45 LC with a 200 gr. bullet

[zacharoo]

I have 300 cast 200 grain .454 dia. 45 LC bullets. I would like to get some info for a good safe load for this bullet in my blackhawk. I have on hand HS6, HS7, Blue dot, Bullseye, 2400, and unique powders. I would like a load about 900 FPS. I have a 7 1/2 in. barrel.  All help appreciated.
Zacharoo

[PaulS]

I have 300 cast 200 grain .454 dia. 45 LC bullets. I would like to get some info for a good safe load for this bullet in my blackhawk. I have on hand HS6, HS7, Blue dot, Bullseye, 2400, and unique powders. I would like a load about 900 FPS. I have a 7 1/2 in. barrel.  All help appreciated.
Zacharoo

Speer lists the following maximum loads:
Unique: 9.5
HS-6: 12.2
Bullseye: 7.5
Blue dot is listed as unusable in 45 Colt by the manufacturer.
2400 is listed in loads hotter than 1000 fps
HS-7 is discontinued
The loads listed are maximum listed loads - You should start with loads 2 grains lighter and work up to find the accuracy load - Never exceed maximum listed loads and always check loads in a manual or two. Especially when you get them on the net.

[Lone Star]

Speer lists the following maximum loads...You should start with loads 2 grains lighter and work up to find the accuracy load...

Warning, this is potentially dangerous advice.  Speer warns in their .45LC data not to load their cast bullets lower than their minimum listed load, which in some cases is just ONE grain less than their maximum load. Their words: 
"...we emphatically recommend that you not load these bullets lighter."  They have a similar warning for their swaged lead bullets.

I am certain that the previous poster meant no harm, but to all reloaders - RTFM.

BlueDot is listed for many .45LC loads by Speer, Nosler, Lyman and Sierra.   


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[stimpylu32]

The rule of thumb is to reduce by 10% with most powders .

H110 / Win 296 should only be reduced by 3% .

While H4895 can be reduced by 40% and in some cases more .

stimpy

Thanks for the catch Lonestar 

[PaulS]

Speer lists the following maximum loads...You should start with loads 2 grains lighter and work up to find the accuracy load...

Warning, this is potentially dangerous advice.  Speer warns in their .45LC data not to load their cast bullets lower than their minimum listed load, which in some cases is just ONE grain less than their maximum load. Their words: 
"...we emphatically recommend that you not load these bullets lighter."  They have a similar warning for their swaged lead bullets.

I am certain that the previous poster meant no harm, but to all reloaders - RTFM.

BlueDot is listed for many .45LC loads by Speer, Nosler, Lyman and Sierra.   


.

First, I recommended checking the data in manuals  - not to take my word for anything.
Second, there is no such warning in my Speer manual for these loads. The listed starting loads are between 1.5 and 2 grains less for the listed loads.
Bluedot has had a warning released by the manufacturer to never use it in any 45 colt load. This I take very seriously. Please check with the powder manufacturer before using Bluedot in any 45 colt load. There must be a problem with consistant pressures if the factory publishes this kind of warning.

[billm08]

45 LC can be difficult to load and I have seen lots of people have problems with it.  The problem is that it is a low pressure (relative) round with a large case capacity.  The case was really designed for black powder loads.  Anytime you are loading less that max you must use extreme caution that the powder fills the case and that you do not encounter squib loads.  If you would like a nice shooting load with a 250 grain at about 800 FPS try Trail Boss powder.  It is all but as slow as black powder and it fill the cases to avoid squib problems.

[Lone Star]

Second, there is no such warning in my Speer manual for these loads.

The warnings (exactly as I quoted) are on page 979 of Speer #14.  If you do not have the newest manual, you are using obsolete data.  There must be a problem with consistant pressures if the manual publishes this kind of warning.

The listed starting loads are between 1.5 and 2 grains less for the listed loads.

The difference between the start load and max load for the following powders with the 200-grain bullet is just ONE grain: Red Dot, W231, Bulleye, GreenDot, SR7625 and 700X.  The others are one and one half grains.  None are two grains.

