.45 Colt recoil
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Ben_hutcherson
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I've made my own black powder cartridges by stuffing as much FFFg Goex under a 250gr LRNFP as will fit(generally about 37gr in a modern case).
This is a surprisingly stout load with a fair bit of recoil and also a very distinctive report.
If one were looking for an authentic "Western" feel, I don't think that you're going to get it with most standard pressure 45 Colt off the shelf. Buffalo Arms and a few others do make black powder cartridges(prices are similar to most other 45 Colt factory ammo).
Most factory 45 Colt these days is fairly puny. The closest I've come to black powder felt recoil with smokeless powder are my reloads using Hodgdon CFE Pistol.
This is a surprisingly stout load with a fair bit of recoil and also a very distinctive report.
If one were looking for an authentic "Western" feel, I don't think that you're going to get it with most standard pressure 45 Colt off the shelf. Buffalo Arms and a few others do make black powder cartridges(prices are similar to most other 45 Colt factory ammo).
Most factory 45 Colt these days is fairly puny. The closest I've come to black powder felt recoil with smokeless powder are my reloads using Hodgdon CFE Pistol.
As stated, the " Cowboy Loads ", are close but the original was a 255 grain conical bullet ahead of I believe 40 grains of Black Powder. The magnum of it's day, so to speak. I have an " old ", model Vaquero that will handle the full range of .45 Colt loads and I've shot the 300 grain Corbon's at 1200 fps and believe it or not, they are not horrible recoil wise. I've shot several Hogs with Federals 225 grain Lead Semi Wad cutter with great success. Not so much for the Hogs but I did very well. I also purchased some of Georgia Arms " Canned Heat ", ammunition which is basically a Cowboy type loading and that was very easy to shoot. It's an excellent cartridge with a long and interesting history. If you would like to learn a tad more read Elmer Keith's book, Sixguns and he recounts some very interesting shooting with his old Colt .45 Single Action Armies and his hand loads for them. Sorry to ramble. I just enjoy the cartridge.
attn Badge
Me, too, Badge. It's why I have 2 derringers in LC. Would love to have a Model 58-type revolver in LC. The wider chambers would remove some weight and a "pencil barrel" (LEOs in NYC used this term) would hog out more weight. I know, the ACP is better in so many ways, but it's not the LC.
Interesting you took out hogs with the Federal LHP load. Any expansion? I've read it's too slow to expand.
Stay safe, partner.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
Me, too, Badge. It's why I have 2 derringers in LC. Would love to have a Model 58-type revolver in LC. The wider chambers would remove some weight and a "pencil barrel" (LEOs in NYC used this term) would hog out more weight. I know, the ACP is better in so many ways, but it's not the LC.
Interesting you took out hogs with the Federal LHP load. Any expansion? I've read it's too slow to expand.
Stay safe, partner.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
I really enjoy shooting 45 colt black powder loads out of my saa.It's similar to an 8 gr Unique load,but is a "smoother" feel.The 44 special,45 colt and 45 acp all feel about the same to me.A satisfying thump,but not sharp like a magnum.
Biggfoot44
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It all depends on your perception of *Western* .
The loads intended for CAS shooting , and usually marked as "Cowboy" are very slow. Mild recoil , but still make a large diameter non-expanding hole. True BP loads were mentioned. Black powder mainstream factory loads hung on in .45 Colt longer than just about any other loads , reportedly until close to WWII.
The other catagory of loads are the non-cowboy factory loads with 250/55gr rn/fp , such as R-P and W-W . Depending on bbl length and individual gun 825-925fps. This is the load that Elmer Keith once said was best all around load , if one was restricted to factory ammo only.
The loads intended for CAS shooting , and usually marked as "Cowboy" are very slow. Mild recoil , but still make a large diameter non-expanding hole. True BP loads were mentioned. Black powder mainstream factory loads hung on in .45 Colt longer than just about any other loads , reportedly until close to WWII.
