Filler needed in 45 Colt?

[Ed Gallop]

I am loading 45 Colt with 255 gr lead using slightly over the suggested load of HS7 and also used HS6. I'm not very experienced but have previously reloaded 38 and 357 and it never took half the time to clean brass in the tumbler. There is a lot of room in those 45 Colt brass and such a small amount of powder. Using a faster powder and more of it didn't reduce the problem. I was wondering... Would a filler to keep the powder near the primer reduce the problem? Ed.

 

[Wedge]

I use Unique and HP-38 in my .45 Colt. Never use filler and never had a problem.

 

[Walkalong]

Unique & Universal Clays both fill the case reasonably well and work well without fillers.

Blue Dot is a medium slow powder that does pretty good and fills the case fairly well. It can be a bit position sensitive though.

700X is one to try if you want to use faster powders as it is bulky and burns clean at low pressure. Ditto for Solo 1000 as well.

I tried some Trail Boss and some N320 the other day and they showed real promise. The Trail Boss WILL fill the case.

Others will probably work, but I have used these and can vouch for them. 700X and Trail Boss shoot very well with lead in big cases. 700X from experience, Trail Boss from all reports.

 

[Jim Watson]

Do you mean you are using slightly over the suggested starting load or slightly over the suggested maximum load? If the latter, cut it out.
If the former, the HS powders are dense and heavily deterred Ball-process powders. They don't take up much room in the case and they don't burn "clean" until chamber pressure is well up into the rather narrow range they are meant for.

Unless you want to go up to high end loads, one of the other powders recommended would do better. I have loaded a good deal of .44 Special and .44-40 with 700X, largely because I keep it on hand for 12 gauge. It is a good pistol powder but is a flake type and will not measure as uniformly as the "spherical" HS 6/7.

Do not put crap other than gunpowder in your ammunition.
Yes, I know it is done, you can read stories about "caulk backer rod" all over the Cowboy boards, but it not necessary for standard loads.

 

[ReloaderFred]

The .45 Colt is an old blackpowder round and the case was designed for those loads. It takes quite a bit of pressure to get the thick case to swell enough to fully seal the chamber, which is why light loads in this caliber are noted for blowback.

Unless you have experience with case fillers, and fully understand what is taking place when using them, it's not a good idea to use them. Case fillers completely change the formula, and the .45 Colt doesn't really lend itself well to their use for the casual reloader.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Werewolf]

What Reloader Fred said:

Don't sweat the unused space. I've run everything from TG (very fast powder), HP-38, AA#5, HS6 to AA#7 (relatively speaking a slow burning pistol powder) in 45LC and gotten excellent results from all and never needed a filler under predominantly 250 gr LRN bullets.

The only potential problem with low volume powders is position in the case when fired which can lead to a rather large FPS variance depending on the powder and bullet combo. Since 45LC isn't exactly a precision target round anyway who cares about a potential 75 FPS spread anyway? BUT if you do care then use Titegroup which is designed to not be a position sensitive powder and is a big reason why many 45LC reloaders like it so much for that caliber.

Finally I'll just say "Don't sweat the small stuff". In 45LC how much of the case is filled with powder really is in the grand scheme of things the small stuff.

 

[Walkalong]

Since 45LC isn't exactly a precision target round anyway who cares about a potential 75 FPS spread anyway?

Don't tell that to my FA 97 in .45 Colt that I just pawned my left n** for! It is superbly accurate. Many revolvers shoot this round very well. It is not tremendously popular for no reason. Very versatile as well.

 

[Ed Gallop]

Thanks for the information. My question was answered. Apparently it is in the nature of the 45 Colt's straight walled large casing that causes much more blowback than the 38 I am used to. My powder choices are limited, living so far from a decent city, but remember Universal Clays (and maybe others) was available. I was not aware shotgun powder is suitable. Ed.

 

[TEDDY]

ED:most pistol powders were originaly shotgun powders.bullseye for one and 700x(hyscore) for another.

 

[Ed Gallop]

Thanks. Did some extensive on-line research and found a lot of good info on powder. Going to the big city tomorrow so should have a good choice. Ed.

 

[Werewolf]

Since 45LC isn't exactly a precision target round anyway who cares about a potential 75 FPS spread anyway?

Don't tell that to my FA 97 in .45 Colt that I just pawned my left n** for! It is superbly accurate. Many revolvers shoot this round very well. It is not tremendously popular for no reason. Very versatile as well.

Versatile - now that's an understatement if I ever heard one. 45LC can do just about anything one needs it to do within about a 200 yard range and do it well enough.

