Splatter to my face when firing .45 colt

[Englishmn]

Looks like unburnt powder try loading a few higher charge. Or switch to a faster powder load. What powder are you using?

 

[Stefan A]

10.5g of acc #5. Between min and Max

 

[__steve__]

Crimp heavy enough?

 

[Stefan A]

Crimp heavy enough?

I think so - but it's easy enough to do more. How do I know if it is heavy enough? Why do you think that could be causing the problem?

 

[__steve__]

I think so - but it's easy enough to do more. How do I know if it is heavy enough? Why do you think that could be causing the problem?

Just the unburned powder, and it wasn’t mentioned. That’s all.

 

[Stefan A]

I increased my powder to 11g, which is max for acc. #5. I tightened the crimp. Exact same result. Unburnt powder in the cylinder. Splatter to my face. Only the first round - the others absolutely nothing. After removing the empties and loading in just one more round - splattered again. This seems like a very unusual problem and of all my various questions lately, this has me the most concerned.

 

[Tall]

Maybe try a magnum primer or increase the powder charge. You have unburned powder which suggests either too light a load or maybe not enough crimp, leading to ignition problems.

 

[Stefan A]

Maybe try a magnum primer or increase the powder charge. You have unburned powder which suggests either too light a load or maybe not enough crimp, leading to ignition problems.

Well, with the powder I’m using, I’m at max. Yes, I could try a magnum primer. What about a faster powder. Maybe titegroup?

 

[Tall]

Don’t know about Titegroup. My powders are Hercules (not Alliant) 2400, Unique, Bullseye, and W-W 231.

 

[ontarget]

I use Unique for my 45 Colt loads.
Is this happening on the same chamber every time?

 

[Onty]

I've ignored this thread for a bit because my gun broke - but now it's good. I finally got to shoot the last 5 rounds that I made - 10.5g of Acc. #5. That's exactly between min and max according to Lyman. That first shot stung. I mean, I wasn't in pain or anything, but very startling. Lot's of stuff back to the face. The gun really isn't that wet. In fact, after all the taking apart and putting back together I've done, my hands are not oily at all. I do notice what you see in the pick below. I don't like it and I'm starting to think that is what is hitting me. But again, it's only the first shot...

I have no intention of offending you, but if I am in your shoes, I will "bite the bullet", purchase Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt, and get rid of of that clone. See https://www.guns.com/firearms/ruger-handguns?product.specs.Caliber=.45 LC . Going this way, you will get better and stronger revolver. And if something goes wrong with Ruger revolver, they will fix it, if they cannot or too much trouble, they will send you a new one. Just my 2 cents...

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Oh yeah, grains of powder. that is probably what you felt. Looks like a faster burning powder might work much better. Unique is a nice powder in the .45 for light loads, or heavy. On that pic of you cases I think I can see low-pressure smoking of the case mouths/bullet end of the case.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I have no intention of offending you, but if I am in your shoes, I will "bite the bullet", purchase Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt, and get rid of of that clone. See https://www.guns.com/firearms/ruger-handguns?product.specs.Caliber=.45 LC . Going this way, you will get better and stronger revolver. And if something goes wrong with Ruger revolver, they will fix it, if they cannot or too much trouble, they will send you a new one. Just my 2 cents...

Truth, but I'm pretty sure the problem was the wrong powder for a light load. Possibly an undersized bullet did not help. Looks to me like the cases are smoked a bit. So the pistol might not be at fault. However, I'd LOVE to have a BlackHawk in .45, kind of looked for one at the gun shows for a while, but never found a good "deal".

 

[J-Bar]

“Only the first round - the others absolutely nothing. After removing the empties and loading in just one more round - splattered again. This seems like a very unusual problem and of all my various questions lately, this has me the most concerned.“


Thinking about why the splatter occurs only on the first shot…

Could it be caused by powder position in the case? The powder will shift towards the bullet as the gun is raised for the first shot, as far away from the primer flash hole as as it can get. Recoil and muzzle elevation from the first (and subsequent) shots will shake the powder back closer to the flash hole and presumably give more complete ignition.

You could test this by lowering the muzzle after each shot to move the powder close to the bullet, making each shot a “first” shot.

I suspect a powder like Tightgroup which is less position sensitive might eliminate the problem.

