45 Colt Loads

[mtb1bkr]

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

 

[ftufton]

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

 

[VAdoublegunner]

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.

 

[Sebago Son]

.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.

 

[Skip Sackett]

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.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

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.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

I use Unique for all my 45 Colt & 44 Special loads. It just works too well for me to go looking for another powder.

 

[Skip Sackett]

The OP has a qualifier in his post, friends!

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.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

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.

 

[michael thornton]

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

 

[jwk]

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

 

[Greg D]

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.

 

[JeffR]

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.

 

[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

 

[fredj338]

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.

 

[special44]

.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

 

[mtb1bkr]

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

 

[ArchAngelCD]

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)

 

[michael thornton]

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,

 

[jrplourde]

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