Tested a bunch of powders in Colt SAA. Pic heavy/dialup beware

[1KPerDay]

Caveats:

1. I realize a sample size of one group is NOT valid for serious purposes. But I had a lot of different loads to try and thought I could at least weed out the obviously poor ones up front.

2. I used published data for all these loads but you may not be able to find them in current manuals or sources. Use at your own risk. I assume no responsibility.

3. Shooting steel for groups is probably not the best way, either. But that's what I did. I think I'll cull the obviously poor ones and shoot a couple more groups of each of the "potentially good" ones on paper. As you know, it takes a while.

4. If you're not interested, feel free to pass this one by. I thought some might find it interesting.


3 factory loads were tested as well as a bunch of my reloads. Reloads were all loaded with MBC "Cowboy #1" 250 grain lead RNFP bullets, mixed brass, moderate crimp, S&B LPP. Missouri Bullet Company


Groups were fired from my new 3rd Generation Colt Single Action Army in .45 Colt, with 7.5" barrel, at 15 yards, seated, from a rest (bucket turned over with padded pistol case on top). Indoor range. I spray painted an inverted triangle as an aiming point.







I put down an old t-shirt and ejected the cases there after firing to check debris. I took one pic of the cases/debris and one of the group (I missed one or two; see below).


Anyway, hope someone finds this informative or helpful in some way. Here we go:



5.6 American select. Somewhat soft, moderate scorching, pretty clean.






6.5 Hp38 soft recoil, some scorching, accuracy seems good.







7.1-7.5 800x (that's as consistent as I could get my press to throw) appears very accurate, lots of scorching and unburned flakes/debris.








8.4 CFE-p stronger recoil higher poi. Accuracy bad moderate scorching little debris.

 

[1KPerDay]

5.8 titegroup medium scorching very clean burn.







14.1 2400 no scorching, good recoil. TONS of debris. Could feel it raining down on my arms and shooting bench after every shot. Accuracy has potential but some vertical stringing. May be shooter.







6.7 bullseye light scorching and debris. Good recoil.









5.8 trail boss. Forgot pic of brass. No debris or scorching. Light recoil. Appears accurate with one flyer. More eval needed.






7.8 autocomp. Light scorching and debris. Good recoil. Appears accurate and close to POI. FURTHER evaluation recommended.








FACTORY LOAD ultramax 250 RNFP lots of smoke. good recoil significant scorching light to moderate debris. Good accuracy.









Factory load American eagle 225 JSP. Forgot pic of brass. Strongest recoil so far. significant scorching light to moderate debris.







HSM 250 RNFP cowboy. Lots of scorching. Very little debris. Very accurate.








6.0 international bad scorching little debris. Recoil strong. Accuracy poor.











7.5 universal little scorching and debris. Good recoil.

 

[1KPerDay]

8.0 Unique. Little scorching and debris. Good recoil. Accuracy average to poor.








8.6 Unique strong recoil, little scorching and debris, appears good accuracy. Some case bulging. No sticky extraction.









7.9 BE-86

Strong recoil. Moderate scorching and debris. Accuracy appears good but POI right. May be shooter.








4.7 clays. Moderate to heavy scorching, light debris. Light recoil. Accuracy appears excellent.








10.6 Blue Dot. Light scorching tons of debris while shooting and ejecting. Likely incomplete burn. Accuracy good.








9.4 HS-6 moderate scorching and debris. Strong recoil. Accuracy good with one flyer.








8.6 Herco strong recoil. Light scorching moderate debris. 2 cases show bulging. No sticky extraction. Accuracy appears good POI right. Close to POA. Recommend further eval.








8.5 Silhouette light scorching very little debris, and what little there is is tiny dust/granules.








5.7 Promo light to moderate scorching very little debris.

 

[wbbh]

Wow! You have been busy, thank you very much.

I recently started loading .45 Colt with similar results using 7.3 grains of Unique, 5.9 grains of TiteGroup and 8.3 grains of CFE P. They all shot OK, though they all stained the exterior, regardless of the chamber; I also shot them in an 1873 carbine. I used a 250 grain coated bullet from the Missouri Bullet Company. I had some 225 grain coated FP bullets I tried in some .45 ACP loads, they shot quite well using 5.9 grains of TiteGroup and ended up the best accuracy by a small margin.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

A shooter with more powders than I have!

