45 Colt Powder options

[ArchAngelCD]

How about these?
W231/HP-38, HS-6, Universal, Trail Boss, AA#5, Herco, Unique, Power Pistol, 2400, Zip, True Blue, Red Dot, Pyrodex P, GOEX, and did I miss something???

 

[huntincowboy]

Haha I don't think so ... The lee bullet I'm using has a crimp groove that puts oal around 1.575 or so. Should I crimp in the groove or use oal of 1.600? I don't have a manual that lists the lee bullet (not even the lee book ha) I've been seating to 1.600 but if there's no need ...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Haha I don't think so ... The lee bullet I'm using has a crimp groove that puts oal around 1.575 or so. Should I crimp in the groove or use oal of 1.600? I don't have a manual that lists the lee bullet (not even the lee book ha) I've been seating to 1.600 but if there's no need ...

Crimp in the supplied crimp groove. The correct OAL for that bullet is set by the manufacturer.

 

[huntincowboy]

Thanks, I was worried about pressures being higher since oal would be different.

 

[Uniquedot]

Thanks, I was worried about pressures being higher since oal would be different.

What matters is how much bullet is inside the case, not outside. The shorter OAL is due to the bullets very wide flat meplat. It's my favorite 45 colt bullet.

 

[huntincowboy]

Thanks guys, I think I'm going to get some Unique and HS-6 based off of what you guys have said and reading the Linebaugh articles

 

[murf]

if you don't want to use magnum primers (suggested for hs-6), try bludot.

murf

 

[huntincowboy]

Murf, I am using WLP primers in my loads which have worked well for me in other magnum loadings, do you know if they will work well with the hs-6?

 

[USSR]

Murf, I am using WLP primers in my loads which have worked well for me in other magnum loadings, do you know if they will work well with the hs-6?

Not murf, but I use WLP primers with my 13.0gr HS-6 load in .45LC without issues.

Don

 

[huntincowboy]

Thanks Don!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks guys, I think I'm going to get some Unique and HS-6 based off of what you guys have said and reading the Linebaugh articles

Even though I listed all those powders in my other post I mostly use 2 powders for all my .45 Colt ammo. I have tried Clays, Universal, AA#5 and Trail Boss but my 2 favorite powders are W231 and HS-6. Believe it or not even though I'm a huge W231 fan my HS-6 loads are quickly becoming my current favorite .45 Colt loads...

With a 250gr LRN or 255gr SWC I used to charge between 7.0gr and 7.2gr W231 but my new load is 10.2gr HS-6 under the same bullets. Hodgdon lists a Max charge of 10.5gr but when I got to 10.2gr HS-6 the ammo was so accurate I didn't bother going any higher. (shot from an original 5.5" Ruger Bisley Vaquero)

 

[GooseGestapo]

The "Other" Unique.... Universal.

You'll use about 0.5gr less than with Unique to get same speed. I use 8.2gr for just under 1,000fps from my 4-5/8" BlackHawk.
I arrived at this charge after trying a variety of powders through my WinM94 "Legacy" w/24"bbl
I was having problems with case obturation and when it didn't, a lot of "whiff" of gas blow back around the case and associated fouling.
With the 8.2 of Universal, I don't get that and lacks some of the "soot" of Unique.

Don't get me wrong, I like Unique. Been using it since 1970.... But it takes close to or just above 9.0gr to get same results and it's still a tad dirtier than the Universal...
And I don't get the "sticky" extraction of the same velocity/accuracy with HP38/Win231... Bullseye also gives sticky extraction from the l/a, even though with 20.0gr of #2400, I get over 1,700fps (24"bbl) and still decent accuracy. (Lee 255gr FNGC; w/w metal w/95-5% lead-free solder added and sized 0.452" w/SPG lube) I don't.... go figure...!

 

[Snag]

Great info GooseGestapo, thanks for that. I've been debating on something to try other than Unique and your comments made up my mind.

 

[JustsayMo]

Everything RCmodel and UniqueDot might as well have been etched on the tablets Moses brought back.

A 1,000 fps with a 255 grain bullet over Unique is easy to achieve in a Ruger Blackhawk. It'll do everything you need it to do and then some. Base on my own experience a 250-300 grain 45 caliber bullet going 900 fps will get pert near any job done I can imagine using a revolver for. Ain't nothing going to be any deader or be any more accurate.

There are those that need a big fireball and scarey numbers on the chronograph for some reason beyond my comprehension. It seems to me that those that use the 45 Colt outside for real work eventually come back to the original velocities realizing that it gets it done just fine.

 

[Sport45]

I've burnt a lot of Unique in .45 Colt and many other handgun cartridges. This last go-round I bought Universal because I'd read so much good stuff about it.

Universal shoots the same for me as Unique. But it doesn't meter better than Unique in any of the powder measures I've tried it in, so I really wish now I hadn't troubled with the stuff.

My experience measuring it is with a Lyman 55, a Lee Perfect Powder measure, and a Redding Model 3. I haven't tried it yet with my 550b.

 

[warhwkbb]

Where can I look up the Linebaugh loads at?

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

 

[WYOMan]

I'll throw another vote in for AA#5.

 

[Patocazador]

8.5 grs of Unique behind a cast 255 SWC works in all my .45 Colt pistols. I go to 20 grs of 2400 behind a Horn. 250 gr XTP for a hunting load in my 7 1/2" Blackhawk.

 

[41 Mag]

Here are a couple of other links to some loads for you to look through as well,
Handloader 45 270 SAA

Taffin Test the 45 Colt

and an oldie but goodie,
MD Smith's - Reloading the 45 Colt Page

Just be sure to start low and work up, some of these might be a bit touchy.

I also have to throw in with the Lee 255gr RF, I have found that the John Linebaugh's load of 13grs of HS-6 works excellent in my 7.5" Redhawk. Mine come out just about 260grs on the money from the alloy I am using and they hit with authority out to 75-100yds.

I also picked up a MP Molds version of the 45 270 SAA which is in a Cramer style HP and it is also turning into something awesome as well. They drop right at 280grs with the Lg pin and with the different HP pins can run up to 285grs or as low as 275grs. depending on just which one I use. I have found they also work really well with the same load mentioned above.

 

[Hondo 60]

My 45 Colt loads are 11 gr of Accurate #5 under a 200 gr Missouri Bullet Co Cowboy #4.

10.5 gr works too, but leaves those a fore mentioned "yellow flakes".
So I upped the charge to 11 gr & it reduced that by 95%

This charge gives me about 850 fps & no leading in my Uberti 1873 Cattleman NM Brass.