What's your recipe for 45 Long Colt Cowboy action reloads?

[Electrahog]

Does anyone have a recipe for the 45 Long Colt Cowboy loads, you know the 850 fps or less kind for the low pressure type bullets that are used in the Taylors & Co R&D conversion Cylinders. What's your recipe for 45 Long Colt Cowboy action reloads? I am new to reloading and I need help ? Thanks in advance for all the great help I appreciate it

 

[Reloadron]

45 Colt loaded for cowboy using a 255 grain bullet has no shortage of loads that get you in the 700 to 850 FPS neighborhood. Powders like Titegroup, Red Dot, American Select and Unique to name a few.

Titegroup 4.5 to 5.2 grains
Red Dot 4.6 to 5.6 grains
American Select 4.8 to 5.8 grains
Unique 4.6 to 6.3 grains

The above are all for a 255 grain bullet and are all below a Max load. Use the loads at your own risk.

The best bet is always to contact the guys who made the specific bullets you plan to use for their load data suggestions. Always start low and work a load up.

Ron

 

[LeftyTSGC]

For my .45LC, I use Missouri bullets 250gn LRNFP over 5.0 of TrailBoss.

If you are only loading cowboy loads then Trailboss is the easiest powder to use. It was specifically designed for Cowboy action shooting. Trailboss is not really designed for much more than Cowboy shooting.

I shoot these out of my SAA Uberti replicas to include my .45LC lever action rifle.

 

[Reloadron]

Yeah, I left Trailboss out and it is an excellent choice.

Ron

 

[PapaG]

200 rnfp over 5 grains of clays. 4000 used in the last five years with nary a problem.

 

[Electrahog]

I did try to contact the company that made the bullets I wanted to replicate or use but they are tight lipped about the load data they use and won't give it out (Pierce Outlaw Cowboy Action Ammunition) is what I wanted to replicate. My local Gander Mountain has the Red Dot and Power Pistol in stock but the Trail Boss is out of stock every where I looked so I was trying to go with what I could get my hands on without having to order it on line and pay a hazmat fee I have heard good things about Clays and others just was trying to avoid the hazmat fee.

Ron, What kind brand and type of 255 gr bullet where you using and could I use a 250 or maybe a 200 grain bullet?

I appreciate everyone's help, I just want to replicate some cowboy low pressure loads for plinking around with this R&D Conversion Cylinder I have in this Uberti 1958 Remington I have.

 

[rcmodel]

If you have 250 grain JHP bullets of any brand?

8.5 grains Unique will give you very nearly the same performance as the old .45 Colt made it's reputation on.

Depending on barrel length.
850 - 900+ FPS.

And safe in any modern gun.

How you get there without at least a minimum quality cheap powder scale is beyond me?

Have any friends that reload and own a powder scale to help you check your dippers?

rc

 

[Electrahog]

If you have 250 grain JHP bullets of any brand?

8.5 grains Unique will give you very nearly the same performance as the old .45 Colt made it's reputation on.

Depending on barrel length.
850 - 900+ FPS.

And safe in any modern gun.

How you get there without at least a minimum quality cheap powder scale is beyond me?

Have any friends that reload and own a powder scale to help you check your dippers?

rc

I have the 1858 Remington Uberti 44 BP Pistol 8'' Barrel with a Taylors & Company R&D 45Colt Conversion Cylinder. I have the Hornady GS 1500 digital scale and the lee balance beam scales that came with the press, unfortunately I do not know anyone personally who reloads so I am kind of on my own except for the help I get from you guys and maybe YouTube. I will be using lead projectiles only probably RNFP bullets, the gun barrel was designed for 454 Round Balls but will handle the 200 to 250 gr RNFP bullets just fine according to the manufacture info, Not exactly sure about the barrel twist. So I am basically trying to imitate a low pressure cowboy load of 850 fps or less with no more then 10.000 psi. Hope this helps explain my situation I am just starting and I am new to reloading on a press although I do have a 223 and 44 Magnum I intend to reload eventually and any advice or help with a good recipe or safety will be very much appreciated.

 

[Electrahog]

45 Colt loaded for cowboy using a 255 grain bullet has no shortage of loads that get you in the 700 to 850 FPS neighborhood. Powders like Titegroup, Red Dot, American Select and Unique to name a few.

Titegroup 4.5 to 5.2 grains
Red Dot 4.6 to 5.6 grains
American Select 4.8 to 5.8 grains
Unique 4.6 to 6.3 grains

The above are all for a 255 grain bullet and are all below a Max load. Use the loads at your own risk.

The best bet is always to contact the guys who made the specific bullets you plan to use for their load data suggestions. Always start low and work a load up.

Ron

Ron, What brand or kind of 255 gr bullet are you using ?

 

[rcmodel]

o.K. Now we are finally getting somewhere.

