.45 long colt

[Dirtwater]

I am new to this site.

in the old days I did reloading for my cowboy shooting, about 15 years ago and I am going to try it again. I purchased all new equipment. I have 300gr hard cast lead bullets .and can,t find a loading recipe. I have Lyman reloading book 2008, 49th edition, I also have an old 1997 Lee data manual. My gun is a 15 year old Vaquero.
Dirtwater

 

[Rule3]

What powders do you have?

If you have Trail Boss you do not need any "load dat" just follow the instruction in the first paragraphs of this article:

http://www.imrpowder.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf

There may be data in Lyman Cast bullet but without knowing what powder you have, no sense listing them

 

[zxcvbob]

15 years old... that means it has a large cylinder and is built on a Blackhawk frame, but close to the changeover. What kind of loads are you looking for? Mild? Wild? Something in the middle? (I could give you lots if you had 250-255 grain cast bullets. I've never loaded 300's)

 

[RealGun]

300 grain lead or jacketed? I find loads for both.

 

[Dirtwater]

I have Hodgdon HS-7
The bullets are not jacketed.

 

[Dirtwater]

I like to keep near 750 Feet Per Second.

 

[gunlaw]

Why do you want to use 300g bullets for cowboy? I think the recoil from the 300g might be a little strong.

 

[Dirtwater]

I have 50 left over sized and lubed from the old days that I didn't get to use.

i just would like to use them up for plinking.
Dirtwater

 

[Rule3]

Would have to be old data if there is any. HS 7 is no longer.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

W571/HS-7 is way too slow for plinking ammo in the 45 Colt. That's a fairly slow powder more suited for .357 Magnum and very heavy 45 Colt loads with pressures well over normal 45 Colt limits.

I would suggest trying to find some W231/HP-38 or even W540/HS-6 on the slower end. Others will suggest Unique but I don't care for that powder, I would use Universal instead.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Use at your own risk. I don't know what the pressures are.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/"Practice"+loads+for+big-bore+sixguns.-a0110470557

 

[rajbcpa]

I rarely use only data from books. I use information from the powder makers online. I always use two or more sources before starting on a new load. Typos can be a serious hazard....

typos can occur in books and online.... so beware.

 

[RealGun]

1) "15 year old Vaquero" I take as heavy enough for higher pressure loads.
2) HS-7 is discontinued but to be treated the same as W571, also discontinued.
3) Lead loads can be extrapolated from jacketed loads by reducing 5%.
4) "HP-7 is close enough to Blue Dot to use its data" (read it on the internet, don't you know).
5) Specific loads found reference AA#7 and #9, if you want to extrapolate from those (let me know).

I found a 300 gr XTP, Blue Dot load in the Lee book, which I extrapolate to starting lead with 9.0-10.0 gr HS-7, standard pressures, 730 fps., OAL 1.580.

 

[gunlaw]

Most of my 300g 45 colt loads have used unique but not at the lower velosities you want. I would save the 300's and load them up for hogs. use a lighter bullet with trail boss for cowboy/plinking. jmo.

 

[Dirtwater]

Thank you all for your comments. I will get some lighter bullets.
Lyle

 

[Clark]

My brother gets tiny groups with an old 1917 Smith 45 Colt double action revolver with 300 gr and 6 gr of Unique.

That is a wimpy load, but I am impressed with the accuracy.

 

[119er]

Plinking is great with lead 200gr RNFP's and IMR Trail Boss powder. I was using HP38/Win231 bur much prefer Trail Boss.

Good luck and welcome back!

 

[RealGun]

I found some older notes that indicate Hodgdon Longshot as equivalent to HS-7. From Hodgdon site I found a load for jacketed.

300 GR. SPR JFP Hodgdon Longshot .451" 1.650" 11.2 1005 21,100 CUP 12.5 1136 29,200 CUP

 

[Dirtwater]

I loaded my 300 grain lead bullets using 9.5 grains of HS7
I tested them a couple of days ago and shot a 3 inch group at 11 yards.
I am happy with the results. now all I have to do is shoot them over my new crony.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I would not use HS-7 for light loads in any caliber. It's hard to ignite consistently, you need near max loads, magnum primers and a very stiff crimp.
I really like 200 grain SWC's (.45 auto bullets) over 6.5 grains of Trail Boss. very accurate and clean burning.

 

[Dirtwater]

Thank you for the info.
the bullet and powder I am using is all I can get. I have some 200 grain copper plated bullets I am going to use in my next reload. they do not have a cannelure and that bothers me. And because I have not been able to find powder I will use the HS7 I have. It may not produce the best result but I think it will be safe.

 

[PO2Hammer]

OK, just be very cautious. I watched my buddy try to shoot HS-7 in .38 spl. He had wild velocity swings you could hear and feel, then a squib load that left a bullet in the bore and the gun covered in unburned powder.
In my Speer #11 manual they recommend crimping on the nose or over the shoulder on SWC's when using .45 auto bullets in the .45 Colt. I don't see any data for HS-7 in .45 Colt in any of my older books, so I can't help there.
Hopefully the shortages will be over soon and you can find some Unique or Trail Boss.
Don't be shy with the crimp.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I am aware that some have loaded 300 gr lead in low pressure 45 Colt, but I can't recommend it. I would try trading for some lighter bullets, such as 250 gr.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

OK, just be very cautious. I watched my buddy try to shoot HS-7 in .38 spl. He had wild velocity swings you could hear and feel, then a squib load that left a bullet in the bore and the gun covered in unburned powder.
In my Speer #11 manual they recommend crimping on the nose or over the shoulder on SWC's when using .45 auto bullets in the .45 Colt. I don't see any data for HS-7 in .45 Colt in any of my older books, so I can't help there.
Hopefully the shortages will be over soon and you can find some Unique or Trail Boss.
Don't be shy with the crimp.

HS-7 = W571 and both are hard to ignite ball powder which behave much better when set off by a magnum primer. A magnum primer would most probably prevent those wild swings but even then i would not use HS-7 in standard pressure .38 Special rounds. I don't favor HS-6/W540 in standard pressure .38 Special rounds and it's faster than HS-7.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I agree and recommended magnum primers in my first response.
However my shooting buddy is a cheap(skate) who uses HS-7 because he got it dirt cheap and he wouldn't spring for magnum primers or a more sensible powder.