[sirgknight]

I just acquired this revolver for 2 1/2 " .410 or 45 COLT ammo. It has a 2" barrel and I plan to use it as my primary cary weapon. After carrying 45's, 9mm's, 38's and 40 cal's, I must admit that this little wheeler is quite a gem. It is definitely the lightest of my carry guns and it conceals about as well as a derringer. I am very impressed with its accuracy and its easy feel upon recoil. OK, enough braggin'....what I'm really looking for is a good reload for this gun. I already have the Lee 90358 bullet mold (452-255RF), and it makes for a very nice bullet; and, I've tried a couple of loads using 5 gr. (just above starting load) of Red Dot and 7 gr. (just above starting load) of Unique. They each shot "ok", but I haven't been able to find any load data specifically for a 2" barrel. I have found "some" load data using the following on-hand powders: Bullseye, H-110, Herco, Red Dot, Green Dot, Titegroup, Unique, W296 and Trail Boss. Does anyone reload for this handgun? If so, is any one of these powders a better powder for the 45 Colt?

 

[Hank Hunter]

Check a powder burn chart and get the fastest powder that you can find data for. You want to burn as much powder as you can in 2". Any powder burned past 2" is just blowing in the wind and giving a lot of muzzle flash and no velocity.

 

[44-40 Willy]

I think Bullseye is going to be your best bet with that short barrel. Just be carefull and don't double charge any.

 

[sirgknight]

A 2" barrel doesn't give much distance for powder burn, that's for sure. I didn't even think to go that route....now I remember why I ask questions!

 

[35remington]

The powder that gets the highest velocity in a six inch barrel will also get the highest velocity in a two inch barrel.

Believe it or not.

At the levels of pressure sanctioned by the maker (in other words, no heavy Ruger Blackhawk type loads) which probably approximate standard SAAMI spec, and given that W296 and H110 take very, very poorly and dangerously to light loading in revolvers and should not be loaded to the 14,000 psi level, your number one candidates of those powders you have are likely Unique and Herco. Truthfully, loaded to the 14,000 psi SAAMI spec, even the fastest powders will work, but there's no reason to "tailor" your load to the barrel length to avoid "incomplete burning."

Ain't no such thing. Should you doubt, I can explain quite easily. All of the powders are consumed and converted to gasses well before the bullet reaches the end of the short barrel. So "incomplete burning" is nonsensical.

Herco's just a tad slower than Unique.

Forget about "two inch" data. You won't find it, and it's not necessary.

 

[sirgknight]

After doing a lot of research this afternoon it seems that the three most popular powders for 45 colt in the "cowboy" arena are Titegroup, Unique and W296. Oddly enough, I just reloaded some .410 shotshells using W296 out of a #10 bushing (about 13.5 gr) behind 25 lead BB's. Quite impressive ordinance out of a little 2 1/2" shell for a snake. Remington35, everything you say makes a lot of sense. I'm already very familiar with Unique powder and I have some good reload data using Unique behind the 255 grain LRNFP bullet. This will most likely be the combination that I try to tweek for my new revolver. I look forward to spending several hours in my reloading shop on this new endeavor.

 

[35remington]

Just so long as those loading the 45 Colt for cowboy shooting are NOT using W296 in light loads in a revolver. Such is asking for a blown up revolver, and the Taurus precisely replicates the conditions under which it is most likely to occur. This is not "detonation." The cause is much better understood than that.

The characteristics of the 410 shotshell including the fact that it has a wad and no empty space make W296/H110 just fine to use in 410 in this gun, but not in the 45 Colt cartridge and not at 14,000 psi.

 

[keyston44]

I’ve never loaded for a Taurus Judge but from what I have read in other forums is it is hard to obtain very good accuracy in this gun because of the long jump the bullet has to make in the longer cylinder. 3 inch cylinder is even worse.

Key

 

[sirgknight]

That's true about accuracy, and that's not what I'm after. I'll keep this firearm for the "up close and personal" situations that hopefully will never occur. Speaking of "up close and personal", my cousin called me yesterday and told me two men were attempting to break into his truck in the parking lot at the doctor's office, in broad daylight. He actually witnessed the breaking of one of his door windows, but the two saw him and took off running. He was not able to pursue them but he did get a good description of the truck they left in. Anyway, I'm just looking for a good all around cartridge. I've pretty much decided to stick with the 255 gr. LRNFP bullet and since last night I have found some good reloading data using that bullet ahead of Trail Boss powder. This powder was specifically designed for calibers that used black powder; calibers such as the 30-30 and 45 colt for instance. I'm interested in how it will compare to Unique.

 

[1895Gunner]

I’ve never loaded for a Taurus Judge but from what I have read in other forums is it is hard to obtain very good accuracy in this gun because of the long jump the bullet has to make in the longer cylinder. 3 inch cylinder is even worse.

Key

I would never say that my Judge is the most accurate handgun made but I have no problem hitting paper targets at 50 yards with factory or reloaded ammo. That's good enough for me!

But that being said, it isn't what I bought it for. Got it primarly for snakes & hogs while deer hunting. Mine has the 3" ported barrel.