Which powder should I try next for .45 colt?

[Chili Pepper Kid, SASS #60463]

Howdy. The Trail Boss powder is gone here at the homestead. I've been trying Shooters World Clean Shot but really don't like it (5.2 gr with 200gr bullet it's really dirty). I live near a Bass Pro and Sportsman Warehouse so I thought I would shop for something else. Historically I started with Tite Group but the recoil was too sharp and then tried Clays but I was being told the cold Iowa spring & fall temperatures would be troublesome. I never had any problems though. When Trail Boss came out I switched. I haven't seen Clays at the stores but Tite Group is always there. I think about trying Tite Group again. I was a beginner in loading back then and I was always loaded towards the middle or top of data. Now I start low and work up.

 

What's your advice on next powder to try? What do y'all shoot?

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

I use Titegroup for both 45 Colt an 44-40.  Usually a couple or three tenths above the minimum load.    I also have used HP 38 successfully.

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

Sportsmans Warehouse is selling American Select for ~$20/lb.  That is about what I paid twenty years ago for that powder.  Alliant lists CAS loads for American Select.  It burns really clean in my 38 Specials.  Consider SW's American Select.  (There are many smokeless powders that will meet your needs.)

 

[Sam Sackett]

I use Red Dot. Between 4.5 to 5.5 grains. Really like the 4.5 200 load. Haven’t shot that in cold weather, so can’t say if it’s temp sensitive or not. Others may know. 
Have also used 4.5 to 5.0 of Bullseye. Decent load. 
 

Sam Sackett 

[Dantankerous]

The bestest is APP FFg but if you don't want a BP sub try Unique. Dirty like TB, but good stuff.

 

I really like the VV Tin Star too for a smokeless but I might be the only one on the Earth who does.

 

 

[Jackalope]

32-33 grains of Goex FFGg and a 255 grain bullet seems to get it done.   

 

Your mileage may vary.

 

Jackalope

[Yul Lose]

4.0 grains of Red Dot work well for me.

[Griff]

Either 2F or 3F Swiss is great!  That heathen smokeless is but a passing fad.  Smoke obscured targets are a spotter's bane!   3F APP if you HAVE to substitute something for the black.

 

When I show up for a WB match I do so with 45 Colt, 6.0 grains of RedDot, a 200 grain RFN for a good margin over minimum PF.  (But don't tell my cowboy pards, ok)?

[Chief Rick]

I'm currently shooting 5.8 gr TiteGroup over a 180 gr RNFP.

[SHOOTIN FOX]

4 grains of promo or red dot. Both in stock at powder valley. Same powder, promo is a little denser so load by weight.

[Choctaw Jack]

Win 231 or HP 38(same powder)

I shoot 5.8 grains under a 200 grain powder coated bullet.

This is my rifle load, so it may be a little stout for pistols, but I have shot a lot of this powder through my pistols.

Unfortunately I don't remember what the specific load was.

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Use Clay Dot, if you can't, then Red Dot or American Select.  All are very reliable in cold weather with any thing but mouse fart loads. 

 

I use WST and shoot considerably above mouse fart loads, but in .45 Colt it is VERY accurate as it meters so well.

 

good luck, GJ

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Red Dot is good.   Red Dot is hard to find where I am.   Seems to be as scarce as Trail Boss.

HP-38/Win231 can be found, (They are the same powder) and it works....

But if you you a minimum load, it is VERY light.   Too light.   That's with 5.9 grains and a 200 grain bullet.  Max load is 8.0.   I went up to 6.5.   That was much more respectable, while still be mild.   

BUT...   You do not want to double charge even a min load of this powder.  You'll have this happen...



Or this....



If your lucky, the friends using your guns and ammo will not be hurt and you'll be able to laugh about it the next day.   But you'd rather it not happen at all...

I also noticed with this powder, even when up to the 6.5 grains, I had a lot of unburnt powder.   Even thought I've got a lot of the stuff, I wanna try something else.   I've read that Green Dot can be useful, and I do have some, but have not tried it yet.   That'll prolly be my next test.   

 

 

[watab kid]

i us red dot and clays here in MN north of you there in iowa with no issues , but i stop shooting when it gets below freezing these days 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

If I said it once I have said it a Thousand times.

You can load just about anything with Unique. 

Rooster 

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

shoot 5.2 grains A2 with 200 and 250 rnfp

[Montana Mike]

I started reloading 45 Colt and 12ga for this game using Clays. I loved it, but it has become unobtanium just like Trail Boss.

