Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-21-2011, 12:13 AM
Vfeldman Vfeldman is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 202
Likes: 1
Liked 11 Times in 2 Posts
Default Need light 45 colt loads

Picked up my M25 mountain gun in 45 colt last week and want to load some light loads for it.

Powders I have on hand include Bulllseye, Green Dot, Titegroup, Clays, Unique, and HS-6. I plan to use 250 – 300 grain cast bullets.

Thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-21-2011, 12:15 AM
max's Avatar
max max is offline
US Veteran
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: illinois
Posts: 6,295
Likes: 1,849
Liked 6,681 Times in 2,115 Posts
Default

7.0 of Unique and your cast swc is a nice load.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-21-2011, 12:19 AM
redlevel's Avatar
redlevel redlevel is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: GA
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 8,045
Liked 12,731 Times in 2,419 Posts
Default

One of my favorite loads in .45 Colt is a 250 grain SWC or RNFP bullet over 8.5 grains of Unique. Not particularly light, but certainly not a heavy load. Very pleasant to shoot in the MG.
__________________
Georgia On My Mind
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-21-2011, 12:19 AM
Vfeldman Vfeldman is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 202
Likes: 1
Liked 11 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by max View Post
7.0 of Unique and your cast swc is a nice load.
Thanks..do you have an approx. FPS for this load?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:38 AM
robctwo robctwo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Albany, OR
Posts: 458
Likes: 6
Liked 58 Times in 27 Posts
Default

For light loads I'm using 200 gr lswc and 5.8-6.0 Red Dot. Could use 4.6-5.9 of Clays or 6.5 -7.7 Titegroup.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-21-2011, 03:59 AM
Beans Beans is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Southern Az Territory, Border County
Posts: 494
Likes: 16
Liked 50 Times in 21 Posts
Default

Powder puff load. 200 grain bullet and 5 grains of Trailboss. this is very good for cowboy action shooting.
__________________
Semper FI
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-21-2011, 08:52 AM
max's Avatar
max max is offline
US Veteran
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: illinois
Posts: 6,295
Likes: 1,849
Liked 6,681 Times in 2,115 Posts
Default

I am guessing that 7.0 of Unique is between 700 and 750 fps. The Alliant manual says 8.0 gives 850.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-21-2011, 09:49 AM
Driftwood Johnson Driftwood Johnson is offline
SWCA Member
Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 795
Likes: 0
Liked 968 Times in 219 Posts
Default

Howdy

Plenty of loads here:

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

P.S. 300 bullets are not usually considered appropriate for light loads. 200 - 250 grain bullets are. Of course, it all depends on your definition of 'light loads'. With some folks, anything less than +P are considered light loads. Others consider the Cowboy loads to be light loads. And some consider even the Cowboy loads to be too heavy.

Most of the time, I stuff the 45 Colt full of Schuetzen FFg.

But on the rare occasion that I load it with Smokeless, my own personal favorite for 45 Colt and Smokeless is a 250 grain lead roundnosed bullet and 7.5 grains of Unique. Still has some authority to it but you can shoot it all day without your hand getting sore.

Last edited by Driftwood Johnson; 01-21-2011 at 09:58 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-21-2011, 11:48 AM
Hammerdown77 Hammerdown77 is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts
Default

250 grain bullet, 5.8 grains of Trailboss. Like shootin' a .38 in my Mountain Gun.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-21-2011, 12:04 PM
sunday bill sunday bill is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 303
Likes: 21
Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts
Default

A load of 7 grains of W 231/HP38 and a 250 grain cast SWC or RNFP bullet has long been a favorite of mine.

I'm a fan of the 300 grain gas-ckecked SWC but reserve it for business loads.

Back before Duke Venturino became (perhaps rightfully) enamored with the advantages of Trail Boss, I believe he claimed his everyday 45 LC load was 6.9 grains/W 231 and a 250ish gr. bullet.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-21-2011, 12:25 PM
Hammerdown77 Hammerdown77 is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts
Default

Yep, 7-ish grains of HP38/231 is another great "shoot all day" load, and it's more of a standard velocity load to boot. (whereas Trailboss is gonna be in the low 700 fps range).
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-21-2011, 01:09 PM
thedane thedane is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Liked 48 Times in 10 Posts
Default

I used 8.0 grs Unique over a 250 gr. cast SWC for years. It's a nice moderate load. I recently bumped it up to 8.5 grs. Unique to get a little more muzzle velocity.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-21-2011, 04:18 PM
ArchAngelCD's Avatar
ArchAngelCD ArchAngelCD is offline
Moderator
SWCA Member
Absent Comrade
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northeast PA, USA
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 1,029
Liked 5,070 Times in 2,660 Posts
Default

