Winchester Silvertips in 45 Colt?

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

Are factory Win. Silvertip hollow points in 45 Colt, OK for Colt SAA's and most "clones", or are they in the Ruger Blackhawk only category?

[the priest]

There is pretty much nothing on the market save buffalo bore or double tap,...that won't be okay.

Anything from the MAJOR manufacturers will be fine unless your revolver is either very old, or in bad shape.

[tek4260]

They are very mild and would be safe for the smaller frames

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

Thanks, the guns I'm talking about are all new guns. The boxes I saw didn't give the fps on them, so thought I better make sure.

[jimmarch]

Yeah, those are perfectly safe in any post-WW2 Colt SAA, most of the Italian stuff other than breaktops and the Ruger NewVaq. Not half bad ammo, either, should expand just fine in any barrel length over 4".

[rigby]

Silvertips have been my HD ammo for years, 15 maybe?. Has shot decent out of any gun I've tried it in. Was sold on the stuff when I took some to the range a few days after Halloween with some pumpkins, impressive.

[nonpcnrarn]

What about open top revolvers with the conversion cylinder?

[jimmarch]

Bad idea. Open tops are pretty weak...you need to keep those at around 14k psi or lower. The Silvertips around 18k-20k range.

[cdcash]

They've worked OK in my 357's and 44's, but I hesitate to put an aluminum clad bullet down my bore, when a lead SWC or lead SWCHP will do the job as well. It seems to me the latter will create much less wear on the bore.

[buck]

I read on some forum a lifelong .45 Colt revolver deer hunter had unsatisfactory results using Silvertips on deer. All other loads killed well. Inadequate shoulder penetration if I recall correctly.

[ohnomrbillk]

May 30, 2010 8:22:35 GMT -5 buck said:

I read on some forum a lifelong .45 Colt revolver deer hunter had unsatisfactory results using Silvertips on deer. All other loads killed well. Inadequate shoulder penetration if I recall correctly.

If you are wanting penetration for bambi and bigger 4 legged animals, I would recommend against them.

It is balistically very similar to a 45 acp.

For the purpose of two legged targets, IMHO, the silvertip is ideal.

PM me if you care for more info on using 45 Colt for defense. I've been having to explore that a great deal more lately.

[J Miller]

bccl,

SAAMI specs for the .45 Colt cartridge is 14,000 PSI
Winchester does not make any ammo that exceeds this specification. That includes the Silver Tips. Their increased velocity is not from increased pressure but the lighter bullet weight, 225grs rather than 255grs.
They are in the same category as the 255gr lead standard load and as such are safe in any gun made for smokeless powder and in good mechanical condition.

This is also true of the Remington 225gr LSWC and the Federal 225gr LSWCHP. The big three ammo companies just will not exceed SAAMI specs.
The only manufacturers that will exceed SAAMI specs are newer companies such as CorBon, Buffalo Bore, Grizzly Ammo, and others.

Just go ahead and use those Silver Tips if you can afford them. Don't know about your area but around central IL they're running almost $30.00 per box of 20.

nonpcnrarn,
From what I've read about the conversion cylinders for cap and ball guns they should be restricted to Cowboy level loads only. These are running in the 10,000 psi level. To be sure contact the cylinder / gun manufacturer.

Joe

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

Thanks J Miller, I found a gun shop that has 3 boxes for $21.95 ea. May have to go get them!!!

[CraigC]

Listen to Joe. Any factory loaded ammunition is safe for the SAA and factory Open Top and cartridge conversions. Ammunition labeled "+P" from Buffalo Bore, Corbon, DoubleTap, etc. are obviously excluded.

Aftermarket conversion cylinders for percussion guns typically recommend lighter "cowboy" loads.

[J Miller]

May 31, 2010 9:05:49 GMT -5 Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:

Thanks J Miller, I found a gun shop that has 3 boxes for $21.95 ea. May have to go get them!!!

$21.95?? Grab 'em quick! Around here the last box I saw at that price was about 7 years ago.

Joe