black powder in .45 Long Colt?

[rondog]

This may be a stupid question, but I'm asking anyway. Can you load .45 Long Colt cartridges with black powder or Pyrodex? Since it was originally a BP round, I'm assuming you can, is it OK to shoot these in modern .45LC guns?

I'm asking because I've almost closed a purchase of an A. Uberti Cattleman revolver in .45LC, it's one of those Colt SAA clones, and I'm pretty sure it can shoot BP loads, but I'd just like to know for certain. Not that I ever would, but the option to would be cool.

 

[Grumulkin]

First of all, there is no such thing as a "45 Long Colt" despite what you may have read. It's simply the 45 Colt.

If, for some reason, you were masochist and really wanted to shoot black powder loads in a modern firearm and deal with all the cleaning and corrosion issues, it would be perfectly safe. I've never seen data for such loads but then, I've never looked for it. I guess making a lot of smoke could be cool.

 

[Sam1911]

Heck YES! BullfrogKen, JShirley, and I spent several hours last weekend doing exactly that with Ken's Blackhawk.

The loads chrono'd very well, too. IIRC, 250 gr. lead bullets at 900 fps or so.

Generally, the case volume (the empty space under the bullet) will be full, plus a little as black powder works best when slightly compressed. I belive Ken was using something near 32 gr. of FFFg black, but maybe he'll pop in and say for sure.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I loaded 36 grains of Goex FFF over a 255gr lead bullet. They clocked about 940 fps. Makes a deep, throaty boom, and lots of smoke. And the barrel got hotter much more quickly than I'd expected. After about 4 quick cylinders it was very hot to the touch. Guess that's the difference between a propellant and an explosive powder.

I can definitely appreciate the anecdotes from 100 years ago when people talked about catching each others clothing on fire when they shot at each other at conversation distances.

 

[rondog]

Interesting, thank you! I don't have the pistol yet, maybe soon. I do have a bunch of .45 230gr. LRN bullets for .45acp, will those work OK? My load books show recipes for 230gr lead bullets in .45 Colt, but not with BP. Just not sure if there's a dimensional difference between .45acp and .45 Colt.

 

[BullfrogKen]

It'll go bang.

My Blackhawk is a .45 convertible. The only difference I can tell is .45 ACPs aren't as accurate. The bore on a 45 Colt is about 2 thousands larger than a .45 ACP.

 

[highlander 5]

i've used Pyrodex and 777 in my 45 Colt and 45 Schofield loads in my 3 Rugers and never had a problem. Though oddly I got higher velocities in my Schofield brass with equal bullet weights than in my 45 Colt brass. Just remember to clean the brass as soon as you get home as it will turn a lovely shade of green from the residue of Pyro/777.

 

[Jim Watson]

If you want to shoot real black powder you need bullets with real black powder lube. That hard blue wax on a smokeless bullet will just make a mess which is probaby why people like Grumulkin think black is hard to clean.

The simple way to make smoke without real black powder gear is 777 which is ok with hard wax lube and cleans up with clear water. Dry and oil of course.

 

[rondog]

Ah, OK, better info....thanks guys! I don't know that I'll mess with BP or not, I really just want to get the gun in my hands and go shoot it. Always wanted a Colt SAA, and this looks like a good clone of them.

 

[LightningMan]

Jim Watson quote; If you want to shoot real black powder you need bullets with real black powder lube. That hard blue wax on a smokeless bullet will just make a mess which is probaby why people like Grumulkin think black is hard to clean.
This is correct, you don't want to shoot regular hard cast bullets ment for smokeless powder. You will have a mess and your pistol will be very inaccurate after a few shots. (Been there done that) You need soft cast lead bullets with a SPG type of lube on them. I myself like to use a card wad between the powder & bullet, and when shooting a big caliber like a 45-70 with black, I would sometimes use 2 card wads with extra grease in between aka grease cookies. LM

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Here is the link on the Hodgdon site for Pyrodex and 777 load data. Most of it is for muzzleloading and for their pellets but they do list 777 load data for handguns on the bottom right of the second page. They supply cartridge load data for the .45 Colt with a 200gr and 250gr bullet!!! (and cartridge load data for everything from the .38 Special up to the 45-120 Sharps)

I gave their data a try and it is a lot of fun to shoot. A lot of smoke and a fairly big boom. (just not as big a boom as with real black powder)

 

[FROGO207]

OR you can have it almost as good and use Hodgdons Trail Boss and not have the cleaning problems when you use your 45 ACP bullets. Just not as accurate and not so much smoke.