.45 colt bp

smokepole14 · December 1, 2012, 08:20 PM

I have heard that a 45 cartridge with 35 gr of bp and a 250 gr bullet is more powerful than the cowboy loads like ultramax and black hills. I have an R&D conversion for my 58 Remmy. Reason I ask is this a safe load to run through my gun. since ive heard its more powerful than "cowboy" loads, cause 35 gr of bp to me is a cowboy load.

MJN77 · December 1, 2012, 08:30 PM

Black powder is fine in your conversion.

Hardcase · December 1, 2012, 08:30 PM

The original .45 Colt load was something like 40 grains under a 255 grain bullet, so you're in safe territory.

The cowboy loads using smokeless powders also have a much different pressure curve than black powder - something that you may be able to feel in the recoil of cartridges with similar ballistics.

I wouldn't worry about that load, but if you want to be perfectly safe about it, you can work your way up to 40 grains and check for signs of overloading as you go.

smokepole14 · December 1, 2012, 08:41 PM

Preciate it guys!

smokepole14 · December 1, 2012, 10:34 PM

So on the other part of the question, is 35 or 40 gr charge more powerful than ultramax or black hills? Has anyone shot and compared through a chrony?

Hardcase · December 1, 2012, 11:29 PM

Somebody can probably post definitive numbers, but I'll bet that the BP load will be a bit hotter than the smokeless cowboy loads, but not by much. The Black Hills ammo ought to be in the 750fps neighborhood, and I'd think something like 800fps or a little more from the BP load.

Hawg · December 1, 2012, 11:45 PM

35 grains of bp is fine. Smokeless loads have a sharper pressure spike. Its not the cylinder that cant handle it, its the frame.

MJN77 · December 2, 2012, 12:20 AM

I know that "cowboy" .44-40 loads average around 750-800ish fps out of a 24 inch barrel rifle and a full 37-40 grain BP load does around 1300ish. The "cowboy" loads are loaded to shoot paper or steel targets. That's it. Full BP loads were for more serious things like hunting and such.

Doc Hoy · December 2, 2012, 03:03 AM

35 gr BP with 200 grain (Yes that is light) slug (Lee RNFP)

Consistently got upward of 1050 fps

I shot Winchester cowboy loads and got somewhere around 650 to 700 fps

I also shot Cowboy loads from Mexico and got around 500 fps

The factory cowboy loads were smokeless powder.

Recoil on the full BP rounds was excessive so I backed off to 25 to 28. I think I remember about 800 fps from those rounds.

These numbers came from a 4 3/4 inch barrel.

Roshi · December 2, 2012, 07:28 PM

From what I've read 40 gr BP and 255 gr bullet is about 900 fps. Quite a powerful load.

kwhi43 · December 2, 2012, 07:57 PM

Factory Goex Black Powder Loads

Shotgun693 · December 3, 2012, 07:03 PM

The original Military load left the muzzle at over 900 fps. Later the powder charge was reduced a bit because Troopers complained about the recoil. If you're worried try a .454 round ball over a lighter load of BP. You can seat the RB deep enough to crimp the case over the front curve of the ball.

Doc Hoy · December 4, 2012, 07:28 AM

....about recoil using 35 to 40 gr in .45 LC.

That is a pretty emotional shooting experience.

I load some with 35 gr just so I can come home with skun up knuckles. A good reminder of the day's shooting.......Just kidding fellas.

MJN77 · December 4, 2012, 08:03 AM

I load my .44-40 and .45s with as much BP as I can fit in the shells. Love it.

December 1, 2012, 08:20 PM	#1
smokepole14 Member Join Date: March 20, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 56	.45 colt bp I have heard that a 45 cartridge with 35 gr of bp and a 250 gr bullet is more powerful than the cowboy loads like ultramax and black hills. I have an R&D conversion for my 58 Remmy. Reason I ask is this a safe load to run through my gun. since ive heard its more powerful than "cowboy" loads, cause 35 gr of bp to me is a cowboy load. __________________ Neemo: So if you want these horses, I sell them to you. Did you bring some gold with you? John Chisum No. Neemo: Silver? John Chisum: Just lead!

