45 Colt and Oddball Powders

[35 Whelen]

I picked up a NM Vaquero 45 Colt several months back and after what seems like a never ending string of tweaks, reaming's, lapping's and polishing's FINALLY got her to shoot straight and accurate. So with the shortage of "standard" powders, I've been working with some of the oddball powders I've picked up recently in an effort to save the standard powders.

First was one I found to be a super, almost grain-for-grain replacement for Unique- AL20/28.
Using an RCBS 45-255KT mould and ACWW netted a 262 gr. bullet.

7.5 grs of 20/28 gave 859 fps (e.s.-20)and the load was very accurate @ 50 yds. grouping around 6" from a sitting position.
8.0 grs. of 20/28 resulted in 887 fps (e.s.-25) but didn't seem to group quite as well.
8.5 grs. of 20/28 netted 957 fps (e.s.-33) and grouped well at 25 and 50 yds.\

Accurate #7, while not so much an oddball, is one you don't find much data for when it comes to the 45 Colt. Using a bullet out of a MiHec 45-270-RCBS (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?216940-MiHec-45-270-RCBS-Rerun-brass-two-or-four-cavity-HP-or-solid) mould and the "large" HP pin cast from 60/40 SOWW and lead (10 Bhn) resulted in a 283 gr. bullet. Loaded over AA#7 results:

13.0 grs.- 919 fps (e.s.-29) and grouped very well @ 50 yds. again from a sitting position
14.0 grs.- 986 fps (e.s.-24) likewise grouped well @ 50 yds. " " " "

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Ruger%20Vaquero/Vaquero50ydsedit_zps2a3b99b8.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Ruger%20Vaquero/Vaquero50ydsedit_zps2a3b99b8.jpg.html)

Tonight I tried a powder for which, to my knowledge, there is no published handgun data. Alliant Pro Reach. I'd tried this previously in a 357 and decided it burns similar to Herco. So going back to the RCBS 45-255KT mould and ACWW (262 grs.) this is what I recorded:

8.5 grs. Pro Reach- 830 fps (e.s.-42) Nice shooting load at 50 yds. and shoots to my (altered) sights :

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Ruger%20Vaquero/20140602_204406_zps712592b1.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Ruger%20Vaquero/20140602_204406_zps712592b1.jpg.html)

9.0 grs. Pro Reach- 900 fps (e.s.-31) for some reason this one didn't group well at all and I was only able to hi the 50 yd. target twice out of five times.

I expect to use the 8.5 gr. Pro Reach load for my day to day farting around in the pasture load and the 14.0 grs. of AAC-7 as my hunting load as my limited experience has shown no need for any more velocity for deer.

Here's a shot of the revolver and the Mihec bullet:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Ruger%20Vaquero/20140531_125951_zps9afc3bbb.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Ruger%20Vaquero/20140531_125951_zps9afc3bbb.jpg.html)

Until I saw this picture I didn't realize how worn the relatively new pistol is looking! My trigger finger has already worn the bluing off the frame above the trigger and carrying it in a holster several hours a week while I go on my evening walks on the ranch next door has already started wearing the bluing off the cylinder and frame. I believe they call that "character", don't they? :razz:

I'll update as I try different powders in the next few days/weeks.

35W

[Rick Hodges]

It looks just fine to me....good honest holster wear.
Thanks for the info on Accurate #7 I picked up a pound the other day for use with the RCBS 270 gr. swc.
Interesting results with the AL 20/28, I have seen this on the shelves. Does it burn cleaner than Unique? How does it meter?

[35 Whelen]

It looks just fine to me....good honest holster wear.
Thanks for the info on Accurate #7 I picked up a pound the other day for use with the RCBS 270 gr. swc.
Interesting results with the AL 20/28, I have seen this on the shelves. Does it burn cleaner than Unique? How does it meter?

Being slightly smaller flakes than Unique, it does meter better and yes, definitely burns a little cleaner.

35W

[warboar_21]

Thanks for the data. That is a very nice looking Pistol. Is that a Bisley hammer? Doesn't look like the factory Vaquero hammer. Have you ever tried any 2400 or H110/W296 loadings? Just curious because I am really looking at getting another Colt in non a Blackhawk frame. If I have to set aside brass and have a separate load I guess I can but I certainly like to keep things simple and shoot everything from all my guns. Maybe I am better off going with a Blackhawk.

[crawfobj]

Anyone using solo 1000? I have a bunch of it and easy access to more.

