I'm getting ready to start all over in cooking up some moderate .45LC loads for my 5.5" Blackhawk. I've always ran it stiff but looking to back it down now. My scoped Hunter model guns are more comfortable to shoot with the heavy loads than the shorter unscoped guns. The goal...I'd like to get something with sufficient deer killing power (but not way overkill) using 255-270gr class bullets, most likely cast since I have an ample supply of them. Next deer season I'm going to get back into hunting the thickets and nasties where short range (point blank to 35yds) is the norm.

So, please post up your recipes. Thanks!

Can't help with the naked boolits but I drop 25 grains of H110 behind a 250 JSP or JHP with a WLP primer. It is about 3 grains under max according to Hodgdon and relatively easy shooting, IMO.

280gr swc over HS-6 11.5grs = 1016FPS
" " " 2400 20.0grs = 1271FPS
270gr swc over Unique 10.0grs = 1057FPS
" " " AA#9 17.0grs = 1008FPS

James......you hit the nail on the head. About 1K FPS is where I was looking to be.

Someone explain moderate to me, please. Just kidding!

Dan,
I was looking for a similar load for my new FA M97, but it doesn't like cast bullets; at least, yet. I didn't have time to do a lot of development and research. I got a pet load from 500WE that I'll be loading as soon as my supplies get here. For meantime, I had some 260 NP's on hand and loaded them to noslers minimum suggested: 18gr of 2400. It's superbly accurate, but a tad bit stiffer than I wanted to shoot in the little M97. I'm gonna be trying a 250xtp over 17grs of 2400 (500WE's PL). In the future, when I have time and a little more understanding of cast boolits and what it takes to make 'em choot, I'll try to find a load.

I don't mean to hi-jack Dan's thread, but if any one's replying to his and shoots 'em in a M97; I'd love to here it.

I don't mean to hi-jack Dan's thread, but if any one's replying to his and shoots 'em in a M97; I'd love to here it.

[/quote]

Kral, The following load info was made for a FA`s 1997 .45Colt bbl.3 1/2".Comes from Handloader issue 231:
255gr cast HS-6 11.5grs = 939FPS
280gr cast Unique 8.5grs = 961FPS
250gr XTP 2400 19.5grs = 1011FPS
" " " 17.5grs = 914FPS
260gr Speer HS-6 13.0grs = 978FPS
300gr XTP HS-6 14.0grs = 1063FPS

I like a 250 gr Cast RNFP bullet over 16.0 of 2400 with a CCI 350 mag primer. This is my best all around cast bullet load-- light recoil-- and pert near same POI as a 250 XTP w/ 20.5 of 2400 & cci 350

I run 10.0grs Unigue/255 cast swc and 9.0grs Unique/270gr cast swc out of a 5.5" ss Bisley in WW cases/CCI 300. Getting 1050 average.

 Originally Posted By: jamesfromjersey

I don't mean to hi-jack Dan's thread, but if any one's replying to his and shoots 'em in a M97; I'd love to here it.

Kral, The following load info was made for a FA`s 1997 .45Colt bbl.3 1/2".Comes from Handloader issue 231:
255gr cast HS-6 11.5grs = 939FPS
280gr cast Unique 8.5grs = 961FPS
250gr XTP 2400 19.5grs = 1011FPS
" " " 17.5grs = 914FPS
260gr Speer HS-6 13.0grs = 978FPS
300gr XTP HS-6 14.0grs = 1063FPS[/quote]

James, do you know what dia. the cast bullets are? All my FA's will shoot jacketed bullets into one ragged hole, but I can't get any of them to shoot cast. My model 97 45lc was shoot'n 2' shot groups at 50 yards (yes that's 2' as in 24", but would shoot jacketed bullets into 2 1/2"-3" at same distance. I had the same problem with my 44. I was shooting a round I use in my Bisley Hunter that will shoot 1/2" at 50 yards, but put in my FA 83 and it was 18"-24" groups.