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Post by chuckhammer on Dec 2, 2021 0:53:21 GMT -5
Based on shooting many of my own .45 Colt handloads over the past 7+ years in various revolvers and leverguns, and also reading everything I could find on the subject from John Taffin, John Linebaugh, Paco Kelly, Brian Pearce, and Randy Garrett, I've assembled the below list of maximum acceptable pressures for each firearm listed.
Looking to get some feedback from others on this topic. Did I leave something out? Do you have experience to the contrary? Fire away.
***Black Powder Only
- First Gen Colt SAA & New Frontier
- BP-only modern clones
- Traditional load is 250-260 gr bullet over 38-40 gr of FFFG.
***14,000 psi (SAAMI max 45 Colt)
- Second & Third Gen Colt SAA & New Frontier
- Modern S&W Model 3 "top break" clones
***23,000 psi (SAAMI max 45 ACP +P)
- S&W 25 & 625
- Ruger New Vaquero
- Ruger "mid-frame" Flattop Blackhawk
- USFA SAA
- Modern SAA clones (Uberti, Cimarron, Beretta, etc., for cylinders measuring ~.020 diameter over Colt spec)
- Modern Winchester 1873 clones
- Modern Henry 1860 & 1866 clones
***30,000 psi ("Ruger Only")
- Ruger Blackhawk & Old Vaquero
- Freedom Arms 97
- Dan Wesson
- El Dorado
- Abilene
- Thompson/Center Contender
***40,000 psi
- Marlin 1894
- Winchester 1894AE
- Henry Big Boy
***50,000 psi
- Typical custom five-shot cylinder conversions
- Ruger Redhawk
- Modern Winchester 1892 clones
***65,000 psi (SAAMI max 454 Casull)
- Freedom Arms 83
- Magnum Research BFR
- Certain custom five-shot cylinder conversions (as specified by maker)
- Thompson/Center Encore
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aciera
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,211
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Post by aciera on Dec 2, 2021 3:35:07 GMT -5
6 shot oversized cylinders are up there and not mentioned. Check Ross’ writings
5 shot conversions run to 454 pressures.......the brass is just longer in the 454
Just sayin
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Post by blackmamba on Dec 2, 2021 8:39:59 GMT -5
Thompson/Center Encore should be good up to 50 kpsi (or more) as they are chambered for magnum rifle cartridges.
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Post by chuckhammer on Dec 2, 2021 8:54:59 GMT -5
Oversized six-shot cylinders, excellent point. I guess their ballistic capability will depend on their specific dimensions and build material.
Thanks for the feedback on the T/C guns. Maybe the Encore has a lower pressure ceiling than the Contender? Were/are both chambered in 45 Colt?
I'm not very familiar with either design. Was just listing the Contender at the "Ruger only" level based on where the load manuals show them.
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Post by chuckhammer on Dec 2, 2021 9:13:21 GMT -5
The custom five-shot cylinders running at Casull levels are essentially, as you stated, identical to 454 Casull but in the shorter Colt case. I have a 45 Colt cylinder for my FA83 454. Not a custom, of course, but the same principle applies. Like the oversized six-shot cylinders you mentioned, the exact capability of these depends on their specific dimensions and build material. My understanding is the gun builders usually state 50k as the limit and they issue load data reflecting this.
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Post by bushog on Dec 2, 2021 9:30:44 GMT -5
Handloader #246 does a nice job of this….
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Post by bigbrowndog on Dec 2, 2021 9:31:48 GMT -5
I’d guess you could add Dan Wesson, ElDorado,Abilene’s to the “Ruger only” list
Trapr
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Post by tdbarton on Dec 2, 2021 11:40:41 GMT -5
Interesting. I would have guessed that 2nd/3rd gen Colts would rate a little higher on the pressure scale. I find the .45 Colt to be an endlessly fascinating cartridge because of the usefulness across a broad spectrum of pressure ranges - illustrated by your cool breakdown. I’m not saying anything new, especially on this forum, but I’m newer to the game than most here. Love the info.
