Henry Rifle Forums

Went to the range yesterday and brought out my Marlin 1894 Cowboy and Ruger NM Blackhawk in 45 Colt. The Ruger is the convertible model so I drought along the 45 ACP cylinder to compare some 200 gr semi wadcutters to my new 45 Colt load.

The new 45 Colt load is a 185 gr. semi wadcutter (soft lead) with 8.8 gr. of Universal loaded to 1.540". I started out shooting this load in the Marlin at 50 yard and boy was it smack on. Very light recoil and with just an elbow on the bench I was getting 4" or less groups. Then I switched over to the Ruger and fired 10 rounds of the 45 ACP 200 gr. load. Nice shooting at 15 yds. and medium felt recoil. I switched to the 45 Colt 185 gr. load and was even more impressed. Recoil was much lighter and really a pleasure to shoot.

I had to factory grips on the Ruger which don't fit my big hands very well. With my usual 45 Colt load (250 gr RNFP with 7.2 gr. Universal at 1.260" COL) the trigger guard will smack me in my middle finger knuckle. After a few cylinders of those, that knuckle gets sore. The 185 gr load was perfect. No smack on the knuckle, so I'm a vert happy camper. I now a a 45 Colt load that shoots we in the Marlin and doesn't beat me up in the Ruger.

So today at the loading bench I put together another 200 rounds of the 45 Colt 185 gr. loads.

Here is the load coming off my press:


This is a side-by-side of the two loads. On the left is the new 185 gr. load compared to the 250 gr. MB RNFP, on the right.


When I finish up the 250 gr. MB RNFP I have in stock, I will be ordering some 185 gr. MB bullets.

Paul

Nice, Love it when a plan comes together.
Which barrel length in the BH?
I have a 4 5/8" convertible model and a Marlin Cowboy myself.
I loaded a bunch of 195 gr swc's over 6.5 grs. of Red dot very comfortable to shoot.
Congrats on the new load.

RP

That 185 gr. bullet load is interesting. Where did you find the load data for it Paul? When I shot those Lehigh Defender 120 gr bullets .45 ACP thru the BBR there was little recoil.

Nice ! I like your Hornady Progressive.

I have the same BH 45 convertible and also have cave man hands with the same issue. I swapped out the factory grips for Hogue Monogrip Grips. They work well for me.

You guys with those neanderthal meat hooks need to check out Bear Paw grips. They dont change the looks of the Ruger much but he makes them wider and fatter where they need to be. Ive bought three pairs from him I liked them so well. The grip on Ruger SA has always been my beef with Rugers.

Sorry Big Al, I am NOT a Neanderthal . . . .I am pre-neanderthal !

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 4:51 pm

Nice, Love it when a plan comes together.
Which barrel length in the BH?
I have a 4 5/8" convertible model and a Marlin Cowboy myself.
I loaded a bunch of 195 gr swc's over 6.5 grs. of Red dot very comfortable to shoot.
Congrats on the new load.

RP

Yep My BH is a 4 5/8 also.

Paul

runnin n gunnin wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 5:23 pm

Nice ! I like your Hornady Progressive.

I have the same BH 45 convertible and also have cave man hands with the same issue. I swapped out the factory grips for Hogue Monogrip Grips. They work well for me.

I have the same Hogue grips. I just don't like the look They are very comfortable and stop the bruised knuckle, The traditional small grips are cosmetically just better. I switch them out depending on my mood.

Paul

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 5:03 pm

That 185 gr. bullet load is interesting. Where did you find the load data for it Paul? When I shot those Lehigh Defender 120 gr bullets .45 ACP thru the BBR there was little recoil.

No doubt, a light bullet will give you light recoil. I got the load from the Hodgdon reloading sight. They didn't have a 185 gr bullet so I just used the load data for a 180 and backed off a tad. I figure I can go up to Hodgdon's 9.2 gr max without a problem, but I like the results I got at 8.8 gr. I'm not going to mess with what works.

Paul

I have the same Hogue grips. I just don't like the look

Haaaaa ! I agree. Comfort vs looks.

Like forty, where is that load data for the 185's? And who's 185's are those? Looks promising. And lighter.

Rifletom wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 8:31 pm

Like forty, where is that load data for the 185's? And who's 185's are those? Looks promising. And lighter.

Tom, those bullets are unobtanium today. They are almost 40 years old and have survived a move from New Jersey to Georgia. Then to our lake house in Georgia and finally in 2011 from Georgia to Virginia. They were made by a company called Star Bullets which has long ago closed up shop. I used this bullet for 45 ACP Bullseye competition loads in the mid 80's. When I stop shooting Bullseye competition I had 2 boxes of 500 that sat under my reloading bench. So I decided they have been sitting way long and made up this load.

For load data I went to Hodgdon's reloading site and found a 45 Colt load for a 180 gr. LRNFP bullet. Hodgdon listed a max load of 9.2 gr. of Universal for that bullet so I just backed that off a little and decided on 8.8 gr., which works great a great.

Over the years I loaded these up for my 1911's but because of the semi-wadcutter shape, they were only reliable in my Bullseye 1911. So I gave up on them and they just sat under my bench. They feed excellently in my Marlin Cowboy gun. When I run out of these I'll most likely go to the MB 185 gr. coated lead RNFP with the same powder charge. Then I'll write chapter 2 on this 45 Colt load.

Paul

Are those 185's sized .452 Paul

BigAl52 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 9:19 pm

Are those 185's sized .452 Paul

Yes they are .452. The box shows that and I have mic'd them before. I was just checking and MB makes a 185 gr. semi-wadcutter for 45 ACP. Check out this bullet it looks the same: https://missouribullet.com/details.php? ... &keywords=


Paul

Forty Shooter, A 120 grain .45 bullet? Is it a collar button design ?

Yes those look similar. Xtreme bullets also makes some lighter bullets sized .452 that should work as well.

Travlin wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:16 pm

Forty Shooter, A 120 grain .45 bullet? Is it a collar button design ?

They are these Travelin
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018301095

BigAl52 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:21 pm

Travlin wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:16 pm

Forty Shooter, A 120 grain .45 bullet? Is it a collar button design ?

They are these Travelin
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018301095

Damn expensive, but they look ferocious.

RP

Thanks, now I understand. They are a little above my pay grade so I'll stick to my Lyman lead pot and my multiple 45 moulds.

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:41 pm

BigAl52 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:21 pm

Travlin wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:16 pm

Forty Shooter, A 120 grain .45 bullet? Is it a collar button design ?

They are these Travelin
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018301095

Damn expensive, but they look ferocious.

RP

Those are intended for SD use and way to expensive for any other use. I did a comparison to my favorite 230 XTP bullet and didn't see any difference in the gel block in short barrel pistols. Hey you don't know for sure until you test a few!