Handloading the .45 Colt

[Arkansas Paul]

Just left the local gunshop. I'm going to order some of those 255 gr LSWCs from Missouri, but I couldn't wait. I bought a couple hundred Hornady lead 230 gr RN. I found the data and it looks like 6 grains of Trail Boss is going to be the ticket with them. I also have H110 and I'm pretty sure we've got about a half pound of 231 laying around.
I will also be trying Unique and Bullseye for lighter bullets and 2400 for the heavier. All in time. It should be a fun road. If all goes well with the loading, and there's not reason it shouldn't, I'll be going to shoot saturday morning. I'll let ya'll know how it goes. Depending on what the groups look like, I may even post the pics.

 

[ljnowell]

Just left the local gunshop. I'm going to order some of those 255 gr LSWCs from Missouri, but I couldn't wait. I bought a couple hundred Hornady lead 230 gr RN. I found the data and it looks like 6 grains of Trail Boss is going to be the ticket with them. I also have H110 and I'm pretty sure we've got about a half pound of 231 laying around.
I will also be trying Unique and Bullseye for lighter bullets and 2400 for the heavier. All in time. It should be a fun road. If all goes well with the loading, and there's not reason it shouldn't, I'll be going to shoot saturday morning. I'll let ya'll know how it goes. Depending on what the groups look like, I may even post the pics.

Went out and returned some of the lead I borrowed from Mother Earth to her today. The blackhawk performed wonderfully. Today I got my first chance to really shoot for groups with it. With the target loads I was able to get some great groups at 25 yards. The bottom of my soda can covered the group. Not bad for offhand standing. The Ruger only loads were the last ones I shot, after about 200 rounds of mixed 45acp, 357 mag, etc. The groups were less than great. Tomorrow I am going to go back out and try to shoot those first.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Okay, I've been to the range with the handloads and things went pretty good.
I fired twenty rounds of the 230 grain Hornady cast bullets with 6 grains of Trail Boss.
I also fired twenty rounds of the 250 grain Nosler JHP bullets with 7.1 grains of Bullseye.
I have one question.
The cases that were loaded with the lead bullets and Trail Boss are very dirty. The entire outside of the cases are cloudy with powder residue. Is this normal for Trail Boss?
The ones with the Bullseye were clean as a whistle. Is Trail Boss a dirty powder? If it is it's no big deal. I'll be cleaning after each range session.

 

[ljnowell]

Sounds like you need a little more pressure in the trailboss load, its not sealing well.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Max load according to IMR's website is 6.5 grains and I'm at 6 now. How can I increase the pressure without going over max load? Or will it not hurt anything in the Ruger? Six grains isn't quite filling the case halfway. That surprised me, since I've heard everybody talk about how Trail Boss fills the case. I double checked the measurements though. I even weighed each round individually, something I don't usually do with handgun ammo. Sorry if this sounds elementary.

 

[MCMXI]

The cases that were loaded with the lead bullets and Trail Boss are very dirty. The entire outside of the cases are cloudy with powder residue. Is this normal for Trail Boss?
The ones with the Bullseye were clean as a whistle. Is Trail Boss a dirty powder? If it is it's no big deal. I'll be cleaning after each range session.

I see this all the time with Trail Boss loads (6.0gr with 200gr Oregon Trail Laser-Cast bullet) and don't worry about it. Cases loaded with hot H110 loads are typically cleaner which as ljnowell suggests is most likely due to the much higher pressures which help to seal the case against the chamber wall. Trail Boss is a smokey powder but it's hard to beat for CAS type loads for SAA revolvers since it combines accuracy with safety.

 

[ljnowell]

Max load according to IMR's website is 6.5 grains and I'm at 6 now. How can I increase the pressure without going over max load? Or will it not hurt anything in the Ruger? Six grains isn't quite filling the case halfway. That surprised me, since I've heard everybody talk about how Trail Boss fills the case. I double checked the measurements though. I even weighed each round individually, something I don't usually do with handgun ammo. Sorry if this sounds elementary.

The max charge for a standard 45 colt isnt anywhere close to what the ruger will handle. I wouldnt want to give an exact number of where to load to with it, but I would guess that it would take a pretty good charge over max.

 

[JustsayMo]

Shooting below the Colt/Replica load level pressures generally do soot up the cases pretty bad, especially with <255 gr bullets. Out of my Marlin the sooting is even worse - big chamber, but it feeds anything, even spent brass...

It is really tough to beat a 255 grain bullet jogging along around 900 fps out of a SA 45 Colt. Accurate, manageable recoil, distinctive report and it'll do pretty much anything that one would need to do with a handgun.

One of the advantages of using powders like Unique and SR4576 for the 45 Colt is they fill the case enough that a double charge is easily spotted. At Colt/Replica max levels they burn well, produce good velocity and are usually very accurate.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I would try 6.5 gr. of TrailBoss. However, I couldn't find a larger load listed anywhere. I don't know why, but there is probably a good reason. TrailBoss is also not listed for the Ruger loads either. I would guess the pressure skyrockets.

 

[ljnowell]

I would try 6.5 gr. of TrailBoss. However, I couldn't find a larger load listed anywhere. I don't know why, but there is probably a good reason. TrailBoss is also not listed for the Ruger loads either. I would guess the pressure skyrockets.

Not my work, so take it for what its worth (nothing to back it up either):

http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=37

Mike Venturino reported in GUNS magazine that even with a double charge Trail Boss won’t reach proof load pressures. That may well make this the safest powder available. With most other powders, especially spherical powders, double or even triple loads will fit inside the case without spilling over.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

What distance was that from JustsayMo? That's some impressive shooting.
I'm glad you posted that ljnowell. I think I'll start at the 6.5 and work my way up in VERY small incriments just to be safe. That makes me feel a little better about it though.

 

[ljnowell]

What distance was that from JustsayMo? That's some impressive shooting.
I'm glad you posted that ljnowell. I think I'll start at the 6.5 and work my way up in VERY small incriments just to be safe. That makes me feel a little better about it though.

Just be sure to be careful with it. I would definately try to use a chronograph.

 

[JustsayMo]

AP: Those targets were from 25' - Grouse killin practice.

Here's a 25 yard offhand target

at 100 yards it'll do under 9"

If I sat down I think I could tighten it up a bit.

That 255 grain load lets you pretty much hold right on from zero to 50 yards or so.