45 Colt Favorite Load

[Henry45]

Hey folks, me and the missus is going to be shooting 45colt for some fun, and we tried the Trail Boss powder and while it's fun, it's dirty.

What's your favorite non maximum load you like, powder type and bullet. We are running the ZCast 200g RNFP.

Would like to know your experiences with powders, how clean and lighter recoil for her.

Thanks!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I usually shoot a 250/255gr bullet in the .45 Colt and I have found great and accurate loads using W231/HP-38 and HS-6. Some loaders like AA#5 but I have had a hard time finding an accurate load in the 45 Colt using AA#5.

When I do load a 200gr bullet in the 45 Colt I really like W231 for that job. It had a very wide range of load weights so you can achieve and velocity you want, low or high...

 

[Snag]

Many, many threads on 45 Colt loads. Try this search results link.

http://www.thehighroad.org/search.php?searchid=10490857

This thread has a couple pages of replies.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=668566

 

[critter]

I use 255 gr cast SWC with W231 powder at about 950 fps in my S&W 25-5 with an 3/8" barrel. It is comfortable and VERY accurate. I took a whitetail doe at 50 yards with it-complete penetration. Good enough.

 

[bobinoregon]

I like 5.5 gr trailboss with a 250gr Badmans cast rnfp. I'm shooting it out of a original heirloom SAA from 1875 so pressure is more important to me than accuracy. It's dirty but no big deal to clean the gun.

 

[Dudemeister]

I've used 205gr. and 255gr. Bear Creek molly lubed round nose, as well as Missouri Bullet round nose and semi wad-cutters in 250-255gr.

As for propellant, I've used a few.

Titegroup. Clean shooting, but there's very little of it, so it's location sensitive in the large 45 cartridge. Also very easy to overload. It's even hard to visually tell the difference between a single or a double load.

Trail Boss. Easy to use, impossible to double load (would everflow the case), light on the recoil, but a bit dirty and smokey.

Clays. So far this is my go to powder. It's bulkier than Titegroup, so on visual inspection you can actually tell the difference between a single or a double load, and it burns clean.

I also plan on using Unique, but I haven't loaded anything with it yet.

As far as the actual load, I always go with the manufacturer listed "starting" loads. I don't plan on shooting game or anything like that, I shoot paper at 25yds, so the lightest "safe" load is good enough for me.

A good place to check "cowboy action" loads is M.D Smith's Loading Pages web site.

 

[Quoheleth]

Unique is the "classic" .45 powder. That said, I prefer Universal. Similar characteristics as Unique but a bit less sooty. Check their website for specific data.

This was fired in my Uberti Hombre with MBC 250-255gr bullets.

Q

 

[Patocazador]

255 gr. SWC with 8.5 gr. of Unique.

 

[Clark]

My brother has a 1917 Smith that was converted to 45 Colt.
The thing is old and loose and cost me almost nothing [I knew he would want WWI junk].
We kept experimenting and with 6 gr Unique and 300 gr cast, he gets amazingly small groups. This is one of the few times I have seen a powder make a big difference in accuracy.

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

I like handguns to kick.
One of my Uberti Cattleman 45LC revolvers has .046" chamber wall thickness between the chambers. I am shooting what Quickload predicts is 21.4 kpsi [and the chrono matches the predicted velocity] in that revolver. I feel that is safe enough for me. That is lower psi per thickness than many published loads for the Blackhawk.
24 gr H110 250 gr XTP does 1215 fps with it's 4.75" barrel plus cylinder length.
I have been shooting that for nearly 10 years, and it kicks like a 44 mag.

 

[Cherokee]

I use 5.3 gr WST with 230 cast FN for most of my 45 Colt shooting (SASS). Mild load, accurate and economical. I also like 7.0 gr 231 with 268 cast SWC when I want more power, accurate in my Blackhawks and Redhawk. Load manuals have lots of selections.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have loaded 225 grain to 255 grain bullets with Unique in the 45 Colt for decades. Check any reputable loading source for data.

45 Colt was originally a black powder cartridge. It is supposed to be smoky.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I didn't realize there were powders you could use other than Unique in the .45 Colt

 

[BSA1]

IMR-700x

 

[rehorne]

I use a 200 gr RNFP in frtont of 5.0 gr of bullseye. Nice accurate soft shooting load. Use it in my Smith & Wesson, Colt SAA, 2 Rugers a 92 clone and a 1873 lever gun. No problems with any of them