45 Colt 300 gr XTP Ruger Load

Ive read dozens of posts here and on other forums about loads for the 300 grain XTP. I do not want to waste a ton of powder to get close while working up my loads for accuracy. Powder is scare in my neck of the woods. I am also fairly new to reloading. I have a Ruger Bisley w/ the 5.5" barrel. I have W296 powder and WLP primers. I will be loading the 300 gr XTP non-mag bullet(2 crimp groves). I know the powder runs better on the hot end. I know the Hornady book has numbers for that bullet that seem on the low side. I don't need a crazy fast round but do want a round that will give me the full potential of the bullet for hunting. Those of you that use a round similar using the ingredients listed; please give me a good starting and ending point of powder charge using my Bisley. You may PM me your data if you are not ok with publishing it. I understand I am responsible for my own handloads and the results of shooting them.

I understand the idea of wanting to save powder, but I'm sure you want to walk away from this with both hands, all ten fingers, and both eyes still working. I would suggest going off the book, and use a load that is halfway between the two extremes listed. I don't think ya need to shoot a full cylinder of each one as ya creep up, but two or three of each load would tell ya if your getting close to your limits or desired levels.

As far as the speed needed to use that bullet correctly, I can't be of any help there. I only used the xtp mags in mine before I switched over to hardcast. I'm sure the XTP is a good bullet though. I had no complaints with the mags.

Just a thought, but starting at the halfway point might save ya more powder in the long run if your gun likes a little less than full house loads?? If your gun likes a little less than full house loads, and you're starting at the top end, you might just pass up the accuracy sweet spot and continue burning powder by trying to force the issue.

Most guys on here are more knowledgeable than me with this reloading stuff, but I just had to mention my thoughts. Sure would hate to see a bad mishap just for the sake of saving powder. But I do understand what ya mean.

This is where I ususlly start with a new loading and I seldom load to max. Often the middling load does quite well, but I will try also try a load halfway between the middle and max and another halfway between those to check potential. I like 5 shot groups so it takes just 15 rounds to learn what I need, and I can tweak from there if necessary.

I don't shoot jacketed bullets. These loads are cronoed from a 5.5" Bisley using a 300gr. hardcast bullets from CPB or Beartooth, but hopefully this gives some idea of what you might get. For a medium load I use 10.0 of Unique and get 1100 fps. For my hunting load I use 24.0 of Win 296 and get 1320 fps with a vel spread of 15 fps.
For the med load I'm using Win WLP primers and for the hunting load I use Federal 155 mag primers. Speer manual gives 23.0 of 296 w/ 300 jacketed bullet as max. I find that going to low w/ 296 gives extreme spreads so maybe start at 21.5 grains and work up watching for pressure signs.
Hope this helps.

FYI, I shot the same .45 Colt loads out of my 5.5" FA 83 in .454 and got the following. Med load velocity of 1032 fps. Hunting load velocity of 1220 fps. Evidently the Ruger Bisley shoots faster for some reason.

Thanks FAH!

My Hornady book says '17.9min-21.7max' for 296 & a 300gr XTP in the ''TC Ruger'' section....20gr sounds like a good number to me

I've chrono the 300 XTP bullet out of a 6" barrel using 21.2 grains of H110 with the Fed 150 Primer and got an average velocity of 996 fps.

I went with the Hodgdon recommended loads of H110. 21.8-22.2.
made up five of 21.8, five of 22.0, and five of 22.2.
tomorrow I'll see what happens

That bullet makes up my whitetail load for my 454. Pushed it at 1450fps with 24.7grs of H-4227. Its heavy enough to penetrate from most angles with great expansion. Took about 13 or 14 deer with that bullet.....

Pistol shot great. Me not so much. Looks like she likes it on the hot end. No signs of overpressure. The 315gr hard cast shot really well too. I have some more tinkering to do with loads and a lot more to work on with my shooting form.

H110/W296 generally likes to be run at the hotter end of the load chart. Generally the closer you get to max loading the smaller the SD becomes.

I have found that my best accuracy comes normally at the max load number or just slightly below.

I have using 21.5gr 296 under the 300xtp for years. 1206fps and sub 2" groups at 100 yards. reflex264

Imr 4227?

Reflex,
What gun were you shooting this in?

4 5/8" Blackhawk with 2x Leupold.

reflex,
What groove are you seating the bullet to on the XTP?

The top grove. It wont chamber with it crimped in the bottom groove. reflex264