I'm currently using Titegroup or Pyrodex P in my 45 Colt cases. Pietta 1873 5.5 inch barrel. Is 5.5 gr of Titegroup a bit much? Would less be better? Bullets are hand cast 255 gr flat nose lead. Would like to hear thoughts of those who shoot this caliber. Thanks.
45 Colt load.
- Thread starter lyman54
- Start date
hatman1793
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I think your load suggestion is pretty much on the mark. With TiteGroup that is. Perhaps a bit smoky though, TiteGroup does churn out smoke.
I’m liking that you cast. Most bullet casters consider value-for-effort seemingly trying to stretch their resources. In that light, one should remember that 45Colt & 45acp share the same diameter bullets. So unless your knocking over plates, pepper-poppers, bowling pins etc., using a lighter bullet can conserve one-time use bullets. The LEE guys make a very nice 200 grain RNFP mold you might consider…..
I’m liking that you cast. Most bullet casters consider value-for-effort seemingly trying to stretch their resources. In that light, one should remember that 45Colt & 45acp share the same diameter bullets. So unless your knocking over plates, pepper-poppers, bowling pins etc., using a lighter bullet can conserve one-time use bullets. The LEE guys make a very nice 200 grain RNFP mold you might consider…..
Perhaps not related to what you are aiming at, (pun intended). But I do shoot 45 Long Colt, for Cowboy Action.
I have two molds, a 6 cavity LEE 452-255-RF and a Lyman 452664. I use them somewhat interchangeably, but as I mostly shoot smokeless powder, I prefer the LEE as it uses less lube, and smokes a bit less. However, if holy black is your thing, the larger lube capacity of the Lyman may be a plus.
That being said, I settled on Trail Boss as a powder of choice for my loads. I use 5.5 grains. A CCI 500 LP primer is a bit more consistent than a Fed 150 LP, but either will give you decent ammo.
Calibre 45 Colt Date Loaded 2021-09-05
Powder Trail Boss Weight in Grains 5.5 Dillon
Bullet LEE 452-255 RF Weight in Grains 253 → 256
Primer Fed 150 LP Loaded OAL 1.540"
Case ☆―☆ 45 COLT Weight in Grains 110
Times Loaded Number loaded
Firearm Barrel clean/fouled
Velocity Av 683/694 Es 32.7/49 Sd 13.8/19.5 Shots 5>/5<
Comments
Calibre 45 Colt Date Loaded 2021-09-05
Powder Trail Boss Weight in Grains 5.5 Dillon
Bullet LEE 452-255 RF Weight in Grains 253 → 256
Primer CCI 300 LP Loaded OAL 1.540"
Case ☆―☆ 45 COLT Weight in Grains 110
Times Loaded Number loaded
Firearm Barrel clean/fouled
Velocity Av 682/687 Es 16.3/8 Sd 6.85/3 Shots 5>/5<
Comments 15 ºC, Newly cast bullets. I'm using up the last of the Lyman orange lube.
Loading pistol without a Chronograph can be a frustrating experience, and quite frankly, at the cost of a Chrony, not owning and using one is foolish.
A chronograph can detect any powder position issues, it can predict the accuracy potential of a load, and aids considerably in selecting a suitable primer. These are not as much of an issue with full power loads, but as you approach mouse phart loads, it is invaluable.
Trail Boss powder is fairly versatile, but at less than around 70% loading density reliable and consistent ignition and powder position are an issue.
Without specifics, your load is impossible to duplicate for chronographing. Case, primer, OAL, boolit mold #, approximate boolit alloy, etc.
I have two molds, a 6 cavity LEE 452-255-RF and a Lyman 452664. I use them somewhat interchangeably, but as I mostly shoot smokeless powder, I prefer the LEE as it uses less lube, and smokes a bit less. However, if holy black is your thing, the larger lube capacity of the Lyman may be a plus.
That being said, I settled on Trail Boss as a powder of choice for my loads. I use 5.5 grains. A CCI 500 LP primer is a bit more consistent than a Fed 150 LP, but either will give you decent ammo.
