Powder Options in 45 Colt

[VAdoublegunner]

As I see powders become available, I buy them. Not many available. I'm loading 9mm, 10mm and 45 Colt. In the coming months I'll be loading 45acp and 41 mag. If someone knows of a source with a large selection of powders either online or anywhere in NH, please share the info.
Thanks,
Ken

HNKen, do you find that your local shops have agood supply of shotgun powders rather than the typical "pistol" powders? If so, a number of them make excellent pistol powders, and in fact were popular for such application many years ago before the development of newer pistol powders which, arguably, are probably more efficient, give greater performance and are cleaner than the old shotgun powders. It is not difficult to find many resources on the internet with reliable load data using them. In times when everyone else wants conventional pistol powders and those are plentiful, they are very useful.

One of my favorites is WSF. I like it for shotshell loads and have developed many pistol cartridge handloads using it because getting it in bulk is cheaper and it is almost never out of stock. I feel about it the way many feel about Unique. I have posted about it many times on this forum; a search should bring you to several, especially in 45 Colt. It is also an excellent powder for 9mm and 45ACP, good for 10mm if you are not looking to top level loads. You would probably have to develop something for 41 Mag and it would only be suitable for a moderate load using cast bullets, imho (I use it for 44 Special / 44 Mag moderate level lead loads, so should adapt well). No doubt, AA#7 is a *superb* top end 10mm powder, probably useful for 41 Mag as well, so you are well set there.

I am an advanced handloader with over 40 years of experience so do not mind occasionally 'going off the books' to develop loads using powders not listed in today's manuals, and am a big fan of Brian Pearce's writings on handloading and load development. This practice is NOT recommended for those who are not well experienced in handloading, especially with long historical knowledge and resources of powders, loads and load development. But, having the ability to develop loads with available powders, or using resources to find such loads is an asset. I always look to a powder for its versatility first unless developing a special performance load.

 

[twobit601]

I use Trailboss and Unique for 45colt

 

[NHKen]

VAdoublegunner,
I rarely get the opportunity to visit a shop that carries reloading supplies. There aren't any shops that stock supplies within an hour or so.

It seems like a lot of shotgun powders are also pistol powders, blue dot, green and red dot, unique, etc.

Like I said earlier, I'm not a recoil junkie, I'm just trying to load some soft to moderate loads.

Bullseye leaves A LARGE amount of space in that big ole .45 !!!
I'd love to find some trail boss in stock somewhere to give that a try. Unique as well.
Thanks again,
Ken

 

[NHKen]

Ok, I scored a couple jugs of Trail Boss.... Should be a better fit for my needs.
Ken

 

[Rule3]

Ok, I scored a couple jugs of Trail Boss.... Should be a better fit for my needs.
Ken

Fill er up! Watch out that stuff floats away and smells funny too

They have printed loads but you can also use the PDF instructions.

Click on data,(up top) scroll down and click trail boss reduced load data. The first paragraph gives a way to load ANY cartridge without having specific data.

Basic Manual Download

 

[NHKen]

Very cool!!!
Thank you!

 

[shil]

VAdoublegunner,



Bullseye leaves A LARGE amount of space in that big ole .45 !!!


It certainly does. I've never used Bullseye for that reason. You must be more on the alert at all times as it is kinda unforgiving if you accidentally throw a double charge and miss it. Be careful.

 

[shil]

Since we are on the subject of .45 Colt and Trail Boss was mentioned, has anyone even SEEN any Vihtavuori N32C Tin Star?