Will need 45 pistol heads

[SSL]

Another round you may be interested in is the 45 Schofield. Curious about your barrel diameter. 45acp is .451 and 45 colt is .456. The Schofield is .452. All the differences in 45 drive me mad. 45/70 is .458 and I reload all 3.

I believe modern manufacturers have standardized on .452" for .45 Colt as well. You are indeed right that original Colt bores ranged widely in specs, from .452 to .456" and chamber throat dimensions not always matching the bore diameters. My Ruger Blackhawk bore measures .452" (as do the cylinder throats) and I use .452" un-sized (.453" out of the mold) Lee 255-grain RF cast bullets (260 grains from my metal) and get minimal leading from 800 to 1,100 fps.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Exactly the same even the same ruger

 

[mousegunner]

"HEAD" was new to me till a year or so back. On some boards, it is common vernacular. Yes, projectile.

Are cases called "bodies" then? Case head the "tail"? My tails show excess pressure signs, maybe the heads are crimped too tight into the bodies!?

 

[TAJ45]

Overly crimped heads have always been a problem.
This definitely leads to anthropomorphizing weapons requiring the feeding of favorite fodder.

 

[TAJ45]

I believe modern manufacturers have standardized on .452" for .45 Colt as well. You are indeed right that original Colt bores ranged widely in specs, from .452 to .456" and chamber throat dimensions not always matching the bore diameters. My Ruger Blackhawk bore measures .452" (as do the cylinder throats) and I use .452" un-sized (.453" out of the mold) Lee 255-grain RF cast bullets (260 grains from my metal) and get minimal leading from 800 to 1,100 fps.

I was not aware of the different bore sizes but certainly glad to know they did standardize.
This does raise the question of the Ruger offerings in the early '70s, if not before, of the "convertible" 9mm cylinders for the .357s. What was the final outcome there? I just remember that being discussed after a range trip, having a burger and a Pepsi.

 

[SSL]

I was not aware of the different bore sizes but certainly glad to know they did standardize.
This does raise the question of the Ruger offerings in the early '70s, if not before, of the "convertible" 9mm cylinders for the .357s. What was the final outcome there? I just remember that being discussed after a range trip, having a burger and a Pepsi.

Just going on hearsay on this one since I never had one, but I remember a friend had one of those convertibles and the theory seemed to be for the 9 mm bullets (.355 - .356") to "bump up" to engage the rifling while the .357"-.358" bullets were a fit. Makes sense if you remember that the .357 operated at a higher pressure than the 9 mm back then and, as such, could possibly create a real issue if squeezed through a .356" bore. Pressure for 9mm Luger ammo is around 35,000 PSI, while SAAMI specs on pressure for .357 magnum have dropped significantly since those days. It is now also 35,000 PSI rather than 45,000 CUP it was in years past. Just guessing here, but I would think they figured it safe for the 9 mm to bump up .002 or .003" rather than risk the possible pressure spikes from a .358" bullet squeezing down. Accuracy of my friend's revolver was just so-so with the 9 mm but pretty good with the .357, which could easily have been just that gun or other reasons.

 

[DirtySteve]

If we are done with the "heads" thing.... I love 2400 in my Ruger 44...

Edit.. Yeah I was surprised at Taj45 using that term. but my mechanic knows the doohickey that I talk to him about... I try to keep my Clips and Magazines in the right context....

 

[Burnt Powder]

I don’t have a convertible but have several 45 ACPs and 45 Colts
of various barrel lengths and actions. In ACP I like the Keith 200 gr SWC and either VV 310 or Hodgdon Tightgroup. In 45 Colt I prefer 250 gr SWC with AA#5 or Universal/Unique. If I was going to load one bullet, one powder for both in that barrel length it would be a 230 gr RN with a powder in the same range as a 45ACP range. My 45 Colts range from a 4-5/8” Blackhawk, 7-1/2” Vaquero, 5-1/2” Bisley with a 6” Anaconda tossed in for good measure. Nice thing about a revolver is they will feed whatever bullet you can stuff in the cylinder, not so with all autos. One caution with 45 Colt loads, some cylinders are shorter than others, i.e. late model Vaqueros. I had an early one and loads that fit it as well as my ‘hawks and Anaconda would jam the cylinder in my new Vaquero. Just something to keep in mind.

BP

 

[Junnie]

Reloading is dangerous enough without confusing things by using incorrect terminology.

Ditto

 

[Junnie]

A head on a naval vessel is the bathroom. From the old days of wooden ships when the crew go to the head of the ship deck and relieve themselves over the side. I still do when fishing.

being a old Marine, I'll ditto above..... I thought the fellow was talking about head stamp.

 

[H2OBUG]

I would recommend a 250 Hornaday XTP over 20.5 grs of 2400 and a mag primer. This is my go to hunting load great for wild dogs and devil worshipers. Down from there I would do 16.0 grs of 2400 mag primer and a hard cast 250 gr bullet. Still a really great load just not quite as peppy as the first one. Anything less swap to the 45 ACP. Anything more than the first load and you are just trying to make thing you shoot dead-er.

 

[Junnie]

being a old Marine, I'll ditto above..... I thought the fellow was talking about head stamp.

Remember: This is my rifle, this is my gun, this for killing, this is for fun....

 

[Junnie]

Several years ago purchased: A. Uberti Scofield 45 Long Colt. On a scale of 1 - 10 I'd give this revolver 9.5
A wonderful hand gun to shoot and just plain fun.
Recommend Meister Lead Cast Bullets, 250 Grains, diameter 452.
You can work up your own powder etc.
Ran across original Schofield at a gun show recently, it was a bucket of rust, fellow was asking 3 thousand plus. Perhaps the revolver had some kind of provenance that I was unaware of, my guess looking for a sucker.

 

[Junnie]

I'm curious about the: 7-1/2” Vaquero, 5-1/2” Bisley with a 6”????? I always wanted both... Talk me into buying one of each.... As mentioned above: The Uberti Scofield is smooth as silk and grand fun to shoot......

 

[Junnie]

What???????? No replies......

 

[hogpatrol]

What is a head?

Water going transport, amongst others, it's where you do your business.

 

[Mike7.62]

To the OP:

As far as "heads" for .45 Colt are concerned, I use both 255 gr lead SWC with a load of 9.0 gr of Unique for a good midrange load. It gives 830 fps out of a 5 1/2" Bowen modified Ruger Bisley. For my heavy load, I use a Hornady 300 gr XTP over 20 gr WW 296 which gives 1080 out of the same barrel. Don't know how they would perform out of a 3 1/2" barrel, but I would use a 255 to 270 gr SWC or LNFP using a faster burning powder such as Unique, or Red Dot. My go to is Unique. It should get you right around 750-800 fps which is a darn good load, and has been effective for over 100 years, even against larger critters with good "head" placement.

 

[rogn]

Another round you may be interested in is the 45 Schofield. Curious about your barrel diameter. 45acp is .451 and 45 colt is .456. The Schofield is .452. All the differences in 45 drive me mad. 45/70 is .458 and I reload all 3.

45C seem to have the more common bullet size of 0.451"

 

[AJC]

45C seem to have the more common bullet size of 0.451"

You must be talking modern because antique is not.

 

[AckleymanII]

I get my cast bullets from George:

http://www.gtbullets.com/

HP or non hollow point

different sizes

Different alloy compositions for different uses.

His 45 HP expands to 89 caliber.

Bullets look exactly like the picture when you get them, and George is a hunter/ shooter also