December 1, 2012, 08:30 PM	#3
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	The original .45 Colt load was something like 40 grains under a 255 grain bullet, so you're in safe territory. The cowboy loads using smokeless powders also have a much different pressure curve than black powder - something that you may be able to feel in the recoil of cartridges with similar ballistics. I wouldn't worry about that load, but if you want to be perfectly safe about it, you can work your way up to 40 grains and check for signs of overloading as you go. __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

December 1, 2012, 08:41 PM	#4
smokepole14 Member Join Date: March 20, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 56	Preciate it guys! __________________ Neemo: So if you want these horses, I sell them to you. Did you bring some gold with you? John Chisum No. Neemo: Silver? John Chisum: Just lead!

December 1, 2012, 10:34 PM	#5
smokepole14 Member Join Date: March 20, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 56	So on the other part of the question, is 35 or 40 gr charge more powerful than ultramax or black hills? Has anyone shot and compared through a chrony? __________________ Neemo: So if you want these horses, I sell them to you. Did you bring some gold with you? John Chisum No. Neemo: Silver? John Chisum: Just lead!

December 1, 2012, 11:29 PM	#6
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	Somebody can probably post definitive numbers, but I'll bet that the BP load will be a bit hotter than the smokeless cowboy loads, but not by much. The Black Hills ammo ought to be in the 750fps neighborhood, and I'd think something like 800fps or a little more from the BP load. __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

December 1, 2012, 08:30 PM	#2
MJN77 Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2009 Location: on a hill in West Virginia Posts: 789	Black powder is fine in your conversion.

December 1, 2012, 11:45 PM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	35 grains of bp is fine. Smokeless loads have a sharper pressure spike. Its not the cylinder that cant handle it, its the frame.

December 2, 2012, 12:20 AM	#8
MJN77 Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2009 Location: on a hill in West Virginia Posts: 789	I know that "cowboy" .44-40 loads average around 750-800ish fps out of a 24 inch barrel rifle and a full 37-40 grain BP load does around 1300ish. The "cowboy" loads are loaded to shoot paper or steel targets. That's it. Full BP loads were for more serious things like hunting and such.

December 2, 2012, 03:03 AM	#9
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	I chronied some .45 L BP loads 35 gr BP with 200 grain (Yes that is light) slug (Lee RNFP) Consistently got upward of 1050 fps I shot Winchester cowboy loads and got somewhere around 650 to 700 fps I also shot Cowboy loads from Mexico and got around 500 fps The factory cowboy loads were smokeless powder. Recoil on the full BP rounds was excessive so I backed off to 25 to 28. I think I remember about 800 fps from those rounds. These numbers came from a 4 3/4 inch barrel. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

December 2, 2012, 07:28 PM	#10
Roshi Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2010 Location: Houston Posts: 223	Power From what I've read 40 gr BP and 255 gr bullet is about 900 fps. Quite a powerful load.

December 2, 2012, 07:57 PM	#11
kwhi43 Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,393	Factory Goex Black Powder Loads

December 3, 2012, 07:03 PM	#12
Shotgun693 Senior Member Join Date: September 3, 2011 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 959	The original Military load left the muzzle at over 900 fps. Later the powder charge was reduced a bit because Troopers complained about the recoil. If you're worried try a .454 round ball over a lighter load of BP. You can seat the RB deep enough to crimp the case over the front curve of the ball.

December 4, 2012, 07:28 AM	#13
Doc Hoy Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Naples, Fl Posts: 5,440	I agrtee with the comment.... ....about recoil using 35 to 40 gr in .45 LC. That is a pretty emotional shooting experience. I load some with 35 gr just so I can come home with skun up knuckles. A good reminder of the day's shooting.......Just kidding fellas. __________________ Seek truth. Relax. Take a breath.

December 4, 2012, 08:03 AM	#14
MJN77 Senior Member Join Date: April 27, 2009 Location: on a hill in West Virginia Posts: 789	I load my .44-40 and .45s with as much BP as I can fit in the shells. Love it.

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