A question for those who shoot .45

[DocWard]

If you purhase your .45 Colt ammunition, what is your preference? It seems the best bet is going to be for me to buy online, where there is actually a selection. Prices are much more reasonable than locally as well. So, what are some favorites for CAS? I figure if I start buying as much as I can at a time, I might have enough to practice and compete. Also, does anyone have a preference for where they buy from?

 

I know I may get at least some advice to start reloading now, but that really isn't practical at this point in time, but maybe some time down the road.

 

Thanks!

[Turkey Creek Vic 80846]

Try ammodirect.com I used them about a year ago. Found the price fair and service great.

[Sassy Teton Lady, SASS #47525]

Try Gunfire - they are very reliable and fair in price. I don't think you could go wrong with them.

 

http://gunfirearms.com/welcome/cowboystore/

 

Hugs

Sassy

[Willy Whiskers]

I buy form Georgia Arms exclusively. For me I usually see them at local gun shows here in N.Fl. but have also bought via mail.

They have a cowboy line of 45 ammo. I favor the 200 gr. RNFP. There is a ammo can of 500 rnds sitting at my feet right under my computer table. WW

 

PS: Even at the best price you are looking at about $0.50 a shot. That is a long way from the $0.10 - $0.15 a shot you pay if you reload. I cast my own lead also, but even at that just being able to reuse the brass is well worth the effort. Recently I paid $20 for 100 45LC shells so if I shoot at a "lost brass" match then it costs me that amount for brass. If you don't reload, at least $20 is lost for every 10 stages even for monthly shoots.

 

http://georgia-arms.com/45longcolt-3.aspx

[JD Trampas, SASS # 55781]

Forget ammodirect, the place burned down

 

 

All for now JD Trampas

[DocWard]

I recognize that re-loading is the best route to go, especially for .45. Right now it is a matter of not only money for the purchase of equipment, it is also more importantly a matter of space. I simply don't have it. Then there is the matter of a learning curve. I would also want to track down someone to "mentor" me so I'm not making major mistakes and endangering myself and others. Finally, I am not sure how many matches I am going to be able to realistically shoot in the next couple of years, since I still have the National Guard, school age kids and other priorities still taking up my time. That would also cut into my time to learn and reload.

 

For now, buying just makes the most sense, and buying good ammo in bulk makes the most sense of all.

 

Is there an advantage to 200 grain over 250 or vise-versa?

 

Thanks for the replies so far!

[Cowboy Rick, SASS #49739L]

I recognize that re-loading is the best route to go, especially for .45. Right now it is a matter of not only money for the purchase of equipment, it is also more importantly a matter of space. I simply don't have it. Then there is the matter of a learning curve. I would also want to track down someone to "mentor" me so I'm not making major mistakes and endangering myself and others. Finally, I am not sure how many matches I am going to be able to realistically shoot in the next couple of years, since I still have the National Guard, school age kids and other priorities still taking up my time. That would also cut into my time to learn and reload.

 

For now, buying just makes the most sense, and buying good ammo in bulk makes the most sense of all.

 

Is there an advantage to 200 grain over 250 or vise-versa?

 

Thanks for the replies so far!

 

If you're shooting a Marlin, the 250gr will seal the case better to prevent blowback. Otherwise, it doesn't matter. Test them both for recoil.

 

CR

[DocWard]

If you're shooting a Marlin, the 250gr will seal the case better to prevent blowback. Otherwise, it doesn't matter. Test them both for recoil.

 

CR

 

I have a Rossi '92 and two Uberti Cattleman revolvers (5.5" barrel length)

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Ten-X makes very good ammo. They have a business plan where, if you have empty brass, they load it at a cheaper price than if they provide the empty cases. Here they are:

 

http://www.tenxammo.com/tenx_ammo_B.html

 

200 grain slugs should be plenty heavy for .45 Colt for any CAS shooting. Only if you DETEST blowback and find it to be severely interfering with your shooting would you need to step up to the extra recoil and cost of 250 grain slugs.

 

Black Hills also makes a very good line of cowboy ammo, at a premium price.

 

If you get a local dealer/FFL holder to order you a pallet-load of ammo from one loader, you might get a reasonable price.

 

Good luck, GJ

[Ghost, SASS #50125]

Hello DocWard, I reload 250/.45 in the Classic Cowboy category, but I would suggest that you buy 200g for now. You are going to get some blowby regardless because of the straight wall .45 and the powder the manufacturer uses. You may check out Midway USA and a single stage press to get started reloading. I did, about 9 yrs ago.

