1873 question

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

OK, my take. First of all, this is a black powder forum.

The OP does not handload/reload, so everything else posted here is a moot point insofar as BP. Everyone else (except for arcticap), so far, is talking about smokeless modern cartridges for sale at the LGS, WalMart, et al. Mention has been made about modern .38 Special, 9mm, .40 S&W, .38 Long Colt, et al.

Take it somewhere else, please.

I am surprised that a moderator has not stepped in.

Regards,

Jim

Not so fast please.
.45 Colt was developed as a Black Power cartridge, and is still available factory loaded with Black Powder today pretty much just like the originals, and although the OP doesn't hand load LOTS of folks here do, so I would ask those with sensibilities to attempt to be a bit tolerant even if it uses up some of their Christmas cheer.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

OK, my take. First of all, this is a black powder forum.

The OP does not handload/reload, so everything else posted here is a moot point insofar as BP. Everyone else (except for arcticap), so far, is talking about smokeless modern cartridges for sale at the LGS, WalMart, et al. Mention has been made about modern .38 Special, 9mm, .40 S&W, .38 Long Colt, et al.

Take it somewhere else, please.

I am surprised that a moderator has not stepped in.

Regards,

Jim

OK so I'm a bit vexed and the comment.....,

The OP does not handload, GEE I guess that forbids him from starting? So it's not a moot point, it's only moot if for some reason he has decided to never hand load, and he lives alone on a mountain top without the internet and thus will never meet a fellow shooter who does reload, nor can he arrange for reloaded ammunition to come to him... so that part of your comment is non sequitur..

I never specified reloading with smokeless powder to make ammunition...

Black powder loads ARE available OTC for the calibers .45 Colt and .38 Special, just because where YOU are they are not, doesn't mean it's true everywhere..., the .38 special, may be DIY reloaded with 4Fg, as can the .45 Colt (I've done both)..

The 9mm and .40 Smith & Wesson comment was showing how the .45 Colt (a black powder cartridge when first made..DUH...) is not as scarce as the modern stuff and I merely cited two examples to illustrate why...,

The .38 Long Colt is a BLACK POWDER CARTRIDGE....DOUBLE DUH
It's sold OTC for folks who want to use a conversion a cylinder with 6 shots instead of five for some of the .36 caliber Colts converted to cylinders...

LD

 

[expat_alaska]

The OP does not handload, GEE I guess that forbids him from starting?

The point is that he does not intend to do so. Your comeback is the moot point.

I never specified reloading with smokeless powder to make ammunition.

Never said you did. The whole point of the OP's post was what ammunition was available OTC: .45 Colt or .38/.357. As he did not specify BP ammo, the assumption is that it is smokeless ammo he was considering. (I don't think I have ever seen BP .357 ammo for sale: have you?) The OP specified an 1873 capable of firing .357. He has smokeless powder in mind.[/QUOTE]

Black powder loads ARE available OTC for the calibers .45 Colt and .38 Special, maybe DIY reloaded with 4Fg, as can the .45 Colt (I've done both).

I am not saying it can't be done. You have done both. The OP does not intend to reload. What is your argument? Again, the OP is specifying smokeless rounds.

Reading your post, I am thinking I am watching an old rerun of "The Simpsons". DOH!

Don't get your panties in a bunch.

We all have opinions.

Regards,

Jim

 

[Dave T]

...45 Colt was developed as a Black Power cartridge, and is still available factory loaded with Black Powder today pretty much just like the originals...

Please list the "factories" that load the 45 Colt cartridge "loaded with Black Powder today pretty much just like the originals'? I've never seen or heard of any factory BP 45 Colt ammunition available today.

Dave

 

[Tommygunn]

Please list the "factories" that load the 45 Colt cartridge "loaded with Black Powder today pretty much just like the originals'? I've never seen or heard of any factory BP 45 Colt ammunition available today.

Dave

There are some boutique companies that cater to cowboy action and other similar historic minded shooters. Mostly they are mail or Internet order, like ....IIRC .... Black Hills. I've bought bp loaded .44-40 and .32-20 from them.