[DougGuy]

That's a darned fine looking sixgun you have there 35, I likes it! Give it a couple years and it will have the ULTIMATE look, and that would be the 1950s hollywood spaghetti western look!

warboar 2400 and H110 are most commonly used for the large frame Rugers, which have a 30,000psi pressure ceiling whereas the new model medium frame guns are only good for 23,000psi or the same as .45 ACP +P pressure. If you want to shoot the heavier loads, MAKE SURE the serial number has a TWO digit prefix, as that is one sure fire way to tell the two models apart. The medium frame guns have a THREE digit prefix.

The older pre-2007 Vaquero with two digit prefix is a large frame gun and will gladly handle those Ruger Only loads listed for the Blackhawk, Bisley, and Super Blackhawk. You can sometimes find them with the birdshead grip like the one in my avatar, this is my trail/belly gun and yes it is a friggin handful with those 300gr+ boolits and a case full of H110! I use 2400 and LilGun for reduced loads for deer hunting, savng the full house loads for hogs.

[DougGuy]

I wouldn't say Titegroup is an off the wall powder, but these days you never know what they will or will not have on the shelves.

Here are some starting loads which will work for the medium frame Rugers in .45 Colt caliber:

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb374/DougGuy/Reloading/HodgdonTitegroupTier2-45Colt_zps402d8093.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/DougGuy/media/Reloading/HodgdonTitegroupTier2-45Colt_zps402d8093.jpg.html)

[warboar_21]

That's a darned fine looking sixgun you have there 35, I likes it! Give it a couple years and it will have the ULTIMATE look, and that would be the 1950s hollywood spaghetti western look!

warboar 2400 and H110 are most commonly used for the large frame Rugers, which have a 30,000psi pressure ceiling whereas the new model medium frame guns are only good for 23,000psi or the same as .45 ACP +P pressure. If you want to shoot the heavier loads, MAKE SURE the serial number has a TWO digit prefix, as that is one sure fire way to tell the two models apart. The medium frame guns have a THREE digit prefix.

The older pre-2007 Vaquero with two digit prefix is a large frame gun and will gladly handle those Ruger Only loads listed for the Blackhawk, Bisley, and Super Blackhawk. You can sometimes find them with the birdshead grip like the one in my avatar, this is my trail/belly gun and yes it is a friggin handful with those 300gr+ boolits and a case full of H110! I use 2400 and LilGun for reduced loads for deer hunting, savng the full house loads for hogs.

Thank you DougGuy. If I could find that pistol in your avatar I would be one happy camper. That is exactly what I am looking for but they only offer it in the New Model Vaquero so this is why I am asking all these questions. I really like the look of the Birds Head grip and would like to add that to the collection. I guess I will have to search for an old model with that grip.

[35 Whelen]

Thanks for the data. That is a very nice looking Pistol. Is that a Bisley hammer? Doesn't look like the factory Vaquero hammer. Have you ever tried any 2400 or H110/W296 loadings? Just curious because I am really looking at getting another Colt in non a Blackhawk frame. If I have to set aside brass and have a separate load I guess I can but I certainly like to keep things simple and shoot everything from all my guns. Maybe I am better off going with a Blackhawk.

Thanks guys. Yes, that is a Bisley hammer that was laboriously fit to the Vaquero. I despised the factory hammer with its high spur.

I got a Vaquero because I wanted a 45 Colt that was the same frame size as an original Colt or a Uberti, but that would handle heavier loads.

35W

[DougGuy]

Thank you DougGuy. If I could find that pistol in your avatar I would be one happy camper. That is exactly what I am looking for but they only offer it in the New Model Vaquero so this is why I am asking all these questions. I really like the look of the Birds Head grip and would like to add that to the collection. I guess I will have to search for an old model with that grip.

MidwayUSA usually has the birdshead grip frame in stock in stainless and carbon steel. It is a genuine Ruger casting, but it is "in the white" and would need to be fitted and finished.

[BCB]

What is Pro Reach--never heard of it...

Thanks...BCB

[USSR]

Anyone using solo 1000? I have a bunch of it and easy access to more.

I have used 6.5gr of Solo 1000 with the Mihec .45-270 SAA and RCBS .45-255 bullets with success.

Don

[Cornbread]

Where I get powder there seems to be a lot of 4227, so I have been picking that up and started testing it tonight with 250gr cast boolits in 454 Casull. I really like it so far.

I checked hodgdonreloading.com and they have a number of Ruger only 45 Colt loads on there that don't seem to be too far off the reservation. Can you find lots of 4227 where you are at as well or is that not one you can get easily?

