Author Topic: Cowboy Load for .45Colt (Read 936 times)

hylander · « **on:** March 06, 2005, 06:03:31 PM »

Well I got my first Cowboy Gun. I pick it up in 10 day's.
Vaquero SS .45Colt 5.5"

I will hand load for this thing so I need a starting place.
What is a good Accurate load for the .45
Please be specific: Bullet, Powder and charge, Primer.
Not new to loading, just new to the .45Colt

Peddler Parsons · « **Reply #1 on:** March 07, 2005, 03:31:17 AM »

Full case BP 1/4" from top and a 250 grain bullet with magnum large rifle primers and tight crimp. Good shooting !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #2 on:** March 07, 2005, 08:36:43 AM »

I use a 200 gr RNFP Lee cast bullet, 4.4 gr of Bullseye or Red Dot, Winchester primer.
More accurate than me... :grin:

ÇR

Duck of Death · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2005, 10:35:18 AM »

I shoot 4gr of Tight Group a case full of grits and a 200gr dead soft lead bullet. It's accurate clean and no blow back.

hylander · « **Reply #4 on:** March 07, 2005, 01:22:49 PM »

I don't like the I'dea of Black Powder in my Vaquero.
Don't want the clean-up, I know what a Wuss :oops:
But I may try some of my 777, Of coarse you don't get the
big smoke affect.
Is it nessasary to use a filler, and how about corn meal, or cotten ball.
Also do you guy's cast your own or buy, if you buy bullets, wher is a good place to get them and what brand.
One more: what is a dead soft bullet :?
I know: new guy don't know's squat, but if I don't ask I'll have to learn the hard way.

Cheyenne Ranger · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2005, 02:08:22 AM »

As to bullets I cast my own and for 2 4 other shooters as well. Figure I can reload one cartridge for about 3 cents each. 'Course it does take some $$ to get set up in casting plus the time and source of Pb (lead--who says chemistry was a total waste?)

A dead soft bullet is one of pure lead. There is a concern that these will increase leading in your RV barrels. A bit of Tin and Antimony will help with the casting and they make the bullets a bit harder. As long as you're not using the super hard ones you will be OK.

While not an expert abut BP you will need to remove any air space in your cases, otherwise they blow up rather than good off. I've heard of corn meal, grits, just about anything that will fill up the case. You do need to have a bit of compressiion when you seat the bullets--helps remove the air space. I'm totally guessing but I would think cotton wouldn't be able to be compressed enough to do the job.

Here is a great site that will answer many of your questions: http://www.curtrich.com/cowboyphotos.html He shoots BO so he has a lot of answers for your questions.

Don't worry about asking too many questions--that's what this forum is for.

ÇR

Yukon Gold · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2005, 04:03:50 AM »

Duck of Death Wrote

Quote

I shoot 4gr of Tight Group a case full of grits and a 200gr dead soft lead bullet.

Agree with him fully. Last year tried several powders and found TG to shoot the cleanest and best group for a light load.

toecutter · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2005, 07:06:04 AM »

I had not used bullseye before but chose it for the .45 rifle and pistol cartridges. I shoot 5.2 grains under a 230 gr RN. It was my first guess at a load and it shoots point of aim in the pistol and rifle so i can't complain. I will try 5.0 just to see if I can reduce the recoil and squeeze a little more time off my pistol stages. Good luck!

Big John Wyatt · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2005, 01:35:33 PM »

Check the Hodgdon website. Look under cowboy loads.
But I like the Peddlars recipe.
And by the way, Triple 7 is no easier or harder to clean than the real thing... :wink:

hylander · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2005, 02:02:53 PM »

Big John

:
No disrespect but I have to disagree on the clean up with 777.
It is about all I use anymore for my BP Rifle and Revolvers.
After shooting a couple of cylinder's full of BP I have to clean my revolver cylinders front and rear or they start to get sticky, not so with 777.
Also clean up is no more work than smokeless powder, does not require the disasemble of the gun and all the water cleaning,
Wipe that puppy down, clean the cylinders like a smokeless and she is good to go.
Also I can let them sit a couple of day's if need be without cleaning and don't have to worry about rust starting, But I do clean them after every shooting session anyway like all my guns.
Also with my 50 cal. Lyman with 70gr. and a RB I get well over 300 fps more out of 777. and Accuracy is better.
I love 777
But as I said before no big smoke cloud, which I kinda like coming
out of BP Gun

.
Again thank's for everyones help, I think I'm going to like my Vaquero in .45
Any other help is always appreciated.