powder for reloading 45 Colt BP

[Magwa45]

Thinking about reloading and would like to use that Goex powder, is it called Goex Express? But just wondered if fffg was an option since I am not sure of availability in this area. I had some commercial made rounds, think they were from Klott somewhere in Missouri. I was really suprised by the power of those rounds fired out of an old Peacemaker. Now I just have to get one of those Lyman powder measures for BP. Anyone have experience using different powders for BP cartridges? I am interested in BP only, no triple7 or other synthetics.

 

[scrat]

I use regular goex 3fff. Works fine for me.

 

[ClemBert]

I use plain ol' Goex FFFg for 45 Colt. Goex Express is supposedly a powder manufactured with higher specifications (i.e. tighter tolerances). It is probably more uniform and consistent from lot-to-lot versus regular Goex.

If you want to spend the extra money on Goex Express then that is your call. Personally, I think it is overkill for my needs. If you are loading 45 Colt or larger then FFg grade is acceptable too.

As far as a powder measure it really depends on how precise you feel you need to be. Black powder is very forgiving in cartridges. Just make sure you compress the powder some and don't leave an air gap between the powder and bullet. Personally, I use a scale and weigh my powder charges but only because I want consistency between rounds and like to understand precisely how much powder I'm using. Most would consider my process overkill but whadda expect from an engineer.

 

[ClemBert]

Regarding a BP measure....

When loading up cartridges I set up my Lee Perfect Powder Measure to throw an amount of powder equal to the weighed amount of powder I want. So essentially, I'm using weighed charges for cartridges.

 

[Foto Joe]

+1 for ClemBert's powder measure, I use the same.

45 Colt is one of the more versatile cartridges to load, from charge weight to bullet weight there are as many combinations as you can find weights of bullets. Just plain Goex works, but I've used Swiss as well. For my Gallery Loads I just use 20gr of 3f Goex with great results.

As mentioned above, powder compression is going to be the key to consistancy on the loads. There are numerous ways to compress, ranging from a hand made dowel rod with a handle to compression plugs from Track of the Wolf, to an actual Montana Precision Compression Die from MidwayUSA. I've used all of them and finally purchased the latter and I think it provides the best results, it can be adjusted.

Make sure you clean your brass well after firing Black Powder so as not to junk up your dies and resist the temptation to re-size 45 Colt. It will minimize the "Blow Back" in the chamber. This helps keep the gun cleaner (slightly) and cooler.

 

[ClemBert]

As mentioned above, powder compression is going to be the key to consistancy on the loads. There are numerous ways to compress, ranging from a hand made dowel rod with a handle to compression plugs from Track of the Wolf, to an actual Montana Precision Compression Die from MidwayUSA. I've used all of them and finally purchased the latter and I think it provides the best results, it can be adjusted.

Joe,

That's some kind of fancy-smancy compression die you've got. I was curious to know why you couldn't adjust the compression stroke with the Track-of-the-Wolf compression die that I also have.

We previously had a discussion on this where I indicated that the TOTW compression plug fit right into the Lee crimp die (and possibly the Lee bullet seat die). I seem to recall you have the same setup for reloading as I do. Here's a picture of the TOTW compression plug sitting inside my crimp die. As you can see the thumb screw allows for around 0.60" of adjustment for the depth of powder compression. What's the story?

 

[J-Bar]

My .45 Colt black powder measure is a .45 Colt brass case trimmed down about 3/16 inch and then epoxied the base onto the blade of a small screwdriver.

The only moving part is my wrist when I throw the charges into the funnel.

Works just fine with all types of powders, of which I use mostly Pyrodex in cartridges and shotshells. (Lee Dippers are used for the shotshells, not the .45 case of course.) You could probably tell a bit of difference between FFG and FFFG with a chronograph, but you won't be able to tell the difference in your hand when you shoot them.

I save the real blackpowder for the cap and ball revolvers.

 

[Foto Joe]

That's some kind of fancy-smancy compression die you've got. I was curious to know why you couldn't adjust the compression stroke with the Track-of-the-Wolf compression die that I also have.

I had the TOTW plug in the "Factory Crimp Die" for 45 Colt and there is the obvious possibility that the problem was totally with me, not the plug but...when I purchased my 44 SPL, 44 WCF and others I have quit buying the 4 die sets. I keep a couple of test loads without bullets in them that I use to set the compression depth with. When I'm resetting for a different bullet I just put loaded-compressed case (for that bullet depth) in the press and screw the plug down until it touches the compressed load. The Montana Precision is easier I think to adjust, but again, that could just be me.

Basically I was just experimenting with different methods. If I had my way I'd probably have an MP die separately for each caliber, but that would get VERY spendy. I guess I don't really have a good answer to your question other than I've been told by my wife that I sometimes get carried away when I'm doing something.

 

[ClemBert]

I guess I don't really have a good answer to your question other than I've been told by my wife that I sometimes get carried away when I'm doing something.

The answer probably includes: More widgets and gadget means more better fun.

I was just curious to know if I was missing out on anything. The setup I have works great. I can see how the Montana Precision gadget could be easier as it looks like you can see the compression plug. That versus my setup where casing goes up into the die where the compression plug is deep within.

 

[ClemBert]

Make sure you clean your brass well after firing Black Powder so as not to junk up your dies and resist the temptation to re-size 45 Colt

Good advice. Don't resize if you don't have to. If you use Lee dies you know that the de-priming die is also the sizing die. So, instead of being forced to size your brass when de-priming you can use the Lee Universal Depriming and Decapping Die. This will allow you to decap/deprime without resizing the brass casing.

 

[Foto Joe]

Yup, the "De-capping Die" is another one of those widgets.

Even though I still test load a half dozen brass before I de-cap them, I'm still amazed that even with 6+ reloads on 45 Colt, they don't need resizing. One of these days, I'm guessing that I'll get complacent and find out too late that they will no longer fit.

The only bad thing I've found out about the Montana Precision Compression Die/Plug is that the edges of the plug itself are not beveled. A cordless drill and believe it or not, the file on my Gerber Pliers solved the bevel issue in less than a minute (a machinist I'm not). The lack of bevel became painfully apparent loading 44-40's.