Favorite Powders For .45 Colt

Pathfinder45 · January 11, 2008, 01:51 AM

I keep Unique around and am using it again because it performs so well it's like the standard to judge all other powders by in .45 Colt. Being hopelessly experimental, I can't just leave it at that. Which has led to some other favorites, like HS-7. If I had to choose just one powder for .45 Colt it would be HS-7. But now I hear it's discontinued......Oh, whatever shall I do! What's your favorite powders and why?

Lloyd Smale · January 11, 2008, 07:57 AM

never had much luck with hs7 i use a ton of hs6 though and its allways given me better accuracy then 7. Id have to say for normal non ruger level loads my favoirte powders are herco, power pistol and unigue with herco getting a small victory.

Stainz · January 11, 2008, 09:16 AM

I switched from HP38/W231 to Titegroup due to the lack of position/volume sensitivity of the latter. Also, I found that a midpoint load of the recommended range of loads with a 250gr LRNFP exceeded the velocity of the earlier choice at maximum. That's an improvement - and a 'frugal' step, too, as it maxxed out at 10% less mass. Then there is the lessened fouling - the grey muzzle soot being easily wiped away - and no unburned powder on the shooting bench, either. Being monomaniacal, I use it for everything - 7.62 1895 Nagant to .45 Colt.

Stainz

nate45 · January 11, 2008, 09:17 AM

4227, 2400, Unique

tlm225 · January 11, 2008, 10:52 AM

I used Unique for a long time. I've been using Power Pistol for several months and must say that I like it.

salvadore · January 11, 2008, 10:58 AM

I also use titegroup in my .45 Colt, as well as my .45acp, and in a .38 wadcutter load. Heard some suppository remarks about it right after I had purchased 8lbs, but have had good luck with it. I use it for everything I use to load unique and bullseye for.

CraigC · January 11, 2008, 01:51 PM

I started using Titegroup in smaller cases like the .32H&R, .38Spl and .44Colt because it meters better than Unique in those small charges. Well, not only does it meter well, but I've also found it to be a great powder for loads I 'do' use Unique for. Namely mid-range .44Mag and .45Colt loads around 1000fps. It's an excellent powder and I always keep some on hand.

Army GI · January 11, 2008, 02:10 PM

Black powder.

Pathfinder45 · January 11, 2008, 04:57 PM

I'm mostly using HS-7, Titegroup, Unique, AA-9, but have a hard time turning down free powder or passing up a great deal at the gun show. Thus, I've got to burn up a pound each of AA-5, AA-7, 2400, IMR-4227, FFF-G........ Further complicating this mess is the fact of two different .45 colts; a short barreled Vaquero and a long barreled Marlin. I did not care for Blue Dot... too much powder residues after firing.

Ultima-Ratio · January 11, 2008, 05:52 PM

For the P model my favorite is VV-N-110, for the newer stronger 625s it's H-110 or Unique.

tomh1426 · January 11, 2008, 06:06 PM

Aneyone try Trailboss

blackhawk45 · January 11, 2008, 06:26 PM

HS-6 for my plinking rounds, and a stout load of Win296 for my hunting rounds.

gga357 · January 11, 2008, 07:00 PM

titegroup for modrate level, consistancy and H110 for ruger type loads.

**44 AMP** · January 12, 2008, 12:31 AM

Ruger Blackhawk, .45 Colt, 7.5" barrel. 250gr SWC, standard large pistol primers, 10.0gr Unique. Avg 1,070 fps. Accurate in my gun to 250 yds (haven't shot further)

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR COLT GUNS (or clones of Colt guns)

My 30 year old reloading manuals list 10.0gr Unique as max safe load for Colt SAA, but some newer manuals I have seen do not go that far, so I do not recommend it for Colt SAAs or guns of similar strength. Just fine (and not a max load) for the big Ruger.

Unique is all I use for the .45 Colt, and 8.0gr makes a nice plinker.

