[Jeff Higgins]

There is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there surrounding the .45 Colt and higher pressure loads, Joe. There are now, essentially, at least three "categories" of .45 Colt revolver. There used to be only two, large frame Ruger Blackhawks and everything else. That "everything else" included original Colts and their various clones, S&W M25's, and similar guns. Ruger's re-introduction of the small frame Flat Top, and their down-sizing of the Vaquero to the New Vaquero, kind of muddied the waters. They are "neither fish nor fowl", not as "weak" as the Colts, not as strong as the large frame Blackhawks.

It's unfortunate that Mr. Pearce's article is behind a subscription wall. He explains it far better than I can. In it, he outlines loads that will run up to 23,000 psi. SAAMI list 14,000 psi as maximum for the .45 Colt. Mr. Pearce's loads are tested in the Western Powders ballistic laboratory, and have been deemed safe in the "in between" revolvers listed in his article, including the New Model Flat Top. By way of comparison, "Ruger only" loads listed in the various reloading manuals will top 28,000 psi. (still far below .44 and .357 mag pressures of 36,000 psi). Those loads would, indeed, be unsafe in the New Model Flat Top.

I believe that is why Ruger will not allow for higher pressures in the New Model Flat Top. They are erring on the side of caution, understanding that many will not be aware of the two different Ruger frame sizes and just go ahead and load up their Flat Tops from the "Ruger only" data that's out there. "It's a Ruger, isn't it?"

All of that said, there is absolutely nothing wanting in standard pressure .45 Colt loads. I used to load the bejeebers out of this round for my Rugers and Virginian Dragoon. I used to load 300 grain bullets in them (and my .44 mags) for maximum velocities. Killed a fair amount of game with both. Then one day I went hunting with a 7 1/2" Peacemaker loaded with black powder loads, a 250 grain bullet over 40 grains of FFFg for about 950 fps. I guess I didn't really know what to expect from such a relatively "anemic" load - would it just bounce off of a big mulie?

I need not have worried. I took a nice representative 4x4 buck at about 40 yards, broadside. Broke both shoulders and exited. I couldn't believe it. Raised on bucking, booming .44 mags, heavy .45 Colts, even the .454 Casull, this just couldn't be. Could it? Subsequent hunts, over many years, demonstrated that yes, indeed, it was true. Mule deer, elk, and black bear all fell to these "anemic" standard velocity .45 Colt loads. We really don't need anything more.