Looking For Recipes

[Grampa]

OK, the dies came in, still no brass though. Almost time to start cooking. Any of you guys got a favorite load or two for 45 Colt? The Long Colt, not ACP. Any input would be much appreciated.

Laws of Life #1. Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill on the same night.

[Descreet38]

Grampa - do you hang out on any of the reloading sites? I have some links I can attach if you're interested.

[Scooter]

Please attach them anyway, I'm interested. Still getting my feet wet at reloading and always looking for good and reliable information.

[Chuck]

Grampa,
This suggestion is offered in case you are new at reloading. If you already have this covered, good for you and please forgive me dwelling on the obvious.
Do you have a current loading manual? Anything you find on the net needs to be checked against either a manual or the powder manufacturer's load data. If you don't have a manual, every powder manufacturer publishes some load data that is usually offered free for writing or some are available from the manufacturer's official websites.
The reason I mention this is I have seen a few loads posted on other gun websites that are above the max in the Hornaday book. The book data may be conservative in listing max loads or it may be right up to the limits your gun can handle. Let's not find out on the range!
and
Did you find primers? They are getting scarce.

[Grampa]

Yeah, I've been reloading for a while now, but not 45 colt. Looking at the bullets, they list everything from .451 to .454 diameters. I know for a 45ACP jacketed I would use a .451, would I use the same for a 45 Long Colt?
No Dez, I don't use any of the reloading forums, that's likely a good idea so maybe I should start. Any links would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

[Grampa]

:cool: OK, I went with Hornady 250 grain XTP, the Hodgdon data says they'll work with Titegroup of which I have a little bit :D. We'll see how they go.

[sinclair]

+1 Chuck - Lyman 49th edition, currently $25.99. Best bang for the bucks.

Looking at the bullets, they list everything from .451 to .454 diameters.......Next post.....
I went with Hornady 250 grain XTP

Most Pre-WWII 45 cal colt revolvers measure .454 groove diameter. Newer revolvers and lever action rifles are .451 groove diameter. Hornady lists their 250 gr HP/XTP (#45200) as .452 diameter. That bullet diameter is somewhat of a compromise but should work in either pre or post WWII 45 colts.

For reloaders, I find this a good place to visit:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=9

When you decide to go to lead rather than jacketed bullets in the 45 (to save $$) I think you will be pleased with the performance and safety aspects of IMR Trail Boss. It's virtually impossible to overcharge a pistol case by powder volumetric design. The only downside is IMR does not recommend it to be used with anything but lead bullets. (Pressure spikes with copper jacketed ?)

Here is the load data for Trail Boss:

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/trailboss-feb2005.php

[Grampa]

Thanks. I really hadn't thought of Trailboss. I tend to use jacketed because I really don't like cleaning lead out of my barrels. I have a 44 mag that took me several hours to clean after shooting just two boxes of Magtech 44 special Cowboy loads through. And it still isn't super clean. I have bought and loaded some 200 grain Hornady semi wadcutters. Hornady claims they won't lead the barrel so we'll see. Thanks again, all input is very much appreciated.

[sinclair]

If the gun is new, breaking it in with copper jacketed bullets is a good idea. Its harder than lead and acts to lap the barrel, smoothing rough and high spots down a bit. Lead wont do that, just plates against all those spots.

Once the gun barrel is broken in, there is no reason I know of not to use lead. But shooting lead can be a bit of an art to find the right combination that reduces leading to near zero. During that process, sooner or later you will find combinations that do lead your barrel. If the leading is really bad, a mechanical cleaning like the Lewis lead remover works wonders.

Lewis lead remover:
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=21587

Another less thought of cause for reloaders is not flaring the mouth of the case enough before seating the bullet. Lead shavings during that process become barrell plating by default. All of this kind of thing is beat to death on this forum:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php

For lesser barrel leading problems, here is the home made solutions to help save you $$.

Home made solutions for firearm cleaning:

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm#Lead

Leading is usually caused by driving a cast bullet too fast. If you want really high velocities like lead for rifles, a gas check starts to enter the solution area. Driving a very hard lead bullet too slow can also be a problem. Lead bullet hardness needs to match up with velocity.

Swaged lead bullets are very soft and need to be held below around 900 ft/s. I suspect this may be the problem you have seen with the cowboy loads for 44 Mag.

Fire a hard cast lead bullet this slow and you may have problems with obturation and blow by can occur.

I also suspect the Hornady Semi wadcutters should be fired at 1000+ ft/s and it should obturate properly and leading should be minimal to none in a clean smooth barrel.

[Grampa]

Yeah, I need to break out the chrony to see what kind of speeds I'm getting with the lead bullets. The XTP's shoot great, accurate with a pretty soft recoil with 6.4 gr. of Bullseye. This costs about 33 cents per round which isn't bad, but lead bullets will cut that in almost half. It'll just take more tinkering to get it right. Thanks again for all the info Sinclair. It's giving me more the think about.

[sinclair]

Thanks again for all the info Sinclair. It's giving me more to think about.

Anytime. Sharing what works for us, and freely with others makes it more enjoyable. On that note I will leave you with what I believe is the best source for cast bullets I know of. These folks seem to be rather busy these days and an order can take over a month to fill, but the wait is worth it. The match grades can run up to 10 cents per bullet, but quality at an economy price is a good secret to share.

http://www.pennbullets.com/

[Grampa]

:) Man, it looks like Penn is going to get some of my business. I'm not at all happy with the Hornady LSWC's that I bought. And at Penn's bulk prices you really can't go wrong. Thanks for the link.

[donniemjr]

for "light" loads and lead bullets I use 5 gr of Unique on a 230 gr RNFP. This is my preferred Cowboy Action load. it's about 850 fps and has never lead fouled any of my weapons. I use the same load on .45 ACP.

[sinclair]

I use 5 gr of Unique on a 230 gr RNFP

I would say welcome but I am not much of a socializer. Besides, I think you are about as new here as me.

Sounds like a mild load, well below the minimum listed in Lyman 49th. On that topic, I noticed another KaBoom gun (not a Glock) on another forum. The guy it happened to was loading 6.5 gr of Unique under a 180 gr TMJ in 40 S&W. The close up picture is interesting. I could have sworn the case close up photo looks like it was developing a "Glock Buldge" before it failed. He is saying the gun was a Beretta 96FS. I have not looked closely at the breach of that gun but the case seems to be saying that, like the Glock, a part of the case is not supported when in battery.

Photos here:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=357593

Now I am getting curious about the powder. They seem to want to blaim Unique for the incident. I have used it for years but I have to confess that my old 1980 supply is about exhausted. Just bought a couple of pounds new. This is a reminder to myself that as a caution, I am going to re-work up my old loads from scratch as if I had a totally new powder. (which in a way I do)

For Grampa, here is a brief range report from today (My first time at the local range too):

Firearm used: Ruger Blackhawk 357 Mag.
Bullets were Penn 158 Gr LSWC, Loaded in 38 Spl cases, average COL 1.475"
Powder was Trail Boss and tested in the following load ranges:
2.7 gr, 3.0 gr, 3.3 gr, 3.5 gr, 3.8 gr, 4.0 gr, and 4.2 gr.
No leading or adverse signs throughout the test range. The more I test this powder, the better I like it. I recently read an article that was saying IMR developed Trail Boss specifically for Cowboy Action Shooting. All I know is I am really beginning to like this Trail Boss stuff.