|
|
08-30-2009, 10:38 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times in 9 Posts
|
|
45 Colt Loads
Hello folks,
I recently purchased a 625-6 MG in 45 Colt. After purchasing it, I bought a mixed bunch of 45 Colt/454 Casull reloading gear for it. There were 100 reloaded Casull rounds that I pulled to reuse the bullets which were a mix of 225, 240, 250 and 300 Hornady XTPs. I used a collet puller so all of them have sustained a bit of damage from the "bite." What I want to do is load them up as plinking rounds to get rid of them. On hand I have Titegroup, BullsEye and H110. I also have some Trail Boss which I might use but would rather use one of the others because I have a bunch of them and finding powder in this area is a challenge. So, what say you guys?
Thanks,
Bill
__________________
US Marine, 16 years+
Last edited by mtb1bkr; 08-30-2009 at 04:19 PM.
|
08-30-2009, 10:56 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wichita Kansas
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
Loads
Bill,
Thanks for your service as a marine.
I currently utilize 10 grains of unique under a 185 grain jhp. nice shooting no over pressure very accurate.
regards, Steve Berkebile
|
08-30-2009, 11:03 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 10
Liked 78 Times in 51 Posts
|
|
Titegroup is probably the best option for powders you have on hand and want to use up. There are a number of <13kpsi loads listed on Hodgdon's site for those jacketed bullet weights.
While it is possible to work up some good H110 loads within a pressure range acceptable for the 625 (they are considered to be OK for up to 25kpsi loads), Titegroup is a more moderate choice for plinking/use-'em-up loads.
__________________
" I said, good DAY! "
|
08-30-2009, 11:35 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sebago Lake, Maine, USA
Posts: 5,434
Likes: 6,726
Liked 6,725 Times in 1,862 Posts
|
|
.45 Colt Loads in a Mountain Gun...
My 625 Mountain gets a little snappy when I load anything heavier than 8.5 grains of Unique. With Factory Target Stocks I used to get a bad case of "S&W Thumb" with my favorite load of 9.0.
Unique and the .45 Colt go togeather like Ham & Cheese.
|
08-30-2009, 12:30 PM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hoosier Land!
Posts: 4,379
Likes: 587
Liked 576 Times in 307 Posts
|
|
It's been a while since I loaded for the 45C**t (four letter word), I know that I never used Titegroup for it though. Personally, I don't like the case fill with it as there is none!
That being said though, there is current data for all of the bullet weights you mentioned with it on their website. Check it out. data.hodgdon.com.
If it were I, I would use Bullseye, that's me though. There is data on the Alliant website for bullets up to 260gr for it too. Check them out.
It is a popular caliber to load for but not with jacketed bullets. Mostly for cowboy action stuff.
|
08-30-2009, 12:37 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: central pa
Posts: 5,336
Likes: 2,745
Liked 2,492 Times in 1,182 Posts
|
|
Titegroup is a nice powder for light loads in the .45 Colt but it's hard to get any velocity up with published data. My favorite load is a 255gr LSWC with eight grains of Unique under it.
__________________
Stay safe people!
|
08-30-2009, 12:37 PM
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: I'm here, you're not
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 143
Liked 647 Times in 224 Posts
|
|
I use Unique for all my 45 Colt & 44 Special loads. It just works too well for me to go looking for another powder.
__________________
Lynnie, Professional Pest
|
08-30-2009, 04:16 PM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hoosier Land!
Posts: 4,379
Likes: 587
Liked 576 Times in 307 Posts
|
|
The OP has a qualifier in his post, friends!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mtb1bkr
Hello folks,
What I want to do is load them up as plinking rounds to get rid of them. On hand I have Titegroup, BullsEye and H110. I also have some Trail Boss which I might use but would rather use one of the others because I have a bunch of them and finding powder in this area is a challenge. So, what so you guys?
