.45 Colt

[Smokepole14]

I loaded up some .45 colt ammo for a friend of mine and the ammo didn't shoot very hard at all. Sometimes you could actually see the bullets flying through the air. Now my first guess would be not enough powder. The load was 240 gr round nose lead bullets with 6.5 gr of trail boss. The gun used was a circuit judge, the one that shoots .410 shells or .45 colt. Now in my pistol this is a stout load but in the circuit judge it was extremely weak. Can you up the powder charge or try a different powder? I want to load these cartridges pretty hot and stout since it is a revolver type rifle. Is herco or 2400 the powder I need instead of trail boss? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[4895]

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx?page=/reloaders/RecipeList.aspx&gtypeid=1

240 grain LRN is not a standard bullet for .45 colt, to my knowledge. What diameter is the bullet you are loading? 45 Colt should have a .452 diameter. The links above will help you to choose a powder/charge. If you can use a load manual, you may find it has listings as an accurate combination or an introduction that says what they had success with. A buddy of mine favors Alliant's 2400 powder in his 45 colts.

 

[kludge]

"Hot and stout" means what to you?

Trail Boss is for "cowboy" loads, almost anything else will be "hotter".

I think for what you want to do I would use Universal.

 

[rcmodel]

The load was 240 gr round nose lead bullets with 6.5 gr of trail boss.

Assuming you ar not using 240 grain .44 cal bullets in the .45 right?

Like 4895 siad, a 240 .45 Colt bullet would be a pretty strange bird.
But a 240 frain .44 bullet would be a standard bullet weight.

O.K., now on to your powder charge.

Hodgdon says Trailboss MAX loads are:
200 grain = 6.5.
215 grain = 6.5
230 grain = 6.5.

All good so far.

But then they say:
250 grain = 5.8 MAX.

So, where did you come up with your 240/6.5 load data?

rc

 

[Smokepole14]

I just now looked the bullets are 230 gr my bad on that part. My load book says 230 gr with trail boss is 6.5 max. Now for me this works because Iam shooting these out of a conversion cylinder(reduced loads). When I say hot and stout I mean like hunting type loads. I have a little herco powder left over and was wandering how stout 10.0 gr load would be. Like I said this is a revolving rifle so I would imagine a max load to hot for a pistol would still work in the circuit judge. By the way the bullets are .452 diameter.

 

[zxcvbob]

No offense, but since it's a Taurus I wouldn't make that assumption. I'd keep it down to CIP pressure levels (approx 16000 psi, which is 2000 more than SAAMI.)

10 grains of Herco should be right there. I like 230 grain cast bullets in .45 Colt. But 255's and 9.2 grains will be better for hunting.

 

[kludge]

For a hunting load you'll want a SWC or LRN with a large meplat.

You didn't say how long your barrels is but, a load with a 250-255 gr lead bullet with at 950 fps is a good hunting load. Herco will do it, but Alliant lists 9.5gr as max load with a 250gr.

Does that equate to 10gr with a 230gr? I don't know. Send them a e-mail, they are very good about answering questions.

BUT that 230gr LRN is not your ideal hunting bullet.

 

[Smokepole14]

Plinking is mainly what will be done. When I said hunting loads I was referring to how stout of a load I wanted. Bottom line is I don't want to be able to see the bullets as they leave the barrel. Maybe 10 gr of herco will solve my problems.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm sorry to disagree with you but any load made with Trail Boss is far from a hunting type load. IMO you should change powders if you want more velocity from your ammo. There are plenty of good powders for use in the .45 Colt including W231/HP-38, Universal, Unique, AA#5, HS-6, and a bunch more. All will give you more velocity than Trail Boss...

 

[BigMag]

The 45lc standard presure loads are not speedy to begin with. I shoot 200gr LSWC with 65.gr TB all the time. I found its a good round both in my Ruger pistols and my Marlin 1894. If you want somthing with more thump, I like to shoot H110 loads from my blackhawk that will wake you up.

Angel was right on about powders. If you want speed don't use the TB. Its a good powder for cowboy action shooting. Try clays.....

 

[hogshead]

From what I have found 6.5 of trailboss pushing 230 gr bullet should be about 802 fps out of a revolver even faster out of a rifle . If he can see them he should be able to see most 45 acp loads too. I think your friend has told a fib.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Depending on light conditions, it should be easy to see the large .45slugs @ ~900fps in flight. Done it a bunch of times.

FWIW; the Circuit Judge is intended for shooting standard pressure .45Colt ammo and shot gun ammo. It is not "good" at either.

FWIW; The .45Colt w/255gr LFN over 8.2gr of Universal will run to about 1,150fps from a 24" bbl rifle. This will shoot stem-to-stern through most whitetail deer at ~50yds. I've done it, and seen it a number of times. A friend also uses this load in his Taurus "Thunderer" pump action. We can make that thing sound like a "machine gun".....And it is decently accurate too. Far more than needed for "cowboy" action shooting. I prefer the Lee .452" 255 RFN mould. (I have a 6-cavity mould- I need it, too as these guns get "hungry" real fast...).

