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Old 07-06-2018, 06:47 AM
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Default 45 colt powder of choice ?

I am shooting 225 Miss. bullets with the hi-tek coating and used 7.5 grs. titegroup and it leaded terribly in my 25-5 .

The 225 were a mistake I ordered 255 but I'm going to shoot those and then get the bigger bullet.

Accuracy was great but I can't live with that much lead in the bore. I'm wondering about a slower powder such as H110 or Sport Pistol .

What do you guys use mostly , and I will be trying to use coated lead or lead heavy bullets 250-255 . I do not want to load light or on the other extreme either .

Most everything I have around here is for target loads in 38-9mm or 45 acp such as titegroup , 231 , 700x , wst , titewad .


Thanks , Kirk
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Old 07-06-2018, 08:04 AM
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Unique has always been my favorite powder with the .45. I have used 231, Red Dot and 700-X. They all work, but Unique is my favorite. I usually load 7 or 8 grains with a 250gr swc. I have tried bullets intended for the .45acp, but if not seated right, the nose can be too long for some cylinders.
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Old 07-06-2018, 08:53 AM
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A barrel that is heavily leaded usually is not the fault of the powder . Remember , lead bullets are supposed to be 1-2 thousandths larger in diameter than the groove size of the barrel . Theoretically speaking , let's say your barrel measures a true " .452 " , then you would want bullets sized .453-454 . .453 is not a popular size so I would go up to .454 , which by the way is the size I use in my 25-5 .
Now , that brings up another possible problem . If the cylinder throat size is smaller than .454 they would need to be reamed out to at least .4535 or they will down size your oversize cast bullets . People are always complaining about oversize cylinder throats on the 25-5s. That is not a real problem as I have one and it shoots very accurately and no leading , in general . If I remove a few flakes I don't consider that a leaded barrel .
Do you have a tight spot where the barrel threads onto the frame ? When they index the front sight to the rear sight , many times the barrel is over torqued to get perfect alignment of the sights and that causes a crushed spot in the barrel . Bullet " fit " is king with the cylinder throats and checking for tight spots in the barrel for optimum accuracy and reduced leading .
Shooting lead in revolvers is much different than in semi auto's . It's an art and a science requiring patience and some effort on your part . Many times just buying plated bullets is a much easier answer . I purchased a set of pin gauges from Amazon for about $100 . I find the pin gauge that will just slide in the muzzle . If it slides all the way through the barrel easily , great . But if it stops short , then I know I have a tight spot and the barrel will need to be " fire lapped " to remove it . I apologize for the lengthy response , but there is NO quick and simple answer if you want to shoot lead bullets . There are several things that need to be considered , checked to shoot cast bullets accurately and w/ no leading of the barrel . Good Luck , Paul
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Old 07-06-2018, 10:42 AM
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H-110 and Trail Boss
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Old 07-06-2018, 12:12 PM
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I thought Hi Tek coating was supposed to eliminate leading. To hard a bullet can be a big a problem or worse than to soft in the 45 Colt. Pressure specs are low for standard loadings. I have had poor results with Missouri Bullets in the 45 Colt in a couple Ruger revolvers and a S&W Model 25.
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Old 07-06-2018, 01:07 PM
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Hodgdon web site says 6.4 gr is max for titegroup with a 225 FTX getting 863fps.
That's not your bullet, but a place to start. 13,200PSI

Your 7.5gr seems a little hot. It looks like the Brian Pearce load at 986fps. He still calls that a Tier 1 load under 14,000psi.


The real issue:
I have a 25-5 with 8 3/8" barrel and .454- exit holes on the cylinder. Barrel accepts a .452+ pin gauge. I bought .454 cast SWC and then tumble lubed them to about .4555 diameter.

Some lube is left as they exit the cylinder, but they are not swaged down below .454. The hardness is around 15. That seems perfect as they obturate well and fill all the way down on the grooves. I measured the recovered bullets base at .455 with most lube gone.
When they don't expand their base and fill down to the grooves, hot gases escape by the base and melt your lead bullet in the barrel.

I get a nice little star of lube at the muzzle.

Accuracy is 1 inch at 25 yards and 3.5" at 100 yards. No leading.
Your specs must be known and used. Powder choice will never matter if specs aren't right.


Prescut

Last edited by oddshooter; 07-06-2018 at 01:49 PM.
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Old 07-06-2018, 02:58 PM
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In a blackhawk only, Red Dot for plinkers, Unique for mid speed and AA9 for top end.
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Old 07-06-2018, 03:03 PM
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Excellent results with X-treme 255g FP copper plated on top on Accurate #5. 811 FPS avg in my 25-5 8-3/8.
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Old 07-06-2018, 04:41 PM
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VV N340 and FFFg(preferably swiss) .
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Old 07-06-2018, 06:05 PM
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Flammable dirt - Unique.
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Old 07-06-2018, 08:05 PM
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I concur, Unique.
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Old 07-06-2018, 11:06 PM
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Gentlemen ,

I believe I found the leading issue . I slugged the bore and it measured .452 . If using a 452 sized lead bullet it probably is a little small. Sorry guys I should have slugged the bore sooner, I know better but failed to do better.