Thanks,
Bill
|
Few folks are answering this question. I would have suggested several different powders but that wasn't what our "Gyrene" is asking.
I think he is asking for guidance for the powders he has on hand. Our personal preference should be added after we answer his question.
|
08-30-2009, 06:12 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 10
Liked 78 Times in 51 Posts
|
|
Yep. That's the way I read his question.
I have tried Titegroup, but not for jacketed bullet loads. Usually, if I am loading jacketed bullets in 45 Colt it is for something "warmish". TG worked OK for lead, but not well enough for me to switch from my usual powder (no, it's not Unique). Bullseye loads leave way too much empty space in a 45C case for my comfort.
__________________
" I said, good DAY! "
Last edited by VAdoublegunner; 08-30-2009 at 06:20 PM.
|
08-30-2009, 08:34 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NORTH ALABAMA
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 186
Liked 83 Times in 51 Posts
|
|
unique is hard to beat! i am working up a 45 colt load with 2400 and a 240 jhc, might want to deer hunt with my blackhawk this fall, mike
__________________
WILL WORK FOR AMMO!
|
08-30-2009, 09:08 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Antonio Texas
Posts: 410
Likes: 109
Liked 321 Times in 151 Posts
|
|
I would check the powder companies' websites for information on both Tightgroup and Bullseye. I haven't used either powder in .45 Colt.
When supplies get better, I recomend either Unique or W231 in .45 Colt.
Sorry that I don't have a specific load for you. Good luck.
Jim Keene
|
08-30-2009, 09:37 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MA
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
I use Titegroup and TrailBoss for my plinking loads. I would go with the Titegroup for the jacketed bullets. Check Hodgden's website for specific loads.
|
08-31-2009, 09:10 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Woodland Park, CO
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 1 Post
|
|
Hornady's 6th ed only shows a 250 gr XTP in 45 Colt in the non-Ruger/TC section.
According to Hornady, for the 250's, you have:
Tightgroup min = 5.4 gr; max = 6.3 gr
Bullseye min = 5.7 gr; max = 6.5 gr
You'd probably be safe using low end loads of either powder for the 225 and 240 gr bullets. I'd look at Hodgdon and Alliant's web sites to find loads for the 300 gr bullets.
H110/W296 is usually reserved for the barn burner Ruger/TC only loads. It's also a fairly 'touchy' powder - meaning you don't want to go below the listed minimum load for a given cartridge. I wouldn't use it at all given your stated application.
Last edited by JeffR; 08-31-2009 at 09:15 AM.
|
08-31-2009, 11:36 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times in 9 Posts
|
|
Thanks for all of the replies folks. I went with Bullseye for all of them. I used the Alliant published loads for the stuff they had and then reduced accordingly for the 300 gr. I still have about 30 of the 300s that are NIB, I might use those for something else as I think they are heavy for caliber/gun. I have to get out of the high desert and try to find some other powders. One of the local pushers has some 231 for $25/lb. I might grab a pound of that for the time being as I need to load up some 40s as well.
Thanks,
Bill
__________________
US Marine, 16 years+
|
09-01-2009, 12:11 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Kalif. usa
Posts: 6,836
Likes: 2,665
Liked 3,927 Times in 2,366 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mtb1bkr
Thanks for all of the replies folks. I went with Bullseye for all of them. I used the Alliant published loads for the stuff they had and then reduced accordingly for the 300 gr. I still have about 30 of the 300s that are NIB, I might use those for something else as I think they are heavy for caliber/gun. I have to get out of the high desert and try to find some other powders. One of the local pushers has some 231 for $25/lb. I might grab a pound of that for the time being as I need to load up some 40s as well.
Thanks,
Bill
|
TO answer your original question 1st, none of the above, at least w/ the heavy bullets If you can get something a bit slower, Unique or WSF, you'll be better off w/ the 40 & heavy bullets in the 45colt. Fast powders & heavy bullets are a bad combination. Funny things can happen pressure wise.
