Looking for a cowboy load in 45 Colt with 255grn LSWC

T

TheFineLine

New member
Just got a new pair of Pietta 1873s and the dies to go with them. I understand Bullseye and Power Pistol should work (I have both). I want to use them for plinking fun time and would like to minimize recoil. I have a big 'ole box of 255grn .452 LSWC Keith Type, and some CCI LPPs. What would be a safe lower end load? I see max for both powders on several sites with 250grn but no minimums......
 
Alliant lists 6.0/B'eye/230 LRN as their Cowboy action load. They also list 7.0/B'eye/250LSWC as their max load. I would expect that 6.0/B'eye/255 would be mild, and work well. If it's too much recoil, perhaps DEcreasing the powder charge by 0.1 grains/time down to 5.5 would give you tenable results. Just be careful of stuck projectiles. I don't think they're likely, but they ARE possible.
 
I've used 7.5 grains of Unique for my cowboy loads for ages. If you have any around you might give it a try. Mild recoil, clean burning, and quite accurate in all of my .45 Colts. I'm sure there are newer powders (almost all are) than Unique which will work well, but I have never found a need to try them since that Unique load shoots a lot more accurate than I can hold off hand. I've used it with bullet weights from 200 to 255 grains.
 
6.6 Bullseye
8.1 Power Pistol

Loads listed in Brian Pearce article on traditional loads for 45 Colt. Both rated at 860 fps for 250 gr lead.
 
Unique has been a staple in the 45 LC for, like, forever. I don’t know when it first came out, but it must have been close to WW1. Normally I use 8.5 grains with a 250/255, I have shot thousands of rounds that had 8.0 grains, and based on the previous poster, 7.5 grains must work great. At least here are some velocities in a SAA.


5 1/2" USFA Rodeo

255 LSWC (.452") 8.0 grs Unique thrown, lot 6/21/1993, Starline cases, WLP primers
25-Mar-07 T = 80 °F
Ave Vel = 864
Std Dev = 28
ES = 75
High = 898.8
Low = 800.1
Number Shots 24




I only tried Bullseye once, it was a long time ago, I recall it shot well and a 255 grain bullet going 776 fps is still pretty potent.

M25-7 5” barrel

255 LRN (.452") 6.3 grs Bullseye thrown R-P cases WLP (nickle) primers
26-May-97 T ≈ 75-80 ° F

Ave Vel = 776
Std Dev = 11
ES = 28
Low = 765
High = 793
N = 6



If you really want reduced velocities I would recommend Trailboss. I have not used it, but from everything I have read, the powder is extremely bulky and was made so Cowboy action shooters could load their 45 LC’s so lightly that the recoil is not more than a pop gun.

I am going to get off my butt one day and load some balloon head cases I purchased off a very nice forum member. I read that loaded with 40 grains of black powder, you can push a 255 L at 1000 fps out of a 7.5" barreled revolver. That is the real Cowboy load, and that would be very powerful and extremely low pressure.
 
I concur with the recommendation to use Alliant UNIQUE, and Alliant HERCO is an excellent substitute, when UNIQUE is unavailable.

As was previously stated, UNIQUE & .45 Colt work almost mysteriously well together. 8.0/Unique/250/255 RNFP/LSWC is almost a reloading "standard", like 18.0/2400/240SWC & 7.5/Unique/240SWC is for .44 Special.

I also like UNIQUE or HERCO in .45 Colt b/c it's next to impossible to double-charge a case with either propellant. This is a BIG source of concern for me when I reload ANY large case with small(ish) charges of fast-burning powders.

Although I've not used any, I get the impression that POWER PISTOL works best in cartridges developing chamber pressures near to or over 20,000 p.s.i. I'm not saying the powder will NOT work under those pressures, but it probably won't work as well as UNIQUE/HERCO, and similar powders.
 
Yes, Trailboss at its max of 5.8 gr is rated at 727 fps, significantly slower than the max loads of some other choices. This 5.8 gr is what I use. I may change that, probably Power Pistol at rated 860 fps, because the gun doesn't provide the drama I like in stouter loads. I have only one 45 Colt that I confine to SAAMI spec, and it is my prized SAA clone, a Uberti El Patron Belleza.

I can still use the Trailboss to better see the powder charge in 38 Special, while still being a good shooter with formal data available.
 
I like Trail Boss too. I've loaded them down pretty low. My only .45 Colt so far is a 24" lever rifle but I've never had a problem with stuck bullets.

Scott
 
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