The other catagory of loads are the non-cowboy factory loads with 250/55gr rn/fp , such as R-P and W-W . Depending on bbl length and individual gun 825-925fps. This is the load that Elmer Keith once said was best all around load , if one was restricted to factory ammo only.
drkuhar
Member
Factory colt loads were easier out of my governor than acp loads. Surprisingly
Harkrader
Member
.45 Colt Vaquero
250-gr lead with case full of black powder or modern substitute. Can't beat it. 19th Century CE feel, "boom" instead of "bang," nice smoke. I put a beeswax wad under the bullet and never have a problem with leading, and can shoot an entire Cowboy match without accuracy issues.
Load, shoot, repeat.
250-gr lead with case full of black powder or modern substitute. Can't beat it. 19th Century CE feel, "boom" instead of "bang," nice smoke. I put a beeswax wad under the bullet and never have a problem with leading, and can shoot an entire Cowboy match without accuracy issues.
Load, shoot, repeat.
johnnyflake
Member
As many have mentioned, Cowboy Loads would be the way to go, if you don't reload. Fiocchi has a fantastic Cowboy Action Shooting Load.
If you reload, then a 250/255gr bullet over 7.0gr of Unique makes for a nice soft, mid-range load.
BTW, the Ruger New Vaquero is a great handgun. I have a Blackhawk in .45 Colt which I love.
If you reload, then a 250/255gr bullet over 7.0gr of Unique makes for a nice soft, mid-range load.
BTW, the Ruger New Vaquero is a great handgun. I have a Blackhawk in .45 Colt which I love.
Am I wrong here???
I thought 'Cowboy Action' loads were intentionally kept low velocity for reacquiring the target quickly. I looked up the .45 Colt cartridge and its black powder load could give as much 1000 ft/sec.
I thought 'Cowboy Action' loads were intentionally kept low velocity for reacquiring the target quickly. I looked up the .45 Colt cartridge and its black powder load could give as much 1000 ft/sec.
Vulcan Bob
Member
The most common authentic non black powder loads out there are the Remington and Winchester 250gr RNL. They run around 830-850 FPS and are sized at .455" to work well in most any revolver regardless of cylinder throat size.
The original .45 Colt used a balloon case with considerably more capacity than modern cases - a full 40 grains of black powder. This would push a 250 grain bullet to 900 fps or more, which would be stiff by today's standard.
Smokeless powder has higher peak pressure, so most recommended loads are in the 800 fps category. 900 fps would be pushing the envelope. You won't more than about 35 grains of black powder in a modern cartridge. (Black powder should be loaded to compress about 10% when the bullet is seated).
I use a middling load of Unique behind a 250 grain hard cast RNFP bullet. The recoil is substantial but manageable in a New Vaquero. The trigger guard thumps my middle finger pretty good. Cowboy loads are a lot lighter, and well below anything a real cowboy would have used.
Good shooting and happy trails.
Smokeless powder has higher peak pressure, so most recommended loads are in the 800 fps category. 900 fps would be pushing the envelope. You won't more than about 35 grains of black powder in a modern cartridge. (Black powder should be loaded to compress about 10% when the bullet is seated).
I use a middling load of Unique behind a 250 grain hard cast RNFP bullet. The recoil is substantial but manageable in a New Vaquero. The trigger guard thumps my middle finger pretty good. Cowboy loads are a lot lighter, and well below anything a real cowboy would have used.
Good shooting and happy trails.
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If you want an authentic Western feel, use Black Powder but just note that it's a pain to clean the gun afterwards!
I reload my own and use 7.8 grains of Unique with a 250 - 255 grain RNFP lead bullet. I shoot them from a set of Colt SAA's with 4 3/4" barrels and find them very accurate and pleasurable to shoot. It's the load I used for competition in SASS matches for 20 years.
I reload my own and use 7.8 grains of Unique with a 250 - 255 grain RNFP lead bullet. I shoot them from a set of Colt SAA's with 4 3/4" barrels and find them very accurate and pleasurable to shoot. It's the load I used for competition in SASS matches for 20 years.
11e40
Member
what Vulcan bob says.