__________________
NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO
|
09-01-2009, 12:42 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: East KY
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
|
|
.45 Colt loads in a Mountain Gun
In answer to your original question, none of your powders really are a good fit for the .45 Colt. Bullseye is the least objectionable of what you have, but you'll be limited with it to light loads. For the standard bullet weight, which is 250 grs. in .45 Colt, Unique powder is excellent in 8.0 to 8.5 grs., which should give you about 850-900 f.p.s. Eventually, costs will drive you to cast your own bullets. I can recommend the Lyman #454190 or #454424 as being very satisfactory at about a 16-1 (lead & tin) alloy ratio
Last edited by special44; 09-01-2009 at 12:44 AM.
Reason: Poor spacing by submission system
|
09-01-2009, 12:13 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times in 9 Posts
|
|
I likely will get into casting my own once I retire from the Corps or I'm within driving distance of home in KY. My FIL has all the equipment minus the moulds I would need. The reason I have to wait is the last time I moved I was over my max weight by about 1000 pounds. Fortunately, they knock off 1000 pounds for packaging supplies, so I didn't have to pay freight on the extra weight. I have to watch how much weight I gain between that move and my next to make sure I don't go farther over than last time. I estimate my current reloading gear, minus loaded rounds, primers and powder to be in the range of about 800 pounds. If I added casting equipment and lead, it would go up real quickly.
Bill
__________________
US Marine, 16 years+
|
09-13-2009, 09:00 PM
|
|
Moderator SWCA Member Absent Comrade
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northeast PA, USA
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 1,029
Liked 5,070 Times in 2,660 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mtb1bkr
Thanks for all of the replies folks. I went with Bullseye for all of them. I used the Alliant published loads for the stuff they had and then reduced accordingly for the 300 gr. I still have about 30 of the 300s that are NIB, I might use those for something else as I think they are heavy for caliber/gun. I have to get out of the high desert and try to find some other powders. One of the local pushers has some 231 for $25/lb. I might grab a pound of that for the time being as I need to load up some 40s as well.
Thanks,
Bill
|
Even though I was told to use Unique or Trail Boss when I started reloading for the .45 Colt I couldn't find any in the stores. I did have a lot of W231 and HS-6 so I tried both. W231 works GREAT for the .45 Colt especially with 225-260gr bullets. HS-6 also works well but it really shines if you decide to use up those 300gr bullets. I loaded up a bunch of 250gr LRN and 255gr SWC bullets with both and both gave me good results. W231 was a little cleaner because the .45 Colt is a low pressure round and HS-6 burns cleaner when pushed up to higher pressures. Both powders were accurate and I would use either without hesitation. If you load up some with W231 I'm sure you will be happy with the results. With a 250/255gr bullet I settled on a charge of 7.0gr W231 which will be my target load from now on. I used a standard LP primer with W231 and got better results with HS-6 when using a Magnum primer. (HS-6 is a little hard to ignite)
__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437
|
09-14-2009, 03:31 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2004
Location: NORTH ALABAMA
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 186
Liked 83 Times in 51 Posts
|
|
update! the 2400 just didnt work out, so i went back to unique, max load (ruger only) and i got what i wantedshould be over 1100 fps with my 45/8 barrel,
__________________
WILL WORK FOR AMMO!
|
09-14-2009, 08:06 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Greenfield, NH
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
|
|
Skip is right. None of his powders are good except H110 for strong guns with heavy loads. My choice is also Unique. All have answer the question indirectly.
Bob
|
09-14-2009, 10:15 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 313
Likes: 5
Liked 30 Times in 14 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by smith crazy
Few folks are answering this question. I would have suggested several different powders but that wasn't what our "Gyrene" is asking.
I think he is asking for guidance for the powders he has on hand. Our personal preference should be added after we answer his question.
|
Well, in that case, I'm glad he didn't have only some Fg black powder cannon powder on hand.....
Mike
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|