JustsayMo
Member
Blackhawk Range Report
Finally had the opportunity to head to the range and test out my 4-5/8" Blackhawk in 45 Colt. It is a new caliber to me so I purchased some brass, bullets and dies and reloaded using the powders I had on hand. My reloading data was pretty limited so I played it safe. Hopefully this thread will generate some suggestions and I'll explore from there.
Details- Lead Round Nose Flat Point 250 grain Oregon Trail Lazer Cast bullets. CCI 300 Primers. Starline Brass. COL=1.595"
Fist batch: I had some 231 but the only data I could find was for "cowboy" loads (5.5g) so I loaded up a few of those to warm up with and sight in. At 7 yards the factory setting was centered but 3" low. I adjusted until printed point of aim and then took it out to the 25 yard line. With my hands rested on a sandbag it shot a little lower than point of aim and groups were 3-4". This load was fairly mild. It was fairly dirty too. I noticed a lot of what looked like toasted bullet lube flakes afterwards.
Next batch was some Red Dot 6.0 which is the max load listed on the Alliant site and is supposed to produce 757 fps in a 5.5" barrel. I don't know what that equates to in my 4-5/8" BH but it gives a point of reference. At 7 yards it grouped one ragged hole at the point of aim. At 25 yards the best group was 3-1/2". I couldn't tell the difference in the recoil between it and the 231 cowboy loads.
The last powder I tried was Accurate #5. The first load 9.6 grains shot point of aim at 7 yards into one ragged hole and 3-4" at 25yards hands on sandbage. The recoil was more noticeable with this load but very manageable.
I loaded 20 more with AA#5 using 10 grains and had similar results as the previous load. The recoil was comfortable. I noticed more smoke with this load. I took the last 5 of this load to the 50 yard range and from sandbag rest it printed 5-1/8" horizontally and 3/4" vertially and just below the point of aim. The "group" was strung out horizontally almost in a straight line so I believe the BH is capable of better and the shooter needs to work on his sight picture/trigger pull.
The last 20 I had were AA#5 with 10.4g, the listed max in my Accurate load data pamplet and supposedly produces 961 fps in a 7" barrel. The load produced the best 25 yard group of the day 2-1/2" with POI about 1-1/2 over POA at that range. Maybe a slight increase in recoil but definately a noticiable increase in smoke.
The AA#5 loads were the cleanest of the three powders I tried. It was still a little sooty. I didn't notice any leading with the Oregon Trail bullets. I was able to get very uniform COL with the bullets and the LEE four die reloading set. The powder scoop provided with the set equals about 10.4 of AA#5. I weigh every charge but the scoop got me very close and made quick work of it without using a powder throw.
All of the loads tested performed OK. I'd give a slight edge to the AA#5 for the (presumed based on loading data) velocity superiority without a dramatic increase in recoil and it was cleaner burning. It was also slightly more accurate though that may be attributeable to the fact that it was the last powder tried and I was getting more used to the gun.
If anyone has recommendations for a powder that preforms well in a short barreled 45 Colt please let me know.
Finally had the opportunity to head to the range and test out my 4-5/8" Blackhawk in 45 Colt. It is a new caliber to me so I purchased some brass, bullets and dies and reloaded using the powders I had on hand. My reloading data was pretty limited so I played it safe. Hopefully this thread will generate some suggestions and I'll explore from there.
Details- Lead Round Nose Flat Point 250 grain Oregon Trail Lazer Cast bullets. CCI 300 Primers. Starline Brass. COL=1.595"
Fist batch: I had some 231 but the only data I could find was for "cowboy" loads (5.5g) so I loaded up a few of those to warm up with and sight in. At 7 yards the factory setting was centered but 3" low. I adjusted until printed point of aim and then took it out to the 25 yard line. With my hands rested on a sandbag it shot a little lower than point of aim and groups were 3-4". This load was fairly mild. It was fairly dirty too. I noticed a lot of what looked like toasted bullet lube flakes afterwards.
Next batch was some Red Dot 6.0 which is the max load listed on the Alliant site and is supposed to produce 757 fps in a 5.5" barrel. I don't know what that equates to in my 4-5/8" BH but it gives a point of reference. At 7 yards it grouped one ragged hole at the point of aim. At 25 yards the best group was 3-1/2". I couldn't tell the difference in the recoil between it and the 231 cowboy loads.
The last powder I tried was Accurate #5. The first load 9.6 grains shot point of aim at 7 yards into one ragged hole and 3-4" at 25yards hands on sandbage. The recoil was more noticeable with this load but very manageable.
I loaded 20 more with AA#5 using 10 grains and had similar results as the previous load. The recoil was comfortable. I noticed more smoke with this load. I took the last 5 of this load to the 50 yard range and from sandbag rest it printed 5-1/8" horizontally and 3/4" vertially and just below the point of aim. The "group" was strung out horizontally almost in a straight line so I believe the BH is capable of better and the shooter needs to work on his sight picture/trigger pull.
The last 20 I had were AA#5 with 10.4g, the listed max in my Accurate load data pamplet and supposedly produces 961 fps in a 7" barrel. The load produced the best 25 yard group of the day 2-1/2" with POI about 1-1/2 over POA at that range. Maybe a slight increase in recoil but definately a noticiable increase in smoke.
The AA#5 loads were the cleanest of the three powders I tried. It was still a little sooty. I didn't notice any leading with the Oregon Trail bullets. I was able to get very uniform COL with the bullets and the LEE four die reloading set. The powder scoop provided with the set equals about 10.4 of AA#5. I weigh every charge but the scoop got me very close and made quick work of it without using a powder throw.
All of the loads tested performed OK. I'd give a slight edge to the AA#5 for the (presumed based on loading data) velocity superiority without a dramatic increase in recoil and it was cleaner burning. It was also slightly more accurate though that may be attributeable to the fact that it was the last powder tried and I was getting more used to the gun.
If anyone has recommendations for a powder that preforms well in a short barreled 45 Colt please let me know.
. Although a lot of people like Unique (and I use it too), my favorite powder for the .45 Colt is Universal Clays. Just a bit cleaner than Unique and in my 4 5/8" BH it is very accurate. May have to play around a bit to get the best charge in your gun. In some loads HS6 works pretty good for me too.
