45 Colt Reload For The Judge

LDJ · 08-30-2011, 09:06 AM

For all the Taurus Judge owners that want to reload and shoot 45's from there guns, but are tired of cleaning lead out of there barrels from shooting cast bullets. After calling all the Bullet and Powder producers I have finally found a bullet and load that works great. Hornady techs actually talked to me and had a bullet and load they had worked up for the 45 Colt. The bullet they had was a 250 gr. XTP HP that I loaded using TiteGroup powder. I loaded 5 and shot them and they shot very well. I have the 6 & 1/2 " barrel stainless Judge that shoots the 3" 410's. The great part is cleaning the gun was a breeze. I'm sure they work well with other powders as well. Just call them and i'm sure they will be able to tell you. I cannot believe it is so hard to get a load from these people when you are using there components. Like I told all of them I have reloading manuals, but I find a lot of loads for cast bullets. And not many for titegroup powder.

RandyP · 08-30-2011, 09:13 AM

Don't Berry and Ranier make plated bullets for .45 Colt?

LDJ · 08-30-2011, 10:36 AM

I talked to berry, as they are the ones I use for my 9's and they gave me help when I started loading 9's. They said they do not make a 45 colt bullet. I told the tech. I talked to they needed to look at that and he said he agreed. I could not ever get anyone to talk to me at Ranier.

RandyP · 08-30-2011, 11:20 AM

Ranier sells a 250 and 300 gr plated bullet for .45 Colt: Click on Lead Safe Bullet List on the left side of the web page:

http://www.rainierballistics.com/mainframe.htm

JLA · 08-30-2011, 11:35 AM

Berrys does make bullets that can be used in the .45 COLT. just none specific to the cartridge. Any of their .45ACP bullets can be loaded in the colt case.

LDJ · 08-30-2011, 12:27 PM

Well, this is the deal. I'm a very conservative person, and I don't like to experiment with loads. I have been loading for a long time but it has to be by the book. I don't know what you can replace or substitute like some with more experience. I know that it's great if you have that knowledge and I respect those that do, but I need to know what bullet,powder and OAL before I feel safe to load. I don't mean to take anything away from someone who can, I just can't. I just thought I might help someone else that thought as I.

RandyP · 08-30-2011, 12:50 PM

Using the Ranier plated as an example, you are fine using the data at the high end of lead loads for that bullet weight.

JLA · 08-30-2011, 12:50 PM

Thats good. Not attempting to take anything away from you there. Some manuals do advise you that you can use a slightly lighter bullet of the same diameter with data for a slightly heavier bullet safely. The LEE 2nd edition comes to mind right off hand, and an example would be using a 230 gr RN for a .45ACP in a .45Colt case seated and crimped just over the bullet ogive and loaded with 250 gr .45Colt data.

LDJ · 08-30-2011, 01:33 PM

Thanks, I'm old, but not to old to have an open mind to learn new things.

gdmoody · 08-30-2011, 05:49 PM

Berry's makes and sells a 250 grain bullet for the 45 Colt. I just loaded some of them earlier this afternoon with 5.9 grains of Titegroup powder.

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14..._250gr_FP.aspx

LDJ · 08-31-2011, 08:28 AM

gdmoody,I see them now. Thats what I was looking for, a .452 bullet. Thanks. Did you go with the max. OAL and a light crimp?

gdmoody · 08-31-2011, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDJ

gdmoody,I see them now. Thats what I was looking for, a .452 bullet. Thanks. Did you go with the max. OAL and a light crimp?

I used a kind of medium crimp at a length of 1.595, which is .005 less than the Max OAL.

LDJ · 09-01-2011, 08:04 AM

Gdmoody,
Thats exactly where I'm at. I am comfortable with Berry's now. I appreciate the input. Thanks
LDJ

08-30-2011, 09:06 AM	#1
LDJ V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oklahoma. USA Posts: 78	45 Colt Reload For The Judge For all the Taurus Judge owners that want to reload and shoot 45's from there guns, but are tired of cleaning lead out of there barrels from shooting cast bullets. After calling all the Bullet and Powder producers I have finally found a bullet and load that works great. Hornady techs actually talked to me and had a bullet and load they had worked up for the 45 Colt. The bullet they had was a 250 gr. XTP HP that I loaded using TiteGroup powder. I loaded 5 and shot them and they shot very well. I have the 6 & 1/2 " barrel stainless Judge that shoots the 3" 410's. The great part is cleaning the gun was a breeze. I'm sure they work well with other powders as well. Just call them and i'm sure they will be able to tell you. I cannot believe it is so hard to get a load from these people when you are using there components. Like I told all of them I have reloading manuals, but I find a lot of loads for cast bullets. And not many for titegroup powder. -->

