.45 Schofield Experiment Question

[bergmen]

.45 Colt is one of my favorite handgun calibers, shoot it a lot in my Blackhawk (I reload only for it).

I was given some .45 Schofield rounds which I shot in the Blackhawk but now want to consider reloading the brass I have.

One of my favorite middle-of-the-road loads for my .45 Colt is 8.0 grains of W231 under a 250 grain plated or JHP bullet. What if I used 8.0 grains of W231 in the Schofield case, would I get a livelier result? Case length is .185 shorter (1.100 vs. 1.285) and I'm thinking the smaller capacity would result in slightly higher performance than in the .45 Colt case.

Thoughts?

Dan

[pennstater]

Dan, is this the same as a S&W .45 Schofield? If so, my Lyman book(#50), indicates 8.0gr 231 would be WAY over loaded. 5.2-5.8 max, depending on bullet. It's all I got tho.

[bergmen]

Dan, is this the same as a S&W .45 Schofield? If so, my Lyman book(#50), indicates 8.0gr 231 would be WAY over loaded. 5.2-5.8 max, depending on bullet. It's all I got tho.

Yes, same as S&W .45 Schofield. I found the same load data as you did but these loads are for revolvers much weaker than the Blackhawk.

The Blackhawk is capable of much higher pressures than any of the Schofield revolvers, I'm just wondering if the 8.0 grain charge (which I use in my .45 Colt loads) would make a higher performance round in the Schofield case.

Dan

[pennstater]

Yeah, not sure the Schofield case is up to those pressures. Be cautious Dan.

[sofbak]

8 gr of w231 in the colt load is already over the saami max pressure-but its a blackhawk!

Yes you will get a livelier response in the schofield case. But still within the structural capability of a blackhawk. The "standard" load range for the schofield and w231 tops out at 12100 psi in the Lee 2nd ed manual. And you're already beyond that wirh the 8 gr colt load.

In the blackhawk it shouldn't be an issue.

[bergmen]

Yeah, not sure the Schofield case is up to those pressures. Be cautious Dan.

Good point. I should start with work-ups maybe 6.0 grains and go from there.

Also, I can try to compare case dimensions with .45 Colt to see if there are weak spots that could give trouble.

I don't have dies for the Schofield but can use my .45 Colt dies for resizing and expanding. I will need a die for the roll crimp though.

Dan

[Odd_Ball]

Obviously, you should work up a load, but if you haven't already, check out FortuneCookie45LC youtube channel. He's done a bunch of videos on 45 schofield in a Ruger blackhawk.

Here is a playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXrn3Tq9XDpcRKD5SDdfaSXpvdw0LKOYJ

[bergmen]

Obviously, you should work up a load, but if you haven't already, check out FortuneCookie45LC youtube channel. He's done a bunch of videos on 45 schofield in a Ruger blackhawk.

Here is a playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...faSXpvdw0LKOYJ

Excellent, I'll check it out! I'm in a seminar right now and can't play hooky yet.

Thanks!

Dan

[hambam105]

I think your supposed to assemble the cartridge and then ask about the all the safety related questions. Ha Ha.

[pacrat]

Good point. I should start with work-ups maybe 6.0 grains and go from there.

Also, I can try to compare case dimensions with .45 Colt to see if there are weak spots that could give trouble.

I don't have dies for the Schofield but can use my .45 Colt dies for resizing and expanding. I will need a die for the roll crimp though.

Dan

Or you could use the schofield cases for mild target fodder. And leave the hot rodding for the colt cases.

And with mild loads. It's unlikely you would even need a roll crimp. You can lightly insert the complete schofield cases back into the colt sizer. Just enough to straighten out the bell. The bevel at the bottom of the sizer works well for this. Not enough to size loaded rounds leaving your slugs undersized.

[bergmen]

Obviously, you should work up a load, but if you haven't already, check out FortuneCookie45LC youtube channel. He's done a bunch of videos on 45 schofield in a Ruger blackhawk.

Here is a playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...faSXpvdw0LKOYJ

Thanks for this great link! I watched a couple of his videos, he is fun to watch. He thought exactly along the same lines I did with the .45 Schofield case and gave a shooting demonstration and comparison between .45 Colt and .45 Schofield with identical powder charges (11.2 grains of Herco I think). Same bullet in both.

The .45 Schofield was more accurate and faster by 50 fps. Also, very consistent in muzzle velocity with low deviation.

His load in the .45 Colt is no slouch, snappy recoil. A little snappier with the .45 Schofield load. No over pressure signs with the brass, he looks at every detail. Another thing he mentions (which I had thought of also) was they feed fine in lever action rifles. I have a Marlin 1894 I can try these on.

Maybe I'll buy a bag of .45 Schofield brass, they are available from Star Line where the .45 Colt brass is out of stock.

I will want to roll crimp these because of the power, so I will need to get a .45 Schofield crimp die to add to my tools. I've got everything else for this caliber.

Dan

[MongooseV8]

Im curious why not use 45 Colt brass if you want more power? Why risk over pressuring a smaller and potentially weaker case?

[bergmen]

Im curious why not use 45 Colt brass if you want more power? Why risk over pressuring a smaller and potentially weaker case?

Been using .45 Colt brass for heavy loads for over 25 years. Works very well. I ended up with some .45 Schofield cases and was thinking outside the box for some unique loads using these.

If you take a look at the FortuneCookieLC videos linked above, he and I are on the same page.

And the .45 Schofield cases will not be over pressured and the case is not weaker, just shorter.

Dan

[bruce381]

Or you could use the schofield cases for mild target fodder. And leave the hot rodding for the colt cases.

And with mild loads. It's unlikely you would even need a roll crimp. You can lightly insert the complete schofield cases back into the colt sizer. Just enough to straighten out the bell. The bevel at the bottom of the sizer works well for this. Not enough to size loaded rounds leaving your slugs undersized.

I load everything to safe level per what is on head stamp.

44 special do get shot in mag BUT are loaded to special levels I NEVER have to wonder is this a hot 44 special for mags only, this way I can shoot without having to remember what is over loaded, says 44 special but is for mag only.

[Odd_Ball]

Thanks for this great link! I watched a couple of his videos, he is fun to watch. He thought exactly along the same lines I did with the .45 Schofield case and gave a shooting demonstration and comparison between .45 Colt and .45 Schofield with identical powder charges (11.2 grains of Herco I think). Same bullet in both.

The .45 Schofield was more accurate and faster by 50 fps. Also, very consistent in muzzle velocity with low deviation.

His load in the .45 Colt is no slouch, snappy recoil. A little snappier with the .45 Schofield load. No over pressure signs with the brass, he looks at every detail. Another thing he mentions (which I had thought of also) was they feed fine in lever action rifles. I have a Marlin 1894 I can try these on.

Maybe I'll buy a bag of .45 Schofield brass, they are available from Star Line where the .45 Colt brass is out of stock.

I will want to roll crimp these because of the power, so I will need to get a .45 Schofield crimp die to add to my tools. I've got everything else for this caliber.

Dan

Excellent, glad his channel helped you out and confirmed your line of thought. He is pretty systematic about his approach to load development in general, and the chrono data really helps to quantify things. He has done a similar series with 44 mag, 44 special and even 44 russian cases I think. I've learned alot from him, but for the time being my reloading is still pretty basic and limited.