Powder for moderate 45 colt loads……

[Rick James]

Guys - looking for advice on powder for some moderate 45 loads in a Bisley 5.5" Blackhawk. I'm planning on shooting a 270gr Penn Bullet Thunderhead, and I'm anticipating anything from 900-1200fps will do fine based on what shoots best out of my gun. I'm planning to hunt whitetails and may have a small chance at an up to 300lb bear in the Adirondacks at distances of up to 50ish yards.

I want to keep the gun shootable as this is my first hunting revolver. From what I've seen H110 and Lil'gun tend to do better with much hotter loads, and not sure what I should plan on for these mid range loads. Any thoughts on a powder that does well with these types of midrange loads?

 

[Sagebrush Burns]

Unique works well in the range you're looking at.

 

[Arctos]

You could also look at HS-6.

Here's some good info from Linebaugh's site: http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

 

[eric conrad]

Rick, welcome to the forum. Take a look here. www.reloadammo.com
Eric

 

[Rclark]

Here ya go.... Brian Pearce .45 Colt PDF

 

[SargeMO]

You could also look at HS-6.

Here's some good info from Linebaugh's site: http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

Indeed. I use John's 13.0 grain of HS-6 load under a 255 SWC or 250 XTP for about 1050 fps and excellent accuracy, with either bullet.

 

[63November]

I use about 6 grains of Red Dot after reading of the load in a Brian Pearce article years ago. He (and I) use that volume with a slightly lighter 255 grain bullet. W231 is another 'moderate' powder I like. For excellent 'strong' load results without using the H110/W296 powders (which I like well too), I also like IMR's 800-X. It produces some very consistent accuracy out yonder.

 

[BCB]

I have presently used 22 different powders in my 45 Colt Blackhawk…

And I have used Unique as has been recommended. It is a good one to start with, but there are many powders better…

Still you probably won’t go wrong with Unique…

Good-luck…BCB

 

[Rainman]

Rick James:
Unique has been a "best choice" for moderate loads in just about everything for many years but it has a drawback of being dirty. I have found Universal will do the same job with a lot less soot. I rarely use Unique anymore except for my 44 Special "Skeeter" load.

Welcome to the Forum. A lot of nice folks willing to share info about our favorite guns.
Dan

 

[David Bradshaw]

Rick James... In search of "moderate" .45 Colt loads----in your 5-1/2" Blackhawk----in pursuit of whitetail, with capability for a 300 lb. blackbear... with a cast 270 grain bullet at "900 to 1200 fps"... it is important to note that, while 900 fps falls within "moderate," 1200 fps steps into the "full house" zone. In power, recoil, and pressure, there is a tremendous difference between 900 and 1200 fps.

900 fps is safely achieved with some of your respondent's powder suggestions. 1200 fps brings H110 and Win 296 (H110 is 296) into the room. 2400 and 4227 are available for duty as well.

While both are thin skin, a whitetail and a 300# black bear are very different animals. Either is much tougher when he knows you're there. The hide of the bear is much more elastic, and there is more fat to gather a bullet and seal the hole(s). With a non-expanding bullet, without incapacitating the nervous system or breaking shoulders, a bear may run forever with nary a readable track or drop of blood.

In territory similar to your Adirondacks, I prefer a good hollow point, which has more forgiveness on a lung shot. My Ruger 03----.45 Colt 5-1/2"----tends to carry the Sierra 240 JHC over 27 gr./H110 (296), for 1300 fps; or Nosler 250 JHP over 26/H110 (296), 1150 fps. (Cylinder gap .003".)

Whatever you load, cut bear and deer silhouettes from large cardboard and practice like fury. Plain brown cardboard, no dots or scoring rings. Remember each time you squeeze, that while your mind sees a specific impact point on the body, your eye is glued to the front sight. Each shot is the only one you have.
David Bradshaw

 

[Rclark]

A new good book on big bores and hunting (bullet performance) is "Big Bore Revolvers" by Max Prasac. . Just a heads up. No loads in the book just good information :) . The .45 Colt is of course covered in this book.

 

[WESHOOT2]

Guys - looking for advice on powder for some moderate 45 loads in a Bisley 5.5" Blackhawk. I'm planning on shooting a 270gr Penn Bullet Thunderhead, and I'm anticipating anything from 900-1200fps will do fine based on what shoots best out of my gun. I'm planning to hunt whitetails and may have a small chance at an up to 300lb bear in the Adirondacks at distances of up to 50ish yards.

I want to keep the gun shootable as this is my first hunting revolver. From what I've seen H110 and Lil'gun tend to do better with much hotter loads, and not sure what I should plan on for these mid range loads. Any thoughts on a powder that does well with these types of midrange loads?

If you look on the Penn site I did a write-up for Mr. P on the Thunderhead complete with load data.

Look under "Customer Comments" and open "Penn Bullets discussion on 1911 Forum".

(Suggest HS6)

 

[bigboredad]

HS-6 Is a great powder another one I have just started using and really like is long shot

 

[trapperon]

for normal to mid-range loads with the 45 colt, my vote also goes for unique. I know there are probably better, cleaner and more efficient powders on the market these days but I appreciate the nostalgia of unique--sort of goes hand in hand with the classic 45.

for the heavy ruger only stuff, I go with 296.

Ron

 

[Rick James]

Guys - looking for advice on powder for some moderate 45 loads in a Bisley 5.5" Blackhawk. I'm planning on shooting a 270gr Penn Bullet Thunderhead, and I'm anticipating anything from 900-1200fps will do fine based on what shoots best out of my gun. I'm planning to hunt whitetails and may have a small chance at an up to 300lb bear in the Adirondacks at distances of up to 50ish yards.

I want to keep the gun shootable as this is my first hunting revolver. From what I've seen H110 and Lil'gun tend to do better with much hotter loads, and not sure what I should plan on for these mid range loads. Any thoughts on a powder that does well with these types of midrange loads?

If you look on the Penn site I did a write-up for Mr. P on the Thunderhead complete with load data.

Look under "Customer Comments" and open "Penn Bullets discussion on 1911 Forum".

(Suggest HS6)

Thanks, great info there......I had already found that load data online but good to meet the guy that provided it.

Thanks everyone else as well. Looks like I'll be trying HS-6. I think this stuff should be plenty for what I'm looking to do with this gun.

 

[G2]

Power Pistol has replaced Unique on my shelf. I really like the stuff... with the bullet mentioned start at 9gr and work up. Mine likes 10.1gr/ Winchester Primer.

 

[Rclark]

Looks like I'll be trying HS-6

FWIW,

I only ran one test with HS-6 and is was the 13g load. Marked as accurate.

BH .45 Colt 5 1/2" barrel

13.0g HS-6, 255g SWC, CCI-300, 1116fps, 24 SD, 96 ES (29 shots)
13.0g HS-6, 255g SWC, CCI-350, 1139fps, 17 SD, 52 ES (28 shots)

 

[7mmb]

For moderate 45 Colt loads I've been turning to Universal lately. It fills the same niche as Unique but meters better and is much, much cleaner. The only place that Unique is better than Universal, I think, is the availability of data. Anyone that publishes loading data for handguns includes Unique.

 

[kelbro]

The 13gr HS6 load really works well with a Winchester LP primer and 250gr lead 454424 in my Blackhawk. Authoritative load but not hard to handle.