 

Tried Clean Shot and dropped it for the reason you mentioned.

 

I gave Ramshot Competition a try and that is what I am currently using. I have loaded a few pounds of it now and am happy with it.

[Go West]

5.0 gr. of Titegroup and 185 gr. poly coat bullet.

[Abilene, SASS # 27489]

I loaded 4.6gr Clays with a 200gr bullet (Hodgdon minimum).  I was happy with it, brass was pretty clean and fell out of the cylinders.  I've about run out of those, so I will start using the same amount of Clay-Dot when I load more.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Unique or WW231/HP-38 work well and meter great from any powder measure. 

Use firm roll-crimp. 

[Scarlett]

21 hours ago, Chili Pepper Kid, SASS #60463 said:

Howdy. The Trail Boss powder is gone here at the homestead. I've been trying Shooters World Clean Shot but really don't like it (5.2 gr with 200gr bullet it's really dirty). I live near a Bass Pro and Sportsman Warehouse so I thought I would shop for something else. Historically I started with Tite Group but the recoil was too sharp and then tried Clays but I was being told the cold Iowa spring & fall temperatures would be troublesome. I never had any problems though. When Trail Boss came out I switched. I haven't seen Clays at the stores but Tite Group is always there. I think about trying Tite Group again. I was a beginner in loading back then and I was always loaded towards the middle or top of data. Now I start low and work up.

 

What's your advice on next powder to try? What do y'all shoot?

I wouldn’t use that much Clean Shot… I’d try 4.5gr. It does leave residue - looks a little like grits - you can easily wipe/blow it off.  
 

Let me know if I can be of

assistance - especially since I probably sold you the Clean Shot! 

 

Hugs!

Scarlett
 

 

[Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485]

I've used 700x with good results.

[Ya Big Tree]

As others have said, Clay Dot loaded the same as Clays.

 

[Oak Ridge Regulator]

MOST powders loaded to the lower end in 45 colt tend to be kind of dirty. I have used clays, red dot and 231, they all work, I just did a test run on shooters world Ultimate Pistol with 200 grain bullets, metered the best of anything I have used, very low recoil and soft audio report, dirty but a non gummy soot that dident gum up my guns and cleaned well so I am going to try it a bit more and see how I like it 

[Mister Badly]

On 9/3/2023 at 7:11 PM, Jackalope said:

32-33 grains of Goex FFGg and a 255 grain bullet seems to get it done.   

 

Your mileage may vary.

 

Jackalope

Way to keep it simple Jackalope. Lol.

[Major Hazzard, SASS #23254]

On 9/4/2023 at 11:24 AM, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Unique or WW231/HP-38 work well and meter great from any powder measure. 

Use firm roll-crimp. 

This is my recommendation as well.  All three are legendary for cast bullets in .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .38 Special or .357 Magnum.  

[DeaconKC]

I use Unique in my 45 Colt loads.

[Ranger Dan]

4.5 gr of titegroup or cleanshot any bullet weight in 44-40 or .45 colt. Cleanshot meters better.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

6 hours ago, Major Hazzard, SASS #23254 said:

This is my recommendation as well.  All three are legendary for cast bullets in .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .38 Special or .357 Magnum.  

And, .44 caliber 

[Jefro, SASS#69420]

Red Dot 4.8

[Star Shooter]

Chili - Best thing I ever did for recoil was switch to 160gr bullets for the pistols...I load 5.5 grns TiteGroup powder behind it and the recoil is MUCH better than the 200 grn bullets and 6 grns.

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

Have used 5.2 grains A2 with 200 and 255 gain projos for years. A double or even triple charge will fit easily in case and turn pistol into  hand grenade. I batch charge 50 rounds at a time into loading block visually inspect all 50 checking for power and proper level of powder before seating bullets 

[Rye Miles #13621]

3.6 grs of TiteGroup for .38 spl

5.4 for .44-40 and .45 Colt is what

I’ve used.
I’m just loading.38’s now.

[ORNERY OAF]

On 9/3/2023 at 8:45 PM, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Or this....



If your lucky, the friends using your guns and ammo will not be hurt and you'll be able to laugh about it the next day.   But you'd 

 

 

This will not happen with a full dose of the Holy Black!!!!

[Painted Mohawk SASS 77785]

I think I've used every powder known to man in the last 2 years as pistol/ shotgun powder is just 'NOT available down -under...I scrounge it where ever I can..trap shooting uses most of it as I still have plenty of reloading supplies.

My go to load for .45 is 4.5g Clays under a 160g in a schofield case.