45lc roundball load

[kameron1858]

i orderd a Kirst for my 1858 and 50 rounds of smokeless 200gr lc from Buffalo Arms Co $316.00 total wow...
but i have been thinking why cant i just load my own useing the same thing I'm useing to load C&B a 30gr pellet of pyrodex with a wonder wad and hornady 454. ball. Has anyone here used this combination in a long colt case? i want to hand load this as soon as i shoot up the box comeing with the converter what tools would i need to do this? something to remove and repace the primers. something to press in the ball and maybe a crimper? do i need a filler so i dont have any airspace in the case? or would just droping in a pellet and topping it with a ball be ok? when i load C&B the pyrodex pellet has a hole through the center so thare is air space in the chanber when loading would this be safe to do in modern ammunition case? sorry for all the questions but I'm verry excited to start reloading and shooting 45 LC in my 1858

 

[SAA]

do i need a filler so i dont have any airspace in the case? or would just droping in a pellet and topping it with a ball be ok?

I've wondered the same thing. If air space is such a taboo with BP loads, then what about the airspace around some types of pellets?

 

[BHP FAN]

The Lee Loader is a good choice, it has all you need but bullets powder, and primers for under $30.00 bucks. An even better choice is the Lee Hand Press, which uses a set of regular pistol dies. Cost [including a set of dies] is under $70.00.

 

[kameron1858]

ok just orderd Lee Classic Loader Kit from Cabelas what about air space? I'll get some primers from a local shop anything i should pick up at the gun shop?

 

[mykeal]

I suggest you read the Hodgdon Loading Data page on their web site:
http://www.hodgdon.com/loading.html

No air space.

 

[bushrod2]

I loaded 44 mag. cases for my SBH. I measured the depth of the bullet then using spoons filled the cases with APP 3F and seated the bullets as usual. I used standard WLP primers. This is a very accurate load and pleasant to shoot lots of smoke and fire. Try a case full of a sub like Pryodex or APP, leave enough room to seat the ball and slightly compress the load or for a reduced load use some filler on top of the load to bring it up so you don't have an air space.Any of the strong frame Rugers will handle this load. Don't know how strong a 1858 is so you'd be best to add 30 grains of loose powder and filler on top to start with. Should about replicate your original load. You will need a press. I'd suggest a single stage press and a set of Lee dies. After you shoot them I'd put the spent cases into a bottle of soap and water to clean them. Hope this helps!

 

[CHM]

45 LC? I use 7.5 gr 800X behind a 200 gr round nose lead bullet. I suppose you could work up the "original" BP load, but why?

 

[bushrod2]

Original 45 Colt load according to Wikipedia was "up to 40 grains of black powder toped off with a 255 grain blunt round nose bullet.Average velocity of 970fps.

 

[ClemBert]

You are inquiring about "Gallery Loads". That is, a round ball, a light powder charge in a cartridge. Scrat and Foto Joe are your go to guys on this.

Start here and PM them for details.

 

[kameron1858]

thanks for the info guys what about smokeless powder airpsace is ok with smokeless right?

 

[bubba15301]

i loaded 9 grains of unique topped with a 454 rb. you could also use 9 grains of universal clays. you could also buy a pound of pyrodex pistol , fill the case and put a rb on top . or blackpowder if you can find it in your area 2f or 3f will work

 

[Foto Joe]

The Lee Classic is a great starter press. You asked if you are going to need anything else. I may have missed it but are you loading smokeless or Black Powder with the new press?

If you are going to load Black Powder or even Pyrodex you should make yourself some sort of compression tool like a dowel rod cut and placed in a wooden handle so you can push the powder down. Veggie wads are also useful, filler, the list doesn't go much farther.

If you're loading smokeless, in my opinion, it's simpler...But not near as much fun!!

 

[kameron1858]

I think I'm going to do mostly smokeless but I'll probly make some full BP loads for fun this gun is going to be the new primary pest gun on the farm so smokeless works best for me

 

[BCRider]

Getting back to the Pyrodex pellets for the moment.....

Since the pellets have to be a drop in fit and loading most of the usual loads over top of them will result in some airspace I'd assume that Hogdon allowed for the inevitable air space that would occur when using pellets. But in that case you want to load the cartridges with the same sort of loads that would be used in the black powder gun that they suggest for the pellets. Just because these loads are being put into brass cases doesn't change anything in terms of the loads that are stated in the reloading data for that particular gun.

 

[scrat]

Funny thing i suggest you do not read tge hogdon website. This bpcr loads not smokeless. follow the lee loader on everything until you get to the charging. you need to use loose powder not pellots. this is where you can tailor your loads. you can use round balls those are called gallery loads. here is an example. put 20 grains 2ffg goex in case followed by lubed wad followed by cream of wheat filling to almost the top
then fiber wad. tap in a ball just so its about 1/2 way on the ball done

 

[72coupe]

Here is a question I have, if you are loading a straight walled case, why don't you just push the ball or bullet all the way into the case until you have compression of your powder charge?

This would be something like the 38 wadcutter cartridges that are loaded flush with the mouth or less. This would do away with the need for filler.

 

[Pete D.]

The Lee Loader is a good choice, it has all you need but bullets powder, and primers for under $30.00 bucks. An even better choice is the Lee Hand Press, which uses a set of regular pistol dies. Cost [including a set of dies] is under $70.00.

+1 about that.

+1 about Cream of wheat filler - you may want to put a thin card wad in between the powder and the CoW to prevent mixing of the two. You can punch out your own with a wad punch (7/16ths) or buy them by the thousand online (Walter's Wads)
Remember - RBs are pure lead and soft. They have no lube on them and no lubed patch to protect them and the rifling from leading. Either keep velocity low or coat them with liquid alox.
Seating them against the powder is an OK idea for BP but not for smokeless.

Pete

 

[bubba15301]

i dont think pellets are recomended for cartridges

 

[scrat]

For compression that is why i say load it up all the way to the top for a round ball. For a bullet it would depend on the bullet you have to play with your first one until you tailor the load just right. The good part is you can make loads for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 grain loads using round balls. When i make them i take the finish rounds then dip the tips in a lube of Beeswax and olive oil. This helps in keeping the fouling small. they are very easy to load and shoot i prefer the lee loader for this as you cant really use a press when using round balls as you have to almost make up an extension. A press is only good for sizing the brass on this. As when loading round balls you do it old style one at a time. but then thats how we load cap and ball anyway.