Reloading 3rd Gen SAA 45 Colt Questions

[rebelproud]

Just wondering if anyone here is reloading for a 3rd gen SAA in 45 Colt. I've tried the following combinations with various charges of trail boss and I might as well be throwing them downrange. I'm getting about 4" groups at 25 yards and would like to tighten that up to about an inch and a half:

185 Grain RNFP .452
200 Grain SWC .452
250 Grain RNFP .454

Next up I'm going to be working up some .455s in the 255 Grain SWC variety. I'm hoping .455 will be the magic recipe and that my accuracy problems are related to the oversized cylinder bores that I have in this gun. I'm finding that .452s drop right through the cylinder with no resistance, .454s slide through but need to be pushed ever so slightly, and so it looks like I'm working with atleast .455 cylinder bores.

I'm also going to work up some loads with Unique to see if that makes a difference.

[PonyLover]

Try either softer lead bullets or higher velocities. My .44 special does best with a heavy charge of Unique (7 grains/240gr bullet). One holer at 25 yards with this load.

[smkummer]

Try 8.5 grains of unique behind the 255 (.454) diameter bullet. Alliant now states 9.5 as max. and I am at 9.0 for my loads. Powerful and accurate. You didn't say what barrel length but this load is more comfortable out of my 7 1/2 gun than the 5 1/2 in. gun. I was reading somewhere that the bullets should pass through the chambers just barely without catching for best accuracy and my cast Lyman bullets (454190) sized to .454 do this perfectly in my 5 Colt SAA chambered in 45 Colt. There are other powders such as Red Dot and 231 that will work well also.

I have had some luck with 200 grain .452 bullets if they were going at starting velocities. Many of these bullets were intended for the 45 auto and thats about as fat as they can be and still chamber in a 45 acp chamber.

[DFrame]

An inch and a half at 25 yards is pretty ambitious for an SAA with it's tiny fixed sights. Don't misunderstand, I think the gun is capable of that level but very few people can shoot that well. Perhaps you can. For whatever it's worth I've been using Trail boss and Clays with 200 grain Lazercast bullets and am quite pleased with the accuracy.

[smkummer]

I missed the acc. goals in the first post. 1.5 inches is pushing it but I hope you can do it. I am too lazy to go look up what group size I did get but it was under 2 in. (1 7/8" comes to mind) with a 44 special and it was a suggested acc. load for that caliber. It was not a 45 Colt but I didn't know then to use .454 bullets in my 45 Colt. I am convinced that the best accuracy in a SAA would be the 44 special (or maybe 38/.357) in a New Frontier platform. Its been about 20 years ago when I was doing load developement with my SAA 5 1/2 44 special and happened to shoot a Colt .357 6 in. with some reload that I can't remember; but the first group from that gun outshot the SAA hands down. From that point on if I was going for a tight group, I was shooting a double action Colt with target sights.

I really don't mean to rain on your parade and if you find a combo that shoots that good I will be interested in it. I am shooting almost a 2 in. group with the 250 Lyman FP bullet sized to .454 and 9 grains unigue. I have to shoot the Buntline Colt SAA in 45 (12 in. barrel) My shooting buddy is using a Smith 25-5 in 45 Colt and a 8 3/8 barrel and is catching me. He is shooting the Lyman 452454 bullet unsized. We are shooting a 16" square metal plate at 100 yards and having a blast.

[rebelproud]

Well, I don't think 1.5" is all that steep of a goal. I can shoot under two inches from other fixed sight revolvers. And, I'm speaking about that kind of accuracy from a good solid rest, if that helps clear up what I mean. Off hand, I can't do that, I'm not that good. But, I'm just looking for the most accurate load I can find from a rest to see what the gun is capable of before I start to shoot it off hand and see where the gun is patterning.

I really think the problem is the oversized cylinders, and I've read a bit about that. The gun that I'm referring to that shoots less than 2" off hand is a Ruger, and its Cylinder Bore is actually smaller than the barrel, but its been bore lapped to even it out a bit, and it is extremely accurate with similar sights as the Colt. So, I know it can be done.

I'll report back when my .455s come in. I'm also going to try a 225 grain wadcutter to see if that makes for a good light load. Only, I have no idea where to start loading for it in Unique or Trailboss, because there isn't much published on this bullet. I think I can get the gun to shoot, I've just got to find the right combo for it. The sights are not a problem for my eyes, and I actually prefer them. I shoot a new frontier in .357, and I prefer the fixed sights of the saa. Weird, I know.

[peacemaker]

I shoot .455" (.454" sizer) in my .45 SAA having .456" throats. I found 7 3/4 to 8 grains of Unique to be the most accurate moderate load, and typically get no leading using a 1:1 wheel weight/pure lead alloy.

Unfortunately, trying to get the precision you are trying to achieve with oversized throats is a losing battle. On the other hand, if you find the secret to winning that battle, please let me know. My groups off the bench are inconsistent, and can range from 2 1/2" to 5" at 25 yards.

What is happening is that as the .455" bullet is swaging down to .451" groove size, the rim of the base is becoming a uneven, ragged edge, and there is no way that it is going to leave the crown without considerable gas upset sending the bullet in about any direction but straight. It's a trade-off in that while bullets sized to the throats reduce or eliminate accuracy-deteriorating throat and forcing cone leading, the unnecessary additional swaging is ruining much of that gained potential accuracy.

[rljatl]

Revolver Accuracy by Alpha Precision, Inc.

http://www.alphaprecisioninc.com/revolver/default.htm

"I am convinced Taylor Throating produces the greatest accuracy improvement value available. Line-bore chambering will produce the most accurate revolvers, but the cost is prohibitive for many. When the barrel is accurately recrowned; the forcing cone recut concentric to the bore; Taylor Throating is almost as accurate as line-bore chambering with a savings of several hundred dollars."

Accuracy Package, Taylor throating, recrown, recut forcing cone $163.00

[rebelproud]

Revolver Accuracy by Alpha Precision, Inc.

http://www.alphaprecisioninc.com/revolver/default.htm

"I am convinced Taylor Throating produces the greatest accuracy improvement value available. Line-bore chambering will produce the most accurate revolvers, but the cost is prohibitive for many. When the barrel is accurately recrowned; the forcing cone recut concentric to the bore; Taylor Throating is almost as accurate as line-bore chambering with a savings of several hundred dollars."

Accuracy Package, Taylor throating, recrown, recut forcing cone $163.00

That seems very interesting. Have you or anyone else here had experience with this type of procedure and does it work or cause harm to the revolver?

[Joe A.]

I have the forcing cone recut in my saa and it helped in eliminating flyers. The revolver before wanted to shoot, but would have an ocassional flyer.

Also had the forcing cone recut on a s&w model 25 45colt and it was helped also.

Joe A.