[steady]

I wish to use my Smith & Wesson in .45 long colt for target shooting. I need help in what bullets to use, primer, powder, charges etc. that have been used by others for accurate paper punching rounds. My thanks ahead of time.

 

[TMan]

If you're shooting holes in paper, you might want to try the extruded lead SWC's from Hornady or speer over a moderate charge of Red Dot or Bullseye. Any primer will work with midrange loads. Trail Boss is also a very good powder for this sort of shooting.

 

[kludge]

I like a 200gr SWC with 8.0gr of Universal (~900-950fps depending on your gun). An experienced kid (my 11 year old) can handle the recoil in my 4" Redhawk, but I wouldn't take it any higher for him.

If that's too much you can drop it down to 6.4gr start load for ~750fps. Max is 8.8gr @ ~1050.

 

[tacklebury]

My target loads for the .45 Colt are a 200 gr. Dardas RNFP and 6-8 gr. Unique. Very consistent and I can hit clay pigeons with the iron sights at 40 yards with few misses. On paper, I get about 2" groups at 40 yards and can hit a 10x10 gong out to almost 70 yards consistently. Very inexpensive load also as the bullets are only 78 bucks for 1000.

 

[al_sway]

I have had very good accuracy using a Lee 250 grain RFN bullet, with 6 grain of Red Dot. The bullet casts easily, and I find it is long enough to provide good accuracy. The load is relatively mild, but clearly a .45 slug weighing 250 grains at 700 fps is going to recoil more than a .38 cal 148 grain WC, at the same velocity. I have not had the same accuracy results with the shorter 200 grain bullets.
Sometimes the 200 grain SWC, designed for .45 ACP will provide good accuracy, with about the same powder charge. Naturally the 200 gr SWC will cut much sharper holes for marking.

 

[simcoe]

Boy, I've never had any luck with 200grainers in my 45 colts for accuracy past 25 yards. 230gr were just marginally better. Admittedly I only tried a few different loads with them and then just moved on to 250+ and had better luck.

 

[Bigbore4me]

I like the 250 -255 gr cast with either Unique or 2400. Works great in all my 45 Colts. I do have a Lee mold for the 300 gr and H110 works good but I've found after years for shooting I don't care for the muzzle blast of H110 for paper punching. I use Unique in the 300 gr too.

 

[JimC]

I use cast 250-270 grain with 13 grains HS6 in 7in Bisley Blackhawk. Accurate, medium load, but good for anything this side of big bear.

Jim

 

[arkypete]

May want to define 'target shooting'. If you are thinking Bullseye matches there's better choices. If you are thinking plinking or practice, find a load that works well with you and that particular handgun, and load them by the thousands.
I've used 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique under a 250 to 255 grain cast bullet sized .454 for the past 30, maybe 35 years.
If the bullet doesn't hit the target it's the jerk behind the handgun.

Jim

 

[jmortimer]

"I've used 8.5 to 9.5 grains of Unique under a 250 to 255 grain cast bullet sized .454 for the past 30, maybe 35 years. If the bullet doesn't hit the target it's the jerk behind the handgun."

Exactly (bullet size/diameter may vary)

 

[purpledragon]

The #454190 250gr. lead @ 1.600col with 9.0 Unique is a very good and inexpensive round to plink with........hope this helps

 

[Marshal Kane]

I'm with you guys! The .45 Colt is one FINE cartridge. I use the home cast w-w alloy 250 gr. RNFP Lyman Cowboy mould pushed by 8.5 gr. Unique for plinking at targets.

 

[blackhawk45lc]

9.0 grs of HS-6 under a 250gr LRNFP, for paper targets,and a very stiff charge of Win 296,under an 250gr XTP for Whitetails,Blackbears,and Hogs.

 

[saltydog452]

Rookie hazarding a WAG.

I'm new also.

From what I can read, there are considerable variations in cylinder throats. The newer (post 1983) Smiths have the cylinders a bit closer to .452 bore diameter.

Mine is pre 1983 (it has a 'pinned' barrel) and overly large cylinder throats.

I have no illusions of consistent X ring accuracy at distance.

Since I can't see/hold/shoot worth a flip these days, it gives me something else to blame.

I can't adequately do 'The Twist' to Joey D and The Starlighters either. Gettin' down has a new meaning.

Luck to you,

salty

 

[NonPCnraRN]

I would find out what the cylinder throat measure to see what size bullet to order. If you use .452 diameter bullets in a cylinder with .454 diameter throats you may as well throw the bullets at the target. Once you determine bullet diameter needed you can load up with some Penn 225 gr wadcutters. The wadcutter takes up space in the large cartridge so the powder charge has less room for more consistent burning. Beartooth also has 250 gr SWCs that can be used. IIRC these are heat treated and more expensive than the Penn bullets. I don't think you need heat treated bullets for punching paper. I would work up a load of the Beartooth 280 gr WFN bullets just to have on hand in case you want to take your gun along for a hike in the woods. They will handle anything you are likely to run into that needs shooting. I have found that the WFN bullets cut clean wadcutter type holes in targets too. I may be a masochist but I like to fire some ammo every once in a while that gets attention along the firing line. Here is an article for the 280 gr WFN including load data. http://beartoothbullets.com/open_sight/archive_open_sight.htm/19

You can find load data here: http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

 

[sharps4590]

Each firearm is an entity unto itself. As has been suggested, mic your cylinder mouths first and use bullets sized accordingly. After that, I've had good luck with 8-9 grs. of Unique and the RCBS 250 gr. Keith type semi-wadcutter. Ordinarily a good shooter in most 45 Colts. But for finest accuracy you're going to have to experiment. Several good loads have been offered and I've tried most. Degree of accuracy has varied among the five 45 Colts I own.