LeverBob
posted this
10 September 2012
Ed Harris wrote:
I use the .45 Colt in an M1909 DA revolver and an H&R CR45LC break-open Handi-Rifle. I use 6 grains of Bullseye with the Saeco #955 traditional cowboy bullet which weighs 260 grains in 1:40 tin/lead alloy. I load bullets as-cast and unsized, tumbled lightly in Lee Liquid Alox. Velocity is 770 fps in the Colt New Service and 1030 fps in the H&R carbine with 22' barrel. Low noise, low recoil, shooting the 100 yard gong with the sun over your back you can watch the bullets flying downrange.
Average iron sight groups are 5-6” at 50 yards from the New Service Colt and 12” at 100 yards. The H&R carbine using iron sights shoots 5-shot groups a little better than half the size that the big Colt does at the same range.
In the Ruger Vaquero you can safely increase the charge up to 7 grains of Bullseye, using wheelweight alloy, I see no advantage to doing so.  I find the .45 Colt performs best with mild smokeless loads of the fast burners, which approximate factory levels, using soft alloy of 8-10 BHN. More than 6.5 grains of Bullseye exceeds safe levels for my M1909 Colt, original or replica Colt SAAs, and goes supersonic in a rifle.
The resulting “crack~!” exceeds my desired noise level for rural country small town yard plinking.ÂÂ
Ed...I remember the beautiful old 1917 Convertable you wrote about in the '81 gun digest. Still have it?
Living out west, we need a load that will reach out to 100 yds. for deer, bear & elk. My midrange load is the Keith 454424 swc, 10.5 grs. Unique ( another fine article you wrote for the nra cast book) in my old ruger BH. I've backed off on all my loads as I grew older. Just didn't need all the advertised horsepower from my experience.
LB