Bluedot has had a warning released by the manufacturer to never use it in any 45 colt load. This I take very seriously. Please check with the powder manufacturer before using Bluedot in any 45 colt load.

I did.  Here is what is on the Alliant site this morning:

"During the latest review Alliant Powder discovered that Alliant Powder's Blue DotŪ should not be used in the following applications:

- Blue DotŪ should NOT be used in the 357 Magnum load using the 125 grain projectile (Blue DotŪ recipes with heavier bullet weights as specified in Alliant Powders Reloading Guide are acceptable for use).
- Blue DotŪ should NOT be used in the 41 Magnum cartridge (all bullet weights)."

Nothing about the .45 LC that I could find on the Alliant site, except that BlueDot data for the .45 Colt is listed in the Reloaders Guide you can download from their site today. 

PaulS, all I'm trying to do is to insure no one gets into trouble, especially newer reloaders.  I have no axe to grind with you at all, just trying to get the facts straight.  If you find an Alliant warning about BD and the .45LC - please list it so we can all benefit.


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[PlacitasSlim]

One of the big problems with 45 Colt is SASS competitors loading so light that bullet won't exit the barrel. I was at a match recently where the shooters bullet would not make it the 15 feet to the steel target. I am sure that is one of the reasons the loading manuals warn so much about minimum loads.

[BigJakeJ1s]

One of the big problems with 45 Colt is SASS competitors loading so light that bullet won't exit the barrel. I was at a match recently where the shooters bullet would not make it the 15 feet to the steel target. I am sure that is one of the reasons the loading manuals warn so much about minimum loads.

That is not just a problem with 45 colt; it happens with some SASS shooters loading virtually any other cartridge too.

Andy

[PaulS]

Second, there is no such warning in my Speer manual for these loads.

The warnings (exactly as I quoted) are on page 979 of Speer #14.  If you do not have the newest manual, you are using obsolete data.  There must be a problem with consistant pressures if the manual publishes this kind of warning.

The listed starting loads are between 1.5 and 2 grains less for the listed loads.

The difference between the start load and max load for the following powders with the 200-grain bullet is just ONE grain: Red Dot, W231, Bulleye, GreenDot, SR7625 and 700X.  The others are one and one half grains.  None are two grains.

Bluedot has had a warning released by the manufacturer to never use it in any 45 colt load. This I take very seriously. Please check with the powder manufacturer before using Bluedot in any 45 colt load.

I did.  Here is what is on the Alliant site this morning:

"During the latest review Alliant Powder discovered that Alliant Powder's Blue DotŪ should not be used in the following applications:

- Blue DotŪ should NOT be used in the 357 Magnum load using the 125 grain projectile (Blue DotŪ recipes with heavier bullet weights as specified in Alliant Powders Reloading Guide are acceptable for use).
- Blue DotŪ should NOT be used in the 41 Magnum cartridge (all bullet weights)."

Nothing about the .45 LC that I could find on the Alliant site, except that BlueDot data for the .45 Colt is listed in the Reloaders Guide you can download from their site today. 

PaulS, all I'm trying to do is to insure no one gets into trouble, especially newer reloaders.  I have no axe to grind with you at all, just trying to get the facts straight.  If you find an Alliant warning about BD and the .45LC - please list it so we can all benefit.

I am not taking it as a personal attack - didn't even think about it really.
I agree completely with your point of view - safety is always the way to go.
I was working from memory with the Alliant powder warning and I should know better!
Although my experience has shown that the powders I listed (Unique, HS-6, and Bullseye) could be loaded below the starting loads listed I should have listed the actual listed starting loads.
My experiences with my guns may be completely different from that of others.
Always follow the instructions in the books - at least until you get a feel for what you are doing - and NEVER exceed the maximum listed loads.
Lone Star, I was not attacking you either - I did wrongly question the data you presented. Thank you for setting the record straight.

[zacharoo]

Will the pressure be that much higer being my bore is .452 and the bullets are .454 dia. ?
Zacharoo