Light 45 colt loads..............

[markp]

  I Need do to wrist problems a very mild 45 colt load. 250 grain cast is the bullet  I have  600-700
fps is what I am looking for  if possible.  Primer will be the win  for standard or mag  loads. I think its  the WLP.  I have read  trail boss and bulleyes will do this.  Will they ? Also what other powder ?
I may need to drop down to a lighter bullet. The old wrist complains for a week if I shoot loads in the
900-950fps range with the 250 grain bullet.

If this fails its back to the  38spl.

[dpe.ahoy]

Try some Hodgdon Tite-Group.  They list a starting load of 4.5gr. under 255gr. cowboy lead FP, up to 5.6gr.  It doesn't seem to be position sensitive and is good for a mild load, 700fps with the 4.5gr charge.  Trailboss, HP 38, Unique, Win 231 and Universal Clays all list starting loads down to 650fps in the 7th Edition Hornady Handbook.  DP

[Bart Solo]

I use 6.0 grains of HP-38 with a 200 grain bullet. Hodgdon's site says 5.9 grains of HP-38 generates a little more than 761 fps. If your wrist can't handle that load you need to find a doctor. The same published load is good for w231.  As to 250 cast bullets 5.8 of HP-38 or w231 generates about about 785 fps. Of course, your results will vary depending on barrel length. I would suggest you look for published cowboy loads at one of the powder companys regular sites.  Going below the minimum published load will result in low pressure symptoms.

If you want something really light how about 4.5 grains of IMR's Trail Boss pushing a 250 GR. CAST LRNFP. According to the Hodgdon website that load will generate a velocity of 606 fps at 8,800 CUP. 

[markp]

  I did in fact look up 45 colt cowboy loads after posting and  I expect trail boss may be the answer.

 Thanks Guys

 

[243dave]

I shoot a lever action 45colt and use titegroup for my reduced loads. I've used as little as 2 grains but I've settled on 3 grains, I'm a little afraid that only two grains will give me a stuck bullet in my trapper barrel. Of course loads like this is quiet as a 22rimfire(out of a rifle) and has no recoil. The reason I choose titegroup over trail boss is because trail boss is sold with only a half pound in a pound container but its still the same price as if it was a full pound. LOOK CLOSE AT HOW MUCH POWDER THERE IS IN A BOTTLE, ITS PROBABLY NOT AS MUCH AS YOU THINK. Trail boss is suppose to be a great powder but I happen to be really cheap !!!      Dave

[Bart Solo]

Dave, much lighter and you would be better off with a slingshot.  Seriously how do you obtain any accuracy at all with those loads.

[243dave]

Two grains wasn't much more than a slingshot, it penetrated a one inch piece of pine board and stuck into a phonebook at a distance of about 20ft(length of my garage). Three grains gave a good bit more penetration, it went through the one inch board and through a real thick phonebook. 5 grains was much more than I expected it went thru the board, 3 thick phonebooks and ended up somewhere in my bowtarget(my full blown loads with 300gr xtp mags and lots of h-110 will make it into the 6th phonebook). I made the 3gr loads for shooting squirrels in the middle of the day while deerhunting(and I also wanted to see how little of a charge I could use/experiment). Being quiet was my main priority, the accuracy hasn't been tested yet, as long as I can hit a can at 20 yds I'd be more than happy. Maybe I'll do that this week. LET ME ADD THAT THESE LOADS ARE WITH 250 GR CAST BULLETS(not jacketed !!) FIRED OUT OF A 94WIN TRAPPER WITH HODGDENS' TITEGROUP and I don't own a chrony so I don't know the velocity. I don't want anyone to follow my advice on loads, MAKE SURE YOU WORK YOUR LOADS DOWN, DON'T START THIS LOW, I'm trying to show what can be done with a fast burning powder like titegroup. According to Hodgdon....5grs of titegroup is a starting load at 716fps out of a 7.25in barrel with only 7,600 c.u.p. .....Yeah, my loads are light !!!    I imagine with a little load development Mark can get his colt to recoil less than most 38 special loads.    Dave

[j104wd]

I use 5gr of trailboss with 250gr lead bullets great plinking load.

[Castaway]

Have to jump in here.  I load 6.8 grains of Unique under a cast 255 bullet.  For me it's a tack driver in my Black Hawk as well as my Trapper.  Crony's 680 f/s in the pistol and 820 f/s in the carbine.  Very mild if you want to introduce it to a new shooter and also is a great turkey load.  For what's it's worth, if using a Lee disk kit, it's the 0.88 cc cavity.  A caution is indicated, use cast only.

[jager]

5.8gr of Trail Boss with a 255SWC gives a very consistent 720fps (+ - 10) out of a 7 1/2 BBL. It's pleasant to shoot and very accurate. The "makers" Do Not recommend the use of this powder with jacketed bullets!

[Masterblaster1]

My plinking load is six grains trailboss with a 200 grain lead combat/target bullet. Velocity is approx. 800 fps. Just uses more sight blade as it hits low.

[markp]

  I loaded 5.5 grains of trail boss behind a 250 grain cast. Velocity averge was 612 fps.
  I didnt load enough the first time to get a good look at  the accuracy.
  This of course was pleasantly mild and will do in even the toughest  pop can .

   
 
 happey trails

   
 

[zoner]

i've had good luck with 231 for light loads in 45 colt

[Autorim]

I vote for Trail Boss - I use 5.0 grains and 200 - 270 grain bullets. They all do well - point of impact is of course different. Trail Boss was developed especially for low velocity loads and to help prevent double charging due to it's bulk. I use Unique for medium power loads and a full dose of IMR4227 and 265 or 270 grain for full power loads.  I also load TB in .38 special, .44 mag and  .45AR. They all like it.

[Alan4620]

Dave
I am not too sure about you're light load choice,but my Speer #10 has a round ball load of 3.2 gr of Bullseye or Red dot for 553-568 FPS.So maybe you are sane after all.
I seem to remember trying this load a long time ago.Could not tell you if I even hit the ground with them or not.
As long as you can still count to ten with your shoes on you're allright!

Alan

[Steve P]

My plinking load is 8.0 grains of Unique with 255 cast bullet.   Very mild for me, but may not be mild enough for everyone that shoots cowboy.  I have heard that anywhere from 6.0-8.0 grains of Unique will still make good uniform loads. 

My Vacquero with the 8.0 grain load is very accurate.  Used this for my concealed carry gun for a long time.

Steve

[243dave]

Alan, just a couple days ago I shot some roundballs(around 140grs) thru my 45 lever with 3grs of titegroups. At a range of about 35ft the roundball wouldn't go thru a old truck hood, it left a good size dent but thats it. A slingshot would have done better without a doubt. While I appreciate a mild load these were a waste of lead and powder. They were also extremely dirty, not enough pressure to expand my brass causing cases to be covered with soot. Maybe I'll try 4grs next !!