Need Info for .45 Long Colt Reloading

[Parole Agent]

Hey Guys,

I am reloading for a .45 Long Colt. Am using a 185 grain lead bullet and Trail Boss powder. Does anyone have any pet loads for this combination? I am reloading for Cowboy Action Shooting. Thanks.

[Cowboy T]

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

Choose .45 Colt, then Hodgdon, then Trail Boss, and finally bullet weight. For maximum safety, I'd choose the 200gr information, and if you'd like to experiment (carefully), you can use the 180gr information.

[Bastard]

if you are having issues finding data for trail boss just remember that IMR published that basically you can't fill the case enough to exceed pressure...

https://imrpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/trail-boss-reduced-loads-r_p.pdf

[Squ1dward]

Welcome to the rat hole of Cowboy action shooting. Swore I would never do it, but two good "friends" kept after me to join them for a shoot. In January I finally gave in and fell in love with it.

So I didn't want to do it because it is 4 guns I have to buy that I don't have. Also, I now have to reload yet another caliber. And I have to learn how to cast bullets and get all the stuff for that. Oh and now I reload shotgun as well... See, I told you its a rat hole. Had to buy another 650 so I could continue to load for the other calibers I shoot.
Again...Rat hole.

Well, I love shooting the matches and the people are friendly that it makes for a great time. Plus, shooting with some of your best bro's makes it that much better.

I took the plunge and am now loading 45LC and 45 Cowboy Special and casting 150gr and 200gr bullets.

So, I know it isn't exactly what your question asked, but here is what we load.

- 45 LC: 200gr cast bullet 5.5gr a Hodgdon Clays (rifle, 1873 Clones)
- 45 Cowboy Special (cut down 45LC): 150gr bullet with 3.5 Clays (Colt SAA, Uberti Clones, Standard Mfg revolvers)

Dont worry about the powder so much. You should use a lot less powder and a lot less bullet than what the original 45LC was designed for.

The .45 Colt originally was a black-powder cartridge, but modern loadings use smokeless powder. The original black-powder loads called for 28 to 40 grains (1.8 to 2.6 g) of black powder behind a 230-to-255-grain (14.9 to 16.5 g) lead bullet. These loads developed muzzle velocities of up to 1,050 ft/s (320 m/s).

Hey, if you are ever at Coyote Valley Sporting Clays in Morgan Hill and/or Richmond Rod and Gun Club Shoots, be sure to say hello. I'm Squid Vicious. What's your alias?

Be safe and have fun. PM me if you have any questions about CAS or reloading.

Squid (Vicious)

[bruce381]

was out at richmond a few weeks ago doing USPSA stuff and watched the cowboys for a while. looked fun and some of the guys were old farts like me with a slight weight problem so I would fit right in.

[Parole Agent]

Thanks guys for the info. Keep on shooting!

[smle-man]

Welcome to the rat hole of Cowboy action shooting. Swore I would never do it, but two good "friends" kept after me to join them for a shoot. In January I finally gave in and fell in love with it.

So I didn't want to do it because it is 4 guns I have to buy that I don't have. Also, I now have to reload yet another caliber. And I have to learn how to cast bullets and get all the stuff for that. Oh and now I reload shotgun as well... See, I told you its a rat hole. Had to buy another 650 so I could continue to load for the other calibers I shoot.
Again...Rat hole.

Well, I love shooting the matches and the people are friendly that it makes for a great time. Plus, shooting with some of your best bro's makes it that much better.

I took the plunge and am now loading 45LC and 45 Cowboy Special and casting 150gr and 200gr bullets.

So, I know it isn't exactly what your question asked, but here is what we load.

- 45 LC: 200gr cast bullet 5.5gr a Hodgdon Clays (rifle, 1873 Clones)
- 45 Cowboy Special (cut down 45LC): 150gr bullet with 3.5 Clays (Colt SAA, Uberti Clones, Standard Mfg revolvers)

Dont worry about the powder so much. You should use a lot less powder and a lot less bullet than what the original 45LC was designed for.

The .45 Colt originally was a black-powder cartridge, but modern loadings use smokeless powder. The original black-powder loads called for 28 to 40 grains (1.8 to 2.6 g) of black powder behind a 230-to-255-grain (14.9 to 16.5 g) lead bullet. These loads developed muzzle velocities of up to 1,050 ft/s (320 m/s).

Hey, if you are ever at Coyote Valley Sporting Clays in Morgan Hill and/or Richmond Rod and Gun Club Shoots, be sure to say hello. I'm Squid Vicious. What's your alias?

Be safe and have fun. PM me if you have any questions about CAS or reloading.

Squid (Vicious)

Is the .45 cowboy special essentially a .45 Schofield with a lighter bullet?

[richken]

6.5 grains of Trail Boss is magical in my Blackhawk. 7.0 grains of Promo also.

[Squ1dward]

was out at richmond a few weeks ago doing USPSA stuff and watched the cowboys for a while. looked fun and some of the guys were old farts like me with a slight weight problem so I would fit right in.

I used to shoot USPSA at Richmond, CAS is fun and people are a bit nicer and open to helping new shooters. Borrowing and loaning guns for a match is quite common.

Either way, you are welcome and would definitely fit in. It is a different animal than USPSA...

[Squ1dward]

Is the .45 cowboy special essentially a .45 Schofield with a lighter bullet?

Nope. Its a 45LC cut down to the height of a 45 ACP.

Works in SA pistols with no mods...will work in lever actions if you change the carrier. $175 part I don't feel like buying right now.

Dream to shoot out of the pistols... Darn nice out of the rifle.

Had to 3d Print a casefeed adapter for my Dillon 650 since the 45LC one is too big and the 45 ACP diameter is too narrow. And Dillon doesn't make one.