.45 Colt pet loads...

[NINEROUND]

I'd like to try some trail boss at some point. Seems like it would be fairly easy to load with since it's "fluffy."

 

[Pulp]

I really like TrailBoss for light loads. You can see it in the case, a double charge is very obvious. Great powder for .45ACP and just about anything else, unless you want warthog loads.

 

[NINEROUND]

7.6 grains of Autocomp. Tried this loading with the 255 grain lswc. Just five shots, but it seemed to be close (just aiming at a rock about 10 yards away.) Not a whole lot of kick and no leading in the barrel. Primers seemed like they might have flattened a tad, but nothing to really indicate overpressure. I'll have to work up more and put them on paper to really see what I have.

 

[NINEROUND]

Well, looks like reloading will be on hold for a while...damn scales won't give tries reading now. Figures. Thanks for the replies and advice.

 

[swampratt]

Are you using digital scales?
Some lights will interfere with those digital ones.. yes the lights.

I use a 505 beam scale.. before that i loaded 1000's of rounds with the Lee scale.

I actually tested some loads in different calibers. I found a sweet spot and made a scooper to fill the cases to that weight and volume.

I kid you not I made some very accurate ammo. scooped not weighed. I have one load that scooped it is more accurate than weighing.

Sometimes it is all about volume.

I load for Muzzleloader and you fill by volume.. well I figured i would weigh that Volume and make all charges weigh the same.

My accuracy was not as good when weighed.
Lee makes scoopers .My lee dies come with them.

 

[NINEROUND]

Yes, it was/is a digital scale. It started just jumping up in grain weight even when no powder was being put in. For example, 7.4 grains would climb without any outside stimulus. I changed to new batteries, calibrated it several times and it still does it. It's a cheap Frankfort Arsenal, but it did work well in the last couple years. Maybe it just gave up?

 

[swampratt]

That is terrible.
You ever used dippers to fill the cases?

 

[NINEROUND]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "dippers." I have a couple little yellow things that are stamped .5cc that could be termed dippers....I have never used them to just straight fill a case, only to add powder to the cup on the scale. If memory serves, I then no they usually averaged around 6.3 grains of Autocomp. Then of course I dip them again to get more powder to bring it up to whatever I'm after.

 

[swampratt]

Yes those are Lee Dippers.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/943305/lee-improved-powder-measure-kit

For light recoil close up loads I used that .5cc and 231 or sometimes bullseye powder with cast 200 gr bullets in my 45 colt.

Great for kicking cans around the yard.
I made other dippers from pistol cases to match the weight on the scale..

I ended up trickling into the dipper to overflowing and taking a paper business card and level it off flush.

This would give me the most consistent results.
Takes way to long to load pistol if I must weigh every one.

But like I said I tested the dipped loads vs weighed and the dipped were more accurate many times.

I use a lee disc measure for my 45acp.. and Bullseye powder .. it will never vary more than 1/2 a tenth.

I use an rcbs uniflow II that I polished for my BL-C(2) powder it sticks it right on the same tenth of a grain every time.
That is for my .223.
I toss a pan full and onto the 505 beam to weigh it. then into a case.
After over 100 times weighing and getting the same exact measurement I only weigh 3 or so now.. and inspect cases while they are in the loading block.

Do you have a good loading block for the 45 colt?

 

[NINEROUND]

I guess I might need to look at getting one of the sets. It would make it go faster. I have a Lee reloading press and I'm just getting into load development for the .45 Colt. Hopefully I can develop one that I like and set the powder throw for it.