New to reloading w/ question

[NorCal Mtn Flyer]

After reading several books on reloading, with each claiming to be the "only book needed about reloading", I have what I hope will be a simple question.

The specs- reloading .45Colt, 250gr cast and FMJ bullets, looking for approx 1000fps. (not cowboy loads)

Some of the books say that fast burn powders in larger volume casings build up the case pressure too quickly, so powders such as 231, Hodgdon HP-38, Titegroup, Unique, etc may be too fast. Other books say these are fine, and even preferred. Should I be looking for a slightly slower burning powder, or are these truly acceptable?

From those of you with extensive reloading experience, what powder might you recommend, and given the specs above, what load will approximate 1000fps?

Thanks for your input!

[Cowboy T]

Not so simple a question, it turns out. To make 1,000 FPS with a 250gr bullet with a lot of smokeless powders, you will exceed the SAAMI max pressure of 13,000 CUP. So, it depends on what kind of firearm you're firing these out of. Can you tell us that?

The old black powder loads of 40 gr would push the bullets at about 1,000 FPS. But black powder burns very differently from today's smokeless powder.

Most folks will be reluctant to give load information, for obvious reasons, but a very good powder to use for this would be Titegroup. It was totally designed for big cases like .45 Colt. You can stuff enough in there to make 1,000 fps with a complete burn, IF your firearm is strong enough to handle loads beyond SAAMI pressures. If I were you, I'd check out Hodgdon's Web Site (.45 Colt Ruger and T/C Only) for load info. You know, get info from "the horse's mouth" directly.

[BigBronco]

Not being an expert I would say that the 45 LC was originally a black powder cartridge and that is about as fast burning as you can get. If you are shooting them in a Ruger I would not worry. about pressure beyond reason.

[Rotting]

My favorite powder is VihtaVuori, and several of their powders can get you there. I'm sure there are some good loads from other manufacturers, but here are some powders that I have first-hand experience with in 45 Colt:

N-350 will get you there at the top of its range, N-105 and N-110 will get you there no problem.

Keep in mind that your lead bullets and your FMJs will require different loads.

[Cowboy T]

Well, for Magnum-style loads, sure, H-110, N-110, etc. are great. Heck, my very +1000 FPS .45 Colt load uses a healthy dose of 2400 powder. But that's only for guns like Rugers and T/C's that can handle it. We don't know what kind of firearm the OP is using, so we really can't assume those kinds of "Magnum" powders just yet. We don't want him to blow up his gun by using our advice.

NorCal Mtn Flyer, can you clarify which firearm you're using? That'll help us to give you better advice.

[NorCal Mtn Flyer]

Cowboy T, check for PM...

[bjl333]

Can I ask you what kind of firearm ??? Barrel length ???

A lever gun will have a different load than a SAA, or a Redhawk. They'll all react differently to the load.

[Rotting]

That's a good point, and I didn't mean to suggest he should blindly start loading up rounds with those powders. However, my list is simply a good range of powders from VihtaVuori that will get the performance he's looking for. And in that spectrum of performance (1000+ FPS in 45 cal, 250 grain) there is a comparatively "tame" N-350, all the way up to an "*** kicker" in N-110.

But, NMF is on point--I'm hoping that since you've got such specific performance goals, those goals are based on researched and well thought out criteria that falls within reasonable, safe guidelines.

[Triple R Munitions]

i would not over look 2400, h110, and Unique. very good standby powders. i run 200gr with unique. nice mild load, very happy with it.

h110 will give you a decent report from the muzzle; 2400 will do the same. its a bit more stout. load up a few rounds within specs and go try it out!

R

[NorCal Mtn Flyer]

The weapon is a Taurus Judge revolver w/2.5" cylinder and 4" barrel. And NO, it is NOT presently IN Calif. (I was a little reluctant to identify the weapon earlier, due to some comments I have gotten elsewhere)

I use this as my chest gun when I'm flying the bush and fishing up in AK. So you might well imagine what I may come face to face with. Thats why I'm looking for the +/- 1000fps range.

