.45 colt bp

S

smokepole14

New member
I have heard that a 45 cartridge with 35 gr of bp and a 250 gr bullet is more powerful than the cowboy loads like ultramax and black hills. I have an R&D conversion for my 58 Remmy. Reason I ask is this a safe load to run through my gun. since ive heard its more powerful than "cowboy" loads, cause 35 gr of bp to me is a cowboy load.
 
The original .45 Colt load was something like 40 grains under a 255 grain bullet, so you're in safe territory.

The cowboy loads using smokeless powders also have a much different pressure curve than black powder - something that you may be able to feel in the recoil of cartridges with similar ballistics.

I wouldn't worry about that load, but if you want to be perfectly safe about it, you can work your way up to 40 grains and check for signs of overloading as you go.
 
So on the other part of the question, is 35 or 40 gr charge more powerful than ultramax or black hills? Has anyone shot and compared through a chrony?
 
Somebody can probably post definitive numbers, but I'll bet that the BP load will be a bit hotter than the smokeless cowboy loads, but not by much. The Black Hills ammo ought to be in the 750fps neighborhood, and I'd think something like 800fps or a little more from the BP load.
 
35 grains of bp is fine. Smokeless loads have a sharper pressure spike. Its not the cylinder that cant handle it, its the frame.
 
I know that "cowboy" .44-40 loads average around 750-800ish fps out of a 24 inch barrel rifle and a full 37-40 grain BP load does around 1300ish. The "cowboy" loads are loaded to shoot paper or steel targets. That's it. Full BP loads were for more serious things like hunting and such.
 
I chronied some .45 L BP loads

35 gr BP with 200 grain (Yes that is light) slug (Lee RNFP)

Consistently got upward of 1050 fps

I shot Winchester cowboy loads and got somewhere around 650 to 700 fps

I also shot Cowboy loads from Mexico and got around 500 fps

The factory cowboy loads were smokeless powder.

Recoil on the full BP rounds was excessive so I backed off to 25 to 28. I think I remember about 800 fps from those rounds.

These numbers came from a 4 3/4 inch barrel.
 
Factory Goex Black Powder Loads

BlackVsSmokeless.gif


BP45Colt.gif
 
The original Military load left the muzzle at over 900 fps. Later the powder charge was reduced a bit because Troopers complained about the recoil. If you're worried try a .454 round ball over a lighter load of BP. You can seat the RB deep enough to crimp the case over the front curve of the ball.
 
I agrtee with the comment....

....about recoil using 35 to 40 gr in .45 LC.

That is a pretty emotional shooting experience.

I load some with 35 gr just so I can come home with skun up knuckles. A good reminder of the day's shooting.......Just kidding fellas.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top