which 45 colt powders?

[Norrick]

I picked up two from the local shop (the only two they had that were in the manuals I had).

Right now I am using Blue Dot, and Accurate No. 7.
The Blue Dot burns filthy and accuracy is decent. The No. 7 is pretty good in all respects so far. It meters very well, it burns fairly clean, and it is accurate. I've been searching online and found out I've grossly overpaid (pretty much twice the cost) for the powder in the gunstore.

I'm going to be ordering enough online so that even after the Hazmat fee, it would still be a bargain.

I am just punching paper for now, long term goals are hunting. I'm using a Super Blackhawk Hunter.

As for bullets, I'm pretty much sticking with various assortments of 250 gr. JHP and I found a brand of 275gr. hard cast that I really like. I don't really think I'll be going into the 300+ category, but it is not out of the question. I would like a powder that is appropriate for the 7.5 inch barrel, is good with +P loads, meters well, doesn't leave alot of unburnt powder, and decently fills the case volume.

For some of the hot loads in my manual I keep seeing H110 and H4227. Unique is another powder that I see pretty much pop up at all ends of the spectrum. How are these powders?

Any other suggestions?

And while we are at it, how many reloads do you guys get out of your colt brass? I am on my second reloading batch (3x fired brass) and the cases don't appear to have any appreciable change in dimension or show any evidence of over-pressure. The manual I'm reading says expect 4-5 reloads and in some cases many more depending on the cartridge and particular loads.

[zxcvbob]

Herco for hot loads, Red Dot (or Alliant Promo) for mild-to-medium loads.

Blue Dot is good at the really high end, and not so much for normal loads. (this is for a Ruger or Freedom Arms, ain't it?)

The brass lasts however many times you can load it until the case mouth splits. I don't count mine, or even keep lots of brass seperated.

[jmortimer]

Unique and the .45 Colt and well suited to each other. I use 9.2 grains with 255 grain SWC. A good choice for your intended usage would be 2400.

[mikejonestkd]

Here's a link to Handloads.com data for .45 LC

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/de...Powder&Source=

I like trail boss and unique for my .45 colt loads.

[ljnowell]

I use 2400 for hot loads in my blackhawk. AA#2 for light loads.

[WESHOOT2]

When loading the 45 Colt (no longer), I found Universal the premier 'medium' choice; I found HS6 the best 'more than medium' choice (followed very closely by both Power Pistol and N350; I could live with just Power Pistol); I found (my older lots of) W296 for 'mostest'.

These choices worked with bullets weighing from 235g up to 280g.

[Mike Irwin]

I'm gearing up to load for my new .45 Colt.

When I do I'll be shooting primarily Trail Boss out of it.

[Uncle Buck]

I like IMR Hi-Skor 700-X and Universal for my .45 Colt loads.

I do not remember where I got the data from, but this is what I use:

powder: Bullet: OAL: 1.600"
700-X 5.6 grains; 190 gr LSWC
700-X 5.9 Grains; 200 Gr LSWC

These two loads are what I have been using lately and it is enjoyable to shoot (Mostly paper punching) and are not the max powder loads. The load data I have on the other rounds I use is in the recipe box and I am too lazy to get up and retrieve them. Loaddata.com has some very good loads available for a variety of caliber, bullet weights and powders.

I was up the farm two nights ago and found a raccoon in one of the storage bins. The .45 Colt was a show stopper when that critter headed towards the bean field.

I have used 2400, Unique, TightGroup, Universal and Clays. They seem to be good powders but you'll have to test a few to see which you like best and work best for you.

These recipes work for me in my guns. If you try them in yours, you must take full responsibility for them. Please verify all reloading data with an established source, such as a loading manual.

[zxcvbob]

My favorite load; the one I make up by the bucketful, is 7.5 grains of Promo, whatever LP primer is handy, and a Lee 230 grain truncated cone bullet (tumble lubed with Alox.) Promo is a bulky very fast powder that give me the best accuracy in every single cartridge I've tried it in, and it's the cheapest canister powder available. It does not give top velocity, but that's usually OK.

This is not a maximum load for a large-frame gun, but it's a little over max for a medium-frame like a SAA. I would shoot it in any well made post-war gun with a steel frame. For anything older, back off to 6.5 grains and it will still shoot good but will be a lot dirtier with noticeably less power.

