? about 45 long colt reloading

[casework]

I am currently reloading 45acp with RCBS equipment. Can I use the same equipment for 45 long colt? If so can you share some inexpensive recipes for plinking. Thanks

[wellfedirishman]

You can use a RCBS press of course, but you need a 45LC die set and shellholder. I use Lee dies, they are cheap and work great.

The 45ACP full length sizing die is too small to properly resize the longer 45LC case.
The 45ACP crimp die should work fine though.

I load 45 ACP with Trailboss, makes a really nice cowboy load. There is loading info on the IMR site.

http://www.imrpowder.com/trailboss.html

[casework]

Thanks

[BigBronco]

Wellfedirishman, If you could please explain! Just what is a cowboy load?

[Cowboy T]

Cowboy load = light load used typically for Cowboy Action Shooting competitions due to low recoil and no IPSC-style "power factor" minimum requirements.

I happen to reload .45 Long Colt, using Titegroup powder. Just one note: if you do use Titegroup (an excellent powder), don't go below 5.7gr, even though the "Cowboy Action Data" section says you can go to 5.0gr. 5.7 is really the practical minimum. You can work up from there.

[Noonanda]

Or you can go the opposite end of the spectrum from Cowboy Action Loads, especially if you are using a Blackhawk. there are some great "Ruger Blackhawk Only" Loads out there that would probably handgrenade an old Colt S/A but are fine in a Blackhawk.
My favorite right now is 230gr FMJ over 24.4gr of IMR4227. This load came out of the Hornady manual, I need to get out and chrony it to see how fast it is actually moving . I would have no problem using this load for self defense/HD if neccessary

[BigBronco]

Thanks for the explanation. I do have a blackhawk and a Redhawk for 44 and I guess I usually go the oposite end of that spectrum. I be addicted to recoil. Nothing more fun than to turn heads at the range and to hear Holly S@#t from a friend who shoots one of my guns. My favorite load for the 44 is the Keith load. 240 gr SWC with 24 gr of 2400. But I read now the 24oo has been reformulated and 22 gr is the max. Shame. Do not have a favorite load for the 45 yet.

[Southpaw45]

The load that I settled on for my Cowboy Action Shooting with the .45 Colt
205gr Bear Creek bullet
5.5gr IMR Traliboss powder. 5.5 to 6.5 grains are safe
Wolf/Tula LR primer but any LR primer will do.
Any brand of brass
CRIMP TIGHTLY!

I tested different powders with the .45 Colt like Clays, Unique, Titegroup, 231 and settled with Trailboss because it makes for low recoil for fast follow up shots and its also designed for large capacity cases like the .45 Colt making it safe to use by preventing double charges. It wasnt the cleanest or cheapest. Titegroup is cheap but produced a loud report and snappy recoil. While not a problem with casual target shooting, it effected me in competition shooting. Clays was the cleanest but I experienced detonation problems in cold weather and magnum primers had to be used. Please double check any data you find here with a good reloading source.. >>> http://www.hodgdon.com/

[ARMYFO]

I load 45 Colt in large volume on a professional basis and almost all my stock ammo is 8.5 grains of Unique behind a 250 gr RNFP bullet. This load is a good working round for almost anything. All you guys using Trail Boss, check out WST. It is a high volume low pressure powder like Trail Boss but much cheaper.

[Cowboy T]

Thanks for the explanation. I do have a blackhawk and a Redhawk for 44 and I guess I usually go the oposite end of that spectrum. I be addicted to recoil. Nothing more fun than to turn heads at the range and to hear Holly S@#t from a friend who shoots one of my guns. My favorite load for the 44 is the Keith load. 240 gr SWC with 24 gr of 2400. But I read now the 24oo has been reformulated and 22 gr is the max. Shame. Do not have a favorite load for the 45 yet.

Ah, a gentleman who appreciates the hotter loads!

If that's the case (no pun intended), and your Blackhawk can handle it, my "hot" load is 21.5 to 22.0 grains of 2400 pushing a 250gr cast boolit. That load turns heads every time I fire it.

NOTE! I'm firing this out of a Super Redhawk 454, an exceedingly strong sixgun. I don't know how strong Blackhawks are, since I don't own one, but I estimate this load to be about 28,000 to 30,000 PSI. As in any similar situation, *PLEASE*, be careful.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I am currently reloading 45acp with RCBS equipment. Can I use the same equipment for 45 long colt?

No, but you can load 45 GAP and 45 Auto Rim with those dies...