Power Pistol and the 45 Colt

[PurpleMountain]

I just picked up some power pistol at the lgs the other day. I'm looking to load some 200 gr rnfp hardcast for my ruger old vaquero. I haven't found any data, but I looked at ramshot silhouette which has a similar burn rate, and they recommend 13.6 gr for about 1086 fps. I was thinking I would start at 12.5 gr.

Anyone have any experience with this powder for the 45 colt?

 

[FOTIS]

Here you go of course thegun being aruger and all you can disregard the "dangerous load" portion. Although I am thinking 1000 fps would be more than enough for cast bullets

Cartridge          : .45 Colt (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .451, 200, HP Rainier
Useable Case Capaci: 31.658 grain H2O = 2.056 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.580 inch = 40.13 mm
Barrel Length      : 6.0 inch = 152.4 mm
Powder             : Alliant POWER PISTOL

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   41     9.60    917     373    9159   3570     72.2    0.936
-18.0   42     9.84    937     390    9586   3709     73.3    0.918
-16.0   44    10.08    957     407   10027   3849     74.3    0.901
-14.0   45    10.32    977     424   10481   3990     75.4    0.884
-12.0   46    10.56    997     442   10949   4131     76.4    0.868
-10.0   47    10.80   1017     460   11431   4274     77.4    0.853
-08.0   48    11.04   1037     478   11927   4417     78.4    0.838  ! Near Maximum !
-06.0   49    11.28   1057     496   12437   4561     79.4    0.820  ! Near Maximum !
-04.0   50    11.52   1077     515   12961   4704     80.3    0.803  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   51    11.76   1097     534   13500   4849     81.3    0.786  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0   52    12.00   1117     554   14053   4993     82.2    0.770  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0   53    12.24   1137     574   14622   5138     83.0    0.755  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0   54    12.48   1156     594   15206   5282     83.9    0.740  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0   55    12.72   1176     614   15805   5426     84.7    0.725  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0   56    12.96   1195     634   16419   5571     85.5    0.712  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0   57    13.20   1215     655   17049   5714     86.3    0.698  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     52    12.00   1185     624   16285   5375     89.4    0.715  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     52    12.00   1039     480   11904   4496     73.3    0.839  ! Near Maximum !

 

[DrMike]

Welcome aboard, PurpleMountain; always glad to welcome new people posting. Fotis has given you sound advice. Let us know how the powder works out for you. I can't find any here, and I would enjoy trying it for my own 45.

 

[PurpleMountain]

Here you go of course thegun being aruger and all you can disregard the "dangerous load" portion. Although I am thinking 1000 fps would be more than enough for cast bullets

Cartridge          : .45 Colt (SAAMI)
Bullet             : .451, 200, HP Rainier
Useable Case Capaci: 31.658 grain H2O = 2.056 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.580 inch = 40.13 mm
Barrel Length      : 6.0 inch = 152.4 mm
Powder             : Alliant POWER PISTOL

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   41     9.60    917     373    9159   3570     72.2    0.936
-18.0   42     9.84    937     390    9586   3709     73.3    0.918
-16.0   44    10.08    957     407   10027   3849     74.3    0.901
-14.0   45    10.32    977     424   10481   3990     75.4    0.884
-12.0   46    10.56    997     442   10949   4131     76.4    0.868
-10.0   47    10.80   1017     460   11431   4274     77.4    0.853
-08.0   48    11.04   1037     478   11927   4417     78.4    0.838  ! Near Maximum !
-06.0   49    11.28   1057     496   12437   4561     79.4    0.820  ! Near Maximum !
-04.0   50    11.52   1077     515   12961   4704     80.3    0.803  ! Near Maximum !
-02.0   51    11.76   1097     534   13500   4849     81.3    0.786  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0   52    12.00   1117     554   14053   4993     82.2    0.770  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0   53    12.24   1137     574   14622   5138     83.0    0.755  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0   54    12.48   1156     594   15206   5282     83.9    0.740  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0   55    12.72   1176     614   15805   5426     84.7    0.725  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0   56    12.96   1195     634   16419   5571     85.5    0.712  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0   57    13.20   1215     655   17049   5714     86.3    0.698  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     52    12.00   1185     624   16285   5375     89.4    0.715  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     52    12.00   1039     480   11904   4496     73.3    0.839  ! Near Maximum !

Thanks!

Maybe I'll start at 11.5 gr, save a little powder too

 

[FOTIS]

Personally 10 gr is perfect 950 fps very low recoiling and 950 fps is plenty.

 

[PurpleMountain]

Welcome aboard, PurpleMountain; always glad to welcome new people posting. Fotis has given you sound advice. Let us know how the powder works out for you. I can't find any here, and I would enjoy trying it for my own 45.

Thanks Dr Mike, I'll let you know!

 

[PurpleMountain]

Personally 10 gr is perfect 950 fps very low recoiling and 950 fps is plenty.

Easy to remember too

 

[Oldtrader3]

Colts are designed for 15K max PSI. USFA cylinders are .016 inches larger diameter than Colt and can go over the Colt loads about 20%. Ruger, Old Vaquero cylinders are Blackhawk cylinders and are good for at least 30K. New Vaquero is basically a Colt frame with a little bigger cylinder. I would not go above 18K PSI in my USFA's. I run about 1000 fps max with TiteGroup or LilGun.

 

[PurpleMountain]

Colts are designed for 15K max PSI. USFA cylinders are .016 inches larger diameter than Colt and can go over the Colt loads about 20%. Ruger, Old Vaquero cylinders are Blackhawk cylinders and are good for at least 30K. New Vaquero is basically a Colt frame with a little bigger cylinder. I would not go above 18K PSI in my USFA's. I run about 1000 fps max with TiteGroup or LilGun.

I keep hearing about lil gun, how it offers better velocity than 296 with lower pressures. Sounds like a winner to me!

 

[Oldtrader3]

LilGun is an interesting powder? It does give higher velocities in small capacity cases. I use it in the .32 H&R mag, .357 Mag and .45 Colt. It seems to burn well and give good accuracy as well?

 

[Dwh7271]

Don't overlook Trail Boss for those 200 gr lead bullets. Easy to load, fun to shoot. Won't make them go the fastest but easy stuff to mess with.
I'm a big fan of IMR4227 in mine. I load the 250 JHP with that powder.

 

[PurpleMountain]

Don't overlook Trail Boss for those 200 gr lead bullets. Easy to load, fun to shoot. Won't make them go the fastest but easy stuff to mess with.
I'm a big fan of IMR4227 in mine. I load the 250 JHP with that powder.

I've been hearing about trail boss too, what's the deal with this stuff? Slow, fast, bulky, fine?

 

[Dwh7271]

Bulky.
It's what a bunch of the cowboy action folks load for the lighter lead bullets. To give you an idea a 1 lb container for most powders is around 14 oz (I think)w Trail Boss.
I use it for an 800 fps fun load with 200 gr lead bullets. Fun shooting with that. It fills the case nicely.

 

[PurpleMountain]

Bulky.
It's what a bunch of the cowboy action folks load for the lighter lead bullets. To give you an idea a 1 lb container for most powders is around 14 oz (I think)w Trail Boss.
I use it for an 800 fps fun load with 200 gr lead bullets. Fun shooting with that. It fills the case nicely.

I'll have to keep my eye out for it.