Old vs. New 45 Colt Load Data.

[gilgsn]

Well, I reloaded about 140 rounds today, 40 with Lee 200gr RNFP and around 8gr of Unique. I say "around," because the Lee "perfect" **cough-cough** powder measure was all over the place.. So, they're between 8.0 and 8.7gr. Sometimes I even got +/-1gr than expected! Depending if I tapped the PM with my finger, or not. Not very happy about that. Anyway, those will be for my Pietta 1858 with the R&D cylinder. I also reloaded 100 with the Lee 255gr RNFP and between 8.0 and 8.9gr of Unique in 0.1gr increments. These will be for the Pietta SAA I am still reviewing. Each case was put on my digital scale, and the tare button pressed. Then I put the powder in, and adjusted accordingly. So, I ended up with very precise loads.. I used Winchester cases. Their weight varied by about 2gr max, with an average of 114.0. I used Liquid (goey) Alox for bullet lubrication, with a bit of crisco smeared on to make sure the grooves were all filled. Regular crimp.. I'm planing on getting a roll-crimp die. Bullets are both .452.

So, the Lee powder measure did not impress me. I am just getting back into reloading, used to have a Dillon 550, so I was spoiled. I will eventually get another one. Their other products work great.. The tiny $20 single stage press, bullet molds and sizing die kit, all good. Hopefully the Chrony F1 will work, I have read some bad comments about it.. Advise would be welcome..

My next experiments will be to get a RCBS 454-270-SAA mold, and try some pan-lubing. The Lee lube grooves are so small! I might buy some big-lube bullets too, and try them before maybe getting a mold.

Stay tuned for the chrono results, and thanks everyone for the advise!

Ya'll have a great week-end

 

[Uniquedot]

those will be for my Pietta 1858 with the R&D cylinder.

I ran countless numbers of 45 colt rounds through an 1858 Pietta using the Lee 255 grn. bullet and 8.0 grns. of unique. I think you will find that it will shoot nice clover leafs, but the bullets do require sizing to at least .452 if your mold is dropping them larger than that and .451 is even better for the pietta's .450 groove. I also found that running the rounds through the LFCD eliminated the need for sizing. I used the Kirst cylinders in my guns (bought them shortly after introduction) because they allowed the bullets to enter the forcing cone straight rather than at an angle like the R&D's. BTW if you are getting that much variation in charges from the LPPM something isn't right. Did you run the powder through the hopper to eliminate static as per the instructions? Are you bumping (rocking)the handle against the stops before throwing the charge? that always works for me, but they do seem to need a mica or graphite coating when they are new.

 

[gilgsn]

Run the powder through the hopper?

Did you run the powder through the hopper to eliminate static as per the instructions?

Hello, I guess I didn't read the instructions..
What do you mean by "run the powder through the hopper?"
I did bump on the stops by the way.. Didn't seem to help much..

 

[Uniquedot]

What do you mean by "run the powder through the hopper?

You just fill the hopper with powder and adjust the micrometer to throw it's maximum charge and start throwing the powder till it's empty. Once usually works, but a couple of times is better. This coats the nylon with the graphite from the powder and eliminates static.

 

[Funshooter45]

I have used Unique and it shot well enough but eventually I switched over to Universal instead. It has pretty much the same burn rate as Unique but meters through any measure a lot easier. I start out with a low charge weight for a given bullet weight and slowly increase the weight until the cases don't come out sooty. Whatever that magic weight is, I figure it's a good enough pressure for my Colt clones.

 

[gilgsn]

Thanks.

I'll try that..

 

[velocette]

I use 8 gr of Universal in my Ruger Vaq old model .45 colt with 250 gr flat nose cast bullets with great success.

Roger

 

[gilgsn]

Hello,

I posted my results here: http://gilblog.com/archives/1110/

I will eventually try other powders, but now I have 4lbs of Unique to go through.. Next one will be IMR-4227.

 

[Uniquedot]

I noticed you had a complaint about the force required to cock the hammer on the 1858. There is a small screw on the front grip strap of all 1858 clones and that is a mainspring tension screw. Back that screw out till you get the tension that you desire, and if that doesn't get you where you want to be, then you can get lighter springs from Pietta or you can use an Uberti spring.

You also mentioned trying the 200 grain Lee bullet in the 1858 and i can tell you that it is a very good bullet for that gun in conversion cylinders. Another bullet i used in some of my 1858's was the Lee Ruger .456 conical designed for cap & ball use which i sized down to .454 and loaded over 8.0 to 8.5 grains of unique with great results, but it was good only in the Uberti conversions as they have a larger groove.

The standard conical worked in the Piettas, but not as well as the flat point varieties, and the expander die needed to be adjusted so it didn't expand too much or the bullets fit too loose in the case.

 

[gilgsn]

Thanks for the tips, Uniquedot. Have you tried that Lee 200gr RNFP in the black powder cylinder?

 

[Thohr]

300MP in .45 Colt?

I can't believe there's not a SEARCH on this Site!!! Surfed into it doing a Google for same. Indicated there was info concerning 300MP on this Site but I'd like to view it before Christmas...

I shoot several .45LC's.

Win '94 Carbine, best load is with 4227! Have tried 2400, + 296, all with MAG Primers. All good but would like to try 300MP if any1 has done the experimentation, and would like to share. The Factory info for this Powder calls for Standard Primers. That's another ?. What about Primers? Has any1 tried Large Rifle Primers for the Carbines with 4227, or 2400?

Thx

 

[joed]

So, why do the loads keep going down?

About a year ago I did a lot of research on this. I noticed only revolver loads have been downgraded but not auto cartridges like the 9mm. So that kills the theory that there are a lot of older guns needing reduced loads when there are some pretty old autos out there. I haven't seen auto rounds downgraded which tells me the powder really hasn't changed.

The only answer I came up with SAAMI, they are not testing revolvers with vented barrels. This means pressures are higher in test barrels for revolvers as there is no pressure escaping from the cylinder and barrel gap.

 

[Uniquedot]

Have you tried that Lee 200gr RNFP in the black powder cylinder?

No, i only used it in the conversion cylinders. The 200 grain bullet is actually better suited to the twist in the 1858's than the longer 255 grain bullets. I also liked the 160 grain lee flat point in them.