The conundrum that I am thinking about is the fact that I can get berry's bullets cheaper than lead so with the special sizing requirements and the cost it may very well be simpler to go with a plated bullet.

I don't have any gauge pins large enough but a bullet at 452 falls through the cylinder , I'm going to guess it at .454 at least.

I still may look up some slower powder , I did come up with a can of HS7 which is the same as W571? . So if I can get hold of an old Lyman book I would have somewhere to start with that .

Thanks ,

Kirk
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Old 07-06-2018, 11:16 PM
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In a word.........Unique.
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Old 07-07-2018, 12:33 AM
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I use Unique. Brian Pearce who seems like a knowledgable gunwriter seems to really like Power Pistol. He also likes a RCBS mold that casts a 280 grain Keith style bullet. Supposed to be the 45 version of Keith's 250 grain 44 bullet. If you cast your own you can bump bullets up to 454. Check various casters for 454 size bullets if you don't cast yourself.

I have also read good things about Red Dot for 45 Colt but haven't tried it.

There is data out there from cowboy mild to John Linbaugh wild. Linbaugh advocates some pretty stout loads as OK for S&W revolvers. If I want that much bang I either use my Ruger Bisley or go to a 44 Mag.
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Old 07-07-2018, 12:34 AM
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Another vote for Unique.
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Old 07-07-2018, 10:20 AM
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Unique !!!!
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Old 07-07-2018, 10:31 AM
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for years I used H4227 the slow powder requires a mag primer. 19 gr. with a 250 cast boolit gets you around 900 fps. according to barrel length. the load is super accurate. the other choice that is just as good is unique powder. with these two powders you need not look any further,,,,,,,
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Old 07-07-2018, 10:55 AM
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Hard to do any better than Unique. Handles the whole performance spectrum from moderate loads for practice to full charge loads for defensive use or hunting.
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Old 07-07-2018, 11:00 AM
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Another vote for Unique....
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Old 07-07-2018, 11:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by olskool View Post
for years I used H4227 the slow powder requires a mag primer. 19 gr. with a 250 cast boolit gets you around 900 fps. according to barrel length. the load is super accurate. the other choice that is just as good is unique powder. with these two powders you need not look any further,,,,,,,
Thanks for that!
Need 4227 for the 460 as well as LRMag primers.... use them with 458WINMAG 300gr JFSN/JHP Sierras 50-55gr 4198 for years in a #1 rifle.
Then 60+++ gr 4198 with LR primers

Last edited by Imissedagain; 07-07-2018 at 11:09 AM.
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Old 07-07-2018, 11:18 AM
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Unique is my choice.
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Old 07-07-2018, 11:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurusu View Post
VV N340 and FFFg(preferably swiss) .
Last time at BassPro, in fabulous Dania Beach Florida, no FFF anything for pistol and the NIB Colt 1860 Army from circa ‘80.
Want to fire it and try some FFFg in the Blackhawk 45C..... then they head West.
Any tips.... when BP pistol is unavailable?
Thx

VV burns nice!!!
380 ACP with N320/115gr XTP

Last edited by Imissedagain; 07-07-2018 at 11:43 AM.
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Old 07-07-2018, 05:45 PM
Qc Pistolero Qc Pistolero is offline
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I think that Cowboy4ever spoke words of wisdom about your leading problem.
I personnally use Unique for honest to God 45 Colt loads and IMR 4227 with mag primers for my Oh my God loads(Ruger Blackhawk loads).
I do not like Titegroup;it tends to burn at a high temp.If you want a quick burning powder for target loads,the usual ones are all good(Red Dot,700x,Bullseye,Promo,231 and some more).
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Old 07-09-2018, 10:10 AM
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Default 45 Colt Reloads

For Lead free performance I Tumble Lube with
Ben's Liquid Lube formula (Topic over on Castboolits).

My powders that I like are, 1st choice is Unique,
Alliant Red Dot, Alliant Bullseye, American Select,
and Long Shot (Bear Load). Trail Boss (last place).

Currently using Alliant Red Dot, 250gr round nose flat
point boolit/6.0grs RD/CCI LP/approx. 800fps.
From Brain in Handloading Magazine.

Below, Books I was very fortunate to a acquire
recently.
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Old 07-09-2018, 12:30 PM
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For a long time Unique and cast bullets were used.

Due to Unique's unavailibilty for a while , I've recently discovered Western Powder's Accurate line of powders ......Accurate #5 and cast bullets might be just the ticket in the 45 Colt. The burn characteristics are similar and I will have to admit Accurate #5 is easier to meter.
Gary
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Old 07-09-2018, 01:14 PM
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For many years now I have been using MB Cowboy #1 in my 25-5. The 250gr RNFP drop right through the cylinder. The bullets are Brinell 12.
My powder of choice is Titegroup.
Accuracy is great and leading minimal. I shoot at least 150 to 200 per range visit. Next order I will try the coated.
I began using the same load in a pair of Ruger Vaqueros, back in my SASS days, with the same result.
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