Precision though is, I suppose, a relative term. I'm happy if I get 4" groups at 25 yards with my Ruger Vaqueros and 4" groups at 100yds with my Win 94. That's about the best I personally can get and I've tried a myriad of different loads including factory loads. If anyone has what they'd consider a precision 45LC load for a Win94 I'd sure be interested in knowing what it is.

 

[bakert]

Most of my .45 Colt loads are loaded with either with Unique or Universal Clays but I've also used both HS6 and HS7 with good results. I've been told by a much more knowledgeable reloader than myself that a pinch of the polyester fiber used for pillows can be used with many medium burning powders to give more uniform results and intend to give it a try one of these days but my loads work pretty well as they are.

 

[Walkalong]

I have used Super Grex in the past as a filler, but to stop leading, not fill space. There are things to look out for useing fillers though, and they can get you in trouble if you are not carefull.

 

[Gila Jorge]

Fillers I would not use....did once on some 12ga one oz loads where did not have the right wad...used a pinto bean...got louder reports...

all kidding aside....I use TiteGroup because of its lack of positional problems
one of the other recommended it and for good reason...I have switched to
TiteGroup...but still use Unique and 2400 regularly...700X I would not use in
pistols...recall seeing problems with pressure etc..some years ago...just made a mental note NOT to use it...and I have about 15 pounds of it and 800X on hand due to shotgun usage...word to the wise...

 

[Clark]

For accurate wimp loads in the spacious 45C case, try Unique.

 

[Ed Gallop]

Bought some Unique today. I've been measuring by cc instead of grains with the HS6 with a Lee chart. It doesn't show Unique. I'm looking for a affordable scale but until then need to convert 9 to 10 grains of Unique to a cc measure. Can't seem to locate it on the web.

Accuracy? I get consistent 4" groups at 25 yards with my Rough Rider 45 Colt without a rest (a lot tighter with one). It is about the same with my 9mm and 357 so I have no accuracy complaints.

 

[Meros]

Lee has an expanded chart on their site showing many more powders, including Unique, for each size measure. I've been told that the charts are conservative estimates, but work plenty well enough.

 

[Werewolf]

Usually the Lee chart is right on but occasionally it will be off a few tenths of a grain. When that happens - usually because of differences between LOTS of the same powder I just note the new weight and lot number of the powder on that particular box or boxes of reloads and continue to march on.

 

[Master Blaster]

try Trailboss its made for .45 colt lead bullets and moderate target velocity.
Fills the case right up, no leading or smoke.

 

[SASS#23149]

depending on the bullet being used, 9 to 10 grains of Unique is a LOT according to my books and the alliant website.
are you experimenting with hot loads.?? bad idea,imho

 

[RPCVYemen]

Unique & Universal Clays both fill the case reasonably well and work well without fillers.

I'm confused - I just started using Unique, and it works real well, but it doesn't come anywhere near filling the case.

How many are you putting in there?

I used 5.7 grs of Unique under under a 255 gr Hornady FP. It fills up about a quarter of the case.

Mike

 

[gandog56]

FA 97 in .45 Colt that I just pawned my for!

What's a left n** going for these days?

 

[Ed Gallop]

I fired several rounds of 9.2gr of Unique yesterday behind 255gr lead and was very pleased. It wasn't too much. As far as filling the brass... Short of black powder, I wouldn't consider filling a 45 Colt with smokeless unless I was building a bomb. One cc of Unique (9.2gr) wasn't even close but more than the .7cc of the finer HS7 and HS6. I'm very happy with the Unique. Ed.

 

[Walkalong]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkalong
Unique & Universal Clays both fill the case reasonably well and work well without fillers.

I'm confused - I just started using Unique, and it works real well, but it doesn't come anywhere near filling the case.

"Reasonably well" I guess I did not word that quite right. ..........Unique is bulky compared to many powders. Trail Boss is the only powder that will fill that big old case. It is accurate as well, but sooty. N320 is looking good for light to medium .45 Colt loads, but does not fill the case even a little bit. I'm trying N330 and a couple of others as well.

What's a left n** going for these days?

A left n** is going pretty high these days. That's why I could get the 97. I have not regreted it. It is sweet. We only live once and I've lived most of mine. What the h***.....

 

[Ed Gallop]

I need to correct my statement that I was pleased with 9.2gr Unique. It was powerful but not a problem until I cleaned the barrel after 24+ rounds. Never had lead build up like that before. The cleaning rod met a lot of resistence and I wonder what effect it had on the bullets. It may be fine for jacketed but not for cast.

I used between 7% and 8% tin to cast the bullets. Guess I could recast with 15% or 20% tin if the lower Unique charge still leads the barrel excessively. I ran a brush on a drill until the battery needed charging and there is still some stubborn lead in there. Ed.