Mr.RevolverGuy · January 12, 2008, 12:54 AM

Trailboss is a great powder for 45colt.

zxcvbob · January 12, 2008, 01:41 AM

Alliant "PROMO". Or Red Dot if you are afraid to buy an 8# keg (the only size PROMO comes in.)

popbang · January 12, 2008, 11:56 AM

H110, 2400, Unique, Universal, & N340

Arub · January 12, 2008, 08:34 PM

I have used Alliant American Select with good results, now use Alliant Green Dot. Switched to Green Dot to use one powder for all my reloading needs: .45acp, .45Colt, .40S&W, .357mag and 9mm. A bonus for using either Green Dot or American Select is you use far less powder per load resulting in $avings.

Linear Thinker · January 12, 2008, 11:59 PM

6 grains of Trail Boss under 250 grain bullets.
Mild and accurate, just the ticket for cowboy matches or plinking. Funky smelling powder, best used outdoors.
LT

hikingman · January 13, 2008, 12:42 AM

231.

Pathfinder45 · January 14, 2008, 01:47 PM

I used ffg black powder yesterday with very good results. My favorite bullet was employed, i.e., home-cast Lee 255 RNFP lubed with sticky toilet-bowl ring wax. Are those rooster and spg lubes really any better than what I'm using? Anybody out there make comparative field tests?

zxcvbob · January 16, 2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pathfinder45

I used ffg black powder yesterday with very good results. My favorite bullet was employed, i.e., home-cast Lee 255 RNFP lubed with sticky toilet-bowl ring wax. Are those rooster and spg lubes really any better than what I'm using? Anybody out there make comparative field tests?

You should probably start another thread to talk about bullet lubes.

When I get a round tuit, I want to try a mixture of anhydrous calcium grease, lard, and just enough candle wax to harden it (maybe 40:40:20) as an all-purpose lube for both BP and smokeless. My theory is the calcium soap in the grease will act like ALOX, and the lard will make it easier to clean up afterwards -- especially with black powder.

I have all the ingredients already (Coastal marine grease, lard, and a blue taper candle cuz the grease is blue), but my lubrisizer is full of Lyman's black moly lube.

January 11, 2008, 01:51 AM	#1
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	Favorite Powders For .45 Colt I keep Unique around and am using it again because it performs so well it's like the standard to judge all other powders by in .45 Colt. Being hopelessly experimental, I can't just leave it at that. Which has led to some other favorites, like HS-7. If I had to choose just one powder for .45 Colt it would be HS-7. But now I hear it's discontinued......Oh, whatever shall I do! What's your favorite powders and why?

January 11, 2008, 10:52 AM	#5
tlm225 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 976	I used Unique for a long time. I've been using Power Pistol for several months and must say that I like it. __________________ All that is neccessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke

January 11, 2008, 05:52 PM	#10
Ultima-Ratio Junior member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 227	.45 Long Colt Powders? For the P model my favorite is VV-N-110, for the newer stronger 625s it's H-110 or Unique.

January 11, 2008, 07:00 PM	#13
gga357 Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 15	titegroup for modrate level, consistancy and H110 for ruger type loads. Last edited by gga357; January 12, 2008 at 08:42 PM. Reason: spelling

January 12, 2008, 12:31 AM	#14
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,470	Unique Ruger Blackhawk, .45 Colt, 7.5" barrel. 250gr SWC, standard large pistol primers, 10.0gr Unique. Avg 1,070 fps. Accurate in my gun to 250 yds (haven't shot further) NOT RECOMMENDED FOR COLT GUNS (or clones of Colt guns) My 30 year old reloading manuals list 10.0gr Unique as max safe load for Colt SAA, but some newer manuals I have seen do not go that far, so I do not recommend it for Colt SAAs or guns of similar strength. Just fine (and not a max load) for the big Ruger. Unique is all I use for the .45 Colt, and 8.0gr makes a nice plinker. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 11, 2008, 07:57 AM	#2
Lloyd Smale Junior member Join Date: February 11, 2005 Posts: 822	never had much luck with hs7 i use a ton of hs6 though and its allways given me better accuracy then 7. Id have to say for normal non ruger level loads my favoirte powders are herco, power pistol and unigue with herco getting a small victory.

