45 Long Colt - How do you reload it?

[Green Horn]

What method do you use to reload your 45 Long Colt ?

Powder, Recipe, Projectile, Brass, Primmer, Press?

Have any light loads used in Cowboy Action Shooting, Tell me about them.

Yep I'm a Green Horn !

 

[45_auto]

Get yourself some reloading manuals or go to the powder manufacturer's websites for loading information.

Not real smart to use reloading info from random strangers on the internet in something that can blow up in front of your face..

 

[Green Horn]

Get yourself some reloading manuals or go to the powder manufacturer's websites for loading information.

Not real smart to use reloading info from random strangers on the internet in something that can blow up in front of your face..

I have ordered the Lee 2nd edition and the Lyman 49 edition do you use ether one of these? Which one do you use or recommend?

 

[Potatohead]

Mr Green Horn,
At what stage of your handloading career are you? So we better know how to help, (besides that your green)..

 

[Green Horn]

Mr Green Horn,
At what stage of your handloading career are you? So we better know how to help, (besides that your green)..

I just started and that's about as green as it gets.

 

[Potatohead]

The Lee is refurbished data from other sources, not the best but not terrible. Lyman is a great place to start though. You really need to read, read, read, and hang around THR a whole lot. Seems like you're doing that but be sure you have a pretty good idea of what you're doing before you jump.

Some of the guys may be a little hesitant to offer specific loads if they are unsure of your skill level. Nobody wants to have a hand in you losing one of yours!

 

[Potatohead]

Ha, yea that's pretty green and I was there not to long ago. Do you have a press? Have you loaded anything yet?

 

[gunlaw]

The 45 Colt is pretty easy to reload. Start with Unique powder and some 255g cast bullets and you have a good start.

 

[Green Horn]

I totally agree and understand why caution would be a concern to handing out advice, I am a cautious guy and will do my best to avoid mishaps for sure I need both my hands. lol
Any advice will be appreciated and used along side all reloading manuals, is there another good source of learning say like another reloading book if so I will buy it too!

Thanks

 

[Reloadron]

You may want to :

Read This

Read This

Read This

And finally Read This.

Hopefully those links will help. Do you have any loading manuals? The Hornady 9th edition and Lyman 49th edition are very good sources of load data. The reason I haven't listed any specific loads is I haven't a clue what gun you have and there is a very wide range of bullets used for cowboy action shooting.

Ron

 

[Green Horn]

Ha, yea that's pretty green and I was there not to long ago. Do you have a press? Have you loaded anything yet?

Yea I have everything I need but I am waiting for the reloading manuals and some bullets to arrive I have already bought the the other elements needed like primers and powders and brass.

 

[Green Horn]

You may want to :

Read This

Read This

Read This

And finally Read This.

Hopefully those links will help. Do you have any loading manuals? The Hornady 9th edition and Lyman 49th edition are very good sources of load data. The reason I haven't listed any specific loads is I haven't a clue what gun you have and there is a very wide range of bullets used for cowboy action shooting.

Ron

I will have the Lyman 49th edition and the Lee 2n edition soon they are on the way.
Ok yes I will read those links and learn all I can from them and the books as well and I think I'll get the Hornady 9th edition too. Thanks for the great advice.

 

[Walkalong]

What bullets did you order?

 

[Green Horn]

What bullets did you order?

45 LC Oregon Trail 200g RNFP Bullets (500)

probably order some 430 or 455 gr also but I was playing it safe I think by starting with a light bullet and a light load and of course trying to avoid a squib.

 

[Walkalong]

It's hard to beat a 250/255 Gr lead bullet in .45 Colt. Some like to shoot even heavier ones.

I assume you meant 230 and 255. I am not aware of a 230 gr bullet intended for revolvers. Might be one though. If it is 230 Gr, make sure it isn't intended for .45 ACP as it will not have a crimp groove.

What powders do you have?