Calibre 45 Colt Date Loaded 2021-09-05
Powder Trail Boss Weight in Grains 5.5 Dillon
Bullet LEE 452-255 RF Weight in Grains 253 → 256
Primer Fed 150 LP Loaded OAL 1.540"
Case ☆―☆ 45 COLT Weight in Grains 110
Times Loaded Number loaded
Firearm Barrel clean/fouled
Velocity Av 683/694 Es 32.7/49 Sd 13.8/19.5 Shots 5>/5<
Comments
Calibre 45 Colt Date Loaded 2021-09-05
Powder Trail Boss Weight in Grains 5.5 Dillon
Bullet LEE 452-255 RF Weight in Grains 253 → 256
Primer CCI 300 LP Loaded OAL 1.540"
Case ☆―☆ 45 COLT Weight in Grains 110
Times Loaded Number loaded
Firearm Barrel clean/fouled
Velocity Av 682/687 Es 16.3/8 Sd 6.85/3 Shots 5>/5<
Comments 15 ºC, Newly cast bullets. I'm using up the last of the Lyman orange lube.
Loading pistol without a Chronograph can be a frustrating experience, and quite frankly, at the cost of a Chrony, not owning and using one is foolish.
A chronograph can detect any powder position issues, it can predict the accuracy potential of a load, and aids considerably in selecting a suitable primer. These are not as much of an issue with full power loads, but as you approach mouse phart loads, it is invaluable.
Trail Boss powder is fairly versatile, but at less than around 70% loading density reliable and consistent ignition and powder position are an issue.
Without specifics, your load is impossible to duplicate for chronographing. Case, primer, OAL, boolit mold #, approximate boolit alloy, etc.
Thanks. I did have 200gr cast but didn't work out. I wanted original weight of 255gr for using BP sometimes. Read they were very accurate back in the day and it is pretty good.
Your 5.5 gr of TG load is fine.
The problem is that 11 gr will take the gun apart, and the case is so big that 11 gr will not over flow the case or even be noticeable.
I think Murphy was an optimist.
You would be better off, over the long run, to use Unique, Longshot or Universal, to greatly reduce the risk of a double charge.
I have loaded well over a million rounds and have double charged 3 times. The last time was two weeks ago. Over the last 60 years, I blew up a 357; damaged a 40 S&W and got away with it in another 357.
The problem is that 11 gr will take the gun apart, and the case is so big that 11 gr will not over flow the case or even be noticeable.
I think Murphy was an optimist.
You would be better off, over the long run, to use Unique, Longshot or Universal, to greatly reduce the risk of a double charge.
I have loaded well over a million rounds and have double charged 3 times. The last time was two weeks ago. Over the last 60 years, I blew up a 357; damaged a 40 S&W and got away with it in another 357.
Lyman54: As others have already mentioned, your Titegroup load is fine. A moderate, mid-range load. What are you using for load data? The Hodgdon Reloading Data Centre might be a good online resource, if your information is limited.
I'm with Ganderite. Unique/Universal (if available)would be a better choice for the caliber. Very versatile and performs well in this cartridge. Of the two, Universal tends to burn cleaner. Unique can be a bit sooty, but likewise a good performer.
I'm with Ganderite. Unique/Universal (if available)would be a better choice for the caliber. Very versatile and performs well in this cartridge. Of the two, Universal tends to burn cleaner. Unique can be a bit sooty, but likewise a good performer.
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I wanted to chrono a 45 S&W Schofield load, and I do like learning, so I loaded up 10 rounds of a 5.6 gr TiteGroup load.
Component selection is important, and since you did not tell us what bullet you were using, what primer you were using, what case you were using, or the OAL of your ammunition, it would just be a WAG as to how well it would work.
In Lyman 50, the 5.6 gr charge of TiteGroup is listed as the most accurate load. Lyman uses their 452664 bullet, a WLP primer in a W-W case. I had those components on hand, and that is what I used.
