.45 colt question

[ak0prter]

Good morning everyone, first of all, I'm sorry if this is posted in the wrong place. However, my question relates to chamber pressures and I figured the reloading forum would be my first stop.

I was asked a question by a friend that's not very gun savvy and I don't want to answer incorrectly.

He asked if an Uberti 1873 SA colt clone could handle all .45 colt factory loads. Not including any +P or "magnum or hot" loads.

I figured the answer would be yes, based on any factory loaded ammo must be loaded to our below SAAMI Specs (.45lc is 14,000psi) to be commercially sold and advertised as standard. 45 colt ammo. Would this assumption be correct?

I know many .45 colt rifles and even the rugers and some other brand revolvers that can handle 25,000 psi. The Uberti is a colt clone and is made with the 14,000psi rating. Is there any factory ammo that he should stay away from? Or would the extra psi rating be more for hot loads or +P loads?

Any help would be appreciated. Have a good day folks

 

[Dead Eye Dick]

In my understanding, a standard Colt .45 factory load is rated for the Colt Model P’s which is the standard load of the 14K pressure.

The only revolvers I am aware of currently in production that can more handle more pressure are the Large frame Rugers Blackhawks (Not the Flat Tops or the Cowboy Action model) Ruger Redhawks, Freedom Arms, Model 83 and I believe Model 97. These revolvers are rated for up to 32,000 PSI though this is not publicly acknowledged. However, this is considered a safe enough that reloading manuals list these loads and they have really lawyered up in recent years.

(The Freedom Arms Model 83 with the 5 shot Colt cylinder can handle a whole lot more but there is some concern about the strength of the brass) In that revolver, just shoot a .454 Casul and load them down if needed.

As always, if you are really not sure, get in contact with a qualified pistol smith and have him check the revolver in question to assure the safety of using said handgun. Get it wrong and they usually blow STRAIGHT up.

 

[wvfarrier]

Colt SAA clones aboslutely cannot handle +p loads, at least not many. Blackhawks and original vaqueros could because they are heavily reinforced but the new vaquero which is closer to original specs will come apart sooner rsther than later under +p pressures

 

[wvfarrier]

The modern 1892/1895 lever action rifles can handle steady diets of 50,000 psi without negstive effets (according to data by Paco Kelly) but the 1873s with toggles cannot. However, the toggles are easily replaced should you shoot one loose

 

[ak0prter]

Great info, thanks.

We were talking about just buying factory loaded hornady hunting ammo, and specifically staying away from +P loads.

Wad cutters and other plinking rounds have never been a bunch of concern so far.

I was just caught off guard by the psi discrepancy between manufacturers. I don't want to be the guy that gives out bad information. Thanks everyone!

 

[cas6969]

Yep, just stay away from the "+P" "boutique brand" stuff. (Buffalo Bore, Grizzly , Double Tap etc etc)


FWIW an old fashion 250 grain bullet poking along at 800 fps will kill most things that need killing as well.

 

[Potsy]

Steer clear of +P stuff and all will be well.

There an actually a few different levels of .45 Colt pressure “acceptability”, for example; if said model is chambered for .45 ACP, then it’s pretty obvious the gun can take 20,000psi on a regular basis. The it moves on to 32,000psi, and even 50,000psi, but, if your not sure, just steer clear of the +p stuff and be healed.

The old Colt’s biggest problem isn’t the 14,000 psi it’s held to, but finding decent factory ammo that lives up to that very low potential.

 

[stanley_white]

See attachment for general information.

See this link too:

The SEVEN Levels of 45 Colt Maximum Working Pressure | Single-Actions

Based on shooting many of my own .45 Colt handloads over the past 7+ years in various revolvers and leverguns, and also reading everything I could find on the subject from John Taffin, John Linebaugh

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-Stan