 

Ghost

[Rafe Conager SASS #56958]

blckhills ammo or ultra max is the best i have used, ten-x is good just a little hard to get. try schofield ammo ouy of you pistols 200 grn. will give you less recoil. i shoot 200 grn. colt for my rifle and 185 schofield for pistol

Rafe

[Hondo Tucker]

My advice is to buy enough to shoot a couple times. At the match, ask your pards who in that club will reload for others. We have several at our club that will reload for half price of store bought. Turn in the brass and get loaded ammo ready to shoot again. This is much cheaper than store bought, usually with better recoil and all the things we like in ammo.

 

Some people just don't want to reload at all, and do this for years. It helps with the cost and makes many new friends at the same time.

 

Good luck!

[Mean Matt McCord, SASS #24683]

I also recommend Georgia Arms. They make a good quality product.

 

And I would buy both 200 and 250 grain. Shoot the 250's in your rifle. 45LC will always give you blowback, but you can minimize it with the heavier bullet. Use 200 (or lighter if you can find it) in your pistols, less recoil that way.

[DocWard]

Thanks for all of the responses so far!

[SELDOM SEEN SLIM, SASS #682]

Howdy DocWard,

I've been usin' 200gr rnfp bullats for a long time...started CAS 'bout 1985... There is really no reason to use 250gr bullets unless you want to just cuz.

200gr with moderate load will knock down any target I have run across. If'in you want think of 200grs bullets as "greener". When/if you reload might find 200gr less expensive/box of 500. I know the inital cost is there but once you're hooked on shootin' the equiptment will pay for itself. My two sons shot with me back in the day, (grown now) no question reloading is the way to go...

 

By the way KEEP YOUR BRASS just in case, it's pretty expensive to by store bought.

 

CHEERS,

Seldom Seen Slim, 682L

[Guest Max Morgan, SASS 41265]

Thanks for all of the responses so far!

 

sent you a pm with some reloading ideas for when you are able to.

[Utah Bob #35998]

I use 250s in both pistol and rifle. Don't have to have separate ammo boxes and the recoil doesn't bother me.

[Doc Shapiro]

I've gotten ammo from Atlanta Arms and Ammo a few times. Been very pleased with the product. I don't recall if they'll reload your brass or not, but they may have that info on their web site.

[Doc Windshadow]

I got a case of the Black Hills from Midway as a way of getting my starting brass $350 delivered but that was summer before last

[Boondock Saint, #70146]

I bought quite a bit from Georgia Arms before I started reloading. I prefer the 200 grain bullet. Most commercial cowboy loads are not going to give you that much blowback with a 200 grain bullet. The issue comes with really light loads.

 

I load for a pard of mine and he doesn't want any blowback at all. I load 250 grain for him, and just a tad hotter. No problems.

 

Boondock

[Guest Hoss Carpenter, SASS Life 7843]

Before I started reloading (again), I bought ammo from Ten X. Good folks. I met Ten X at a CAS shoot in Durango, Colorado in 2003; great fellow: RIP. GA Arms is also very good and I just bought a bunch of 45s from them today. I shoot 250 grains in rifle and pistols; works for me.

 

Hoss

[DocWard]

Thanks for the input. It sounds like I will try a few different types. New, remanufactured, etc..., in both 200 and 250 gr. and see what I like and what works best. Perhaps most importantly, which hits where I shoot!

[Tex Fiddler SASS Life 10127]

It depends on how competitive you want to be. I can compete with the .38 shooters just fine with 200 gn bullets. Not so with 250 gn bullets.

 

-tex fiddler

[Irish Red OToole, #48939]

It depends on how competitive you want to be. I can compete with the .38 shooters just fine with 200 gn bullets. Not so with 250 gn bullets.

 

-tex fiddler

What he said......

[Badlands Beady]

I was loading/shooting 200 until I got a Burgess rifle that really hates 200 gn bullets. To keep things as simple as possible, I switched to 250 gn exclussively and really haven't noticed much of a difference. The Burgess loves them, and the other guns don't seem to mind, even the 45 S&W Schoffield.

[Lone Dog, SASS #20401]

Give this ole boy a call:

 

W-W Reloading Inc.

Box 248

Lone Wolf, OK 73655

580-846-5433

 

He has the best cheapest and most reliable reloads in the known universe. I have been using his loads for over 20 years. Thousands and thousands of rounds in 38, 357, 45 Colt, 44 mag, and 45 ACP. Have never had one fail to fire or feed. Can't say that about factory ammo so this ole boy beats the big boys. Price lower than anyone anywhere. I pick mine up at the Amarillo gun show but I know he also ships. Sometimes hard to get on the phone, but keep trying it's worth it.