45 long colt reloads Help!

[acidgypc25]

Im trying to reload 45colts for my buddy. Running 200gr lead bullets and accurate #9 powder with winchester large pistol primers. This is what he gave me cause some guy told him that its what he uses. So I havent been able to find any info on load data for the 45 long colt and accurate #9 if any of you can help please do. Not look for hot loads need low recoil stuff. Thanks

[buck460XVR]

Originally posted by acidgypc25:
Im trying to reload 45colts for my buddy. Running 200gr lead bullets and accurate #9 powder with winchester large pistol primers. This is what he gave me cause some guy told him that its what he uses. So I havent been able to find any info on load data for the 45 long colt and accurate #9 if any of you can help please do. Not look for hot loads need low recoil stuff. Thanks

I'd give the stuff back to your friend and tell him to have the guy that told him what to use load those components.

[Gdawgs]

Yeah that's not a good combination for what he wants. #9 is a slow burning powder that works well for hot loads, not low recoil loads. You'd want a faster powder for light recoil loads. Trail Boss, W231, Unique, Titegroup, Accurate #5 (and others) would be better powder choices.

[acidgypc25]

thanks ya I told him to get trail boss and unique but good luck finding it around here. Now I gotta find something to do with 2lbs of the stuff.

[Clark]

My brother wanted 44 mag loads that were wimpy, but not down to 44 special. I use H110 in 44 mag. I was able to download AA#9 to anywhere between the published 44 sp loads and the 44 mag loads. We got him the Goldilocks just right recoil he wanted.

Looking back to 1996, AA never published any AA#9 loads for the 45 Colt except as Contender loads, 454 loads, and 45WinMag loads.

But if they had published any the 14,000 psi SAAMI loads for 45 Colt cast 200 gr bullet would be around 18.2 gr.

My experience with 45 Colt 300 gr cast and 6 gr of Unique [ wimpy], is that the load can be duplicated with the slower 2400, but the 2400 load is erratic and inaccurate. My guess is that the slow powder AA#9 and 200 gr is going to be the same thing. You can shoot with AA#9 200 gr wimpy loads, but they will not be as accurate as wimpy loads with a faster powder that gives consistent velocities.

[Glen-Bob]

I'd give the stuff back to your friend and tell him to have the guy that told him what to use load those components.

Agreed First mistake IMO is reloading for a "friend" or potential "claimant". Maybe, offer to watch over him using your equipment but even that will make your homeowners insurance carrier shake.

[Hunter Customs]

I've done some loading of 200 gr cast bullets in the 45 Colt, it's a cheaper way to practice as for the cost of the bullets.

The load I'm shooting with the 200 gr RNFP cast bullet is 10 grs of SR7625 for a velocity of 931 fps out of my 4&5/8 inch barrel gun.

This load is very accurate and would make a good small game/vermin load.

Some have suggested using it for a deer load, but I'll stick with my 255's at 945 fps for that.

At one time I loaded for friends, however I found that doing so I was doing more loading and a lot less shooting.
Now I offer to help them set their equipment up and answer whatever questions they may have but I no longer load for others including relation.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com

[buck460XVR]

Originally posted by Bob from Hunter Customs:

At one time I loaded for friends, however I found that doing so I was doing more loading and a lot less shooting.
Now I offer to help them set their equipment up and answer whatever questions they may have but I no longer load for others including relation.

Same here. I quickly made a standing policy that I will no longer reload for friends. It has nuttin' to do with liability or risk or doubting my reloading practices. It's just that too many so called "friends" only looked at it as a way for them to get cheap/free ammo, at my expense. While most were appreciative and did not take advantage, there were one or two that would say they would cover the cost of components but never did, complained about the ammo(which was free) or wanted quantities above and beyond what I was willing to do. Some wanted "hot" loads they could not get anywhere else. Only way to say no to some without hard feelings was to say no to all. I do still reload for close family, but they never ask, I just let them shoot my ammo when we are together.

