.45 Colt Black Powder Reloads

[Ammastor]

Well been reloading shotgun shells for a while now and I know cartridges are different when it comes to pistol/rifle compared to shot gun shells.

Anyways, I have Peitta 1858 with 45LC conversion. I wanted to start loading my own cartridges.

I have done a load of reading on the subject online and where I can. But I can not seem to find the information that I need as far as I am concerned as they will be shot out of a conversion using cowboy rounds after loading.

What kind of loads are considered cowboy loads? No one seems to state this. I know BP needs to fill the cartridge or a filler needs to be used as no air space can be present after a reload for the BP. I have seen a few videos on YT that shows people loading there 45LC with 35 grains Goex and then just popping in a 250 grain bullet. This fills the cartridge full and allows for a little compression with the 250 bullet. But I want to be sure that this load will be safe for the gun I am using. I usually shot 30 rains with a .454 ball but not sure if the pressures increase using a cartridge or if they are close to being the same.

Would just filling and pressing a bullet in the cartridge using a 250 grain bullet and 35 grains of BP be the same as shooting the cap and ball with the same powder charge.

I am using FFFg GOEX Black Powder, with a Peitta 1858 44 cal revolver with 45 Colt conversion cylinder. Just to be clear. Seems to be controversial on what the safe range if for FPS and PSI in the Peitta. I have heard 850, 900-950, but never to exceed 1000 FPS.

I guess what I am asking is what I stated above.

Can I load a 45LC with 35 grains of GOEX and compress and crinp with a 250 LRN and be good to go. Safe anyways. Or would the pressures exceed what is recommended.

I want to be safe here. And wanted to ask a few people before I even tried it as I like my fingers.

Also so people know. I use the 1858 for target mainly. I bought the conversion so I could have a home defense weapon. So stopping power is also what I am looking for. It is also used for pest control of larger then rat animals. Racoons, woodchucks, and the occasional wandering bobcat or mountain lion.

Anyone have load data or ideas for the 45 Colt. And is the stated load a safe one for this fire arm. As I said I am asking because I do not know and want to be safe about it. Or at least safe as in keeping my finger intact.

Is there anyone with a conversion that loads there own 45LC? If so what loads do you use and what is the heaviest load recommended in this cartridge.

And again what is considered a Cowboy round?

Sorry for the book. Just want to make sure I don't miss a thing. As I said I like my fingers.

Thank guys.

 

[blarby]

I might consider getting this moved to the black powder section, you'd probably get a better response there.

But I see that RC is typing, so wait for that sage advice !

 

[Ammastor]

That may be a good idea. Seen the hand loading a reloading section and thought that is might go well here as what I am asking about is loading.

Might be a good idea though. Thank you.

 

[rcmodel]

Cowboy Loads are those smokeless powder loads considered to be low pressure and safe in old guns, including black powder guns.

Your 35 grains BP compressed by the bullet would be perfectly safe in any modern firearm, or conversion cylinder.

The original .45 Colt used 40 grains BP & a 255 grain bullet in ballon-head cases.
35 in modern solid-head cases is about the same.

The only thing I would suggest is a softer bullet lube then you will get on commercial cast bullets.

Softer lube will reduce BP fouling and keep the gun running longer without cleaning.



Rc

 

[Ammastor]

Thank you for your reply. Feel better with someone saying it is safe. As I was not sure it it was close to the same as the 30 grain with ball or not.

I do plan on casting my own bullets as I do my own balls. But have not bought the mold yet as I am just starting to get into reloading the 45 Colt.

Plan is to be able to do everything right here at my house short of making the BP and the primers. But plan on stocking up on both of them. So I will always have ammo around.

Also was looking at a 45 Colt Lever action rifle to play around with. I am guessing this load would fire in a rifle as well. As they both take the 45 colt cartridges? and 35 grains almost fills a 45 Colt Cartridge. So I would guess that 1 round could be used in both guns? Which would be a great convenience. Unless I am wrong about this.

But I will have to try the 35 grains with the 250 grain bullet in my revolver.

Thanks again for the reply.

 

[Ifishsum]

It is safe, although after shooting it you might doubt that. It is a pretty stout shooting load, and about the only "cowboy" load that is is both powerful and safe pressure for a BP frame. I've loaded and shot them in my SAA clone and they are a handful, but pressure is not an issue with BP loads.

 

[Ammastor]

That you your reply is greatly appreciated. Glad you have done this so I know there is someone who has. Makes me feel better about loading in this manner. Looking for a stout load anyways.

What does everyone think about the same load in a .45 Lever action rifle?

From what I hear 45 Colt can only really handle 40 grains or so because of the case volume. At least that is what I have read. Might be 35 grains with the new cases as I am guessing are a bit thinker the the originals cases. But from what I hear 40 grains is about max.

Figured 30-35 grains would work in the rifle as well. Would the 250 Grain bullet work for this?

 

[rcmodel]

If it doesn't take a handgun apart, it is perfectly safe in a rifle.

All modern .45 Colt Rifles are Way stronger then any replica BP revolvers ever thought about being.

Rc

 

[Don McDowell]

When I load the 45 with blackpowder I use 37 grs of goex 3f with a thin card wad between the bullet and the powder.
I've had reasonably good results using the Remington bulk 250 gr bullet with a dab of bullet lube wiped into it's base, as well as the rcbs 250 KT lubed with a variety of commercial blackpowder lubes. The remingto bullet runs out at around 900 fps and the rcbs does about 875 .
Velocity from my Winchester trapper runs about 200 fps faster than from the 5.5 in Ruger.
Just be sure to wash the cases after shooting , and clean your gun the way you do your cap and ball gun.
I taken the time to load the 45 using Olde Eynsford yet, but it really makes the 38-40 come alive, and going a full 50 rounds thru the bisley clone worked as well on the last shot as it did the first. So if you get a chance might grab a can of that and try it.

