Hey y'all, new to the forum and new to reloading but looking to learn from experienced reloaders. Loading 45 colt for the first time, materials used are new starline brass, cci magnum large pistol primers #350, trailboss powder and 200 grain RNFP laser cast projectiles. The issue I'm having is accuracy. At only 50 yards I'm getting about a 6 inch spread. I've worked from 5.5 grains up to 6.5 grains of powder, adjusted seating depth and tried from heavy to very light crimps with no change. Firearm being used is smith and wesson 1854 stealth hunter, 16.3" barrel, 1:16 twist rate. Are there any helpful tips or tricks to increase accuracy with the materials listed? Thanks in advance for the help!
45 colt accuracy issues
- Thread starter tw1854
- Start date
Try some jacketed bullets for now. Cast bullet accuracy is dependent on a lot of factors including bore size/diameter, bullet diameter, bullet alloy/hardness, and velocity. While I don't have a 45 Colt levergun, I do have a 454 Casull revolver, and with certain combinations using cast bullets, I struggled with poor accuracy as well. No issues with jacketed.
There are many here with much more cast bullet experience who may be able to help more. For me it wasn't worth the trouble.
There are many here with much more cast bullet experience who may be able to help more. For me it wasn't worth the trouble.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
Years back when I built my 45 Magnum Revolver, (using Winchester LC cases), I found the most accurate powder to be Blue Dot with 225 grain Sierra Hollow Points.
Blue Dot outperformed just about every other powder I tried for both velocity and accuracy.
Blue Dot outperformed just about every other powder I tried for both velocity and accuracy.
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Walt Schmidlin
Gold $$ Contributor
If using cast bullets I found a significant increase in accuracy when using .452 sized diameter. The easy button is jacketed bullets.
Very much appreciate all the replies! I was leaning towards a projectile issue but being new to reloading, I wasn't entirely sure that I wasn't the culprit. I got the old setup from a guy loading for revolvers although I couldn't tell you much else. He wasn't interested in loading anymore so he gave me all the materials he had on hand as well which happened to include a bit over 1,000 rounds of 45 colt material, 1,000 9mm projectiles and some other powder, (I believe Winchester 296?), all for the grand total of $200 which of course was a steal since 45 colt still runs about a dollar a round
Confirmed diameter is .452
Had to double check but I do have it, it was thrown into the deal with the rest. Not sure what it was used for because it was unopened and no magnum supplies of any caliber were thrown in lol
As others have said Trail Boss is not a particularly great powder for accuracy and cast bullets require that the lube/sized diameter compliments the barrel dimensions.
If it were me, I buy some jacketed bullets and a pound of Titegroup or CFE Pistol. Establish a baseline then work on the cast bullets.
Also, W296/H110 are interchangeable for load data. Reduced charges of this powder is not reccomended. Loads are available for 45 Colt at Higher than standard pressure.
If it were me, I buy some jacketed bullets and a pound of Titegroup or CFE Pistol. Establish a baseline then work on the cast bullets.
Also, W296/H110 are interchangeable for load data. Reduced charges of this powder is not reccomended. Loads are available for 45 Colt at Higher than standard pressure.
I always liked Unique for the 45 Colt, although most of my experience is with revolvers.
I have had good results with W 231.
We do have a Winchester 1892 in 45 Colt and had a Trapper, and an Uberti 1866 Carbine I don't recall any accuracy issues.
I've never used Trail Boss and see no reason for me to use any as I don't recall any data that produced factory range velocities. But using what you have is understandable.
I have had good results with W 231.
We do have a Winchester 1892 in 45 Colt and had a Trapper, and an Uberti 1866 Carbine I don't recall any accuracy issues.
I've never used Trail Boss and see no reason for me to use any as I don't recall any data that produced factory range velocities. But using what you have is understandable.
joshb
Gold $$ Contributor
Hi and welcome to the forum! I bought a Rossi in 45 Colt. I shot a box of factory loads and got the accuracy you’re describing. I did a bunch of research and found out my gun was also available chambered in 454 Casul and 44 magnum, so the action can take the higher pressures. I looked in my reloading book and found information for 45 Colt “Ruger and T/C” loads that were almost equal to 44 Magnum loads. I used AA#9 and various bullet weights and tested the loads. They worked well and gave me much better velocity and accuracy. Do some research. I see your gun is also available in 45/70 and 44 Magnum so it should handle the stronger loads. This is with iron sights.
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You might want to read a reloading manual first. Some good info in them. Id also recommend finding a local experienced reloader to mentor you until you are more experienced. Ive mentored a few and they were thankful and said they learned a lot. They still call with questions from time to time.
Oh I've studied the Lyman Bible front to middle, (since middle to back was all data lol) and I've done a good bit of researching online and in forums before I posted. Double checked dies, made a few dummy rounds before moving onto live rounds and trying to tweak for accuracy. It just seemed that everything I did came out with the same results. Seems the general consensus is projectiles which is the direction I was leaning towards changing next but decided to come ask the experienced folk first. Lots of very helpful info and similar experiences shared with cast projectiles so I feel I'm on the right track. Not looking to push the limits of the round or firearm, just some free time loading for plinking in my backyard range and the learning experience of reloading. Which brings me to my next question: I don't remember where but somewhere I read that using cast bullets you should step up, in my case to .452 so if I'm changing to anything jacketed, should I step down to .451 jacketed or is .452 jacketed acceptable?
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Tw1854,
Welcome to the forum.
As others have suggested being new to reloading I would switch to jacketed bullet to start with, cast bullets can be very accurate but it takes some playing around. For instance you need to slug your barrel to see exactly what diameter you’re dealing with. Pistol powder can reach and exceed pressure in a hurry so you can’t take larger bump like slow burning rifle powders especially working with powders like titegroup, it’s a great powder and I use it a lot in 9mm but it can go from no pressure to over pressure in just a few tenths of a grain, also pistols can exceed pressures easily changing seating depth so be careful there. I can tell even being a novice you’re doing things right by reading and asking questions so that’s a good thing. This is the best forum on the web and rarely will you get bad info here but keep in mind it is the internet so if someone gives you a recipe check your loading manuals and if that recipe contradicts a load manual shy away from it especially until you get more experience. If I were you I would choose a slower burning powder listed in your manual for a 45lc some some jacketed bullets and go from there. Joshb has posted on your thread already and he does quite a bit of pistol cartridges so he’s a good source for info and there’s lots of others willing to help ya. Good luck be safe and enjoy. I’m looking forward to seeing more post from ya
Wayne
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