Best powder for 45 Colt

[Warren Sear]

What about good old FFg Blackpowder? The original!!

Because of the hassle of cleaning them afterwards. I even shoot light smokeless loads (Trail boss or Bulls eye)in my 1895 built revolver for that very reason. No, the gun has not been harmed in any way.

Unique is the only powder I use in 44 Special, 45 Colt, and mid-powered 44 magnum loading.

 

[Grayfox]

I go with the majority. 8.0 to 9.0 grs of Unique with a 250/255 gr lead bullet is pretty much the classic load for the .45 Colt. I've been using it for over 20 years and never found anything better.

 

[diyj98]

I've always used 2400 for upper level loads and Unique for my mild to medium plinking loads.

 

[.41 cal]

Last outing with my 25-5 using 200g LRN bullet.

8.8g Unique – 882 FPS
10g VV N340 – 1052 FPS
7.6g VV N320 – 839 FPS

No real difference in accuracy between any of the loads and all were quite accurate. The 10g of N340 may have had a very slight edge, sure gave the palm of my hand a good solid push

.41 cal

 

[DR505]

I use Unique and 2400 in mine. The 2400 is for heavy loads...16.5 grains under a 255 grain LSWC gives about 18,000 PSI and roughly 900 fps from my MG.

 

[44Steve]

Thanks to everyone ,Good info.

 

[2tall79]

Anybody using IMR 4227 for some "Ruger loads"?

 

[.41 cal]

Last outing with my 25-5 using 200g LRN bullet.

8.8g Unique – 882 FPS
10g VV N340 – 1052 FPS
7.6g VV N320 – 839 FPS

No real difference in accuracy between any of the loads and all were quite accurate. The 10g of N340 may have had a very slight edge, sure gave the palm of my hand a good solid push

.41 cal

My baseline load was a 250g Nosler JHP over 9.3g of N340
Velocity - 839 fps

All loads were with a barrel 4" barrel

.41 cal

 

[Snapping Twig]

Unique.

7.5g = 750fps

8g = 800fps

8.5g = 850fps

9g = 900fps

See a pattern?

To me it's a sign from above. Lower power levels leave unburned powder and soot, I choose the 9g load because it approximates the original BP load.

 

[David R]

I get the same results as posted above.

Last night I chronographed my Bayou coated bullets in my 25-7.

9.0 grains unique, 250 grain RN.

AV 869 fps
ES 91
SD 30

My own cast 255 grain. Better accuracy and numbers.
AV 911 fps
SD 14

I am going to try one more brand of coated bullets because I like the lead free and minimal smoke.
David

 

[MTKTM]

Does anyone here use Bullseye for target/plinking loads in the 45 Colt?

 

[johnnyflake]

Unique.

7.5g = 750fps

8g = 800fps

8.5g = 850fps

9g = 900fps

See a pattern?

To me it's a sign from above. Lower power levels leave unburned powder and soot, I choose the 9g load because it approximates the original BP load.

What type and weight of bullets were used for this data?

 

[bmcgilvray]

The only .45 Colt gun I have around here is the Colt New Service Model 1909. It sees 8 grains of Unique under a 250-255 grain cast lead bullet for a velocity of 800-825 fps. A large chunk of most anything one can reasonably ask of a handgun can be handled with such a big-bore load when you get right down to it.

 

[johnnyflake]

The only .45 Colt gun I have around here is the Colt New Service Model 1909. It sees 8 grains of Unique under a 250-255 grain cast lead bullet for a velocity of 800-825 fps. A large chunk of most anything one can reasonably ask of a handgun can be handled with such a big-bore load when you get right down to it.

That's a beautiful gun. I love it!

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

I've only been loading for this caliber for 6 months or so, but have mostly used Unique. It just seems like a natural match. I have no complaints about performance.

Among the newer powders, I've found CFE Pistol turns out some impressive velocity numbers in standard pressure loads.

For my "Ruger Only" loads, I've only used 296. I may try 2400 for my next round of them, although I don't really have any complaints about 296 and also have a lot more of it on hand than I do 2400.

 

[Snapping Twig]

What type and weight of bullets were used for this data?

Apologies for the oversight.

255g Cast.

What would the LC be without a big slug?

 

[Snapping Twig]

I've only been loading for this caliber for 6 months or so, but have mostly used Unique. It just seems like a natural match. I have no complaints about performance.

Among the newer powders, I've found CFE Pistol turns out some impressive velocity numbers in standard pressure loads.

For my "Ruger Only" loads, I've only used 296. I may try 2400 for my next round of them, although I don't really have any complaints about 296 and also have a lot more of it on hand than I do 2400.

2400 will work very well - but - 296/110 works a bit better for big bullets at high velocity.

I have found in my personal experience that 2400 is perhaps at its very best in the .357, better IMO than 296/110. I was surprised.

 

[USSR]

Anybody using IMR 4227 for some "Ruger loads"?

Not for "Ruger loads", since I have a S&W 25-5. But I do load 22.0gr of IMR4227 behind my cast .45-270SAA HP's for a deer load.

Don

 

[rxbrew]

I mostly load 9 gr of unique over 250 fix and for a hunting load 10 gr of unique with the 250 fix at just over 1000 ft/ sec. Shoot big bug last year at 40 yards with that load. Hit him like Thor's hammer out of my 25-5.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

There are plenty of good powders for the 45 Colt. Currently my favorite is HS-6.
My pet loads are a 250gr LRN or 255gr LSWC bullet over 10.6gr HS-6 WLP primer.
When I load the same bullets with W231 the charge is 7.3gr.

I have used W231/HP-38, AA#5, Red Dot, Trail Boss, Universal, Unique, 2400, Pyrodex P and probably a few others. All produces good ammo so I guess the 45 Colt isn't all that picky when it comes to which powder it likes.