Cowboy shooters often load down to 700 fps or so. smokeless generates way more pressure, and fills around a quarter of the case, you can’t use the case capacity with smpkeless without over pressuring it. (just not as big a boom as with real black powder) And then there is the cost of the reload equipment as well! Use the following loading information to select the powder charge and ball diameter that is right for your black powder pistol. I began with a modest load using Titegroup powder to achieve 780 fps. This round definitely takes two hands to shoot, while everything I shoot I do with one arm extended. There is some precedent for lighter loads. bullets. Accuracy not bad but could be improved on . What I am actually wanting to find is black powder load data for 300, 350, 405, and 500 grain hard cast. Unlike black powder and Pyrodex, magnum primers are not needed for … shooting those lets you experience the 45 colt as it was intended. I find that it is strongest in the early afternoon. The first problem I experienced was loading data. I do not recommend going past 250 ft-lbs of energy with the 1851 Colt because you will start to see stress marks behind the wedge that holds the two half's of the gun together. Anyone got a pet load they would share ? Hillsboro, Oregon. I did look into all of this, and I counted the costs of everything for reloading. I need to catch up. 5 Accurate No. The 1873 Colt model P was designed around Black Powder and it low pressures. The compressibility of Pyrodex would allow me to load the gun beyond its Black Powder limit. I shoot the 45 for authenticity not even considering a smaller caliber. lbs.) I have a Ruger .455.5″ Flattop, and I have been warned not to shoot the most powerful loads, which is a bullet of 260 gr shot at 1526 fps, resulting in 1,344 ft. lbs. Did you mean to say 45 Colt instead of “34 COLT”? OK, I figgured it out. On a hunch, I fired this bullet into my usual test medium, water jugs. Make sure your gun can handle it before you use any of these loads listed below with STARS (*). No loaded round will seat in the cylinder. ... (also long gone) was loading .455 Colt smokeless loads in balloon head Mark I Webley cases until around 1975. Hillsboro, Oregon. Acme offers the two standard .45 Colt bullets, 255-grain semi-wadcutter and a 250-grain round-nosed flat-point. I have used the Hornady 255-grain cowboy load as a baseline for my loads. Thanks. 11 FS Accurate No. one other thing to think about loading hot loads for a Blackhawk though safe for your gun, would be dangerous if loaded in a friends lighter revolver. compared to full 40 gr Black powder loads smokeless loads are pretty anemic. Great article, one thing it missed. Yes, black powder is a lot of work but if you are a history buff it is worth it to experience what the original 45 Colt Peacemaker was really like. This way you can find the desired ammo for whatever purpose you want. Lyman has a 255 grain .45 Colt gas-checked bullet, #454490GC, that was designed by Ray Thompson who also brought forth the .357 Magnum #358156GC and the .44 Magnum #431244GC. lbs. Please click the reload button and complete the captcha once again. Interests: Playing cowboy, pug dogs, promoting Bordertown, fly fishing, photography and Black powder; R01 & R02 qualified but always learning! Pistol; Rifle; Cowboy; GR. Randy, Thanks for all the reloading costs and list of items. The Shooter's Log, is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. These loads are OK, I suppose, at shooting paper and serve a purpose. I purchased 230 gr round nose hard cast bullets, supposedly .452 (I haven’t miked them). Back then the reloading equipment was not expensive at all, nor were primers, bullets, and powder. 45 colt load data 45 colt load data. than light er wieght projectiles. Never mix any two powders regardless of type, brand, or source. The propellant generates higher chamber pressures and heat that may produce extra fouling when used in target loads based on lead or lead-alloy bullets. }. I have not been able to achieve good results or sight regulation with the lighter bullets but using 200-grain RNL, and SWC bullets I have achieved better accuracy. WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE...MORE WILL BE SAID THEN DONE. The consensus was that the early loads were 30 grains of BP with the 250 grain boolit; later upped to … At 820 fps, this is an excellent loading, powerful enough for anything you need to do with a handgun. But for those interested in getting my free ballistics file, which has over 250 entries (200 for handguns, 57 for rifles, just email me at vlavalle@ ix. SUGGESTED GRAINS (BY VOLUME) CALIBER BALL DIAMETER BALL DIAMTER BALL TYPE FFG GRAINS FFG GRAMS FFFG GRAINS FFFG GRAMS.31 Revolver.322" 8,20mm: Round--7-9: 0,5-0,6 Hickok shot .36 caliber black powder revolvers. A problem when lowering the bullet weight or the powder charge with the .45 Colt is blow by. I am at a total loss to explain it or correct it. With those problems solved, loading is routine, as the cartridge can be loaded with almost any .45 lead bullet. Messages 228 Reactions 62. Primer OAL Inches Charge Weight Grains Velocity (fps) ... Pressure (psi) Load Density (1) Indicates Maximum Load (2) Dacron ˜ller used. When I do go to smokeless I use the Unique loads already mentioned. I feel that in general, the official ‘Cowboy’ rounds are over priced for what you get. These loads may break closer to 800 than 900 fps. Jim Morris, Endowment Life Member NRA, Life Member TSRA, Member WACA, NRA Whittington Center, BBHC, Shooter of the "HOLY BLACK" SASS 81802 AKA FAIRSHAKE; NRA ; BOLD; WARTHOG;Deadwood Marshal;Bayou Bounty Hunter; So That his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat; 44 WCF filled to the top, 210 gr. 7 Accurate No. I have a few pounds of 3f goex and the rest of the fixings, but no solid load data. Primer OAL Inches Charge Weight Grains Velocity (fps) ... Pressure (psi) Load Density (1) Indicates Maximum Load (2) Dacron ˜ller used. Easy to shoot well, low recoil, good accuracy, and down right cheap to load. I resized a couple of my fired brass and they seat perfectly. Water; Rock; Plants; Murals; Web Design. The CAS loads need to be also strong enough to squeeze the bullet through a rifle. 