1873 Colt 45 BP - what would you get

[Cane_man]

I always wanted an old west style Colt 45 shot with black powder... not sure what to get, I want to cast and reload, and shoot with black powder.

What would you get?

This is just an idea to start:

Pistol - Uberti 1873 Cattleman
Dies - Lee 3 die set
Sizer - not sure what size is needed
Powder - 3F, usually try to shoot Goex or Schuetzen
Mould - have no clue, but want to shoot the most traditional old west style
Cases - not sure even where to get them, used is fine
Primer - do they use large pistol primers?

Anything else I am forgetting or you would recommend just list it here...

[bedbugbilly]

This is what I use - YNNV\\

Pistol - Uberti 7 1/2" Cattleman )also Uberti 1858 Reningtons with Howell conversion cylinders)
Dies - I use Lyman and also Lee
Sizer - I shoot mine as they drop from the mold 0 finger lube with my homemade BP lube
Powder - 3F Goex - have also used 2F Goex when I was out of 3F
Mold - Ideal/Lyman 452-190 RNFP or 454-190 RNFP - traditional 255 grain RNFP and Lee 452-200 - 200 grain RNFP - my Cattleman shoots both .452 and .454 equally well - check your cylinder throats
Brass - Starline and mixed head stamp range brass - I also load 45 Schofield - if you get Schofield brass, make sure your dies will load the shorter brass - I have a Lee die set for the Schofield - some other brands or 45 Colt dies may work fine for the Schofield brass
Primers - Large Pistol

With BP - make sure you use a compressed load (no air space). The 45 Colt is a fun and easy cartridge to load. I love my Uberti Cattleman - a great SAA. With shortages, put a WTB in the WTS section and somebody will probably have some. I cast mine with soft lead. When I shoot, I toss fired casings into a container of soapy water to keep BP fouling soft until I get home - then I deprive and wash em in my tumbler with ss pins to thoroughly clean and then lay them out to dry. Mixed range brass works fine for me. Have fun and enjoy - it will put a big smile on your face. Remember you can also use smokeless as well in the Cattleman - Unique, Red Dot, etc. Check a Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook for smokeless data. I like Red Dot in mine and it has proven to be an accurate load in my pistol.

[Cane_man]

Thanks you @bedbugbilly for the information, much appreciated.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Just throwing this out there for your consideration/information. Have you looked at one of these? 1873 style but BP only. Would eliminate your need for brass and dies, is otherwise much like any BP revolver.
DG

[jaguarxk120]

Remember the older 40 grain loading was used with the very old folder head
inside primed case's.
Today you will find that 35 grains is the most you can get in a solid head case.
At 35 grains and the 454190 bullet is a very powerful loading.

[Walks]

The revolver is a Good choice.
I prefer Lyman dies because of the M-Die. Steel sizer rather then a carbide sizer will work your brass less. An OLD Lyman .45Colt die set that is chrome plated is a great choice if you can find a used set at a GunShow; black carboard box. A .45ACP seater with a built in roll crimp will handle crimping and or seating bullets in a .45S&W Schofield case. Again a single used die from a Gun Show.
Lyman #454190 cast of 20/1 or softer is a good choice for alloy. if you have a dedicated Lube-Sizer for Black Powder lube then use SPG or Lyman Black Powder Lube. A .455 sizer die from Buffalo Arms will apply Lube and barely touch the bullet. Or you can just pan lube and shoot unsized. Cut the head off a .45-70 case, it makes a great tool to cut out pan lubed bullets.
I load 30grs of 3F in a Remington Case with a Magnum Large Pistol Primer. I used an Ox-Yoke Wonder Wad and crimped the #454190 on the Ogive.
Good Luck

[Cane_man]

Just throwing this out there for your consideration/information. Have you looked at one of these? 1873 style but BP only. Would eliminate your need for brass and dies, is otherwise much like any BP revolver.
DG

That is pretty cool, I have a Pietta 1860 Colt Army... I'm looking for the classic western gun with a colt 45 cartridge in black powder, make some gun smoke

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Well, I don't blame you at all. With a cartridge gun you can reload much more quickly than with the one in the photos. All black powder, though, so once you acquire that Cattleman, be sure to clean it well after each session.

DG

[Cane_man]

Thanks again fellas for the help, I think I'm on the right path now. Going to take a few months to acquire the tools and materials, then I'll get the gun later in the Summer.

Regarding cleaning a black powder firearm, I have two rifled muskets (original M1861 Springfield and a Pedersoli P53), so I'm familiar with what is required to clean it.

[Cane_man]

Remember the older 40 grain loading was used with the very old folder head
inside primed case's.
Today you will find that 35 grains is the most you can get in a solid head case.
At 35 grains and the 454190 bullet is a very powerful loading.

If I load 35gr with the 45190 will the powder be compressed enough so as to eliminate any air space?

[sharps4590]

If I load 35gr with the 45190 will the powder be compressed enough so as to eliminate any air space?

Absolutely!.

[scattershot]

Remember the older 40 grain loading was used with the very old folder head
inside primed case's.
Today you will find that 35 grains is the most you can get in a solid head case.
At 35 grains and the 454190 bullet is a very powerful loading.

I just loaded some .45 Colt ammo with a 250 grain bullet and 40 grains of fffG powder. It can be done in a modern case, but it is a highly compressed load. Shot well, no issues.


Your. Choice of the Uberti Cattleman is a good one.

[Butler Ford]

I just loaded some .45 Colt ammo with a 250 grain bullet and 40 grains of fffG powder. It can be done in a modern case, but it is a highly compressed load. Shot well, no issues.


Your. Choice of the Uberti Cattleman is a good one.

I will attest to the fact that is an awesome load for both pistol and rifle. Mini cannon that shoots well.

[Cane_man]

I ended up getting the Cimarron Frontier made by Pietta, got the 5.5" bbl, Pietta still makes their Colt clones with 4 clicks and that is something I wanted, Uberti is 3 clicks now.