The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 8, 2012, 11:14 AM   #1
Wyoredman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 6, 2011
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 1,350
Anyone ever use 165 gr LSWC in .45 Colt

I just picked up an un-opened box of Bear Creek Supply 165 gr LSWC at a yard sale. Has anyone ever used light (165gr.) lead bullets in their .45 Colt?

I have a T/C Contender and have only loaded the 250 gr lswc. I am not finding much data on light bullets for the .45 Colt. Any starting loads/powder suggestions?
__________________
Go Pokes!
Go Rams!
Wyoredman is offline  
Old March 8, 2012, 12:04 PM   #2
Hammerhead
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,432
I use Trail Boss for the 200 grain LSWCs in .45 Colt.
7.0 grains of Trail Boss gives about 90% load density with the 200 LSWC and should be a good place to start for a 165.

Lyman has data for a 175 LRN-FP and Hodgdon has data for 160s and 180s.

What powders do you have?
Hammerhead is offline  
Old March 8, 2012, 12:32 PM   #3
Unclenick
Staff
 
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,022
Those light SWC's are intended for high power factor loads in .45 Auto. Hard to use all the space in the Colt case up with them, but I'd agree that Trail Boss is a good starting point.
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member
CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor
NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle
Unclenick is offline  
Old March 8, 2012, 12:46 PM   #4
Wyoredman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 6, 2011
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 1,350
Unclenick,

The box is stamped ".45 Colt, .454 dia". I was wondering why they would make such light bullets for the .45 colt, but it appears they do.

I do have the Hodgdon and Lyman #49 manuals. I will explore the data for the 160's in hodgdon.

Hammerhead,

I have some Unique, some 231, and some SR4756. Any ideas?
__________________
Go Pokes!
Go Rams!
Wyoredman is offline  
Old March 8, 2012, 01:07 PM   #5
rclark
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 12, 2009
Location: Butte, MT
Posts: 2,614
look here : http://www.reloadammo.com/45cload.htm

You can substitute Unique for the Universal loads and will be fine. (6.5g to 9.5g)


BTW, 200g is as low as I ever went and I prefer 250+ grain bullets for .45 Colt.
__________________
A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.
rclark is offline  
Old March 8, 2012, 01:10 PM   #6
Hammerhead
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 31, 2004
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,432
Well if you don't want to try Trail Boss, I guess Unique would be my next choice.
Lyman lists a 175 grain LRN-FP @ 1.560" COL with 6.0 Unique as a starting load (595 fps) tested in a 7-1/2" Blackhawk.
Hammerhead is offline  
Old March 8, 2012, 01:40 PM   #7
Wyoredman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 6, 2011
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 1,350
Thanks Hammer. I need to correct something in my OP. I said the bullets were LSWC, but in fact they are LRN. Still 165 gr. I can purchase some Trail Boss, sounds like the best bet. Thanks.
__________________
Go Pokes!
Go Rams!
Wyoredman is offline  
Old March 9, 2012, 09:57 AM   #8
Unclenick
Staff
 
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,022
If they are .454" LRN's then they are likely intended to be used as light CAS load bullets. A bullet that wide and light will scoot forward pretty easily under pressure, so you might actually do best with your quickest powder, the 231, to have something able to get pressure up quickly to bump the bullet up in the throat and be mostly burned before it clears the barrel/cylinder gap. I'd start at about 6 grains and figure to land on around 8 grains or so. Hodgdon's load data allows that powder to go up to 9 grains with a 160 grain cast bullet, and you could likely approach that, but the velocity will be getting to where you may be seeing leading issues before then. That depends on your bore dimensions, bore surface condition, chamber throat dimensions, etc.
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member
CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor
NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle
Unclenick is offline  
Old March 9, 2012, 10:48 AM   #9
Wyoredman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 6, 2011
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 1,350
Thanks Unclenick, I had accually loaded a few with 6 gr. of 231 last night. Will try them out this weekend. I have a chrony so will let you know.. Thanks again.
__________________
Go Pokes!
Go Rams!
Wyoredman is offline  
Old March 9, 2012, 10:59 AM   #10
Wyoredman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 6, 2011
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 1,350
Hey, I just looked at the box stamp again! These are .452" bullets! Measured some, yep...165 gr 0.452". LRNFP.

No wonder I didn't peel any lead durring seating.

Anyhow, I have 5 rounds made with 6.0 gr 231. I'm gonna shoot them over the chrony.
__________________
Go Pokes!
Go Rams!
Wyoredman is offline  
Old March 9, 2012, 12:09 PM   #11
bossman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 16, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 996
Make sure you know where POA and POI are with that bullet. You're chrono will thank you later.
__________________
NRA life member

When the going gets tough, I just open another beer.
bossman is offline  
Old March 9, 2012, 05:05 PM   #12
Unclenick
Staff
 
Join Date: March 4, 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21,022
They may not fit your chamber throats well, so accuracy and leading may be adversely affected by that. You'll just have to watch and see.
__________________
Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member
CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor
NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle
Unclenick is offline  
Old March 9, 2012, 08:55 PM   #13
twobit
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 25, 2010
Location: Coyote Creak, SW Texas
Posts: 597
Lightest bullets I use are 200 grain LRN hardcast over trailboss
__________________
Twobit,
Strive to live up to the opinion that your dog has of you.
twobit is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:18 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07096 seconds with 10 queries