The 45 Colt isn't a very picky caliber and can be loaded with many powders. I have used W231/HP-38, Universal, AA#5, Unique, HS-6 Trail Boss and 2400 to name a few. My favorite is W231 as with most handgun calibers I load. I charge 7.2gr W231 under a 250gr LRN or 255gr LSWC bullet. I also use HS-6 at times for more "serious" work!
__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-21-2011, 09:03 PM
Vfeldman Vfeldman is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 202
Likes: 1
Liked 11 Times in 2 Posts
Default bullet weight updated

When I asked the question this morning, I was incorrect about the bullet weights I have on hand.

I just checked and the correct bullet weights I have on hand are
180 gr round nose /flat point
200 gr round nose /flat point
255 gr semi wadcutter

Again, powders on hand are:
Bullseye
Unique
Green Dot
Clays
Titegroup
HS6

Lat year I scored a really good deal when I bought a Ruger Blackhawk 45 LC/ 45 ACP from a firend. Along with the gun I got close to 1700 cast bullets for loading, 400 virgin starline cases, 400 loaded rounds (I know the seller & trust his reloads) and 2 boxes of factory loads, plus his reloading dies. He was slimming down his collection and getting out of this caliber.

When I found the 45 colt mountain gun preowned but in virtually new condition, I felt I had no choice but to buy it!

Again, I'm looking for light loads.

Thanks again
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 01-21-2011, 11:43 PM
ArchAngelCD's Avatar
ArchAngelCD ArchAngelCD is offline
Moderator
SWCA Member
Absent Comrade
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northeast PA, USA
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 1,029
Liked 5,070 Times in 2,660 Posts
Default

Of the powders you listed I would suggest all but HS-6 for light loads because HS-6 doesn't react well to being downloaded. Unique has been around the longest and there's TONS of load data available for it in the .45 Colt.
__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 01-22-2011, 12:25 AM
Hammerdown77 Hammerdown77 is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts
Default

Good Titegroup Cowboy loads here with that 200 gr. bullet

Reloading the .45 Colt Page

He's from Huntsville, too!
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 01-22-2011, 01:02 AM
Vfeldman Vfeldman is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 202
Likes: 1
Liked 11 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerdown77 View Post
He's from Huntsville, too!
Just noticed your in my area..do you know any of the IDPA / USPSA guys from Arab?

Know anyone from shootability.net?
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 01-22-2011, 01:31 AM
Ron H.'s Avatar
Ron H. Ron H. is offline
US Veteran
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 33
Liked 249 Times in 118 Posts
Default

Sir, a cast 200-grain bullet over 8.0 grains of Unique makes a nice plinker. Either roundnose flatpoints or semi-wadcutters are fine. I used to shoot a lot of this load, and I liked that the 200s printed closer to my Smith's sights than 250s did.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
__________________
Wishin' don't make it so.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 01-22-2011, 02:01 AM
robctwo robctwo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Albany, OR
Posts: 458
Likes: 6
Liked 58 Times in 27 Posts
Default

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Reloading the .45 Colt Page
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 01-22-2011, 02:39 AM
Sebago Son's Avatar
Sebago Son Sebago Son is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sebago Lake, Maine, USA
Posts: 5,435
Likes: 6,726
Liked 6,724 Times in 1,862 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by redlevel View Post
One of my favorite loads in .45 Colt is a 250 grain SWC or RNFP bullet over 8.5 grains of Unique. Not particularly light, but certainly not a heavy load. Very pleasant to shoot in the MG.
+1.

Accurate in my 625 Mountain as well.



Eagle "Heritage" stocks help too...
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 01-22-2011, 08:45 AM
Hammerdown77 Hammerdown77 is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vfeldman View Post
Just noticed your in my area..do you know any of the IDPA / USPSA guys from Arab?

Know anyone from shootability.net?
Don't know anyone in Arab; Haven't gotten into IDPA yet.

I'm in Huntsville, too. Wish I could "luck" into folks trying to get out of a caliber I shoot!
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 01-22-2011, 01:06 PM
Vfeldman Vfeldman is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 202
Likes: 1
Liked 11 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerdown77 View Post
Don't know anyone in Arab; Haven't gotten into IDPA yet.

I'm in Huntsville, too. Wish I could "luck" into folks trying to get out of a caliber I shoot!
I try to shoot at Larry's at least every two weeks. I used to shoot there back when they held the tuesday night IDPA matches there. When it's open, I am a frequent user of Swan Creek. I'll go out there early on a Sat or Sun morning & stay for 3-4 hours.

