Reloading .45 Colt

[Skinny 1950]

I have an 1873 SAA clone on order and at about $1.00 a round for factory ammo I am thinking of setting up for reloading. Most of my guns are cap and ball so I am used to handling powder and lead.
What is the minimum amount of equipment required to do a good job of it and what is the ballpark cost involved.
I would like to shoot black powder "cowboy" loads.... has anyone had experience with this type of reloading.....Thanks for your help on this.

 

[kg]

One week without answer, you must have been very naughty....

A few thoughts, if you are still looking for info:

- A press, preferably with a bottom priming arm, which saves time;

+ LEE 3 set Dies, with powder through expanding die;
(higginsonpowders has leeprecision products and Winchester brass; I know a cheaper source for say, the Classic Cast press, but I want mine first .

+ Home made powder scoops (from 38/357 for 44BP, should work for 45C, trim to adjust). You will have to completely fill the space below the bullets for good ignition. I think blackpowder is a cowboy load, I googled "black powder cowboy loads" and got some interesting hits, like jspublications articles.

+ primer pocket cleaner and case chamfer tool.

If you buy your bullets, they will probably be hard cast; I don't know how these work with BP.

Black powder is dirty, you will have to clean each case.

That's it, but you can ask questions .

 

[ben hunchak]

Reloading .45 Colt's with Bp will need the same as for smokeless, a press, carbide dies preferably, cast bullets should be soft and lubed with Black Powder lube, otherwise the case should be filled with black powder and no airspace. This results in a fairly stiff load for Cowboy action, you can use wads and reduce the powder for 700 fps. loads, the wads should replace the powder you're not using in the case.

 

[gunlaker]

Skinny, it'll be awfully cheap compared to those dollar a round loads

I haven't shot any BP through my Ruger Vaquero, I've been saving the good stuff for my rifles. Although it is on my list to do. I've been using Bullet Barn bullets and Unique. I'd be surprised if I spend more than $10 a box for my loads. The brass lasts a long time. I have several batches that have been reloaded 8 or 10 times with no cases lost due to splits.

Getting set up with a press and various accessories will cost a bit. I started with an RCBS kit. Add a pair of calipers, powder trickler, dies and you are ready to go.

The .45 Colt is easy to reload for. I'd recommend the RCBS cowboy dies. They include 2 bullet seaters ( for RN and wadcutter bullets ) ,as well as two different expander plugs. One at .452" and one at 0.454" depending on what works for your particular situation.

Do you have a source for soft cast bullets?

Do you come to the Poco BP shoots by any chance?

Chris.

 

[tjhaile]

-How many rounds do you plan on shooting per month?
-Will you also be reloading other cartridges?

I would consider a turret press to be an acceptable minimum if you're only shooting a couple hundred rounds per month. If you only plan on loading .45 Colt, the Dillon Square Deal B is a little less expensive than other progressive presses. The RL 550B takes standard dies and is easily convertible if you plan on loading multiple cartridge types.

Besides the press and dies/conversion parts, you will need a scale, calipers, primer flip tray, and a bullet puller to start.