Armory Sponsor
Posted: 3/7/2009 3:20:20 PM EDT
|
My son was given a Ruger Vaquero. We have all of the stuff to start reloading but I see data for 45 Colt and seperate data for Ruger, Freedom Arms.
It looks like the pressures are considerable higher on the later. Which should I use? I have some Clays and LilGun and 500 250gr Oragon Trail cast bullets. |
|
The "old" Ruger Vaquero was made in a LARGE frame.
While, the current Ruger Vaquero frame is smaller, to better mimic the COLT SAA. When the books give higher powerd load data for "Rugers Only"...........they usually are talking about the LARGE frame Rugers. As with any reloading data.............start low and work your way up. Aloha, Mark |
|
Quoted:
The "old" Ruger Vaquero was made in a LARGE frame. While, the current Ruger Vaquero frame is smaller, to better mimic the COLT SAA. When the books give higher powerd load data for "Rugers Only"...........they usually are talking about the LARGE frame Rugers. As with any reloading data.............start low and work your way up. Aloha, Mark Exactly right. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
If you want to "enjoy" your range session, stick to standard 45 Colt data. A big +1. I've been loading 45 Colt for 17 years. A 250 cast bullet at 900fps is all you need unless your hunting big game. 250 at 900 is all you need then. 1100-1200 is still pretty pleasant, but not really necessary. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
If you want to "enjoy" your range session, stick to standard 45 Colt data. A big +1. I've been loading 45 Colt for 17 years. A 250 cast bullet at 900fps is all you need unless your hunting big game. 250 at 900 is all you need then. 1100-1200 is still pretty pleasant, but not really necessary. correct |
|
Great advice given already.
I only load .45 Colt for an 1873 Winchester (Rifle) clone. So I only pursue standard pressure loads in .45 Colt. (They have a toggle-link action, kind of like how a Luger works, smooth, but not necessarily strong.) Even at standard pressure, I have no doubt it would be adequate for deer within 75-100 yards. Unique, TightGroup, and Trail boss are good powders for Vaquero/1873 loads. I shoot primarily LRNFP bullets in 200 and 250 Gr. (Like zero recoil in an 1873 Winchester rifle...) Of the three powders, Unique is the classic .45 Colt smokeless powder, but the other two are position insensitive. Choose soft lead bullets at standard levels/loadings (i.e., not hard-cast). I wouldn't even consider heavy loads in a Vaquero, especially the new ones. In a Redhawk, you can rival .44 Mag loads, but .45 Colt brass isn't made as well as .44 Mag brass, strength-wise, (and with that small-ish .45 Colt rim.) What may be surprising, is that at the 'standard' .45 Colt pressure levels, blackpowder cartridges pretty much seem to outperform smokeless. A casefull of Swiss FFFg moves a 250 Gr LRNFP right along... |
|
I have been reloading .45 Colt for over 30 years and I have used Unique, 231, and Red Dot. Unique is the classic, and 231 works well; but I think the best accuracy with Unique and Red Dot. Unique can be loaded for highter velocity in Rugers. As stated earlier make sure you don't use the Ruger Only loads in a "New Model Vaquero". I also agree that 250 gr bullet at 900 fps is all you need.
G |
|
Pretty much just piling on. Just load a 250 grain to about 900. I like Unique or Universal myself. I can't imagine needing much more speed, especially if you use a cast lead bullet. If you go much higher in speed you may find youself cleaning a lot of lead out of your barrel. The lead comes out, but it takes work to get it out.
One more piece of info - a friend of mine loads 240 grain cast lead in 44 magnum to about 1000fps and reports those rounds will completely pass thru deer. So I don't get the super high velocity thing. |
|
Quoted:
Pretty much just piling on. Just load a 250 grain to about 900. I like Unique or Universal myself. I can't imagine needing much more speed, especially if you use a cast lead bullet. If you go much higher in speed you may find youself cleaning a lot of lead out of your barrel. The lead comes out, but it takes work to get it out. One more piece of info - a friend of mine loads 240 grain cast lead in 44 magnum to about 1000fps and reports those rounds will completely pass thru deer. So I don't get the super high velocity thing. A .45 250 gr bullet at 900 fps will pass completely through a 250lb hog broadside at 40 yds. G |
Armory Sponsor