The Lightest Charge...

[BCB]

...of HP-38 or Bullseye that could be used to put a 45-270-SAA (283 grains) boolit out of the barrel of a Blackhawk...

It seems that many fast-power loads for many handguns with cast boolits is in the 3 to 4 grains area...

I would like to stay in the 600 fps range...

Any thoughts?...

Thanks...BCB

[lathesmith]

BCB, I would try 3 grains of BE; I've never worked with HP38 so I can't comment on that. Be sure, of course, to use as near pure lead as you can get, and SOFT lube, like 50/50, not that hard waxy crayon stuff, which at these velocities and pressures would be like no lube at all.

If the barrel of your BH is longer than 5-6 inches, you probably better bump the charge up another .5 grain or so.

Good luck,
lathesmith

[runfiverun]

3.5-4 b-eye [5 was the standard mil-spec 45 acp load forever]and bout 4 of the 231, airc 5 works fairly well in the acp at 830-850 fps or so.
the larger case should slow you down some.

[RobS]

HP-38/231:
I would say 5.5-6.0 grains would get you about where you want. The 6.0 load will run you in the upper 600 fps and may break a bit over 700 fps.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Are you going to try to catch that slug in the air ?
I shoot alot of 44 Russian and got to playing with it and at about 500 fps you could watch it float on down to the 50 meter chichen.

[BCB]

Well, I start out using Bullseye and HP-38. These powders worked quit well with the 45-270-SAA boolit and the velocities appear below…

Bullseye
3.5…488 fps
4.0…562 fps
4.5…595 fps

HP-38
5.5…627 fps
6.0…662 fps
6.5…721 fps

All stayed in 1.5” at 50 feet. The top weights for each proved to be the most accurate. I shot 10 rounds of the 6.5 grains of H-38 and they stayed at 2.5” at 25 yards. That is about as good as I can do with the open sights on the Blackhawk…

As previously stated, my intention was less recoil as I bruised my hand shooting the full power house loads. No problems with recoil and these loads…

None of the upper loads are maximum so I think a person could easily get 800+ fps with HP-38…

My next experiment will be Train Boss which is on the way from Powder Valley…

Maybe a person doesn’t have to blow the heck out of things to still shoot and enjoy it!!!

BCB

[NSP64]

Maybe a person doesn’t have to blow the heck out of things to still shoot and enjoy it!!!

BCB

Here Here :drinks:

[9.3X62AL]

+1 to that!

I run the Mag revolvers a little harder than that, 850-900 FPS with standard-weight plain-base castings in 357/41/44. Genuine all-day recoil with them all, and quite accurate. Unique and Herco usually get the call for those tasks. 45 Colt with either 454190 or 454424 at 850-900 in the BisHawk is a delight also.

[StrawHat]

...Maybe a person doesn’t have to blow the heck out of things to still shoot and enjoy it!!!... BCB

Isn't that the truth. I used to load everything hot until I found that a 45 long Colt loaded with black powder out penetrated my super 44 Magnum. Granted, it took a couple of years but I figured it out that if the load did not kill me but still worked on the target, it was a good load! Now, I tend for black powder velocities even if I load smokeless.

It's nice to enjoy shooting again!