[35 Whelen]

What is Pro Reach--never heard of it...

Thanks...BCB

Pro Reach is, according to Alliant, A powder for 12 gauge and is geared towards long range clay shooting.

35W

[35 Whelen]

Had just a few minutes tonight to try a load in the Vaquero. One of my Dad's buddies gave me an old metal keg of (then) DuPont 700-X. not exactly an oddball powder for the 45 Colt, but I'd say there's 7 or 8 lbs. in it, so I was wanting to find a good utility/everyday practice load. I tried 6.5 grs. which is a tad over max, but didn't figure it'd be a big deal in the Vaquero. Boy does this one shoot!

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/Ruger%20Vaquero/Vaquero50yds700-Xedit_zps0df89563.jpg (http://s60.photobucket.com/user/308Scout/media/Ruger%20Vaquero/Vaquero50yds700-Xedit_zps0df89563.jpg.html)

4" group, shoots practically to the sights, what more could a fella want?? I fully intend to cast a gob more of those bullets and load a few hundred rounds so I can shoot at-will. I half-way tried the load at the 100 yd. target and had three in about 6", but I wasn't trying very hard. I'll definitely try this load at that range again.

Stay tuned for more....

35W

[35 Whelen]

Where I get powder there seems to be a lot of 4227, so I have been picking that up and started testing it tonight with 250gr cast boolits in 454 Casull. I really like it so far.

I checked hodgdonreloading.com and they have a number of Ruger only 45 Colt loads on there that don't seem to be too far off the reservation. Can you find lots of 4227 where you are at as well or is that not one you can get easily?

I actually have some 4227 and toyed with the idea of trying some in both my .44 Special and 45 Colt, but DANG it takes a lot of it to achieve velocities that can be achieved with about half as much Unique, etc. What I WILL do with the 4227 though, is load it for use in my Uberti 1873 where its potential can be fully realized in the 20" barrel.

35W

[Hardcast416taylor]

You should try the old duplication load of using 6 gr. of Red Dot to equal the old original factory Colt load.Robert

[Cornbread]

I actually have some 4227 and toyed with the idea of trying some in both my .44 Special and 45 Colt, but DANG it takes a lot of it to achieve velocities that can be achieved with about half as much Unique, etc. What I WILL do with the 4227 though, is load it for use in my Uberti 1873 where its potential can be fully realized in the 20" barrel.

35W

Yep, I agree but in the last 12 months I have found exactly 1lb of Unique and that I had to trade somebody 500 rounds of 22lr to get. But 4227 I can get a bunch of, so until we start getting decent pistol powders again I'm stuck using the only 2 I can get which are H110 and 4227. I like the H110 but WOW does that smack the hand even with a 250gr bullet and you can't download the stuff. The 4227 I can get it down around 1,100 - 1,300fps in the Casull which makes a very pleasant plinking round. The H110 with the starting load comes out at 1750fps which for me is a world of difference in felt recoil, especially if I am shooting my snub nose 454. It's not horrific out of my 6.5" but the 4227 loads out of that same gun are a "shoot all day" kind of load, where as the H110 ones are a "give to your friend to shoot and watch him hit himself with the gun" kind of loads.

[smkummer]

I would NOT put a birdshead grip frame on the gun. If I changed it at all, it would be a bisley grip frame for more pleasurable shooting. I have an original Colt bisley 38-40 with a 4 3/4 barrel. The load of 8.5 grains unique and the 180 grain lead bullet is very comfortable with the bisley grip frame.

[doc1876]

I have one of the early Uberti Thunderers with a birds head grip, 3 1/2 in bbl, and I love it for conceal carry. the thing just disappears, and it is real comfortable to shoot. I do not target shoot with it, so I guess it might be an issue after 50 or so rounds, but that is not what I got it for.
I am thinking of getting a couple of ss Rugers for a special holster I have, and birds heads might just look right in it. I just can't decide if I want to go Ruger ss or Uberti nickel. so thanks for the info on the on Midway.

[35 Whelen]

As noted in a previous post, I'd tried 9.0 grs. of Pro Reach under the RCBS 45-255 bullet but accuracy was no bueno. This evening I tried the same load with the 283 SWCHP bullet out of the MP mould at 50 yds. As is typical with my first shot of the day, the first shot was errant. However, the last four went in to a group spanning no more than 3"! I didn't take time to chronograph it as I was leaving for my evening jaunt on the ranch next door, but velocity should be in the 900 fps range, maybe a shade under.
I'm really liking Pro Reach and it appears to be available when other Alliant powders are not.

35W