Rainier with 45 colt? - The Firearms Forum

Easyshooter · 12-28-2011, 07:43 PM

I feel like this is a stupid question but I am going to ask it anyway. I want to load a 200 grain round nose rainier bullet in a 45 colt but can't find load data for it. Is there a reason I shouldn't do this? I would be loading it relatively light and use it for plinking with my 6.5" judge. The rainier manuals list load data only for the 45 acp. I want to buy this bullet in bulk and use it for acp and colt loads. Has anyone loaded rainier bullets in 45 colt and if so what powder did you use. Right now I have bluedot and unique.

Alpo · 12-28-2011, 10:00 PM

Rainier says to use lead data with their bullets, as they are plated, not jacketed, and won't stand the speed that jacketed loads are usually pushed to.

With that in mind, find a load for 45 Colt using a 200 grain lead bullet, and use that. It works fine.

As an aside, 8.0 of Unique works real good with a 200 grain lead SWC, so it should also work fine with a Rainier 200 grain round nose.

Alpo · 12-28-2011, 10:02 PM

I don't agree with the old saw, "There's no such thing as a stupid question", but I do believe it is better to ask a stupid question than to hurt yourself.

Keep on asking. Anything you wanna know, and we'll take a shot at answering.

gdmoody · 12-28-2011, 10:12 PM

I have never loaded any Rainier bullets in .45 Colt, but I have loaded 200 grain bullets from Berry's Bullets. I used the data from Hornady #7 for 200 grain cast bullets and I used AccurateArms #5 powder. Hornady #7 also has loads using Unique for the 200 grain bullet. I do not know how they shot because I traded off my SA .45 before I got to try them out.

The Lyman #49 manual has several loads using a 200 grain cast bullet, also. I have read that it is OK to use jacketed information for plated bullets. I know that on Berry's web site they say not to exceed the mid-range loads for jacketed bullets of the same weight.

muddober · 12-29-2011, 05:35 AM

Alpo's suggestion of 8 grains of Unique should drive that 200 grain bullet 900+ feet per second. Your next issue might be that I don't think that bullet has a crimp grove which is really no biggie if you lighten up a bit on your bullet seater/crimp die so as not to bulge or wrinkle your cases. Your 45 Colt seater/crimp die will somewhat make its own crimp grove in those soft bullets if you don't over do it.

Ron

cpttango30 · 12-29-2011, 08:23 AM

Last time I looked their bullets were different for the 45acp and 45 cold loads. At midway they have 3 different sizes in 45 cal bullets. .451", .452" and .458"

Alpo · 12-29-2011, 08:26 AM

458 is for 45 caliber rifles - 45/70, 458 Win Mag, 460 Weatherby, like that. Not pistols.

JLA · 12-29-2011, 10:21 AM

Agree with alpo. 8 gr. unique will do it quite nicely.

Easyshooter · 12-29-2011, 06:24 PM

Thanks for the responces! I'm going to a gun show this weekend and hope to find some reloading supplies there.

12-28-2011, 07:43 PM	#1
Easyshooter Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 15	Rainier with 45 colt? I feel like this is a stupid question but I am going to ask it anyway. I want to load a 200 grain round nose rainier bullet in a 45 colt but can't find load data for it. Is there a reason I shouldn't do this? I would be loading it relatively light and use it for plinking with my 6.5" judge. The rainier manuals list load data only for the 45 acp. I want to buy this bullet in bulk and use it for acp and colt loads. Has anyone loaded rainier bullets in 45 colt and if so what powder did you use. Right now I have bluedot and unique. -->

12-28-2011, 10:00 PM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,651	Re: Rainier with 45 colt? Rainier says to use lead data with their bullets, as they are plated, not jacketed, and won't stand the speed that jacketed loads are usually pushed to. With that in mind, find a load for 45 Colt using a 200 grain lead bullet, and use that. It works fine. As an aside, 8.0 of Unique works real good with a 200 grain lead SWC, so it should also work fine with a Rainier 200 grain round nose. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

12-28-2011, 10:02 PM	#3
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,651	Re: Rainier with 45 colt? I don't agree with the old saw, "There's no such thing as a stupid question", but I do believe it is better to ask a stupid question than to hurt yourself. Keep on asking. Anything you wanna know, and we'll take a shot at answering. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

12-29-2011, 08:23 AM	#6
cpttango30 Former Guest Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stafford, VA Contributor Posts: 3,071	Re: Rainier with 45 colt? Last time I looked their bullets were different for the 45acp and 45 cold loads. At midway they have 3 different sizes in 45 cal bullets. .451", .452" and .458"

12-29-2011, 10:21 AM	#8
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,308	Re: Rainier with 45 colt? Agree with alpo. 8 gr. unique will do it quite nicely. __________________ 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!

12-28-2011, 10:12 PM	#4
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,311	Re: Rainier with 45 colt? I have never loaded any Rainier bullets in .45 Colt, but I have loaded 200 grain bullets from Berry's Bullets. I used the data from Hornady #7 for 200 grain cast bullets and I used AccurateArms #5 powder. Hornady #7 also has loads using Unique for the 200 grain bullet. I do not know how they shot because I traded off my SA .45 before I got to try them out. The Lyman #49 manual has several loads using a 200 grain cast bullet, also. I have read that it is OK to use jacketed information for plated bullets. I know that on Berry's web site they say not to exceed the mid-range loads for jacketed bullets of the same weight. __________________ 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)

12-29-2011, 05:35 AM	#5
muddober Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,436	Re: Rainier with 45 colt? Alpo's suggestion of 8 grains of Unique should drive that 200 grain bullet 900+ feet per second. Your next issue might be that I don't think that bullet has a crimp grove which is really no biggie if you lighten up a bit on your bullet seater/crimp die so as not to bulge or wrinkle your cases. Your 45 Colt seater/crimp die will somewhat make its own crimp grove in those soft bullets if you don't over do it. Ron Last edited by muddober; 12-29-2011 at 05:38 AM..

12-29-2011, 08:26 AM	#7
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,651	Re: Rainier with 45 colt? 458 is for 45 caliber rifles - 45/70, 458 Win Mag, 460 Weatherby, like that. Not pistols. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

12-29-2011, 06:24 PM	#9
Easyshooter Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 15	Re: Rainier with 45 colt? Thanks for the responces! I'm going to a gun show this weekend and hope to find some reloading supplies there.