 

[Cheesemaker]

probably order some 430 or 455 gr also but I was playing it safe I think by starting with a light bullet and a light load and of course trying to avoid a squib.

Assume you mean 230 or 255????


You cannot have too many reloading manuals - follow them. Also, the powder sites. The rifle/handgun you will be using has some influence too. Don't put a "high end" Ruger/TC only load in an old revolver/rifle.

 

[Potatohead]

I thought "Reloading For Handgunners" by Patrick Sweeney was really good. I strongly recommend it. Goes in depth into the specifics of loading certain calibers, not just a broad brush type deal. Not sure if he touches on the caliber you are looking for though.


Not that you asked what I did, but I hung around here and bugged everybody to death for 5 or 6 months before I ever filled a case with powder or bought a press. I recommend that to you also.

Oh yea, and if you havent heard, start low and work up!!!

If you're ever afraid to publicly post what you think is a dumb question, feel free to PM me because I bet Ive already asked it! And if I dont know the answer i'll bet I can guide you to more than a few folks who will...

 

[Potatohead]

One more thing, I'm guessing you will need to read up on (roll) crimping.

 

[Crunchy Frog]

Hodgdon has a "cowboy action" section of their load data (printed and online) that I have found useful. Of course, this assumes you can find the powders in question!

Try Trail Boss powder if you can find it. It is designed for pushing lead bullets at SASS legal velocities. Plus, it's a fluffy, bulky powder that will make visual confirmation of powder levels easier.

 

[TommyD45]

What kind of revolver are you reloading for?

There is a HUGE difference between reloading for a full size Ruger Blackhawk (or Freedom Arms) 45 Colt and the older Colt Peacemaker and its replicas.

Using the standard pressure Colt type loads in a Ruger won't hurt it. But if you use Ruger level loads in a Colt peacemaker you could potentially blow the gun up in your hands.

Good reloading manuals will have different data sets for the two classes of guns.

Tom

 

[midland man]

I use 6.8gr greendot behind a 250gr lead round nose flat point bullet works for me!!

 

[Green Horn]

It's hard to beat a 250/255 Gr lead bullet in .45 Colt. Some like to shoot even heavier ones.

I assume you meant 230 and 255. I am not aware of a 230 gr bullet intended for revolvers. Might be one though. If it is 230 Gr, make sure it isn't intended for .45 ACP as it will not have a crimp groove.

What powders do you have?

Here is why I said 230 gr: http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/powderlist.aspx?type=3&powderid=1&cartridge=15

I have BE AND RD.

 

[Green Horn]

I thought "Reloading For Handgunners" by Patrick Sweeney was really good. I strongly recommend it. Goes in depth into the specifics of loading certain calibers, not just a broad brush type deal. Not sure if he touches on the caliber you are looking for though.


Not that you asked what I did, but I hung around here and bugged everybody to death for 5 or 6 months before I ever filled a case with powder or bought a press. I recommend that to you also.

Oh yea, and if you havent heard, start low and work up!!!

If you're ever afraid to publicly post what you think is a dumb question, feel free to PM me because I bet Ive already asked it! And if I dont know the answer i'll bet I can guide you to more than a few folks who will...

Thanks I really appreciate that.

 

[Walkalong]

I have BE AND RD.

Then your set, as either one will work.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Powder recommendation

I recommend Trail Boss powder. It is bulky (occupies a lot of the case volume, making it easy to view the amount of powder) and originally marketed for CASS (Cowboy Action Shooting Sports). CASS shooters use a lot of replica guns (and some original 19th century guns, too) so does not generate very high pressures.

It is an excellent powder to start with.

Good luck. Thanks for asking our advice.

Lost Sheep
edit: Easily viewed powder in the case makes it easy to detect a case without powder or a case with a double charge. Also lets you see if all the cases are charged with the same amount (by eyeball is not accurate enough for loading, but a gross difference will alert you to a potential grave danger. Thanks, Potatohead for pointing out a lack of background information in my original post.)