I'm not sure I'm remembering the correct name of the company. If I get time later I'll check.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

Please list the "factories" that load the 45 Colt cartridge "loaded with Black Powder today pretty much just like the originals'? I've never seen or heard of any factory BP 45 Colt ammunition available today.

Dave

I've heard of several here and there in recent years.
Obviously you're not likely to find it on the shelf at Walmart, but there are folks that specialize is the road less traveled.

Here's one -
https://www.buffaloarms.com/45-colt-250-grain-rnfp-black-powder-ammo-box-of-50-amobp45lc

 

[Tommygunn]

Malachi GOT IT! BUFFALO Arms! Yeeeeup, get yer bp 45s there! And thanks, Malachi!

 

[Dave T]

I don't know anyone who can afford to shoot BAC loaded 45 Colt BP ammunition. And after you pay for the ammo their shipping charges will empty your wallet is short order. Don't get me wrong, they are a great company and I've bought any number of items from them, just not loaded BP ammunition.

As for boutique dealers catering to CAS shooting, I hardly call that "factory ammo" and it certainly isn't loaded to original specifications. Cowboy shooters don't want anything that recoils that much, even among the BP crowd.

Dave

 

[Captain*kirk]

As was mentioned, Buffalo Arms has all sorts of LOADED BLACK POWDER cartridges for sale. Many calibers, many bullets. Which, lately, is more than I can say for most of the big box outlets and their non-bp loadings, which have become sort of 'unobtanium' these days of late.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

... I hardly call that "factory ammo" and it certainly isn't loaded to original specifications...

I'm not sure what definition of "factory ammo" you want to use but if it's made by a licensed ammo manufacturer, I'm calling that factory ammo.

What part of the specifications do you have a problem with not being original enough?

"This is 45 Colt black powder cartridge loaded ammunition using a 250 grain, round nose, flat point lead bullet. Suitable for use in pistols and leverguns.850fps."

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Please list the "factories" that load the 45 Colt cartridge "loaded with Black Powder today pretty much just like the originals'? I've never seen or heard of any factory BP 45 Colt ammunition available today.

Dave

Not much out there, Buffalo Arms is the only one that really comes to mind right now. There was Black Dawg and I shot a bunch of that but the factory blew up a few years back and ended that.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Black powder loads are easy to find...even midway sells them. More than a few companies make them

https://www.midwayusa.com/45-colt-long-colt/br?cid=21851

 

[Crunchy Frog]

Black powder loads are easy to find...even midway sells them. More than a few companies make them

https://www.midwayusa.com/45-colt-long-colt/br?cid=21851

I don’t believe any of that ammo is charged with black powder.

 

[StrawHat]

So, all the nitpicking about what is a factory load is helping the OP how?

To the question of which cartridge. I prefer lighter handguns to heavier ones so given the two you mentioned, the 45 long Colt. I have two of them, 5 1/2” and 7 1/2”. The fact that neithercis wearing the original cylinder is not interesting. They started as 45 long Colt.

Kevin

 

[Tommygunn]

I don’t believe any of that ammo is charged with black powder.

I too couldn't find any labeled black powder .... and yes I do think it would be labeled such.

 

[Dave T]

Crunchy Frog and Tommygunn are both correct. I looked through all three pages at Mid-Way and none of the ammunition listed there is loaded with black powder ammunition.

So, all the nitpicking about what is a factory load is helping the OP how?

As to helping the OP. He came to the Black Powder forum to ask about 357 Magnum vs 45 Colt. Since the 357 Mag was never a black powder cartridge the discussion rather naturally moved to the 45 Colt. Since the OP said he does not reload the subject of availability of black powder 45 Colt ammunition came up.

If the OP has any interest in shooting black powder this thread provided him a good deal of information. If he's not interested in shooting black powder, he should have posted his question else where.

Dave

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

I too couldn't find any labeled black powder .... and yes I do think it would be labeled such.

I would expect it to be labeled as such as well.
I think most of the manufactures using real Black Powder in cartridges in recent years have been smaller operations willing to delve into smaller markets to satisfy the need without worrying about getting a huge production line up and running.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

Crunchy Frog and Tommygunn are both correct. I looked through all three pages at Mid-Way and none of the ammunition listed there is loaded with black powder ammunition.



