Good Powder For 45 Colt?

[ReloaderFred]

I also shoot for a Bhn of about 12 for most of my casting. The reclaimed lead shot I've been casting comes out at Bhn 15, which is still good for most applications. I don't like to cast bullets any harder than that.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[USSR]

Quote:
Been shooting 255gr powdercoated lead boolits over 21gr of IMR4227 in my 24" Rossi 92 levergun.

Maybe a good place for a note that this is NOT an SSA load, even though it should be obvious.

Maybe a good place to state that .45 Colt loads are platform dependent. Since the OP is talking about a Ruger New Vaquero, loads should be restricted to 23K psi (25.6k CUP) of which the above load falls in that category. I have a S&W 25-5 with the same pressure restriction, and I shoot 22gr of IMR4227 which remains in the pressure range suitable for that particular platform.

Don

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Unique is always my first choice for pistol. I believe I use 9.0gr w/ 250gr lead in my Vaqero.

 

[entropy]

Unique would be my first pick

+1.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like I said, Unique is good but there are better choices. Unique us so popular because back over 100 years ago it was the only choice so over the Decades that's what everyone suggests.

 

[Don McDowell]

If you don't have unique or bludot on hand, 231 is a good powder. Trail boss is alright for low velocity plinker loads, but non of my 45's shoot it as well as unique or 231, ymmv..

 

[joneb]

I like True Blue

I will be trying this for 44 spl soon, I've had good results with W-231, Accurate #5 and VV n-340 in 44 spl. Seems like these cartridges have similar likes.

 

[rondog]

Maybe a good place for a note that this is NOT an SSA load, even though it should be obvious.

Thank you! I did mean to mention that, but forgot to add it. There's NWIH I'd use that load in my Uberti Cattleman, which is a lovely SAA clone. I'll ONLY shoot that load in my rifle, which seems to love it. In the Uberti I use Trailboss, although I don't recall the amount offhand. Something mild though.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thank you! I did mean to mention that, but forgot to add it. There's NWIH I'd use that load in my Uberti Cattleman, which is a lovely SAA clone. I'll ONLY shoot that load in my rifle, which seems to love it. In the Uberti I use Trailboss, although I don't recall the amount offhand. Something mild though.

With Trail Boss I have found it's almost useless to load it any other way than like black powder. Unless you fill the case without compressing the little donuts you don't get the best results. That us true for any cartridge I have used it in.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Just want to chime in my agreement with the 12 BHN being ideal for the .45 Colt.
I've pushed them pretty hard with no leading.

If they are the correct size for your gun, it is all that is needed.

Elmer Keith developed the .44 magnum using a 16-1 mixture which has a BHN of about 11.

 

[25-20 WCF]

I bought my first .45 LC, a NMBH in 1973 and have loaded for it (and other guns so chambered) ever since. While I have loaded plenty of jacketed bullets I have shot far more cast. For "factory level" loads with 250-255 grain cast I burned many pounds of Unique; for heavier sub-Ruger loads BlueDot worked great for me. I had no desire to load to 30,000 cup, the little 4-5/8" Ruger was too lightweight and recoil unpleasant. Even during the 27 years I lived and hunted in Alaska I never felt under-gunned with a 250 to 300-grain cast at ~1000 fps.

Over the years I have tried other powders, especially when there were shortages. Universal, W231, AA-2, AA-5, HS-6, all were "okay" but the best accuracy with cast was consistantly with AA-5. 90% of my .45 cast loads today are with AA-5 and BlueDot. But I still keep a pound of Unique around just in case.

I always had better luck with softer alloys. Never measured thr BN but most were straight non-tempered wheelweights. All were a slip fit in the chamber throats.


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[CrankyCraig]

I bought my first .45 LC, a NMBH in 1973 and have loaded for it (and other guns so chambered) ever since. While I have loaded plenty of jacketed bullets I have shot far more cast. For "factory level" loads with 250-255 grain cast I burned many pounds of Unique; for heavier sub-Ruger loads BlueDot worked great for me. I had no desire to load to 30,000 cup, the little 4-5/8" Ruger was too lightweight and recoil unpleasant. Even during the 27 years I lived and hunted in Alaska I never felt under-gunned with a 250 to 300-grain cast at ~1000 fps.

Over the years I have tried other powders, especially when there were shortages. Universal, W231, AA-2, AA-5, HS-6, all were "okay" but the best accuracy with cast was consistantly with AA-5. 90% of my .45 cast loads today are with AA-5 and BlueDot. But I still keep a pound of Unique around just in case.