January 11, 2008, 09:16 AM	#3
Stainz Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 749	I switched from HP38/W231 to Titegroup due to the lack of position/volume sensitivity of the latter. Also, I found that a midpoint load of the recommended range of loads with a 250gr LRNFP exceeded the velocity of the earlier choice at maximum. That's an improvement - and a 'frugal' step, too, as it maxxed out at 10% less mass. Then there is the lessened fouling - the grey muzzle soot being easily wiped away - and no unburned powder on the shooting bench, either. Being monomaniacal, I use it for everything - 7.62 1895 Nagant to .45 Colt. Stainz

January 11, 2008, 09:17 AM	#4
nate45 Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,746	4227, 2400, Unique

January 11, 2008, 10:58 AM	#6
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	I also use titegroup in my .45 Colt, as well as my .45acp, and in a .38 wadcutter load. Heard some suppository remarks about it right after I had purchased 8lbs, but have had good luck with it. I use it for everything I use to load unique and bullseye for.

January 11, 2008, 01:51 PM	#7
CraigC Junior member Join Date: November 28, 2001 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 4,300	I started using Titegroup in smaller cases like the .32H&R, .38Spl and .44Colt because it meters better than Unique in those small charges. Well, not only does it meter well, but I've also found it to be a great powder for loads I 'do' use Unique for. Namely mid-range .44Mag and .45Colt loads around 1000fps. It's an excellent powder and I always keep some on hand.

January 11, 2008, 02:10 PM	#8
Army GI Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2006 Posts: 284	Black powder.

January 11, 2008, 04:57 PM	#9
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	I'm mostly using HS-7, Titegroup, Unique, AA-9, but have a hard time turning down free powder or passing up a great deal at the gun show. Thus, I've got to burn up a pound each of AA-5, AA-7, 2400, IMR-4227, FFF-G........ Further complicating this mess is the fact of two different .45 colts; a short barreled Vaquero and a long barreled Marlin. I did not care for Blue Dot... too much powder residues after firing.

January 11, 2008, 06:06 PM	#11
tomh1426 Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2005 Location: Youngtown Arizona Posts: 1,135	Aneyone try Trailboss

January 11, 2008, 06:26 PM	#12
blackhawk45 Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2007 Location: Millersville Pa. Posts: 114	HS-6 for my plinking rounds, and a stout load of Win296 for my hunting rounds.

January 12, 2008, 12:54 AM	#15
Mr.RevolverGuy Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 997	Trailboss is a great powder for 45colt.

January 12, 2008, 01:41 AM	#16
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Alliant "PROMO". Or Red Dot if you are afraid to buy an 8# keg (the only size PROMO comes in.)

January 12, 2008, 11:56 AM	#17
popbang Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2001 Location: out yonder Posts: 148	H110, 2400, Unique, Universal, & N340

January 12, 2008, 08:34 PM	#18
Arub Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2001 Location: UCLA (upper corner of lower Alabama) Posts: 533	I have used Alliant American Select with good results, now use Alliant Green Dot. Switched to Green Dot to use one powder for all my reloading needs: .45acp, .45Colt, .40S&W, .357mag and 9mm. A bonus for using either Green Dot or American Select is you use far less powder per load resulting in $avings.

January 12, 2008, 11:59 PM	#19
Linear Thinker Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2007 Location: Blue State, NE US Posts: 202	6 grains of Trail Boss under 250 grain bullets. Mild and accurate, just the ticket for cowboy matches or plinking. Funky smelling powder, best used outdoors. LT

January 13, 2008, 12:42 AM	#20
hikingman Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2004 Location: Alabama Posts: 302	231.

January 14, 2008, 01:47 PM	#21
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	I used ffg black powder yesterday with very good results. My favorite bullet was employed, i.e., home-cast Lee 255 RNFP lubed with sticky toilet-bowl ring wax. Are those rooster and spg lubes really any better than what I'm using? Anybody out there make comparative field tests?