It should be opening back up the end of Feb.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 01-22-2011, 06:19 PM
Hammerdown77 Hammerdown77 is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts
Default

Swan Creek opens Feb. 1, so not too far away. I'll shoot at Larry's during my lunch break during the week, but the weekend is usually too crowded for me. There's a club range out at Sharon Johnston park that the public can shoot at for $5 on the weekends, and I've been going out there a bit this year. Also, I have a buddy out in Woodville (near Grant) who has 40 acres.

Did you get the Mtn. Gun from Larry's? That's where I found mine, it was used but looked virtually new. It was the first one I'd seen in the used cabinet, but then in subsequent weeks I saw several more.

I really like the Mtn. Gun, but I'll have to say a lot of the loads I could shoot comfortably in my Ruger Blackhawk convertible were a little painful in the Smith. The Ruger rolls back in your hand, whereas the Smith comes straight back into that lower thumb joint.

You should pick up a bottle of Trailboss just to try it out. I got a couple of bottles from JC's for $17 a piece. He usually tries to keep it in stock. It's fantastic for reduced loads in the big-cased revolver rounds.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 01-22-2011, 06:50 PM
Vfeldman Vfeldman is offline
Member
Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads Need light 45 colt loads  
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 202
Likes: 1
Liked 11 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerdown77 View Post
Swan Creek opens Feb. 1, so not too far away. I'll shoot at Larry's during my lunch break during the week, but the weekend is usually too crowded for me. There's a club range out at Sharon Johnston park that the public can shoot at for $5 on the weekends, and I've been going out there a bit this year. Also, I have a buddy out in Woodville (near Grant) who has 40 acres.

Did you get the Mtn. Gun from Larry's? That's where I found mine, it was used but looked virtually new. It was the first one I'd seen in the used cabinet, but then in subsequent weeks I saw several more.

I really like the Mtn. Gun, but I'll have to say a lot of the loads I could shoot comfortably in my Ruger Blackhawk convertible were a little painful in the Smith. The Ruger rolls back in your hand, whereas the Smith comes straight back into that lower thumb joint.

You should pick up a bottle of Trailboss just to try it out. I got a couple of bottles from JC's for $17 a piece. He usually tries to keep it in stock. It's fantastic for reduced loads in the big-cased revolver rounds.
I agree the range at Larry's during the weekend is insane. I did get my mountain gun there. I was telling one of the managers there at Larry’s about getting my 45 Blackhawk and all of the 45 colt loading components with it when he went in back room and came out with a blued 45 colt MG to show me. It had just come in on trade and had not yet been priced. The previous owner had (very badly) painted the front & rear sights but I knew it would come off with a little scrubbing. As usual, he gave me a deal I just couldn’t pass up.

The first time I shot the MG I had grabbed some of the hand loads that I got in the Blackhawk trade. To say that they were hot is an understatement. I fired 3 or 4 cylinders full and then switched to my 38 spl. Funny thing about it is you don't even notice the recoil when shooting the same loads from the Blackhawk. That is what prompted me to start this thread.

I believe you are correct about Swan Creek opening back up on the 1st of Feb. I have several projects that need some trigger time to complete.
I will swing by JCs and look for some Trailboss. 17 bucks sounds reasonable. Every time I have been in JCs, his stuff has been way overpriced. I usually get powder in group buys with local friends. We split the hazmat & shipping fees between 4 or 5 of us.

We should meet out at SC sometime. A lot of people complain about it but I usually have a great time & have met many fine folks out there. You just have to look out for the brass scroungers!

I tried the range out at Sharon Johnston Park when I moved to this area almost 3 years ago. To be honest, I wasn’t terribly impressed. I got the impression that if you weren’t there for skeet, you were a second class citizen.

Oh I almost forgot..Larry's had a MG in 41 Mag that I was drueling over but it was NIB and full price. I like my guns preowned and cheap!

Last edited by Vfeldman; 01-22-2011 at 06:53 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
colt, heritage, idpa, model 25, model 625, mountain gun, ruger, skeet, starline, universal

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
light loads in a 357, 38 vs 357 beagleye Reloading 36 12-26-2020 11:55 AM
.44 light loads with 700-X knotbrush Reloading 10 02-09-2020 12:20 AM
Light S&W .500 Loads With AA#5 Confederate Tyrant Reloading 12 01-06-2017 10:02 AM
Any Problems With Light Loads in 45 Colt max Reloading 21 04-02-2011 09:54 AM
.40 S&W light loads ? zenfly Ammo 3 01-19-2010 01:06 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:09 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)