08-30-2011, 09:13 AM	#2
RandyP V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 430	Re: 45 Colt Reload For The Judge Don't Berry and Ranier make plated bullets for .45 Colt? __________________ Lee Anniversary and Lee Classic 4-Hole Turret, presently reloading .380, 7.62 Nagant (32-20), 9mm and 45ACP

08-30-2011, 10:36 AM	#3
LDJ V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oklahoma. USA Posts: 78	Re: 45 Colt Reload For The Judge I talked to berry, as they are the ones I use for my 9's and they gave me help when I started loading 9's. They said they do not make a 45 colt bullet. I told the tech. I talked to they needed to look at that and he said he agreed. I could not ever get anyone to talk to me at Ranier.

08-30-2011, 11:20 AM	#4
RandyP V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 430	Re: 45 Colt Reload For The Judge Ranier sells a 250 and 300 gr plated bullet for .45 Colt: Click on Lead Safe Bullet List on the left side of the web page: http://www.rainierballistics.com/mainframe.htm __________________ Lee Anniversary and Lee Classic 4-Hole Turret, presently reloading .380, 7.62 Nagant (32-20), 9mm and 45ACP Last edited by RandyP; 08-30-2011 at 11:22 AM..

08-30-2011, 11:35 AM	#5
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,280	Re: 45 Colt Reload For The Judge Berrys does make bullets that can be used in the .45 COLT. just none specific to the cartridge. Any of their .45ACP bullets can be loaded in the colt case. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

08-30-2011, 12:27 PM	#6
LDJ V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oklahoma. USA Posts: 78	Re: 45 Colt Reload For The Judge Well, this is the deal. I'm a very conservative person, and I don't like to experiment with loads. I have been loading for a long time but it has to be by the book. I don't know what you can replace or substitute like some with more experience. I know that it's great if you have that knowledge and I respect those that do, but I need to know what bullet,powder and OAL before I feel safe to load. I don't mean to take anything away from someone who can, I just can't. I just thought I might help someone else that thought as I.

08-30-2011, 12:50 PM	#7
RandyP V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 430	Re: 45 Colt Reload For The Judge Using the Ranier plated as an example, you are fine using the data at the high end of lead loads for that bullet weight. __________________ Lee Anniversary and Lee Classic 4-Hole Turret, presently reloading .380, 7.62 Nagant (32-20), 9mm and 45ACP

08-30-2011, 12:50 PM	#8
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,280	Re: 45 Colt Reload For The Judge Thats good. Not attempting to take anything away from you there. Some manuals do advise you that you can use a slightly lighter bullet of the same diameter with data for a slightly heavier bullet safely. The LEE 2nd edition comes to mind right off hand, and an example would be using a 230 gr RN for a .45ACP in a .45Colt case seated and crimped just over the bullet ogive and loaded with 250 gr .45Colt data. __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

08-30-2011, 01:33 PM	#9
LDJ V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oklahoma. USA Posts: 78	Re: 45 Colt Reload For The Judge Thanks, I'm old, but not to old to have an open mind to learn new things.

08-30-2011, 05:49 PM	#10
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,306	Re: 45 Colt Reload For The Judge Berry's makes and sells a 250 grain bullet for the 45 Colt. I just loaded some of them earlier this afternoon with 5.9 grains of Titegroup powder. http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14..._250gr_FP.aspx __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

08-31-2011, 08:28 AM	#11
LDJ V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oklahoma. USA Posts: 78	gdmoody,I see them now. Thats what I was looking for, a .452 bullet. Thanks. Did you go with the max. OAL and a light crimp? Last edited by LDJ; 08-31-2011 at 08:36 AM..

09-01-2011, 08:04 AM	#13
LDJ V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Oklahoma. USA Posts: 78	Re: 45 Colt Reload For The Judge Gdmoody, Thats exactly where I'm at. I am comfortable with Berry's now. I appreciate the input. Thanks LDJ