Colt SAA .45 colt load recommendations

[IH460]

New to the site, happy to be here!

Finally getting to put my Lyman mold to work dropping some 255g Keith SWC. Currently have Hodgons Universal powder on hand and loading for a 3rd Gen Colt SAA. What should I be shooting for on this powder charge for a respectable load with the 255g? Planning to carry it in bear territory. Certainly not looking for hot rod loads given the 1873 frame.

[Barry54]

Welcome to the forum!

How much velocity difference between the starting load and the maximum load does your reloading manual show?
That boolit should penetrate well!

[Outpost75]

Good standard pressure loads for Colt SA are 7 grains of Bullseye or TiteGroup or 8 grains of Unique.

[hc18flyer]

The Hodgdon Powder site has data for a 250 grain lead bullet and Hodgdon Universal powder at Colt SAA pressures. 6.5 starting, 7.8 grains Maximum for 250 grain rnfp. Check it out, hc18flyer

[versa-06]

Welcome Aboard!!

[Barry54]

Post some pictures of your 460 sometime too. We like all things mechanical around here! Is it gas or diesel?

[IH460]

The closest my manual has to Universal is Unique, no data for Universal.

[IH460]

Thanks, I see their tool online now. Are these conservative numbers? I'm seeing a handful of recommendations for 8g to replicate original loads

[IH460]

I'll have to get some pictures of the 460, its a gas model, used to bale hay and plow tobacco with it. Pulls log splitter duty now and hoping to set it up on a belt drive buzz saw.

[IH460]

Welcome to the forum!

How much velocity difference between the starting load and the maximum load does your reloading manual show?
That boolit should penetrate well!

Seeing ~200 FPS spread on the Unique load data in my manual

[Barry54]

I’d shoot plenty of the starting loads and work up to max watching for anything funky. Check them for point of aim and point of impact. See if one charge vs another hits closer to the sights. That would be the load I’d want to use.

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your 460 when you get a round tuit!

[IH460]

I’d shoot plenty of the starting loads and work up to max watching for anything funky. Check them for point of aim and point of impact. See if one charge vs another hits closer to the sights. That would be the load I’d want to use.

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your 460 when you get a round tuit!

Any idea how close Unique data should be to Universal?

[Barry54]

Sorry. You clearly said Unique data. I didn’t pay attention when I answered.

They are a couple of grains off in this instance. I wouldn’t try to make any correlation for substitution regarding one in place of the other.

[IH460]

Sorry. You clearly said Unique data. I didn’t pay attention when I answered.

They are a couple of grains off in this instance. I wouldn’t try to make any correlation for substitution regarding one in place of the other.

Thanks, so looks like 7.8 for the Universal I have on hand will be the upper end of what I'd want to test.

[Barry54]

Do you have a chronograph? I assume you’re in the south from mentioning tobacco. Maybe someone close could help you out if you don’t have one.

[IH460]

Do you have a chronograph? I assume you’re in the south from mentioning tobacco. Maybe someone close could help you out if you don’t have one.

You would be correct, South indeed! I do have access to a Chronograph, if nobody has a verified load for a 4 3/4" Colt using 255g KSWC and Universal I'll likely just do a ladder starting with minimum and chronograph it. I was hoping somebody might have been down the same road and I could save some time and components.

[Barry54]

Don’t fall too much in love with Hodgdon UNIVERSAL Clays powder. Hopefully you have a sufficient supply for your needs. The story I heard is the equipment to make the “clays” powders broke down. They are so busy making other powder, the repairs are on hold indefinitely. Whatever the real story is, your stash is likely all you’ll get for a while.

[Tall]

Both Unique and Hodgdon Universal have been impossible to find lately. I find that I get best results from 45 Colt using a load of 6.5 grains of W231 (same as HP38) using a 250 grain powder coated SWC.

[veeman]

I've read that Universal is no more, discontinued. Try BE-86 or W244. Supposed to be near equivalent of Unique.

[IH460]

Don’t fall too much in love with Hodgdon UNIVERSAL Clays powder. Hopefully you have a sufficient supply for your needs. The story I heard is the equipment to make the “clays” powders broke down. They are so busy making other powder, the repairs are on hold indefinitely. Whatever the real story is, your stash is likely all you’ll get for a while.

I've heard the same for both Universal an Unique. I've got plenty of Universal for no more than I get to shoot and will likely move to W231 if I burn through the Universal.