But I do enjoy shooting it just generally, and try to do so every week or two. Meaning I'm using 150-200 rds per month. This adds up to some $$ and I figure by reloading, I can just about cut my costs in half.

Managed to score (what I think is) a heck of a deal on a substantial number of pre-primered new cases (major manufacturer) and bullets (some FMJ, some hard cast), so now I'm looking to fill the space in between.

Again, I'm enjoying reading everyone's thoughts on this. I'm learning alot about the various factors which each of you seem to value when choosing your reloading components.

Thanks!

[bjl333]

I think with a 2.5" barrel you SHOULD use one of the faster burners. Powders like 2400, H110, 296 are too slow for the short barrel. The newer powders I am not familiar with, but Unique, 231 & Bullseye should be good powders for a short barreled handgun. Try to work up some loads for 231 and Bullseye and see what you can get out of them, I've been using them in handguns for 35+years and found they are accurate and pretty clean burning.

[Cowboy T]

The weapon is a Taurus Judge revolver w/2.5" cylinder and 4" barrel. And NO, it is NOT presently IN Calif. (I was a little reluctant to identify the weapon earlier, due to some comments I have gotten elsewhere)

I use this as my chest gun when I'm flying the bush and fishing up in AK. So you might well imagine what I may come face to face with. Thats why I'm looking for the +/- 1000fps range.

But I do enjoy shooting it just generally, and try to do so every week or two. Meaning I'm using 150-200 rds per month. This adds up to some $$ and I figure by reloading, I can just about cut my costs in half.

Managed to score (what I think is) a heck of a deal on a substantial number of pre-primered new cases (major manufacturer) and bullets (some FMJ, some hard cast), so now I'm looking to fill the space in between.

Again, I'm enjoying reading everyone's thoughts on this. I'm learning alot about the various factors which each of you seem to value when choosing your reloading components.

Thanks!

In that case, please, do not try to get 1,000 FPS out of a .45 Colt round if you're shooting it out of a Judge! Please DO NOT try to hot-rod the round! You risk blowing up your gun and possibly yourself. I have one of these, and they're fine revolvers, but the cylinder walls are SAAMI-strong, not Ruger-strong. "+P" rounds out of a Judge are emphatically not a good idea.

The only way you can safely get close to 1,000 FPS out of a 4" bbl Judge is to use black powder, due to its low-pressure burning characteristics. Treat it like a Colt SAA or "faithful repica" for the purposes of pressure tolerance.

If you're looking for stopping power against creatures in the Alaska bush (I'm thinking you're talkin' bear and such), then I would seriously look into carrying a Super Redhawk Alaskan in .454 Casull instead. Such a gun will gladly take hot-rodded, 1000FPS (and much more) .45 Colt rounds with no problem. I'm not knocking the Judge, it's a great tool and I like mine, but it's just not the right "oh crap, I'm starin' down a bear!" tool.

BTW, PM responded to.

[Beelzy]

I think the faster powders with lighter bullets would do best in that Beast.

Poppers (Light loads), use the faster powders

Pushers (Heavy loads) use the slower powders.

With a short barrel like 2.5'', the slower powders won't burn completely so keep that in mind.

[Cowboy T]

Actually, the *cylinder* is 2.5". His barrel is 4". It's easy to mix up because no other revolver, to my knowledge, has a 2.5" cylinder. Yowza....

[NorCal Mtn Flyer]

Thanks to everyone who gave input to my request for help. After reading, discussing, and corresponding with several different sources, I have chosen HP-38 for my pistol needs and H4198 for my long gun needs.

Now I'm just waiting for a few bits and pieces to arrive, and I'll be joining the ranks of reloaders. Must admit, I'm looking forward to it, after doing so much research.

I'll post my results!