45 Colt Loads

[Hondo 60]

So what's your favorite 45 Colt load?

So far I've tried Universal, Tite Group & Accurate #5.
AA#5 gives the best accuracy, but it's got a decent recoil & I'm getting a bit of unburned powder.

My crimp is pretty heavy, so that's not it.
And I'd rather not increase the powder again.

According to Accurate's ballistician, Johan Loubser, 10.4 - 11.5 is the range.
I'm at 11.0, like I said, accuracy is great, but I'm getting unburned powder

So I'd like to hear your load.

 

[rajb123]

Have you tried a BP load?

 

[RugerBob]

I like 8grs. Unique w/250grn LRN. I never tried jacketed. That's with my Vaqueros.

 

[flhtcuibyhd]

I just started loading for .45 colt and am working on light target/plinking loads. So far I've settled on 4.8gr of Trail Boss with a 250gr RNFP bullet getting an average 670 fps. The heavy loads were not as accurate. I plan to try 4.5 gr next which is the lightest load listed on Hodgdon.com.

 

[Uniquedot]

I like 8.0 to 9.5 grains of unique with 250 - 255 grain bullets. I've got decent results with other powders like ACC #5, Universal, trail boss, 800x, goex, elephant, and a few that don't come to mind right now, but i always go back to unique as it just plain works in the 45 colt and it's economical as well.

 

[Slamfire]

I like Unique but you are going to get unburnt powder with it.

Combustion in these large low pressure cases is not going to be 100% unless you use something like Titegroup.

Titegroup runs hot. That is why there is less residue, the powder is running hot. That causes issues with melted lead and hot barrels, but if that is a lesser problem than unburnt residue, use Titegroup.

 

[joecil]

I mostly shoot black powder or substitute in my 45 Colt in both SAA or 92 type rifle with 250 gr bullets. I am now trying some Trail boss under some 200 gr bullets and will shoot about 21 of them tomorrow. It is my first attempt so loaded 10 with 5.5 gr and 10 with 6 as the min/max was 5.5 to 6.5 with the particular lead cast bullet I'm using. I will try Unique, Bullseye. W321/BP-38, Titegroup and AA#5 also in the future. I will continue to load with BP in 45 Colt due to NCOWS the CAS group I belong too.

 

[Walkalong]

Try True Blue. It might surprise you.

 

[ghitch75]

light loads i like 7.5gr of Red Dot behind 200gr FRNL....

 

[cfullgraf]

I have used Unique with 250ish grain bullets in the 45 Colt for decades.

I do not remember the powder being so position sensitive (against the primer or against the bullet) but recently I have found that to be the case. Velocity definitely varies between the two powder position.

Maybe one of the results of the change from Hercules to Alliant.

I like True Blue so I might give that a try and see what effects the powder position has.

 

[zxcvbob]

light loads i like 7.5gr of Red Dot behind 200gr FRNL....

I like 7.5 grains of Promo (bulk Red Dot without the dots) with 230 to 255 grain lead bullets. It's not a light load with a heavier bullet.

 

[Hondo 60]

SlamFire1 - I've used Tite Group.
But Tite Group & lead don't mix too well.
You'll get LOTSA smoke & dirty hands & dirty cylinder, you breathe in lead etc, etc,.
(yes, this was an issue for me. My lead level is down since I stopped mixing TG & lead)

And you're right, Tite Group runs VERY hot.
It makes the gun almost too hot to handle after shootin' a few.

 

[Sport45]

What bullet are you using?

I like a 250-260gr cast lead RN or SWC over 8-8.5gr Unique.

I also use some stiff loads of H-110 under those bullets or 250 and 300gr XTP's with my Redhawk.

 

[Hunt480]

I have settled on 8 grains of Universal but I was having good results with W231...The Universal seems to be consistant.

 

[squarles67]

Another vote for Red Dot, very clean and very accurate in my Blackhawk with a 250/255 grain lead slug

Now if you're talking about Ruger only loads then it's Win296

 

[ljnowell]

I have loaded 6.5gr of AA#2 under a Missouri Bullet cowboy #9 255gr SWC and found great accuracy, but less than full 45 colt power.

My favorite loads are all using 2400 and pretty much all over max. If you want those I would be happy to share, but see no sense in posting if thats not what you are interested in.

 

[Snag]

Another vote for Unique. Seems to me once you get around 8.5 gr you stop seeing unburnt powder.

 

[Patocazador]

For hunting I like 20.0 gr. of 2400 behind a 250 gr. XTP/HP in a 7 1/2" Blackhawk .. NOT to be used EXCEPT in a T/C or Blackhawk.

 

[aladdin]

6.5 HP-38 MBC 250 LRNFP 4 5/8 Blackhawk and 3 3/4 Montado 6.5 of HP-38 also works good for me behind berrys plated 250 FP

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you like Unique you will also like Universal. The results from both are extremely close but with Universal you get a powder that meters better and is cleaner.

I have used Clays, Universal, Trail Boss, W231/HP-38, AA#5, HS-6 and probably a few others. I could not find a good load using AA#5 but I do like the results I get with W231. I recently tried HS-6 and was very surprised at how well it shoot and how accurate the ammo is. I like 7.0gr to 7.2gr W231 and 10.2gr HS-6 with a 250/255gr lead bullet. I really like the HS-6 loads, so much so that I hardly use W231 any more. Use a Winchester LPP and you won't have to worry about using or buying a magnum primer...

 

[ghitch75]

Now if you're talking about Ruger only loads then it's Win296

i like 296 for more horse power too....i like shovin' Penn Thunder heads with 296...second from the left..

 

[Nomad]

I use 10 Unique or 18.5 2400 with 250 or 255 SWC in a Ruger platform. Both have more recoil than your present load and the 2400 will likely have some powder residue after firing. Nice light load is 8-8.5 Unique.

 

[Hondo 60]

What bullet are you using?

Missouri Bullet Co's Cowboy #4
It's a 200 gr LRNFP

http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=60&category=5&secondary=14&keywords=

I could not find a good load using AA#5

I couldn't either, that's why I emailed Accurate's ballistician.
as posted in #1
He said 10.4-11.5 gr of Accurate #5.
I'm at 11.0 - with great accuracy, but some unburned powder.

Just maybe I'm fusing over nothin'

 

[Sport45]

That's a really light bullet for .45 Colt. You might be better off with a faster powder than AA#5.

 

[Hondo 60]

Point well taken.
I've tried Tite Group & it smokes a LOT.
So I'm under the impression that faster powders will smoke.