As for the OP, not finding info, even from the manufacturer of the powder/bullet for a specific bullet/powder combo means one thing. Again, as I said before......tell your friend no to using those components. If you are close, he trusts your reloading experience and you are comfortable reloading ammo for him, tell him to allow you to dictate what components.

[Sure Shot Mc Gee]

I have a 1985 Accurate Hand Loaders free-be pamphlet. And a 1991 Accurate 5th ed. Handloaders Guide before me. Neither states #9s use for the 45 Colt cartridge.

[zxcvbob]

Red Dot is a good powder for what he wants. So are Green Dot and American Select. Bullseye might be. Unique with heavier bullets, like 250's. AA#9 is way too slow for 200 gn bullets but maybe okay for 300's.

Tell him you'll set up the press and let him pull the handle. You will just show him how to do it and supervise.

[rclark]

Agree, AA#9 is to slow for for normal .45 Colt Loads. You have to start thinking (ROLs) heavy bullets at high pressure before AA#9 starts coming alive.

I've never shot any 200g bullets in mine as I've standardized on 250g RNFP for general shooting and 255g SWC for woods. That said, Unique, Universal, Red Dot, Green Dot, w231, Trail Boss, 20/28, AA#5, and Titegroup would all be acceptable powders for the application I think. Powders that would not be would be Blue Dot, 2400, 296/h110, and AA#9 off the top of my head.

FYI, I tried AA#9 in 45 Colt from 15.5g to 19.0g and did not like it under 255g SWC. At the lower loads it was very position sensitive (with/without magnum primers) and ES did not get better at the higher loads. You could 'feel' the difference when shooting from up ... and from down... My ES were over 100 and most were +150fps.... I gave up on the powder as 'useful' for my purposes. BTW, to me a ES has to be under 60fps to be considered viable and usually much better than that.


15.5g, AA#9, 255g SWC, CCI-300, _951 fps, 47 SD, 157 ES, 15 shots, 5 1/2”
15.5g, AA#9, 255g SWC, CCI-350, 1037 fps, 42 SD, 158 ES, 15 shots, 5 1/2”
...
19.0g, AA#9, 255g SWC, CCI-300, 1081 fps, 65 SD, 155 ES, 7 shots, 5 1/2”

[Real Gun]

I am going to guess those are not even revolver bullets but rather for .45 ACP.

[WIL TERRY]

IN THAT CARTRIDGE : Wrong bullet weight, Wrong propellent, Wrong desired velocity and performance.

[coonhound66]

I've been using imr 4227 because it was all I could find. 18 grains over 250 gr. bullet works well and accurate shooting from a Blackhawk at 25 yards

[mehavey]

...IF they had published any the 14,000 psi SAAMI loads for
45 Colt cast 200 gr bullet would be around 18.2 gr.

18gr AA#9 under a 200gr bullet = shoving 40% of the powder unburned out of a 5" barrel.

Not exactly "optimized"
(But at least it's position sensitive)

[hornetguy]

I see nothing wrong with a 200gr lead bullet out of the 45 Colt... especially in a load that is supposed to be a light "plinking" style load.
Agreed that AA #9 is the wrong powder for that. As stated, it is at its best with heavier bullets at much higher velocities. AA#9, WW296, and H110 are all in the same club. Not QUITE interchangeable data, but very close. There are many uses for #9... that's just not one of them.
I'd be looking at any of the faster burning flake powders, Unique, maybe Bullseye, Red Dot... that type of powder. At the amounts of powder needed for a light 45 load, a pound of flake powder will last a LONG time..

[WESHOOT2]

Most highly recommend one peruse 'Cowboy' data for appropriate powders and charge weights with the 200g.

[44 AMP]

.45 Colt, 200gr LSWC, Unique 8.0gr. This is an 800fps range load, and the starting load listed in many manuals for many years in this caliber and bullet weight.

I usually stick with the 250gr swc and heavier loads, but I did load a box of the 200gr/8.0 Unique some time back. 5 shots in one ragged hole offhand on a 50ft indoor range, from a 7.5" Ruger Blackhawk. Very low recoil.

Can't really see how you can get better than that...