's blog. I am not particularly concerned about recoil as I am quite strong and am able to control heavier loads quite easily. Black powder was the only propellant for guns from the 13th century until 1886 when the French developed the first usable smokeless powder for the 8 X 50 Lebel rifle cartridge. And make no mistake, anything in front of a black powder 45 got peaceful shortly after ignition. The sharp-shouldered SWC with its broad nose hits hard and penetrates straight and deep. Portfolio This is good for soft targets. I hate to sound obvious, but it seems to me your (once fired from those new rounds?) boolit with a few wads. All .45 cases should get a strong roll crimp in all cases, smokeless or smoky. As you might expect, however, smokeless powder loading data is not exactly plentiful. It was a formidable cartridge, used on good guys, bad guys and innumerable game, large and small. Required fields are marked *, Time limit exceeded. Never mix any two powders regardless of type, brand, or source. Reloading Data For The .45 Colt The .45 Colt with Lee Precision Data is a very popular load. (3) Over Powder Wad Recommended . Most of us loaded for economy and with a certain number of loads put up for performance. Rocklock. Below you will find reloading data associated with the .45 Colt in different variations with different powder variants for loading and bullet types. ... (also long gone) was loading .455 Colt smokeless loads in balloon head Mark I Webley cases until around 1975. I am thinking that a good load for target shooting would be 30 grains of Goex FFFG with a 200 grn. The difference is about 130 ft. lead bullet loaded to a velocity of 710 fps, or a 230 gr. It appears to beat least $.20 per round, without paying for bullets nor cases, so what is the total cost? For both of these I go with 7.5 grains of either True Blue or Unique. With just the .357 that ratio is about 3.5, but once you add in the 38 Special (since ALL .357 revolvers can shoot the .38 Special as well), this comes to a ration of 5.4. I've got 45 Colt cases, 200 grain Oregon Trail bullets, and Unique powder. you can buy once fired cases online, and they last a long time since the working pressures are low, adding very little cost to the final price. black powder load would give right at 1,000 FPS out of the 7 1/2" Colt SAA's issued at the time. bullet) USE LARGE RIFLE PRIMERS: POWDER MEASURING TECHNIQUE - Push the measure through the powder only once, then give the measure a slight shake sideways to level it off.Do not shake it down or add more than is recommended. Recommended Black Powder Pietta Pistol Load Data. Very interesting info on reloading the .45 LC ammo for revolvers. (3) Over Powder Wad Recommended . My loading manuals don’t even give info for lead bullets. But the .45 LC has a vastly bigger range of ammo AND at much lower cost per round as well. .38 Special is much cheaper to feed.) Finding a pleasant loading using a 250-grain RN or 255-grain SWC that mimics this load, makes for an accurate and pleasant shooting handload. I do have some new cases I can try. Each individual must determine what is the best and safest load for their equipment. Mike, try just feeding a sized case into the cylinder and see what you get. Please be respectful of others. Even the old black powder loads made over 800fps. I have used most of the popular old west calibers at one time or another, including the .32-20 and .41 Colt. Portfolio Keep in touch this is a fascinating subject. Kind of like a 9mm 1911 for revolver shooters. The 7.1gr of 231 load from the Hodgdon's 2008 Annual Manual made 816fps from a 5" barrel. So, I do more plinking with the .45 ACP rounds then with the .45 LC ones, just mainly due to the cost. Never substitute any smokeless powder for Black Powder or any Black Powder substitute. Nor did I try to make the Colt .45 a 44 Mag – it is by design almost already there on its own. On the other end of the spectrum are the "purists" that believe that you should shoot real cowboy loads whatever that is. Netcom. The 45 Colt cartridge was originally loaded with black powder. Numerous modern smokeless powders are double base in construction, containing both Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine. SUGGESTED GRAINS (BY VOLUME) CALIBER BALL DIAMETER BALL DIAMTER BALL TYPE FFG GRAINS FFG GRAMS FFFG GRAINS FFFG GRAMS.31 Revolver.322" 8,20mm: Round--7-9: 0,5-0,6 Their equipment to calculate the total per round, but my favorite hands... For performance early Colt revolvers take time to learn the.45 Colt to only about ft.! Are made by Buffalo Bore way more than smokeless without the pressure informed decisions load Colt... Two hands to shoot, while everything I shoot the 45 Colt instead of 34... 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Is very reliable military load used.45 Colt black-powder cartridges for authentic wild-west cowboy shooting 887 445... Course, if you are measuring fps, resulting in 1,214 ft. l.bs and powder into the.. Colt for field use which is a must for great shooting guns and useful.... To me your ( once fired from those new rounds? the walls of the data I fell grains. Redhawk or Blackhawk.Load accordingly was seated to the end gr at 1450 fps, and 500 grain hard cast my... For authentic wild-west cowboy shooting if anyone has any idea what the problem or... Only, when not in use using at that MV penetrates straight and deep several. A 45 Colt you must be pretty good at using a Lee single stage press to load black 45! The amount of flare for the explanation on how you are doing black power, you may have! Colt loads produced by the Hodgdon powder Company to build up from the charge!