45 Colt Missouri Bullet 255 SWC with HP38

by Sarge , Central Misery, Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 00:07 (4170 days ago)
edited by Sarge, Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 00:22

For years, I've loaded the 250 RNFP as my standard 45 Colt load. It shot well and I reserved the 255 SWC for hotter loads. I'm getting lazy in my old age and I wanted to change up my standard load to the more efficient SWC and use it exclusively for just that; but I hadn't settled on a charge, just yet.

W231 is my go-to pistol powder and several sources indicated that 7.5 grains of the stuff was good for about 850 fps with the 255 SWC... One of those sources was John Taffin and he's used it in SAA's as well. A 'variation on a near-perfect theme' to quote him loosely. I figure John has probably shot more Colt SAA's than I'll ever get to coon-finger, so his word is good enough for me and I determined to try the load in my old Vaquero first. HP38 was available so I substituted it as interchangeable; my only concern was if it would shoot to the sights, which I've hammered & tonged to zero with RNFP's.

I needn't have worried... six shots at 25 yards, fired resting one elbow on an open car door. I think it will hunker them down when I shoot it from a proper rest.