Calibre 45 Colt Date Loaded 2021-11-24
Powder TiteGroup Weight in Grains 5.6 Dillon
Bullet Lyman 452664 Weight in Grains 250
Primer Win LP Loaded OAL 1.57"
Case 45 COLT WINCHESTER Weight in Grains 109 - 110
Times Loaded ? Number loaded 10
Firearm V516 Barrel clean/fouled
Velocity Av 753/751 Es 16/90 Sd 6.4/34.6 Shots 5>/5<
Comments My guess, too much primer.
I'd rate it as a decent load, and with the potential of selecting a primer that would give a bit more consistent ignition with the powder against the primer, it may even become a good load. As it is, for Cowboy shooting, powder forward is more likely than powder against the primer, therefore I would not hesitate to load this combination. It was considerably louder than my Trail Boss load, and about 60 fps faster.
As a FYI, my Schofield load hit it out of the park. A good load IMHO.
Calibre 45 S&W Schofield Date Loaded 2021-11-21
Powder Trail Boss Weight in Grains 4.6 (9L)
Bullet Cactus 230 gr. (45 Auto) Weight in Grains 236
Primer CCI 300 LP Loaded OAL 1.416
Case 45 SCHOFIELD Weight in Grains 99
Times Loaded New Brass Number loaded 10
Firearm Barrel clean/fouled
Velocity Av 656/663 Es 19.3/20.8 Sd 9.3/9 Shots 5>/5<
Comments
My local range doesn't allow setting up a chrony indoors, so I was outdoors, -10 ºC and a wind. The ammo got cold, the gun got cold, and I got cold as well. Test conditions were not ideal, but the results were consistent enough for proof of concept, IMHO.
When you start using your chronograph, component selection for your loads will have a whole new meaning.
Component selection is important, and since you did not tell us what bullet you were using, what primer you were using, what case you were using, or the OAL of your ammunition, it would just be a WAG as to how well it would work.
In Lyman 50, the 5.6 gr charge of TiteGroup is listed as the most accurate load. Lyman uses their 452664 bullet, a WLP primer in a W-W case. I had those components on hand, and that is what I used.
Calibre 45 Colt Date Loaded 2021-11-24
Powder TiteGroup Weight in Grains 5.6 Dillon
Bullet Lyman 452664 Weight in Grains 250
Primer Win LP Loaded OAL 1.57"
Case 45 COLT WINCHESTER Weight in Grains 109 - 110
Times Loaded ? Number loaded 10
Firearm V516 Barrel clean/fouled
Velocity Av 753/751 Es 16/90 Sd 6.4/34.6 Shots 5>/5<
Comments My guess, too much primer.
I'd rate it as a decent load, and with the potential of selecting a primer that would give a bit more consistent ignition with the powder against the primer, it may even become a good load. As it is, for Cowboy shooting, powder forward is more likely than powder against the primer, therefore I would not hesitate to load this combination. It was considerably louder than my Trail Boss load, and about 60 fps faster.
As a FYI, my Schofield load hit it out of the park. A good load IMHO.
Calibre 45 S&W Schofield Date Loaded 2021-11-21
Powder Trail Boss Weight in Grains 4.6 (9L)
Bullet Cactus 230 gr. (45 Auto) Weight in Grains 236
Primer CCI 300 LP Loaded OAL 1.416
Case 45 SCHOFIELD Weight in Grains 99
Times Loaded New Brass Number loaded 10
Firearm Barrel clean/fouled
Velocity Av 656/663 Es 19.3/20.8 Sd 9.3/9 Shots 5>/5<
Comments
My local range doesn't allow setting up a chrony indoors, so I was outdoors, -10 ºC and a wind. The ammo got cold, the gun got cold, and I got cold as well. Test conditions were not ideal, but the results were consistent enough for proof of concept, IMHO.
When you start using your chronograph, component selection for your loads will have a whole new meaning.
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I'm very careful with small loads of smokeless but it doesn't take much to make a mistake. I've done it with the rifle muskets I used to use, got lucky those times. I would try other powders but it's pretty scarce these days.
Testing will have to wait till next spring and summer. No indoor spots where I go only outdoor and yeah it's cold. Hopeful to have a chrony by then.
