Loading 45 LC with BlackPowder?

[shadow83]

Hello everyone. Newbie here!!

My son and I have been slowly getting into cowboy calibers. We cast our own bullets and load. I would like to load some rounds for my 45LC with blackpowder just like the ole guys but have not been able to locate any load data. Anyone have any suggestions or powder/measures? We shoot 200 grain semi wadcutters (LEE mold).

 

[Sistema1927]

Modern cases will hold about 28 grains of FFFg, which is less than what the original "balloon head" cases held. You might try between 20 and 28 grains to see what works well in your revolver.

 

[Jim Watson]

Fill 'em up at least to the base of the bullet, then some more. I'd load them with as much powder as I could and still seat the bullet without deforming it. Black powder LIKES compression.

You must use a black powder lubricant on the bullets, SPG is not the only one but it is the most common. Best if the bullet has a large or multiple lube grooves, you need to keep the fouling moist. Alox or the colored hard waxes for smokeless won't work well.

 

[Father Knows Best]

Fill 'em up at least to the base of the bullet, then some more. I'd load them with as much powder as I could and still seat the bullet without deforming it. Black powder LIKES compression.

You must use a black powder lubricant on the bullets, SPG is not the only one but it is the most common. Best if the bullet has a large or multiple lube grooves, you need to keep the fouling moist. Alox or the colored hard waxes for smokeless won't work well.

Jim nailed it. You don't need any "load data" like you do with that new-fangled smokeyless powder. Just fill 'er up! The key to black powder is that you can't leave any air space in the case! Not one little bit! Not ever! Air space in the case leads to bad things with black powder.

I like about 1/8" of compression with my standard cowboy loads, regardless of caliber. I prefer ffg in .44 and .45 cases. The slower burn rate results in slightly lower velocities than fffg. As Jim recommends, I use a soft cast lead bullet with a single huge lube groove, loaded up with my homemade black powder lube (beeswax and crisco with a little olive oil mixed in). Wax-lubed smokeyless bullets are baaaad, as the wax lube mixes with the soot from the black powder to create a tar-like fouling that is very difficult to remove.

I load mostly .44-40 and .44 Russian for cowboy shooting. The .44-40 is pretty close to the .45 Colt in terms of case capacity. I can get about 35 grains of ffg in the case with 1/8" compression under a flat based 200 grain bullet. My hot load is 39.5 grains of fffg, with closer to 1/4" compression.

Have fun!