anybody run 185s or 200s through a 45 Colt?

[feets]

I've been on the hunt for a fun lightweight plinker load or my Vaquero.
The gun sees loads that run from light to WHAT-WERE-YOU-THINKING. Since I've graduated to a 460 S&W, I can back the sixgun down and do more piddly-bang-pop stuff with it. I also use it to "break in" new shooters. The shiny finish and cowboy look are FAR less intimidating to newbies than the evil black guns with all the moving parts.

The biggest problem I've run into is the case capacity. Trying to light a minimum of powder in that high volume case is just plain messy.

Do any of you have reliable light loads that are guaranteed to strike fear in the hearts of soda cans everywhere?

Sorry, I'm just not into 22s and have no interest in picking one up. As new shooters progress, you can simply load 'em up with rounds packing progressively more bite without changing the gun.

 

[esheato]

205 grainers and Trail Boss.

Hell, any bullet weight and Trail Boss.

Ed

 

[feets]

I've seen that listed in the manuals but never messed with it.
Does it burn fairly clean when loaded light in large volume cases?

 

[ReloaderFred]

It's used by thousands of Cowboy Shooters. My shooting partner burns it in his .45's with light bullets and likes it.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[esheato]

Trail Boss was made with large cases at low velocities in mind.

Straight from IMRs website:

Trail Boss is designed specifically for low velocity lead bullet loads suitable for Cowboy Action shooting. It is primarily a pistol powder, but has some application in rifle. It is based on a whole new technology which allows very high loading density, good flow through powder measures, stability in severe temperature variation and most importantly, additional safety to the handloader.

Data is here.

Lastly, to give you an idea of the "fluffiness" of Trail Boss, only 9 ounces are sold in the traditional Hodgdon one pound round plastic container.

Good luck.

Ed

 

[RugerBob]

I just got a new 200 grain mold from Lee. Cast a few hundred the other day. Lubed and ready to load. Gonna use Trail Boss or Unique. Have both on hand. Both powders are good for the 45 and tho one is dirtier then the other, I still lean towards Unique the most. My 2 cents anyway. Good luck and have fun, Bob

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Ditto the Trail Boss comments. I've used it in CAS for two years now, both in .45 colt cases and .45 Schofield's with 200 gr or larger boolits.

 

[feets]

I'll have to give Trail Boss a try. I usually avoid lead and try to stick with jacketed bullets.
I ran the JHPs simply because I had them.

 

[zxcvbob]

Back when they were cheap, I bought a box of Oregon Trails Lasercast 200 grain bullets. RNFP, if I recall correctly.

I really liked them with a stout charge of Red Dot -- something like 8.0 grains. (this is a slightly "+P" load) For your purposes, you might want to use 6.5 grains.