 

[styles]

AA#5 is not at all position sensitive. I’m not sure you could quantify a less position sensitive powder than No. 5.

In a clone 7gr of #2 is plenty.

I’d back off the #5 also to 9.5-9.8gr. Max is 10.4gr, but Hogdgon says 9.6gr.

The solution to unburnt powder isn’t more (unburnt) powder - maybe to switch primers. #5 seems to like Win best.

Show us some of your rounds, what bullet, and OAL. Chambers might be wrong if you’re crimping well because the cases should seal otherwise. Wouldn’t they be oversized not undersized?

 

[Pat Riot]

Unburnt powder? Increase load. If at max, try a different powder.

Using Universal and Unique powders I have found that you get lots of unburnt powder at low and moderate velocities. Around 850 fps with 205 grain bullets and 800 fps with 255 grain bullets, no unburnt powder.

I tried Winchester 244 in .45 Colt. No unburnt powder but, man, what a lot of soot. It burns really clean in 9mm, .38 and .357 but not in .45. Just thought I would throw that out there.

 

[GooseGestapo]

What weight bullet are you using? I don’t see it mentioned.
I use the Lee 255gr RFN @ .452”.
I have the same problem with my Winchester M1894 Legacy.45Colt with a 24”bbl.

I was using Universal at recommended max of 7.6gr for a SAA revolver. By bumping it up to 8.4gr it eliminated the blow back.

I noticed you have both CBC and Starline brass.
I segregate them as the CBC (Magtech) is a bit thinner and obturates to the chamber easier. I suggest you try just using the CBC BRASS.

I use the Starline brass in my S&W M625 Mountain Gun with LongShot for higher pressure loads using LongShot as outlined in an article by Brian Pierce in “Handloader Magazine” with the RCBS 275gr SAA SWC.
I wouldn’t recommend going to much warmer than the SAA level loads in the Uberti.

 

[J-Bar]

Hey, Stefan A;

Geez, do something…

More powder, different powder, raise the muzzle before the first shot and between subsequent shots….

What happens???

 

[Hokkmike]

It's possible. I just cleaned it when I recently broke the whole thing down. Perhaps oil on the hammer. But, I can't test in anymore because I just broke the main spring...

Man o man - how did that happen? These things are supposed to be more durable than that!!!!

 

[Stefan A]

I thought I updated this earlier, but maybe not. I ended up trying out tight group and that seems to have fixed it.

Man o man - how did that happen? These things are supposed to be more durable than that!!!!

It was actually a dangerous situation. I shot 6 rounds through it all the while noticing that there was more play in the cylinder than usual. So after doing some research I learned that the culprit was most likely the flat trigger/sear spring. Sure enough, it was broken so I had to order a new one. I found myself taking the whole thing apart over and over because I couldn’t seem to get this new spring to function right. In the process of taking it apart so many times, I must have weakened the main spring. You see, the screw holding in the mainspring could not be removed, so each time I took it apart, I had to loosen the trigger housing in order to release the mainspring. It would sort of “snap” out of position so I could move it aside. So eventually, the mainspring snapped. Then, after multiple attempts, I finally got that screw out so I could install a new mainspring. Maybe more than you wanted to know

 

[ontarget]

Glad to hear that your problem got resolved.

 

[DR505]

 

[38riverrat]

Accurate #5 is best for plus P loads like 38 Spl plus P. Around 20,000 PSI.
There is no plus P load for 45 Colt. Max loads are around 15,000 PSI, so not a good powder for standard 45 Colt loads. Tier 2 pressure would likely be good for A#5, but I don't think the clones are up to that pressure. Ruger, yes. Even the New Vaquero and Flattop.

73,
Rick

 

[45 Dragoon]

Accurate #5 is best for plus P loads like 38 Spl plus P. Around 20,000 PSI.
There is no plus P load for 45 Colt. Max loads are around 15,000 PSI, so not a good powder for standard 45 Colt loads. Tier 2 pressure would likely be good for A#5, but I don't think the clones are up to that pressure. Ruger, yes. Even the New Vaquero and Flattop.

73,
Rick

The Uberti is fine at those pressures. Not sure of Piettas. ( Article by Brian Pearce)

Mike