The conversion is not suitable for the full power 8.5 grain load.

Here is Alliiant Cowboy Action load data.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=5&weight=230&shellid=15&bulletid=15

It shows 8.5 Unique with a 230.

If you are going to use 250, reduce to 8.0, or 7.5.

rc

 

[ljnowell]

Missouri Bullet 255gr SWC(Cowboy#9) loaded with 4.8-5.5gr of 700x.

I also use the same bullet over 6.3gr of AA#2. Very accurate, clean, and soft shooting.

 

[Reloadron]

Ron, What brand or kind of 255 gr bullet are you using ?

Hornady 255 grain flat points.

Hornady Bullets 45 Caliber (454 Diameter) 255 Grain Lead Flat Nose Box of 200

The above link is an example from Midway. I had played around with them some time back in my Ruger Redhawk 45 Colt more as a curiosity thing as someone gave me the bullets.

Ron

 

[HexHead]

I use W231 with 255gr lead RN.

 

[Toprudder]

If you are only loading cowboy loads then Trailboss is the easiest powder to use. It was specifically designed for Cowboy action shooting. Trailboss is not really designed for much more than Cowboy shooting.

I don't shoot CAS, but +1 on the Trailboss anyway. I load it in 38spl, 357mag, and 45acp. One of the safest to use as well.

May not be designed for much more than CAS, but I find it works real well in 45acp for reduced recoil. Cycles my factory gun just fine. ~750fps with 200gn projectiles.

 

[Walkalong]

I like AA #2 for light loads in .45 Colt as well, but many fast powders will work.

 

[Dframe]

A 200 grain bullet over a medium charge of Trail Boss is my favorite 45 Colt load. It's a shoot all day without fatigue load that's just plain fun.

 

[Electrahog]

o.K. Now we are finally getting somewhere.

The conversion is not suitable for the full power 8.5 grain load.

Here is Alliiant Cowboy Action load data.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=5&weight=230&shellid=15&bulletid=15

It shows 8.5 Unique with a 230.

If you are going to use 250, reduce to 8.0, or 7.5.

rc

I wish Red Dot or Power Pistol had a more specific Cowboy load recipe because it's available at my local Gander Mountain Store. I would order some Unique but the hazmat fee is crazy high unless you can order a lot to justify the cost and that defeats the price of reloading, Trailboss is out of stock or I would try it since it's more specific to what I am trying to do, and that being said is what is making this so hard to accomplish along with no experience.

 

[Dudedog]

From Lyman 49
250 lead
Bullet 452644 Red dot Start 5.8gr 752 fps Max 6.5gr 836 fps
Bullet 454190 Red Dot Start 4.5gr 535 fps Max 6.5rg 835 fps

255 lead
Red Dot Start 4.5gr 550 fps Max 6.0gr 780 fps

200 lead
Red Dot Start 6.1gr 923 fps Max 6.9gr 975 fps
Listed pressure 10,400 - 11,800 CUP

Use the loads at your own risk.

I have never loaded Red Dot in .45 Colt but it looks like you could use a starting load for what you are after.

You listed 100PSI earlier, Did you mean 10,000?

 

[Electrahog]

From Lyman 49
250 lead
Bullet 452644 Red dot Start 5.8gr 752 fps Max 6.5gr 836 fps
Bullet 454190 Red Dot Start 4.5gr 535 fps Max 6.5rg 835 fps

255 lead
Red Dot Start 4.5gr 550 fps Max 6.0gr 780 fps

200 lead
Red Dot Start 6.1gr 923 fps Max 6.9gr 975 fps
Listed pressure 10,400 - 11,800 CUP

Use the loads at your own risk.

I have never loaded Red Dot in .45 Colt but it looks like you could use a starting load for what you are after.

You listed 100PSI earlier, Did you mean 10,000?

Sorry it must be a typo, I meant 1000 psi with an 850 FPS maximum.

I don't understand this, the numbers are running together:
Bullet 452644 ?
Bullet 454190 ?

Thanks

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have loaded a lot of 45 Colt loads and most times it's with a 250/255gr lead bullet.
I have used W231/HP-38, Clays, Red Dot, AA#5, Universal, Unique, HS-6 and I think Herco too and a few other. More recently when looking for a light load I tested two favorites in the 45 Colt, W231, Red Dot and added Trail Boss for the first time.

Currently my favorite "normal" load is a Missouri Bullets 250gr LRN and 255gr LSWC bullet over 10.5gr HS-6 with a WLP primer.

My light 45 Colt load is a Missouri Bullets 250gr LRN bullet over 5.6gr Trail Boss.
My new Cowboy Action type load is a Missouri Bullets 200gr RNFP bullet also over 5.6gr Trail Boss.

