OK reloaders, recommend me a good smokeless .45 ACP handload for Kirst 1858.

[Rachen]

I decided to pick up a Kirst cylinder for the 1858 chambered in .45 ACP simply because I am having more and more trouble recently trying to find .45 LC ammo. Cases are plentiful and stores stock the factory ammo from time to time but two things just came to my mind:

1. The .45 GAP (Glock Automatic Pistol) cartridge, and
2. FNH 5.7x28mm

The problem? Well, these two rounds are virtually going the way of the dinosaur and passenger pigeon, to my current knowledge and even though I know that the .45 LC is not going to be gone anytime, fewer outlets are bothering with this chambering.

The .45 ACP would allow me to still hunt using smokeless loads if in case I get short on .45 LC ammunition.

Now I want to get at least 800-1000 feet per second with a bullet ranging from a 180 grain lead hollow point to a 200+ grain LRN. But I also want to keep pressures in the mildest range possible, way within the specs of both cylinder and gun (Pietta 1858).

What combination of smokeless powder and bullet would satisfy all of the requirements above? I wanted to use Trail Boss but not only could I not find any reloading data for the .45 ACP using this powder, the bulky volume of Trail Boss would not even fit inside that short, stubby little cartridge.

Thanks.

 

[arcticap]

There are 2 Trail Boss .45 acp loads listed in the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center for 180 & 200 grain bullets. Plus they list many other loads using their powders:

http://www.hodgdon.com/basic-manual-inquiry.html

 

[Rachen]

WOW thanks for showing me that. I really needed it to work on my other loads too.

But they have all the pressure data in CUP I see.

How much CUP of pressure are the conversion cylinders and 1858 frame/barrels built for? I want the mildest pressures to operate in that particular gun and I wanted to see if anyone else who works with BP revolvers know this information.

 

[Hardy]

Cowboy long colts. Available in most gun stores.

WBH

 

[rodent.22]

I would not dream of exceeding 1000 FPS, in fact my .45 Colt loads are around 750 FPS in my Kirst conversion Dragoon. A blast to shoot. I've had absolutely no problems with getting powder or bullets for my brass. The .45 Colt is an EXTREMELY popular cartridge.