For a "hot" load for strong actions (T/C, Ruger, Win M94 rifles, Marlin 1894 rifles) I've found 20.0gr of #2400 under a Hornady 250gr XTP to be marvelously accurate and very effective on deer to ~100yds, or a little further.......Get's 1,700fps from 24"bbl M94).
But DON'T shoot this in a Taurus!!!

 

[1911Tuner]

Under just the right light, I've seen bullets from .357 and .41 Magnum revolvers that clocked 1250+ fps. So, it's not impossible or even all that unusual to see slower, larger bullets and track them all the way to the target. Once, I watched big slugs fired from a Sharps .45-70 through a spotting scope impacting a 200-yard target. Pretty neat.

 

[Smokepole14]

I went ahead and loaded up some 230 gr Lrn with 10 gr of herco. I have a nearly full bottle of trail boss and thought I would try to get rid of it. It's been so long since I've shot it I guess I forgot its a weaker type powder. Oh and if I'm not mistaking is it possible to overload (overcharge) trail boss in .45 colt? Cause with 6.5 gr in a .45 colt it left a lot of room, can you fill it full then seat the bullet or is this to dangerous? I know not to overload on herco it's pretty stout stuff.

 

[Cherokee]

Stick to the tested load data from Hodgdons, do not just fill the 45 Colt case with Trail Boss. You want more power, use a different powder as has been said.

 

[kludge]

I went ahead and loaded up some 230 gr Lrn with 10 gr of herco.

I'm sorry in advance, I don't mean to be offensive, but have you ever read a reloading manual?

Why would you start with a max load for a load that isn't even published?

This isn't culinary school where you take a little of everything you have lying around and whip something together, it's a small explosion you hold in your hand.

Do yourself and your loved ones a favor. Step away from the loading bench. Call or e-mail Alliant and ask them what is there recommended load for your powder and bullet. Then start at the "start" load and work up carefully to "max".

With low-pressure rounds like the .45 Colt, you won't see any pressure signs... that is until the cylinder and top strap blow.

 

[Smokepole14]

All of the loads I have mentioned earlier have been what the reloading manual states. I'm not an idiot and wouldn't never just fill a cartridge full. I just heard that trail boss couldn't be overloaded. I load all .45 colt loads for my pistol, I've never loaded any for a rifle. My friend just asked me to load him up some .45 due to high costs. All he does is plinking and the last ones I loaded for him were way underpowered. In a block of wood it penatrated maybe a half of an inch. To me that's unacceptable and I have no clue what went wrong. So my alliant manual says 230 gr bullet with 10 gr. so that's what I put, I don't exactly understand what I did wrong in yalls opinion.

 

[rcmodel]

I have two Alliant manuals laying here in front of me and neither one says anything about a 230 grain lead bullet & 10.0 grains Herco.

And even if it did, all loads in all Alliant manuals are MAX loads.

You should start 10% below for a starting load, and work up.

IMO: Your 10.0 Herco + 230 is too hot for a Rossi revolving carbine.

It is not a strong gun by any stretch of the imagination.

rc

 

[Smokepole14]

Rcmodel I'll start at 8gr and work my way up and see how it does. I'll hold off on the 10gr for now and just work my way up.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a nearly full bottle of trail boss and thought I would try to get rid of it. It's been so long since I've shot it I guess I forgot its a weaker type powder. Oh and if I'm not mistaking is it possible to overload (overcharge) trail boss in .45 colt? Cause with 6.5 gr in a .45 colt it left a lot of room, can you fill it full then seat the bullet or is this to dangerous?

I'm not telling you to use anything other than published loads but I will answer your question about Trail Boss. Hodgdon says you can measure where the bottom of the bullet will seat in the case and fill the open space with Trail Boss. That is the Max load and -10% is the starting load. You can not fit enough Trail Boss in any case to push that round overpressure according to Hodgdon. CAUTION, do not compress Trail Boss because that can and probably will cause pressure spikes. Don't break up the little donuts that are Trail Boss powder.

I still think you're better off with a different powder and use the Trail Boss in something else like target .38 Special ammo or even light .45 Colt ammo when you are shooting a revolver.

 

[Hondo 60]

Now my first guess would be not enough powder.

Are you following published data?
That statement has me thinking "no".

Please follow published data from reputable sources like the powder mfgs, bullet mfgs, etc.

Please stay safe, my friends!

 

[BossHogg]

I'm sorry in advance, I don't mean to be offensive, but have you ever read a reloading manual?

Why would you start with a max load for a load that isn't even published?

This isn't culinary school where you take a little of everything you have lying around and whip something together, it's a small explosion you hold in your hand.

Do yourself and your loved ones a favor. Step away from the loading bench. Call or e-mail Alliant and ask them what is there recommended load for your powder and bullet. Then start at the "start" load and work up carefully to "max".

With low-pressure rounds like the .45 Colt, you won't see any pressure signs... that is until the cylinder and top strap blow.

Now,now be nice, he did say he's loading them for someone else.