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Fowler
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 3,671
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Post by Fowler on Dec 2, 2021 12:06:31 GMT -5
The USFA revolvers equal the Smith and Wessons for strength. Really any of the single actions that are available with a 45acp cylinder would...
The Freedom Arms 97 go 30K and the 83 goes all the way past that list...
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Post by chuckhammer on Dec 2, 2021 12:57:37 GMT -5
Edited the list to reflect the seventh level (65k psi).
Also added the El Dorado, Abilene, Dan Wesson, USFA, FA97, and T/C Encore.
Thanks for the feedback.
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aciera
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,211
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Post by aciera on Dec 2, 2021 20:24:22 GMT -5
The custom five-shot cylinders running at Casull levels are essentially, as you stated, identical to 454 Casull but in the shorter Colt case. I have a 45 Colt cylinder for my FA83 454. Not a custom, of course, but the same principle applies. Like the oversized six-shot cylinders you mentioned, the exact capability of these depends on their specific dimensions and build material. My understanding is the gun builders usually state 50k as the limit and they issue load data reflecting this. Yup.....we need not mention Ross’ loads. Lol |
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Post by x101airborne on Dec 3, 2021 7:14:57 GMT -5
I didnt know all that. Thanks for the information!
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Post by Encore64 on Dec 3, 2021 7:19:10 GMT -5
Oversized six-shot cylinders, excellent point. I guess their ballistic capability will depend on their specific dimensions and build material. Thanks for the feedback on the T/C guns. Maybe the Encore has a lower pressure ceiling than the Contender? Were/are both chambered in 45 Colt? I'm not very familiar with either design. Was just listing the Contender at the "Ruger only" level based on where the load manuals show them. The TC Encore is considerably stronger than the Contender. At one time Encore Barrels were chambered by the factory in 454 Casull. I still have my 12". |
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Post by chuckhammer on Dec 3, 2021 8:44:35 GMT -5
Good info, thanks. I'll move the Encore on down to the max level.
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Post by savit260 on Dec 9, 2021 18:40:10 GMT -5
Based on shooting many of my own .45 Colt handloads over the past 7+ years in various revolvers and leverguns, and also reading everything I could find on the subject from John Taffin, John Linebaugh, Paco Kelly, Brian Pearce, and Randy Garrett, I've assembled the below list of maximum acceptable pressures for each firearm listed. Looking to get some feedback from others on this topic. Did I leave something out? Do you have experience to the contrary? Fire away. ***Black Powder Only - First Gen Colt SAA & New Frontier - BP-only modern clones - Traditional load is 250-260 gr bullet over 38-40 gr of FFFG. ***14,000 psi (SAAMI max 45 Colt) - Second & Third Gen Colt SAA & New Frontier - Modern SAA clones (Uberti, Cimarron, Beretta, etc.) - Modern S&W Model 3 "top break" clones ***23,000 psi (SAAMI max 45 ACP +P) - S&W 25 & 625 - Ruger New Vaquero - Ruger "mid-frame" Flattop Blackhawk - USFA SAA - Modern Winchester 1873 clones - Modern Henry 1860 & 1866 clones ***30,000 psi ("Ruger Only") - Ruger Blackhawk & Old Vaquero - Freedom Arms 97 - Dan Wesson - El Dorado - Abilene - Thompson/Center Contender ***40,000 psi - Marlin 1894 - Winchester 1894AE - Henry Big Boy ***50,000 psi - Typical custom five-shot cylinder conversions - Ruger Redhawk - Modern Winchester 1892 clones ***65,000 psi (SAAMI max 454 Casull) - Freedom Arms 83 - Certain custom five-shot cylinder conversions (as specified by maker) - Thompson/Center Encore Curious as to why the New Frontier would be listed listed with 1st Gen. Black powder SAA's ? |
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