725-775fps. in 4-5" barrelled revolvers. Rather less in Bulldogs of course. In modern times FFFg is usually used by handloaders, which yields lower pressures and velocities.

Fiocchi still loads this round occasionally as .45 Corto, but this has proven to be of inconsistent quality, with an occasional box being loaded hot enough to have caused catastrophic failures in some antique guns. Many people buy this ammo just for the brass, pulling the bullet and reloading with black powder.

[taffin]

May 6, 2018 18:01:56 GMT -5 tinkerpearce said:

As of today I now load six different .45 caliber cartridges, though two of them pretend to be .44s...


From left to right- .450 Adams, .45 Cowboy Special, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .44 Colt and .44-55 Walker
The last two actually use .452 heel-base bullets.

My .45's include .45 Colt, .45 S&W, .455 Webley, .45 ACP, .45 Auto Rim, and .454 including black powder loads in the first three.

[Snyd]

The ".45" is such a versatile, effective caliber. I wonder how many cartridges are .45's

[bula]

I've heard of the 455 Webley. Is the 45 Webley a different beast ? I like seeing good ole BP still being loaded. I've loaded it in 357, 44spec, and 480. BP is a hoot in the 4 5/8" 480 BSBH. I'd not have thought of going to the FFFFG though. Hmmnnn..

[tinkerpearce]

May 8, 2018 8:36:30 GMT -5 bula said:

I've heard of the 455 Webley. Is the 45 Webley a different beast ? I like seeing good ole BP still being loaded. I've loaded it in 357, 44spec, and 480. BP is a hoot in the 4 5/8" 480 BSBH. I'd not have thought of going to the FFFFG though. Hmmnnn..

Yes, .45 Webley is a shorter, less powerful cartridge. As far as I know the .450 was only called .45 Webley in the United States. You can fire .45 Webley out of a .455 I believe, but not the other way around. As to using FFFFg I am reasonably sure a modern handgun would have no issues with it. Heck, 7.5mm Swiss is still loaded with it as far as I know.

[bula]

I see Missouri Bullet lists a .455 Webley bullet, plain cast or PC'd.