.45 Colt Powder

[scrat]

oh and standard colt 45 is 35 grains of Goex measured by volume. With a 200 grain lead cast on top. bullet pressed to meet the powder.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I use 2400 or 296 generally. But I'm feeding a redhawk and a lever action.

 

[Uncle Chan]

Clays

 

[Walkalong]

Before I sold my Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt, I used Universal Clays for standard loads and it worked pretty well. I used AA # 9 to hot rod it. (By .45 Colt standards anyway)

It would be interesting to do some more testing these days with so many choices. I am in need of a .45 Colt Revolver in my life.

 

[MCMXI]

Posting heavy loads on this forum
All members are reminded of the forum rule posted at REQUIRED READ for those posting Extra HEAVY LOAD Information.

Postings including loads above posted maximums and which do not include the mandatory warnings will be either heavily redacted or deleted entirely. Friends, it's okay to boast of your barn-burner loads, so long as you follow the rules. Click the link, read, and follow.

Thanks to all
Johnny Guest
H&R Forum Moderator

Sorry to rock the boat ... all of those loads are PUBLISHED loads but I will read (and comply) with the forum rules.

Thanks.

 

[dwave]

They are published, under Ruger, Freedom Arms & T/C only. You should have placed a warning for that.

 

[Walkalong]

Johnny Guest and dwave are right. You should have posted a warning. No biggie. Just remember next time. We owe it to folks new to reloading.

 

[dwave]

Definitely, we don't want new reloaders turning their guns into grenades.

 

[MCMXI]

Fear not ... I'm flagellating myself with all the zeal of a Catalonian monk as I type so consider me thoroughly punished!

 

[Walkalong]

I'm flagellating myself with all the zeal of a Catalonian monk

Good stuff.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

LOL, those loads would have been fine in my revolver because it's an original Ruger Vaquero, not a New Vaquero but like already said, we don't want new reloaders to blow anything up and get hurt. I'm looking for a nice light load that's accurate to shoot at my local club when we shoot Cowboy Action type of shoots. (not official Cowboy Action shoots) I really like this revolver so I don't want to beat it up any or beat myself up either...

It looks like Unique is a favorite but I'm wondering if it's because Unique has been around so long. I really don't want to buy a powder for only 1 caliber since I don't use Unique for anything I now shoot. I do have a lot of W231, HS-6 and AA#5 on hand so I was hoping to get more answers pushing those powders although I knew Unique was going to be the favorite.

 

[MCMXI]

ArchAngelCD, anyone thinking of loading light CAS type loads should read the attached information from the VihtaVuori reloading manual. I know it's a pain to buy powder for just one caliber or load but if ever there was a time then this could be it. Trail Boss was specifically designed to avoid the potential problems listed in the attached page, specifically double charges and underload detonation. When I look at the myriad of powders that I have such as RE15, RE22, IMR 4895, IMR 7828, H-110, Trail Boss, VV N120, VV N130 and W231 the last thing I want to do is to buy ANOTHER powder but sometimes it's necessary.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thank you for the information. Be assured I wasn't going to load very light loads, I only wanted to make it clear I didn't need a heavier type "working" load. The loads I'll be making will be real ammo unlike some of the stuff you see in competition, just not up near the limits.

For example, a good .45 Colt load will push a 250/255gr bullet to at least 900 fps. I wont be pushing them past 750 fps but not slower. (I've seen them as low as 550 fps, that's not for me!!) I've been looking at either 9.4gr of HS-6 or 6.2gr W231 but will take a closer look at TrailBoss before I decided on anything. I have 6 boxes of Winchester ammo to burn up before I have the brass to start reloading.

 

[tomh1426]

Trail Boss is by far my favorite powder for .45 Colt, It fills the case, meters great and burns clean.
If you relaod your gunna have all sortsa crap aneyway, whats another can of powder.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

tomh1426,
I hear ya but I have so many powder now I just didn't want to buy another. I will buy a can of Trail Boss and give it a try though.

BTW, in the November special issue of Handloader they listed a few .45 Colt loads. They listed only 3 powders, Red Dot and W231 to duplicate the original loads from 100 years ago and Universal for something a little heavier yet still under the 14,000 PSI SAAMI limits. (info on page 34)

 

[dwave]

When I don't load BP, I use Universal. Seems to work quite well.

 

[BHP FAN]

30 gr.s of triple seven 3F under a 250 gr. RNFP will get your attention.I'm going back to Goex 2F,it's gentler.

 

[tlen]

HERCO works great for many handgun cartridges from light target loads to medium to heavy magnum laods.

 

[1858rem]

how bout' titegroup

 

[rogn]

Hs6 and Unique do very well on "standard" loads w/255gr. N110/VV is great on heavy loads. All are printed in the manuals.

 

[the foot]

My Blackhawk with 255-gr. LBT Keith-type lead bullet is most accurate with Bullseye, next is 700-X.

I have used 231 and Unique with success, just not as accurate as the powders I listed.

 

[tiger rag]

Unique,or 777

 

[moosehunt]

I'm quite surprised that Tite Group has been mentioned so little (twice). I have been very pleased using 6.2 gr with 230 gr RN (lead) bullet. It is very accurate in my Ruger Bisley, clean, comfotable to shoot, etc. I went through 6000+ this summer practicing for a hunt (on which I of course didn't use that load!!). I tried other powders before settling on Tite Group, including the venerable Unique, but couldn't beat the Tite Group. Have a good day!

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Unique for most 45 Colt loads--can also be used as a shotgun powder.

 

[wcwhitey]

Unique, tried and true. My go to powder for all standard pistol loadings. .38, .44 and .45. True you can go a little cleaner and for magnum loadings there are better powders but you cannot argue with a good solid accurate loading. I can load a decent round of anything with pound of Unique.