.45 Colt vs .357 Magnum energy...........

[fortyshooter]

Did some calculations on my 45 Colt load of 255 gr. cast bullet with 8.5 Unique using the indicated 1050 FPS out of my Henry Carbine and got 624 Ft. Lbs. of energy. at the muzzle.
With the .357 load using the MB 180 gr. bullet (actual 185 gr.) loaded with 11.5 of Alliant 2400 using an indicated 1380 FPS out of my Henry rifle resulted in 782 Ft.Lbs of energy at muzzle.

Those Pugs do pack a punch!

Now I ran my .44 Mag load of 180 gr. XTP at an indicated 2050 FPS thru my Henry 44 Carbine and got a whopping 1680 Ft.Lbs !

[BigAl52]

One of those pugs out of a 4 5/8 barrel Ruger Blackhawk will talk to you also

[fortyshooter]

One of those pugs out of a 4 5/8 barrel Ruger Blackhawk will talk to you also

No doubt about that! Now when I applied the Taylor's Knock Out Power calculator which is supposed to indicate real performance I get a 13 for the .357 180 load...a 17 for the .45 Colt load and a 22 for the .44 Mag 180 XTP load.

[fortyshooter]

Ran my mild .45-70 load thru calculations and this is a 405 gr. cast bullet going a sleepy 1120 FPS using only 13.1 gr. of Unique and shot from my Marlin Guide Gun 18.5 barrel. Target would see a Knock Out factor of 29 !

[Headhog]

Good info Forty. Thanks for posting.

Always good to have some real world data as compared to what to powder manufacturers publish. There data is fine, but only for reference. Since there is no comparison between test barrels and everyday firearms.

Paul

[RanchRoper]

I would not want to get hit with either one...

[Rifletom]

Did some calculations on my 45 Colt load of 255 gr. cast bullet with 8.5 Unique using the indicated 1050 FPS out of my Henry Carbine and got 624 Ft. Lbs. of energy. at the muzzle.
With the .357 load using the MB 180 gr. bullet (actual 185 gr.) loaded with 11.5 of Alliant 2400 using an indicated 1380 FPS out of my Henry rifle resulted in 782 Ft.Lbs of energy at muzzle.

Those Pugs do pack a punch!

Now I ran my .44 Mag load of 180 gr. XTP at an indicated 2050 FPS thru my Henry 44 Carbine and got a whopping 1680 Ft.Lbs !

forty, with that 8.5ge Unique/250gr bullet, are you getting much if any leading? With my 8.0gr load, I get a little in my Henry and two 1873 revolvers. Thanks.

[fortyshooter]

Good info Forty. Thanks for posting.

Always good to have some real world data as compared to what to powder manufacturers publish. There data is fine, but only for reference. Since there is no comparison between test barrels and everyday firearms.

Paul

Yes and I'm still searching for one of those Universal 4 inch six shooters!

[JEBar]

can't give you any numbers but can offer 35+ years of direct observations field cleaning and carving boar, black bear and deer .... some taken with 357's firing 158 gr Nosler JHP's pushed by 14.8 g of W296 to muzzles of 1,525 fps .... some taken with 44's firing 240 gr Nosler JHP's pushed by 23.8 g of W296 at muzzles of 1,725 fps that .... both put critters on the ground .... the wound channels left by the 44's in bear and boar were in a different ballpark than those of 357's .... on deer, the 357's were impressive, most had exit wounds .... a dead bear is a dead bear but a 357 wouldn't be my pick for hunting them or larger boar ....

[BigAl52]

Tom are u usin coated bullets or lubed? Ive never have much issue with leading in Italian revolters

[fortyshooter]

Tom... Haven't noticed any leading issues with my Henry Carbine at that load level with the MB coated bullets. Also never had leading with same powder loads using uncoated cast lead bullets thru mu Uberti/Winchester 1873 rifle.
With revolvers if you get leading at speeds below 1000 FPS with .45 Colt check the cylinder throat size for being the same or +.001 Max of your measured bullet diameter. Usually if the throats are smaller than the barrel bore or more than .002 over the bullet diameter you can get leading.

I have had to hone out the cylinders of a couple of my revolvers to .4525 to shoot well. Some Rugers are known for this problem and the Uberti's usually come thru production at .452. A lot of the $$$$ Colt SA revolvers come thru with large .454+ sized cylinder throats

[Rifletom]

Al and forty; non-coated in .45 Colt with a little leading. Coated 180's in .357, zero leading. Next .45/250's will be coated. I'll take some measurements. Thanks guys.

[BigAl52]

One thing you can do Tom as I dont have those fancy pin gauges like that tool and die maker Forty does is pull the cylinder set it on the table and see how the bullet passes thru the throat of the cylinder. I just take a bullet by itself and try to push it in the reverse direction through the throat. If it wont go through or is really tight then the throats could be causing your issue. Another is lube. Some lubes are not as good as others.

[fortyshooter]

I do the same with the bullets I will be using and if it is tight or really loose I will measure it. If tight a correct sized aluminum short rod is used with a split cut at end for a wrap or two of 240 or 320 grit emory paper. A couple of hones using drill press is a quick fix.

[Rifletom]

One thing you can do Tom as I dont have those fancy pin gauges like that tool and die maker Forty does is pull the cylinder set it on the table and see how the bullet passes thru the throat of the cylinder. I just take a bullet by itself and try to push it in the reverse direction through the throat. If it wont go through or is really tight then the throats could be causing your issue. Another is lube. Some lubes are not as good as others.

Al, I'll do that this morning. Thanks for the idea. Easy-peasy!

[BigAl52]

Like Forty has mention with the alum rod a wooden dowel for your local home depot will work also

[BigAl52]

Hey Tom how did you come out on those cylinder throats

[Rifletom]

My .452/250 non coated would get stuck in the front of the cylinder being dropped in from the rear. Looks like I have some polishing to do?

[fortyshooter]

My .452/250 non coated would get stuck in the front of the cylinder being dropped in from the rear. Looks like I have some polishing to do?

Can you push them thru with light finger pressure using a pencil? Any more than that and it would help for a bit of honing. Just want it to lightly push thru.

[BigAl52]

Like 40 says a light push and you can also go from the front of the cylinder