45 colt loads

[Millamber457]

Hey folks ! First off a big thank you on my post about the 454 cases . Now i have a new question .
I just got my hands on a Taylor and company 1871 open top in 45 colt .
I was thinking of using black powder substitute under a 255 grain lead bullet.
Any good loads and suggestions? I have never used anything of this sort in a cartridge before , and i could use the help , ideas and tips on this stuff.Whats one of the safer , and easier to use of this type, what primers work best, and nice decent loads to work with , at least stout enough , to take out a small critter , or finish off a deer at close range . So please any help would be greatly appreciated !

 

[[email protected]]

I would use either Swiss or Goex Olde Eynsford FFF Black Powder. You should
be able to get 37 grs. In the case. This should give you around 900 fps. Ought
to be good enough and it will be safe. Everything will clean up with just plain
tap water. I've been at this for over 50 years.
Phil

This is factory black powder loads in my Blackhawk. It is 37 grs of Goex Black Powder
loaded by "black Dawge"

 

[rclark]

777 works very well too. Plus you can use you curret powder measure with it. Just slightly compress it with your bullet and good to go. In .45 Colt, 23g by weight (not volume) is the load I like with a standard CCI-300 primer. Pushes a 250g RNFP 919fps.

 

[41 Mag]

You would probably get just as much bang for your buck, and less clean up if you can find some Trail Boss. Also search for Cowboy Load data as well.

Pull up the Hodgdon online loading data and look at some of the loads there, also pull up Alliant and look for Unique, or Bullseye, but bear in mind these need to be reduced by 10% for starting loads. Look under the 250gr LSWC. Also you might give Accurate Arms data a look see as well. I have some good loads with AA-5 that shoot great and aren't upper end pressures.

The main thing with yours is to stick to Colt only loads and steer clear of anything Ruger or TC.

You might also consider some of the 230gr RFN bullets which are used in the ACP if you can find some with a crimp groove in them.

I have to warn you though once you start your going to get hooked. Also those 230 - 260'ish grained bullets even moving along at 850fps will plumb knock the daylights out of something. You don't have to push it fast to get results.

I would offer you up some favorite loads I use, but my revolver is a Redhawk. I don't push them much more than standard Colt loads, but I am also not worried if I do creep up the scale a bit.

 

[Millamber457]

loads

i have a .45colt in a new model blackhawk , and load heavy loads for that , i love reloading , it gets rid of some of my stress that builds up , i can go to another level in my mind . i also load the 45-70 , 06 and 30-30 , i have this thing for older style revolvers, big bores , that i just can't shake , so the open top , is gonna be a blast , figured i want low or standard pressure stuff for that , but i love what you guys have given me so far , and i am soo glad i joined this site . Finding a bunch of friendly like minded people are great !

 

[dagger dog]

Just make sure to leave no air space between the base of the boolit and the powder charge when using black powder or replica propellents.

As stated above about 38 grs volume measure is all you can get in a 45 Colt case and get the boolit seated and crimped without buckling the case. I set the boolit to be used along side an empty case and mark the case a where the boolit base will be when crimped in the crimp groove, compression is ok with black powder.You can try FFg or FFFg and regular primers work well.

Just because it's black powder don't mean it ain't gonna thump, so make sure to hang on !

 

[Millamber457]

Ok i got some 200 grain round nose , and used a light load out of the lyman manual for reloader 7 ( had some on hand ) . What a blast , the open top is a load of fun to shoot , and feels better in my hand than anything i have shot in a while .