If you can't find Trail Boss you can try Clays (I know, too hard to find too) or try to find Red Dot, PB or Promo. All will make good light 45 Colt Cowboy Action loads with the starting charge weights. Using a lighter 200gr bullet will also reduce the felt recoil and muzzle flip.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

From Lyman 49
250 lead
Bullet 452644 Red dot Start 5.8gr 752 fps Max 6.5gr 836 fps
Bullet 454190 Red Dot Start 4.5gr 535 fps Max 6.5rg 835 fps

Sorry it must be a typo, I meant 1000 psi with an 850 FPS maximum.

I don't understand this, the numbers are running together:
Bullet 452644 ?
Bullet 454190 ?

Thanks

First, there is no way to generate 850 fps with a 250gr bullet in a 45 Colt and only develop 1,000 PSI. Most powders that will deliver 850 fps in that combination will generate ~12,500 PSI or higher.

Next, those 2 bullets are from 2 different Lyman molds. Both are 250gr bullet and one is slightly longer than the other but with a similar profile. There is no data that is running together, both bullets are very similar, weigh the same, use about the same case space so the velocities will also be the same when charged with the same powder charge.

Even the starting charges of Trail Boss will generate 10,500 PSI to 11,000 PSI but they won't get close to 850 fps.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

I've used a lot of 8.0 Gr Unique / 255 Gr. RNFP in .45 Colt.

Great in my Vaquero.

In my 1873 Win (Replica) rifle, they've sailed right through whitetails, twice. Neither went more than 20 feet.

I've failed to find an accurate load with Trail Boss, and pretty much stuck with the Unique load, for it does what I want, and I know how it shoots.

I've understand there are fans of AA #5 for Cowboy loads in .45 Colt, but haven't tried it. If I experiment further, I'd try AA #5 and see if it matched Unique's accuracy. In theory, you can get a bit more velocity, at similar pressures.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I've used a lot of 8.0 Gr Unique / 255 Gr. RNFP in .45 Colt.

Great in my Vaquero.

In my 1873 Win (Replica) rifle, they've sailed right through whitetails, twice. Neither went more than 20 feet.

I've failed to find an accurate load with Trail Boss, and pretty much stuck with the Unique load, for it does what I want, and I know how it shoots.

I've understand there are fans of AA #5 for Cowboy loads in .45 Colt, but haven't tried it. If I experiment further, I'd try AA #5 and see if it matched Unique's accuracy. In theory, you can get a bit more velocity, at similar pressures.

I agree Trail Boss doesn't deliver bullseye groups but it's more than good enough for hitting steel plated in a Cowboy match.

Yes, AA#5 is an accurate powder in the 45 Colt and in the same burn rate range so is HS-6. For a slightly faster powder W231 gets my vote and used to be my favorite until I tried HS-5.

 

[RugerOldArmy]

I agree Trail Boss doesn't deliver bullseye groups but it's more than good enough for hitting steel plated in a Cowboy match.

I'm glad you said that. I gave it a solid try, with multiple different bullets.

Having a toggle-link 1873, I had no desire to create 'Ruger' loads, and one day put the wrong load in the rifle.

That said, a case full of Swiss FFFg blackpowder is a wonderful, accurate load in an 1873, but requires a diligent, prompt, cleaning.

 

[Electrahog]

I have loaded a lot of 45 Colt loads and most times it's with a 250/255gr lead bullet.
I have used W231/HP-38, Clays, Red Dot, AA#5, Universal, Unique, HS-6 and I think Herco too and a few other. More recently when looking for a light load I tested two favorites in the 45 Colt, W231, Red Dot and added Trail Boss for the first time.

Currently my favorite "normal" load is a Missouri Bullets 250gr LRN and 255gr LSWC bullet over 10.5gr HS-6 with a WLP primer.

My light 45 Colt load is a Missouri Bullets 250gr LRN bullet over 5.6gr Trail Boss.
My new Cowboy Action type load is a Missouri Bullets 200gr RNFP bullet also over 5.6gr Trail Boss.

If you can't find Trail Boss you can try Clays (I know, too hard to find too) or try to find Red Dot, PB or Promo. All will make good light 45 Colt Cowboy Action loads with the starting charge weights. Using a lighter 200gr bullet will also reduce the felt recoil and muzzle flip.

I only have access to Red Dot Powder locally and would rather not order powder because of the hazmat fee. If I could find a good 45 colt cowboy recipe with Red Dot that would work.

Here is a link to a set of recipes that use Red Dot but I would welcome advice on it since I am a first time reloader : http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=186043&stc=1&d=1373136691

Understand this is for a R&D Conversion Cylinder and it reads not to exceed 850 FPS or 10.000 PSI. I am not sure what bullet or powder Combination I need to accomplish this so all advice is appreciated and when I say cowboy action load I only mean light load I am not concerned with recoil at all.