Powder

[Kenny the kid]

What's the best powder to use for .45 colt in an 1872 open top?

[Sedalia Dave]

There is no one best smokeless powder. 

 

First what bullet weight are you using?

 

Second what powders are available? Right now a lot of smokeless powders are unavailable.

 

IMNSHO the best powder would be a full case of ffg Swiss compressed about 1/8"

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

What are you using for your current .45 Colt cowboy reloads?   Most likely that will be appropriate for the open tops, as well.

 

good luck, GJ

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Unique if you can find it.

WW231/HP38(same powder)works very well.

Start at the middle of the load range and use a firm roll-crimp. 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Original Lumpy Gritz beat me to it

Unique  ! 

Enough Said  lol 

Rooster 

[Dapper Dave]

The Holy Black would be appropriate. 🤠

[Sedalia Dave]

10 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Unique if you can find it.

WW231/HP38(same powder)works very well.

Start at the middle of the load range and use a firm roll-crimp. 

 

9 hours ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

Original Lumpy Gritz beat me to it

Unique  ! 

Enough Said  lol 

Rooster 

 

We get that you guys like Unique. Now where does a new shooter find this wonder powder? I haven't seen any Unique for sale in over 2 years.

[Still hand Bill]

54 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

 

 

We get that you guys like Unique. Now where does a new shooter find this wonder powder? I haven't seen any Unique for sale in over 2 years.

I found an 8lb keg off the last run.   Within the last few years.  Should be set for a long time.  Unfortunately powder seems to be one of those grab it when you can things.  Ammo seek can be a helpful tool.  

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

1 hour ago, Sedalia Dave said:

 

 

We get that you guys like Unique. Now where does a new shooter find this wonder powder? I haven't seen any Unique for sale in over 2 years.

I bought 3, 8lb jugs of it back in 2019. 

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

Yeah, sometimes our old hands around here forget how hard NOW it is to get some of the powders they recommend!

 

For a powder that will work in .45 Colt light loads, and is available, TiteGroup is hard to beat.   Other than the fact it smokes up (lays down soot) cases a little more than most powders, especially the .45 Colt case which is very thick walled and rarely seals up the chamber really well with light cowboy type loads.   

 

good luck, GJ

[Rattlesnake Slim]

I shoot APP, but I have found the Shooters World Clean Shot that Scarlett sells to work very well in .38, .45 Colt, and .45 Auto for SASS shooting. Scarlett has some very good cowboy-tested loading info for it on her website, Bullets by Scarlett.

[Highfalutin Hunter]

Can't attest to the best! But I've had very good luck with N320, Clean Shot, and Red Dot in .45 Colt and Cowboy45Special. Red Dot has been my go-to, but it's gotten nearly impossible to find. Clean Shot feels almost identical to Red Dot in my opinion, though it does leave behind some small yellow flakes, kind of looks like grits. Recently, I’ve been using N320 by Vihtavuori and have really liked it. It seems to be a little cleaner than the others, but it’s still early, lol. I'm using a 160 grain bullet for both pistol and rifle. Please feel free to shoot me a message! I'd be happy to help in any way I can.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I shoot a lot of APP also .

I have not had to buy Unique in several years .

I still have 8 pnds of it in my stash. 

If you can find Unique or Universal. 

They are almost the same .

I use them load for load on everything I load .

Them two are my go too smokeless powder choices. 

Rooster 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Personally, I don't shoot Smokeless anymore.  When I did, my "Go-To" powder was Tight Group.  Don't care what powder you use, with 45 Colt cases yule get Blow By.  The case just will not expand to seal the chamber.  My current choice is APP.  I suggest either 160Gr Or 185Gr bullets.  Regardless, you WILL be fighting Blow By.  The only effective way to eliminate Blow By in rifles is o anneal the cases.  I do NOT however recommend annealing pistol cases.  Annealed cases in pistol can be very hard to eject.

 

Consistent suggesting a powder, such as Unique, that hasn't been readily available for several years is silly.  Try suggesting something someone can get. 

[Idaho Gunslinger]

12 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

I bought 3, 8lb jugs of it back in 2019. 

Do you know how long ago 2019 was?! 

 

I would recommend new shooters try out Titegroup. It is still readily available and probably the lowest price per pound of what's available.

[Major Crimes]

Now that there are enough serious answers.

 

 

Trail Boss!

 

[Dapper Dave]

Oi weh, here we go...