Light Load 45 Colt

[rrengineer]

I have an 1876 Single Action Army Colt that was recently overhauled by Peacemaker specialist Jim Martin. Jim's recommendation was to shoot 160 grain bullet to a very reduced recoil (600 fps?) due to the age of the gun. Has anyone done a load like this? What would be a good black powder for this?

[sofbak]

Are you limited to black powder?

Have you considered trailboss?

Why such a lightweight bullet?

[rrengineer]

Light Load 45 Colt

Jim Martin says not to use smokeless powder in this gun. The metallurgy is not up to today's standards. He said to use less than 200 grain bullets to keep the pressure down. This gun is a blackpowder frame gun.

[bruce381]

I think thats what trail boss is for he should know he will not give a recomendation?

[bruce381]

Hodgdon Trail Boss .430"bullet dia 1.310" OAL 3.3gr 698fps 5,400 CUP

look up on hodgsdon website for full info or use black powder.
you said NOT to use smokless so you ansererd your own question kind off.

[sofbak]

Current SAAMI spec ammo for .45 colt is loaded to pressues for "blackpowder frame guns".

Trailboss was made specifically for reduced, "less than normal pressure colt loads" for CAS/SASS shooters.

If you look at a loading manual, you should eventually notice that pressures are maintained at near equal levels regardless of bullet weight by adjusting the powder charge weight. Light bullets take more powder, heavier bullets take less.

Look into/google Cowboy Action Shooting loads.

[sofbak]

Hodgdon Trail Boss .430"bullet dia 1.310" OAL 3.3gr 698fps 5,400 CUP

......

This doesn't look like .45 colt data to me- .430" bullet dia, 1.310 OAL(?). YMMV.

[Tom-ADC]

BP at Botton of chart: Remember BP must fill case so powder is compressed no air gap between powder and bullet.
Just looking at this chart I'd do Trailboss and be happy BP is dirty bad enough in single shot rifles.

[bruce381]

This doesn't look like .45 colt data to me- .430" bullet dia, 1.310 OAL(?). YMMV.

sorry tried to cut and paste4 from hodgons sight did not work out.

[Cowboy T]

Remember that the Peacemakers were originally made for a 255gr cast bullet with a black powder load that would propel said bullet at 950 ft/sec. Therefore, I see no problem with a load that would propel, say, a 200gr bullet at 800 ft/sec in those very same guns.

Trail Boss is a good choice. So is Titegroup, which is what I typically use for standard .45 Colt loads. So, for that matter, is Unique, though maybe a little dirtier than Titegroup, but still waaaay less dirty than black powder.

[sofbak]

^^^Do you have access to published load data for:

1. Bp or bp substitute with a 200gr bullet?

2.Bp or bp substitute with a 160gr bullet?

Inquiring mind would like to know.

[Cowboy T]

I *might*. Currently not at home, but I'll check my books when I do get home. I most definitely do have load info for *smokeless* powders for these weights of bullets; if you don't have a copy of Lyman's reloading book, I'd strongly recommend it.

Note, though, that with BP, you do load the case up fully, with no air gaps. That was true with the 255gr bullet, so I'd imagine it's also true with any other bullet. I've only done a few with real BP, so I don't know about the substitutes, but supposedly the BP substitutes are measured by volume instead of weight.

[Tom-ADC]

From Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook dated 1973

[Cowboy T]

Seems I don't have any BP loads for the lighter bullets. But you're certainly safe in using the original 255gr cast bullet with a full stock of BP, if you want to use BP.

As Tom-ADC pointed out above, there is good smokeless powder load data for various weights of cast bullets. Smokeless powder is both more available, far less dirty, and non-corrosive over BP. Don't be afraid to use the smokeless loads; your gun was built for those pressures.

[CSACANNONEER]

Trailboss is the only powder I would start with unless you are a very experienced black powder cartridge reloader.