1909 colt revolver

[hvymech]

I gust got in a colt 1909 revolver, excellent shape, mint barrel and cyl.I would like to shoot it, I have a large amount of .45 colt ammo... 250 gn rn loaded with 7.6 gn unique.
Would this load be safe for the 1909? thanks

[clintonhater]

Yes--a fairly mild load.

[RCS]

The Philippine campaigns of 1899 to 1905 brought out the requirement for a better
revolver and the Colt New Service was selected.

The 45 Colt 1909 cartridge had the rim diameter enlarged by .030 or around .538
diameter to assure positive extraction from the swing out cylinder.

Normal Winchester 45 Colt was around .509 dia and should work in your Colt New
Service but you could expect an empty case to hang up from being missed by extraction
once in awhile. My 1980 manufactured S&W Model 25 in 45 Colt still leaves an empty
case hung up every now and then.

You are lucky that your 1909 cylinder was not shaved for 45 ACP and the half moon clips
which was done years ago.

photos show left 45 Govt, 45 Colt and 45 Colt 1909p1010015_0014.jpgp1010017_0016.jpg

[Sunray]

"...250 grain RN..." Cast or jacketed? 7.6 of Unique is a full grain below current minimum(8.6 is minimum) for a cast 250. .2 below Max for a jacketed 250.
Also it'll depend on which 1909 Colt you have. However, there is no such thing as a ".45 Colt 1909 cartridge". The Colt New Service used regular .45 Colt(aka .45 Long Colt) ammo.
And 'mint' means brand new exactly as it came out of the factory.

[RCS]

Mr Sunray,

Perhaps you should check my reference book "U.S. Cartridges and Their Handguns" 1795- 1975 by Charles R. Suydam.

listed on page 236 is: .45 Colt, U.S. Government Model 1909, 255 grain flat nose bullet, 8,4 grains RSQ smokeless powder.

"Although standard .45 Colt cartridges may be used in this gun, the wide rim .45 Govt 1909 version gave fewer extraction
problems.

"However, this increase in rim diameter does not allow the use of this case in the old single and double action models except
as three-shooters, and the cartridge was not made commercially.

[Vern Humphrey]

The M1909 is proofed for Smokeless powder and has an offset bolt stop which does not compromise the chamber wall. Beginning in 1903, all Colt New Service cylinders were heat treated. While for general use there is no need to hot rid the New Service, for hunting I load up to 21,000 PSI with no problems.