Some notes and suggestions. I went thru my results where we used the same powders. I am only listing my best results.
First, for testing, I weigh every charge. For one thing, it takes less time than calibrating the meter. And it helps to be accurate.

Unique 7.0 gr. very good acc.
TiteGroup 6.2 gr. excellent
800-X 9.0 gr. Excellent use magnum primers for more complete burn of the huge flakes.
Trail Boss 5.8 gr. excellent
AutoComp 8.1 gr. Excellent All charges gave excellent accuracy.
Bullseye 7.0 gr. Good accuracy
W231 8.0 gr. Excellent

Gun was Uberti 4-5/8 barrel.

For a house round I use the 255 gr. Keith style with either 9.0 gr. 800-X or 18.0 gr. 4227.

 

[Walkalong]

Wow, that's a long range day.

Were the velocities similar with all those loads? If not, the comparisons as far as debris and scorching are not on an even playing field IMHO.

9.0 Grs of True Blue under a cast 255/260 Gr bullet for an average 834 FPS. Cases were sooted up but there wasn't much powder residue. I also like AA #2 in .45 Colt.

 

[the Black Spot]

You forgot the black powder!....

 

[1KPerDay]

Unfortunately I don't have a chronograph or I'd have reported velocities also. I realize it's not apples to apples but I loaded somewhere around a published load that supposedly gives AROUND 800fps, less than SAAMI standard max pressure, AND is a charge that my auto disc will throw. Some were less than ideal because the next orifice up was over max charge. But for my purposes it is ok. I may try the autodrum next time I scrape up some dough. But my PAD is very consistent with most powders and easy to change charges and powders.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

1kPerDay, how did you determine the charge weights? In particular your charge of HP-38 was low, I usually charge 7.0gr to 7.2gr under a 250/255gr bullet.

I also use a different charge if HS-6. I'm wondering how you decided what charge to use. HS-6 us now my favorite 45 Colt powder. I don't want to sound like I'm running your post down because I'm not.

 

[1KPerDay]

No offense taken. I didn't write down the sources where I got the data but I'll have a look around and get back to you.

 

[1KPerDay]

Hodgdon data shows 7.1 max at 13,900 CUP/916 FPS for HP-38 under a cast LRNFP. That's why I loaded 6.5. The recommended starting load is 5.8.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

 

[1KPerDay]

Also note Hodgdon data for HS-6 is 9.0-10.5.

 

[Walkalong]

but I loaded somewhere around a published load that supposedly gives AROUND 800fps, less than SAAMI standard max pressure, AND is a charge that my auto disc will throw. Some were less than ideal because the next orifice up was over max charge. But for my purposes it is ok

Been there done that with my old Hornady pistol powder measure that used bushings. I actually modded some and made some to get charge weights in between what the standard ones would throw. I modded it to throw automatically on my old Projector.

 

[BigBore45]

thanks for the info. you tried a couple powders i have been interested in. AA#2 is a good one also 700-X and green Dot

 

[1KPerDay]

don't have those but I'll keep an eye out.

 

[Stopsign32v]

A good bit of your pictures aren't showing up.

But this is GOLD of a thread!!!

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks. try hitting F5/refresh. Photobucket is freaking out lately.

 

[Jwilson904]

Thank for the good info

 

[DeadEye9]

Excellent testing/post. This is stuff I love to see. Have you tried LilGun? I really like that powder for my full power loads. 24.5gr with a 250gr @ 1.590" is superbly accurate but very stout. This is my go to lever load. I load this in nickel cases so I know the difference from my standard revolver load. My standard revolver load is 11.8gr
HS-7 with a 250 or 17.5gr 2400 with a 225. I load these to 1.595" Typically I use CCI standard primers, but I have experimented with magnums for my LilGun loads with good success.

 

[Bang!]

Unfortunately I don't have a chronograph or I'd have reported velocities also. I realize it's not apples to apples but I loaded somewhere around a published load that supposedly gives AROUND 800fps, less than SAAMI standard max pressure, AND is a charge that my auto disc will throw. Some were less than ideal because the next orifice up was over max charge. But for my purposes it is ok. I may try the autodrum next time I scrape up some dough. But my PAD is very consistent with most powders and easy to change charges and powders.

Your disk will throw any charge you want.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/working-diy-micro-auto-disk.741988/