 

[Ammastor]

I knew it would be safe in a rifle. Just wasn't sure if it would be a worthy enough load for a rifle.

Would just be nice to only worry about loading one cartridge one way and be able to use it in what ever gun I grab. revolver or rifle. only ever have to carry one ammo box with the guns and that is it. Same loads same projectiles. Just think it would be easier. I love the 45 Colts rounds. Want to stick with emm.

Be nice not to worry about mixing up ammo accidentally. Grab a handful, fill a ammo box and head out to the range.

I like the idea.

 

[RPRNY]

As mentioned above, 35 grs of Old Eynsford or T7 will be safe in your conversion cylinder but will run up to 850 fps even with a traditional 255 grs bullet. You may find it a little sharp for plinking. If so, back off the powder a little and top the load up with cornmeal. You can probably still get decent plinking accuracy down to 28 grs or so. Also round ball seated over 25 grs topped up with cornmeal makes a very pleasant load, just make sure you get some compression in the BP (at least 1/16") and solid contact through filler to base. You can also safely use Trail Boss in your conversion cylinder - stick to published data and NO COMPRESSION with Trail Boss.

 

[Ammastor]

Thank you for your replies.

Question about trail boss powder. Would that be measures in volume like Black Powder or would that be measured by weight? (Think I answered myself at the bottom)

You said no compression. I know you wouldn't want to load a cartridge full of trail boss and then try firing. Guessing it would be a super heavy load.

Load data for a 45 Colt for Trail boss shows 4.5 - 5.8 grains. Guessing it isn't like the black powder that needs to fill the cartridge. It shows that the 45 Colt can only be filled with 13.5 grains which is way to much. So there would be a space in the cartridge. Or doesn't that matter with smokeless. New to reloading brass so would be nice to know be fore I try. As I have seen Trail Boss at my local store. Might want to try that as I have herd good things about it.

I will be picking up and reloading handbook as I should have one anyways if I am going to be reloading. Want to make sure I do it right and safely.

I have heard that you could use trail boss but never thought about it until you said something and I looked at the load data.

Load data shows for the 45 Colt using 250gr LRNFP at 5.8 grains 12,700 PSI at 727 FPS. Looks like it could be bumped up a little if needed. an even 5 - 5.5 grains looks pretty tempting though.

Also using Trail Boss I would be able to pick up that progressive loader I was looking at as it is measured by weight instead of volume. No hand filling each round.

Does all this sound right. Am I reading everything correctly?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have not loaded the 45 Colt with Black Powder but I have used Pyrodex P and it's a hoot to shoot. I have also used that BP substitute in the 38 S&W with equal success. I have shot BP 45 Colt loads and they are FUN!

Substitutes are easier to find these days since many of the Black Powder shops are not renewing their licenses due to new excessive regulations and an increase in permit costs. (at least where I live) I must admit, as close as the substitutes get it's not exactly the same so if I could I would load real BP...

 

[clearcut]

Look at Mike Venturino's "shooting colt single actions".it has lots of info on loads and how to
adjust the powder to help with point of aim. Bp has been working for home defense and varmints for a long time.
CC

 

[RPRNY]

Trail Boss, and all smokeless powders are measured by weight. They may be metered by volume in some measures but those measures are calculated to throw a specific weight of a specific powder. Hodgdon offers an excellent online resource for load data. A good ABCs of hand loading type book and for a longer read with excellent historical info, Phil Sharpe' s "Hand loading" (I hope I got that right),available as a free off online several places, would help you a great deal. Also, never be afraid to ask, as you have done. Everybody has to get started and thanks to Al Gore's brilliant "invention", you have a wealth of knowledge and experience at your finger tips. Avoid YouTube vids until you know right from wrong. Many are wrong.

My pet load for Trail Boss as an easy load easy clean plinking load is a soft lead plain base collar button 185 grs bullet sized .454 over 5 grs TB. TB does not require full load density to work. It does not deliver consistency for me at the lowest end of density either. It delivers significant and, in a conversion cylinder revolver, dangerous pressure spikes when compressed. TB was designed specifically to provide relatively high density, low pressure, low recoil, loads for cowboy action shooting. Shooting black powder is more fun and were I loading for defense or critter control, I would load full case Black Powder or Substitute loads. But TB is easy load, easy shoot, easy clean.

On that last point, make sure your BP brass gets cleaned as soon as possible after shooting. Loads of pet cleaning formulae. Quart of hot water, a few drops of Dawn washing up liquid, and two tablespoons of citric acid is mine. Dry media thmble after dry.

Enjoy!

 

[illinoisburt]

I've been very pleased with trialboss loads. It was made specifically for cowboy loads like you want to use. The powder is very light weight donut shaped grains. Because of the high volume to weight ratio, unlike smokeless ball powders where a tiny pinch can be couple tenths you can actually see the differences in charge weights of trailboss. I have found that using powder measures and dippers gives very consistent charge weights. Not quite as simple as fill with bp then seat a bullet to compress, but gets very good consistent loads with a simple dipper.

Doesn't have that bp smoke experience, but cleaning is heck of a lot better.

This is the IMR load data page: http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/trailboss.php