.45 Colt Powder

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dradave

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Friends, I have just purchased a Uberti Cattleman Hombre in .45 Colt. My plans are to load for this round using Missouri Bullets Cowboy loads with a LRNFP 250gn @ .452 diameter with a BHN of 12.

It seems like everyone recommends using Unique powder but I have not had good luck with it in the past and prefer not to use it. My local fun store carries AA #5 and Hodgons Universal.

I have experience with AA #5 in .45 ACP but have not used Universal. It seems that both powders will do the job and there are loads in the manuals for it.

My question is, which one would be more appropriate in regards to a velocity out of a 4 3/4 inch barrel of 800-850 fps. Also, consider metering, density and case fill.

I'm using a Lee LCT to load them with and Lee dies.

Any thoughts or recommendations will be appreciated.

Regards,
 
I've had good luck with Bullseye and that bullet in 45 Colt. Ended up settling on 6.8g which gives me 870fps out of a 4 5/8" bbl
 
From Dec 2011 Handloader
5 1/2" Lipsky Ruger Blackhawk test.
250 Oregon Trail LSWC.

AA #2 - 7.0 = 795 FPS.
Red Dot - 6.0 = 794 FPS. (Noted most accurate)
Bullseye - 6.0 = 818 FPS.
Bullseye - 6.5 = 870 FPS
Bullseye - 7.0 = 920 FPS
700X - 6.0 = 801 FPS
700x - 6.5 = 861 FPS.

rc
 
Nothing wrong with AA#5 (sorta like Unique anyway) or Universal. For simplicity's sake go with #5. It will give you the velocity you want without high pressures. 10.5 grains of AA#5 seems to be the consensus for best performance with a 250 grain cast bullet.
 
Why not try Trailboss ? It's made specifically for cowboy action shooting loads,burns clean hard to double charge a case,major drawback is the price, but it works so great for 45 Colt loads.

I shoot 5.5 grs over a 260 gr cast wheel weight boolit they clock about 750 fps out of a 4 5/8 th inch Blackhawk, very light recoil and acceptable accuracy.
 
Been using AA#5 or Acurate 5 for many moons in my 45 ACP and 45 Colt. Very good powder and my favorite no doubt. But, I use cast boolits I make out of wheel weights (don't know the harness) and they are made in a Lee, 6 banger, 230 grain RN aluminum mold. Good luck and happy shooting......

The Dove
 
Universal is a GREAT powder for what you are wanting to do. 7.5 to 8 grains under that bullet should get you the velocity you want, and proved to be very accurate in my guns (I used about 7.8 grains under that same Missouri Bullet Co. bullet, which is Hodgdon's listed max for standard 45 Colt).
 
Trail Boss might make 800 fps in a 4-3/4" barrel with a 250. I use it with 200 grain SWCs in the .45 Colt (carbine).
Universal will work, but you'll get a lot of unburned powder until you get near max charges.
 
If you know anybody who reloads for a shotgun, see if you can bum a quarter pound of Red Dot (or Promo, basically the same powder without the dots) from them to test. It's a wonderful powder in .45 Colt.
 
If you want a soft shooting load that fills the case well I have to agree that Trail Boss will work well. Not sure of the VEL and where it is in relation to 800-850 FPS as I shot my crony a while ago and have not bothered to replace it yet.:eek: Anyway the 250 grn RNFP lead bullets I use seem to always hit point of aim with anything around 6 grains of TB in my Uberti.:)
 
I use both W231 and HS-6 in the .45 Colt. AA#5 is supposed to be good too but I have not been able to get acceptable accuracy from AA#5 in the .45 Colt.

Unique is supposed to be the classic powder for the .45 Colt but that's probably because it was one of the only powders back then. Universal was developed to mimic Unique only cleaner and it meters better.

Trail Boss will mostly fill the case but deliver low velocities because it was developed to mimic Black Powder and works well in large cases which originally used Black Powder.

IMO Bullseye is much too fast a powder for the .45 Colt as is Clays.

Again, W231/HP-38 and HS-6 are my favorite .45 Colt powders. AA#5 will also work well if you can find an accurate load for your revolver...
 
AA #2 - 7.0 = 795 FPS.
Red Dot - 6.0 = 794 FPS. (Noted most accurate)
Bullseye - 6.0 = 818 FPS.
Bullseye - 6.5 = 870 FPS
Bullseye - 7.0 = 920 FPS
700X - 6.0 = 801 FPS
700x - 6.5 = 861 FPS.
Click to expand...

At the velocities you are looking for, I will second rcmodel's recommendation, and will add 6.0gr of Solo 1000 to it. The .45 Colt is just about the easiest cartridge to load for. 6.0gr of any 12 gauge shotshell powder suitable for trap and skeet loads is really all you need.

Don
 
I used Unique in my 5 1/2" USFA SAA with the 12 BHN MBC 250 RNFP & got very good accuracy - 8.5, & 9.0 gr (max in Lyman Pistol handbook). I also got very bad leading, and haven't gone back out since. I haven't slugged it yet (I'm the slug) and the cylinder throats are 452, but I'm guessing it may be the 12 BHN alloy. I'm going to try some 18 BHNs I have but it'll have to wait until after knee replacement surgery next week. Then I'll get to play for 3-4 months in rehab... :D
 
My first response was obviously going to be Unique as it works very well in my loads but since you don't like it, try some WSF. A slower powder for .45 LC and also works well for me.
 
45 l.c. Power

dradave; I used unique for years and then a friend gave me 2 8lb containers of 231, and I have been using it ever sence, light loads for COWBOY shoots and stronger for hunting. My Son and I use hard cast 250 to 255 gr bullets which ever we can fine at the time, both work just fine the 45 LC is a great calbier, and we shoot it a lot. I have shot every thing from varmits to Hogs or Deer and it worked just find. Is DOUNG`S GUN SHOP still open in TULSA it was on East Admeral Place close to the WILL ROGER`S High school. I use to ride my bike there is 1958 and 1959. Its been a long time. GOOD LUCK TO YOU: ken
 
Dong's is still open in the original location, in fact it is my fun store of choice as it has everything and more for the reloader and shooter. As mentioned earlier, I would like to use Universal or AA #5 for my .45 colt revolver. I have AA#5 on hand as I have used it for my .45 ACP loads.

I have heard good things about Universal though and would like to give it a try. What type of powder is it (ball, spherical, or flake)? I'm using a Lee Pro Auto Disk on a Lee Classic Turret and am curious about the metering aspect. In fact is there a reference somewhere that identifies all the powder types from the different vendors?

If Universal does not work out, I will try other powders as mentioned

Thanks to all that responded.
 
Hey, thought I'd revive this thread,

Ive seen info suggesting Titegroup is a good powder for 45 colt, any thoughts or experience?

john
 
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