As to helping the OP. He came to the Black Powder forum to ask about 357 Magnum vs 45 Colt. Since the 357 Mag was never a black powder cartridge the discussion rather naturally moved to the 45 Colt. Since the OP said he does not reload the subject of availability of black powder 45 Colt ammunition came up.

If the OP has any interest in shooting black powder this thread provided him a good deal of information. If he's not interested in shooting black powder, he should have posted his question else where.

Dave

Well Dave,
That is a rather astute assessment right there.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Ah sorry they arent black powder loaded bullets...they are just low powered for cowboy action shooting and have low speeds Figured they were since they were cowboy loads and had clicked on a link in a search on google that brought up midways link to a black powder .45 bullet..

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1001490454

Buuuuut theyre discontinued. I do know that i have a few friends who buy black powder .45 bullets but i guess they probably just get it from buffalo arms....and once purchased usually just reload them. I know one man who just uses a Lyman 310 tool to refill his bullets...doesnt even tumble his brass, just washes and brushes them and dries them out. His whole .45 LC reload set up is just a small cast iron pot for melting lead, Lee bullet mold, a black powder flask, and the handheld Lyman 310 tool for colt .45 long colt. I was very amazed on how he was able to reload his his brass with so little. Watching this older cowboy make bullets in his back yard using this very simple set up was inspiring to me. Ill never forget Mr.Sauley. not because he was an interesting character... But because he almost shot me when he caught me and his grand daughter in her room after she snuck me in through the window. I was 14 and she was 16...i thought i was "cool" for having an older chick want me. Turns out....i wasnt the first boy Mr.Sauley aimed that single action colt army at...i wasnt even the 6th.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Black powder loads are easy to find...even midway sells them. More than a few companies make them

https://www.midwayusa.com/45-colt-long-colt/br?cid=21851

Not one single product in that link is black powder nore do I know of any black powder ammo Midway sells. Every person that I know that shoots black powder loads their own. Black Dawg was the last that I knew of that was half way affordable and it was miserably dirty and the bullets were horrible and didn't carry enough of the correct lube to keep a gun running with BP.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

Not one single product in that link is black powder nore do I know of any black powder ammo Midway sells. Every person that I know that shoots black powder loads their own. Black Dawg was the last that I knew of that was half way affordable and it was miserably dirty and the bullets were horrible and didn't carry enough of the correct lube to keep a gun running with BP.

Yep as i stated it was my mistake, i apologize. I had done a previous search and found a goex brand .45 long colt in black powder bullet (now discontinued) and thought the otheres were too. I sure wish black mz was still around and a company made .38 and .45 LC bullets for the black powder crowd...or if goex brought back their black powder bullets but filled with old Eynseford. I think they would be very popular in our crowd.

 

[TheOutlawKid]

I was also given some .45 long colt bullets in a trade...and they were black powder. Although they werent original..they were some of them cowboy action bullets made by mag tech i believe...and the original owner shot them and reloaded them with black powder instead. I gave them to a customer of mine as i dont shoot any cartridge guns really nor own a gun that shoots .45 LC . i thought they came stock in black powder though as the speeds on the box said they were so slow...like 850fps or something. But the original owner said they came in smokeless and he reloaded with homemade black powder that was better than swiss...made from paulownia charcoal.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Yep as i stated it was my mistake, i apologize. I had done a previous search and found a goex brand .45 long colt in black powder bullet (now discontinued) and thought the otheres were too. I sure wish black mz was still around and a company made .38 and .45 LC bullets for the black powder crowd...or if goex brought back their black powder bullets but filled with old Eynseford. I think they would be very popular in our crowd.

Yeah those red Goex boxes were the Black Dawg ammo I had mentioned. They may have carried it at Midway at the time but the factory blew up a few years back and they quit production.

A real shame they were good people and a friend know some of them personally and they would sponsor a 45 Colt black powder championship side matches at our regional and national NCOWS shoots supplying the ammo for us to shoot and the winner won ammo. I won a few times and even though I reload I also bought some of their ammo as good gesture since they sponsored our events so I shot a BUNCH of that ammo. It was very dirty ammo, not real good lubed bullets and the Goex powder at the time was also horrible dirty stuff. You're right about Old E it is great powder, that's mostly what I shoot.