Favorite (most used) Handloads

[JimT]

.45 Colt - bullet #454424 - I normally use 8.5 gr. Unique or 18.5 gr. 2400

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.44 Special - bullet #429431 - I load either 6.5 gr. Unique or 16.5 gr. 2400 .. I settled on these 2 loads because they both shot to the sights at 25 yards.

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.41 Magnum - I only use 2 bullets in the .41 ..the first bullet is NEI 230 gr. cast - 15.5 gr. 2400

41_magnum_230.JPG

Second bullet is the 210 gr. XTP - 20 gr. WC820

41_magnum_xtp.JPG

480 Achilles - my standard load is either 6 gr. or 6.5 gr. Unique. The hunting load is 12 gr. 2400. I use the Killebrew cast bullet or the Huffaker cast bullet .. both around 290 grains.
Killebrew Bullet

480_achilles_killebrew.JPG

Huffaker Bullet

480_achilles_huffker.JPG

.357 Magnum - Bullet #358665 - 160 gr. My standard load is 14.5 gr. 2400. I also use this bullet in the .38 Special with 3.0 gr. Bullseye.

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.30-30 Winchester
My favorite load is the Speer 130 gr. Hot-Cor bullet. I load this to around 2400 fps with either LeveRevolution or H322

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[Bill in Oregon]

Oooh. That Achilles again ...

[Scott Tschirhart]

Oooh. That Achilles again ...

I should have participated in the .480 Achilles experiment at the time. I really enjoy shooting Jim’s. And if he’s not careful I’m gonna steal his stocks!

[JimT]

I had a Colt trigger guard and backstrap fitted to that frame so those stocks should fit a Colt SAA. However ... they ARE part of the Achilles experiment so I am pretty sure they are staying on the gun.

[Drawdown]

I'll sure verify the 30-30 Speer 130gr H.C.! Anytime ive gotten into a conversation with a fellow 30-30 shooter, i declare this bullet the All Stat of the 30-30 Cart! 5 years ago, in one my winter reloading fun experiments, using my Mod 64, I reloaded this bullet using LVR, Varget, W748, IMR4895, and 3031. It shot plenty accurate best my memory with all, but my favorite for my use, and I keep aprox 20 rds ready always since then is a reduced load of 29.5gr of 3031. I carry a few with me most always in the woods. Velocity aprox 2150-2200, and as accurate as i can aim them out as far as i can accurately aim! And confirmed just as accurate in my Mod 94 Carbine.
And i have no doubt it'd be a dandy deer bullet pushed fast with LVR, only slightly tested this, but it'll do it accurately! And i tested this winter a little with a reduced load, with IMR4895 using the 60% rule. Accurate as can be, but i got to get near a minimum recommended load to hit POA, and velocities were about 2,000fps +or - a little! I keep these bullets on hand always, just got a new box other day!

[Scott Tschirhart]

I had a Colt trigger guard and backstrap fitted to that frame so those stocks should fit a Colt SAA. However ... they ARE part of the Achilles experiment so I am pretty sure they are staying on the gun.

You know I’m kidding my good friend. But I do covet them, recognizing that it’s a sin.

[samsi]

Good info on the 130 Hot-Cor. I'm a fan of 170's since they've always been a little more accurate than 150's for me, but my beat up shoulder really appreciates lighter recoil in all things these days.

I must confess that I covet the Achilles myself. Wonder if someone like Cimmaron could be talked into commissioning a small run.

[Scott Tschirhart]

My most used .45 Colt load features 7.2 gr of WW231 under a 250-255 gr swaged or cast bullet. Usually a round nosed flat point.

When I want to step it up a bit, I go to a 270 gr Keith style bullet from RimRock over 7.5 gr TiteGroup.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I don’t bother to load for my .308 because both of these loads hit the same place at 200 yards.

[Tycer]

32-20
118 grain 3118
7.5 grains LilGun
WSP primer

[Walt]

38 special, 158 gr machine cast SWC 4.0 gr 231

357 magnum, Lyman 358156 GC SWC 13.5 gr 2400

41 magnum, 210 gr RCBS SWC 17.5 gr #9

44 special, 250 gr RCBS SWC 7.5 gr Power Pistol

44 magnum, 250 gr RCBS or Lyman 429421 SWC 20.5 gr 2400

45ACP, 200 gr RCBS SWC 5.7 gr 231

45 Colt, 250 gr machine cast SWC 6.2 gr Titegroup or 7.5 gr 231

I have other calibers in handguns and also in rifles but I seldom shoot them. I very seldom shoot maximum loads.

[JimT]

Walt - that .44 Magnum load will do about anything you need it to. Years ago when writing to Elmer Keith he told me of a friend of his who used that bullet and 21 gr. 2400 to take 6 bears. All were crossways shots. All exited the other side. All were one-shot kills.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I believe that Skeeter Skelton thought 22 gr of 2400 was a little too much of a good thing and he was loading 21 gr of 2400 to use in his flattop Blackhawk.

[Walt]

Five or six years ago I gave my son a 4" Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt and a box of 300 gr RNFP cast bullets in front of 21.5 gr of H110. It was a hard-kicking hunting round at just under 1200 fps and not a pleasant recreational load. He shot a few pigs with it in the Houston area where he lived and once shot through 2 pigs, later digging the bullet out of a tree.

Next month he is going on an elk hunt in Idaho and his guide advised him to take along a sidearm in case of a bear encounter. He was a bit dubious about my heavy loads because the recovery time for successive shots was just too long. I loaded up a box of ammo using the same 300 gr bullets but with a velocity of just under 1000 fps. He shot a few cylinderfuls last week and was much more comfortable with recovery time. I think that even at the somewhat reduced velocity the penetration potential should still be excellent.

[Steve in MO]

Walt, a heavier than normal hard cast bullet at moderate velocity will do whatever you need.

[Keith D]

44 mag 19 gr 2400 under Saeco 265 gr cast bullet. Feels good in Ruger bisley super Blackhawk 7.5" barrel with comfortable recoil. 44 mag 25 gr H110 under 240 gr XTP. It's a freight train in Marlin 1894 and 2" groups at 100 yards. 44 special 7.5 gr unique under Lyman 245 gr semi-wadcutter.