I always had better luck with softer alloys. Never measured thr BN but most were straight non-tempered wheelweights. All were a slip fit in the chamber throats.


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Good to know! I really appreciate your input.
I found a pound of Unique today. I may have to try AA5 as well. Thanks for taking the time to post.

 

[billybob44]

2400.....

Lots of good talk on WW-231/HP-38, Unique, TiteGroup here..

Not much on Alliant 2400??
2400 can be used on most all large capacity cases, with good case fill, and can be loaded from Mild to WILD..

No need to overlook another GREAT powder that has been around for awhile...Bill.

 

[25-20 WCF]

Universal Clays is a good substitute for Unique....

I hope this is not considered too nit-picky, but there is no such thing as "Universal Clays" today. Hodgdon changed the name to Universal several years ago to avoid confusion with their Clays powder. The later is much faster than Universal and substituting Universal data for Clays could cause dangerous pressures.

 

[RecoilRob]

from billbob: Not much on Alliant 2400??
2400 can be used on most all large capacity cases, with good case fill, and can be loaded from Mild to WILD

Mild loads normally don't burn the 2400 very well in my experience leaving lots of unburned crunchies. Needs the loads turned up a bit to burn cleanly which might be a bit stout for 45 Colt use. Sure...you can load some real stomper 45 Colt with 2400, and I believe my 454 Casull is loaded with it...but a casefull to the bottom of the bullet. Shouldn't treat a SAA like that of course though a Vaquero will tolerat quite a stiff load safely....but do you want to subject yourself to the punishment? I keep a can of 2400 at all times for the Magnums and like to keep the Colt at blackpowder intensity. If he wants to hot-rod it...by all means 2400 is wonderful stuff!

 

[MEHavey]

I hope this is not considered too nit-picky, but there is no such thing as "Universal Clays"

Not too nit-picky at all:

See: http://thefiringline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5477536&postcount=12

 

[LOLBELL]

Unique gets my vote. People either love or hate Unique, very few fall in between. It works very well for mild loads in the larger revolver cases. It doesn't meter as well as a ball powder, but I have noticed that a +/- 1or 2 tenths of a grain makes no difference on the chronograph or target.

I don't like to use the faster powders such as Tightgroup or Bullseye in a case as big as a 41,44, or 45c. That's just me though, to each his own. I can't detect a double charge of Bullseye in a 45c case.with my naked eye, but I've got old eyes.

What I have been working with lately in 45c is Trail Boss. I haven't fully made up my mind yet, but it may replace Unique in 45c.

 

[CrankyCraig]

I appreciate you taking the time to respond.
I found a pound of unique powder but I couldn't locate trail boss anywhere here in my area at least not at Bass Pro, Cabelas & local shops.

 

[Walkalong]

I like True Blue

Seems to work well.

 

[rondog]

With Trail Boss I have found it's almost useless to load it any other way than like black powder. Unless you fill the case without compressing the little donuts you don't get the best results. That us true for any cartridge I have used it in.

Thanks! I'll try that! Need to make some more ammo for the revolver anyway.

 

[Don McDowell]

DO NOT compress trail boss. When those little donuts get broke the pressures get really weird.
Read the trail boss loading instructions available on Hoydens web site.
Trail boss is not a very accurate powder in the large cases, due to it being just one step slower than bullseye.

 

[rondog]

You know, I just read the same elsewhere - DO NOT compress Trailboss! So I'ma scratching that idea.....

 

[ReloaderFred]

I use Trail Boss in .45 Colt and light .44 Magnum loads for SASS matches. Compressing it isn't a good idea, and defeats the purpose for using it. I like the stuff myself, and it meters a whole lot better than Unique, though if you want full power loads, you'll have to find something besides Trail Boss, which it was never intended to used for.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[ArchAngelCD]

DO NOT compress trail boss. When those little donuts get broke the pressures get really weird.
Read the trail boss loading instructions available on Hoydens web site.
Trail boss is not a very accurate powder in the large cases, due to it being just one step slower than bullseye.

You know, I just read the same elsewhere - DO NOT compress Trailboss! So I'ma scratching that idea.....

I specifically said that in Post #34 when I suggested:

With Trail Boss I have found it's almost useless to load it any other way than like black powder. Unless you fill the case without compressing the little donuts you don't get the best results. That is true for any cartridge I have used it in.

 

[Walkalong]

I have come to the same conclusion with Trail Boss, load it to 100% load density.

But even then, in pistols, it doesn't behave well with plated. Didn't try it with jacketed. Thought that would be defeating the purpose.