Loads for .45 colt

[Snagglepuss]

I recently picked up a Uberti Cattleman. Along with it I bought some .45 colt dies, titegroup powder(the very knowledgable salesman suggested Clays but they were out), some 200g lasercast RNFP bullets, starline brass, and Winchester large primers. I checked three manuals and decided on a load of 7.4g of Titegroup as a starting load. At the range the accuracy was very good for a new pistol and a new shooter of cowboy guns. Here is my question. The amount of smoke produced was incredible. Actually felt like I was in a cowboy shootout. The brass cases, which were new, were very dirty on the outside. Is this normal for Titegroup and/or the .45 colt. Should I try a different powder (never used TG before)? Trail Boss? Clays? Currently I have on hand the following: Unique, PowerPistol, 800x and now TiteGroup.
Please share your vast info with me so I can work up a great load.

 

[MCgunner]

A good warm load, my light load in my Ruger, is 8.3 grains Unique behind a cast 255 (Lee mold) flat point. It is exceedingly accurate, mild recoil, over 400 ft lbs, shoots 900 fps out of my 4 5/8" barrel. This load is sort of an old standby. It would make a good general field use load in the Uberti.

 

[redneck2]

The smoke may well come from the bullet lube as well as the powder. If it's the blue "crayola" stuff on lead bullets, it's probably gonna smoke. If you mix that with a moderate load of Unique, you'll simulate BP.

My lead bullets have the clear lube. I use AA5 or Univeral Clays and get a lot less smoke with that combo.

IMO, unless you push Unique to the higher end of the scale (probably not possible in your application), it will be dirty. Actually, filthy would be more appropriate. The combination of case volume, low pressure, and bullet lube is probably the reason. BTDT.

YMMV

 

[Snagglepuss]

The laserCast bullets do have the blue lube. I am going to have to find some Clays at a near by shop. Thanks. On the other hand I really don't mind the smoke that much. It seems more realistic. I was just wondering if I might be doing something wrong. Keep posting if you don't mind.

 

[dmftoy1]

I've had really good luck with Trail Boss and .45 LC 255 Gr. LSWC's. I don't have my reloading notebook handy but IMR's website shows the data and I'm just a bit below the max "cowboy" load. MUCH easier to clean up than some of the other loads I tried. (Bullseye, Titegroup. etc.)

Good Luck!

 

[bakert]

I've never used Titegroup but some people swear by it. I shoot a lot of both 250 gr LRNFP and 255 gr LSWC bullets over 8.5 grs of Unique but a load I like even better is the same bullets over 8.5 grs of Universal Clays. Be warned though, the max load for Universal Clays is 7.8 grs in Hogdgons Annual Manual so it might be better to cut back a bit from this load I use in a Ruger BH. Universal Clays seems to burn just a bit cleaner to me but either powder can produce some very good loads in the .45 Colt.

 

[SASS#23149]

'sixguns' have looser telerances than most modern revolvers,and the cases on the long colt don't expand as well as with some calibers,thus more blowby with 'cowboy guns.' That has beeen my experience for sure.
Noe,in my .357 sixgun the velocities run more constant and case expansion is good,thus sealing the chamber resulting in far less blowby.

Enjoy the new shooter,and ENJOY THE SMOKE!!!

 

[MCgunner]

My Unique loads aren't THAT dirty. I cast my own, though, and use Lee tumble lube. I don't buy lead bullets, rather make 'em for free (well, the cost of the lube).

 

[Master Blaster]

250 grain Lead flat point and Trailboss use the loads in the IMR powder trailboss manual.

Excellent accuracy no leading velocity is what they list.

I shoot it from my 4 5/8" Blackhawk convertible, and my New New Vaquero 5.5".

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/trailboss.php