[Xfire68]

I have used Power Pistol with fine results and I just bought 4Lb jug of Tightgroup to try it out in the .45 LC and the other calibers as well.

I loaded up 8.8g of Power Pistol with a 250g Hornady XTP and 9.0g with the 230g XTP. Both fired and performed well.

[GeauxTide]

I use Unique from 8-10gr with 275s to 1050. If I want 1200, I'd use 2400. If I want 1300, I'd use H-110.

[Slamfire]

I don't like Blue Dot. It has only worked for me with jacketed bullets at magnum velocities. It leads with cast bullets.

As you can see from the data below, in a 45LC the extreme spreads are high, triple digit. That tells me that there is combustion instability.

Unique is my favorite 45LC powder.

Shot some AA#5 in my Mountain Gun, it shot well.

I have at least ten reloads on ammo boxes of 45LC cases. I toss the stuff when the case mouth cracks.

5 1/2" USFA Rodeo 					
					
250 LRN (.452") 8.5 grs Unique  thrown, R-P cases, CCI300 primers					
12-May-02	T = 80°F				

Ave Vel =	855	 	 	 	
Std Dev =	16	 	 		
ES		59.91	 	 		
High		885.4		 		
Low		825.5		 		
Number Shots	12				


250 LRN (.452") 11.5 grs Blue Dot R-P cases, WLP					
11-Sep-05	T = 85 °F	shoots close to  point of aim acceptable accuracy			
					

Ave Vel =	845				
Std Dev =	48				
ES		183.6				
High		933.3				
Low		749.7				
N =		18				
					
					
					
250 LRN (.452") 12.0 grs Blue Dot R-P cases, WLP					
11-Sep-05	T = 85 °F	shoots close to  point of aim good accuracy			

Ave Vel =	904				
Std Dev =	44				
ES		149.6				
High		955.2				 
Low		806				 
N =		15

5 1/2" M625-9 Mountain Gun 4" Barrel 



250 JHP 8.5 grs Unique thrown, W-W cases, WLP primers 
18-Mar-07 T = 55 °F V, accurate 
Ave Vel = 830 
Std Dev = 30 
ES= 103.5 
High= 893.4 
Low= 789.8 
Number Shots= 12 


250 Nosler JHP 17.5 grs 2400 thrown, Master cases, Fed150 primers 
18-Mar-07 T = 55 °F V, accurate uncomfortable recoil 
Ave Vel = 971 
Std Dev = 25 
ES= 69.47 
High= 1003 
Low= 933.5 
Number Shots= 11 


255 LSWC (.452") 8.0 grs Unique thrown, lot 6/21/1993Starline cases, WLP primers 
25-Mar-07 T = 80 °F accurate 
Ave Vel = 800 
Std Dev = 30 
ES 99.02 
High 847.2 
Low 748.1 
Number Shots 11 


250 LRN (.452") Valiant 8.0 grs Unique lot 6/21/1993 thrown, R-P cases, WLP primers
25-Mar 07 T = 80°F accurate 
Ave Vel = 814 
Std Dev = 24 
ES 72.81 
High 847 
Low 774.2 
Number Shots 11 


250 LRN (.454") Valiant 8.5 grs Unique thrown lot 5471, 4/3/06, R-P cases, WLP primers

25-Mar-07 T = 80 °F accurate 
Ave Vel = 891 
Std Dev = 17 
ES 61.31 
High 921.1 
Low 859.8 
Number Shots 27 

255 LSWC (.452") 8.0 grs Unique lot 6/21/1993 mixed cases WLP (nickel) 

23-Sep-07 T = 82 °F 

Ave Vel = 802.5 
Std Dev = 31.03 
ES = 123.5 
High = 867.2 
Low = 743.6 
N = 12 

250 LSWC (.452") 10.5 grs AA#5 lot 12599 mixed cases WLP (nickel) 

23-Sep-07 T = 82 °F 

Ave Vel = 875.1 
Std Dev = 19.36 
ES = 62.64 
High = 905.7 
Low = 843 
N = 12 


250 LSWC (.452") 10.5 grs AA#5 lot 12599 mixed cases Wolf NCLP 

23-Sep-07 T = 82 °F 

Ave Vel = 826.2 
Std Dev = 20.14 
ES = 63.38 
High = 862.1 
Low = 798.7 
N = 12