Two 45 ACP Revolvers... Which one would you pick?

You knew that was coming.

I was beginning to wonder if I was gonna have to post that photo.

C'mon Corn, let's see it.

One thing I'll mention, though.  In a 45 acp/45 Colt Blackhawk I have, the 45 acp is scary accurate.  I can't explain it, but it's very very easy to put everything in one hole with the 45 acp at distance.  Easier than the 45 Colt.  Before giving up on the 45 acp cylinder, you may want to give it a whirl (metaphorically, that is).

?I wonder if using modern smokeless powders makes a difference in .45 Colt. I have some left with my old load, but when I finish them I plan on trying out the cowboy loads from Hogden (Trail Boss). It was formulated for the old black-shooters and may give better results with a larger portion of the case filled.

Whereas, the .45 ACP is a modern cartridge so will not have the same potential issues.

That's certainly possible. My 45 Colt loads to date have used Unique and Power Pistol, haven't tried the older powders.

I've been using TiteGroup. But that's only 6.3 gr for full load. And in that big case, it kind of gets lost. Indeed, it would potentially be real easy to double or even triple charge a case, and still have room to seat the bullet. All that open space has to have SOME effect on ballistics.

Devereaux wrote:I've been using TiteGroup. But that's only 6.3 gr for full load. And in that big case, it kind of gets lost. Indeed, it would potentially be real easy to double or even triple charge a case, and still have room to seat the bullet. All that open space has to have SOME effect on ballistics.

Yep. Cowboy shooters often use light gamer loads, so we get familiar with excess case volume. It can cause inconsistent ignition, hang fires, and at worst squibs. 45LC seems particularity susceptible, although I experienced a really cranky light 38 Special load. Some loaders use cornstarch or cream of wheat as a filler on top of a low volume load. Others use a very hard crimp.

A better way might be to use high loft powders. A friend of ours uses Trail Boss in our Cowboy loads. It's a "fluffy" powder that makes it difficult to double charge.

From the IMR website: "IMR Trail Boss was designed specifically for low velocity lead bullets suitable for Cowboy Action shooting. It is primarily a pistol powder but has some application in rifles. It is based on a whole new technology that allows very high loading density, good flow through powder measures, stability in severe temperature variation, and, most importantly, additional safety to the handloader."

Even though it's specifically for lead bullets, I've heard of it being used for full house jacketed bullets.

Charlie Foxtrot wrote:

Devereaux wrote:I've been using TiteGroup. But that's only 6.3 gr for full load. And in that big case, it kind of gets lost. Indeed, it would potentially be real easy to double or even triple charge a case, and still have room to seat the bullet. All that open space has to have SOME effect on ballistics.

Yep. Cowboy shooters often use light gamer loads, so we get familiar with excess case volume. It can cause inconsistent ignition, hang fires, and at worst squibs. 45LC seems particularity susceptible, although I experienced a really cranky light 38 Special load. Some loaders use cornstarch or cream of wheat as a filler on top of a low volume load. Others use a very hard crimp.

A better way might be to use high loft powders. A friend of ours uses Trail Boss in our Cowboy loads. It's a "fluffy" powder that makes it difficult to double charge.

From the IMR website: "IMR Trail Boss was designed specifically for low velocity lead bullets suitable for Cowboy Action shooting. It is primarily a pistol powder but has some application in rifles. It is based on a whole new technology that allows very high loading density, good flow through powder measures, stability in severe temperature variation, and, most importantly, additional safety to the handloader."

Even though it's specifically for lead bullets, I've heard of it being used for full house jacketed bullets.  

I've been using Trail Boss for my gamer .38 Spl loads that go in the Navy conversions. Those puppies are only suppose to shoot .38 Long Colt, which is a weird round that is basically pretty wimpy. I shoot a 105gr bullet with 3.2 gr of Trail Boss. Kind of makes a "pop". In the '66 you would think you were shooting .22's.

In my .45 Colts I used full house TiteGroup on a 250 gr lead bullet. THAT was only 6.3 gr! I never had a hang or otherwise problem firing, but it really IS a "lost" load in that case. But you get the recoil you would expect. I plan on going to Trail Boss when I shoot up what I have (which isn't that much left).

Trailboss is a fun powder. I made some bunny fart .300 blk subs with some 110 gr bullets and around 6 gr of Trailboss. Through a suppressor, it is stupid quiet. I've also used it for some low recoil 45-70 and .38's.

One of my "subjective" senses about Trail Boss is that it burns "softer". So guns seem to recoil differently. More of a push than a snap. Rather like shooting black.

Smith .44 Mag TALO Special Edition. Now THAT'S a modern belly gun.

Could be. I have also wondered if the difference in accuracy might be due to the fact the 45 acp cylinder has that ledge that catches the top edge of the case, instead of just holding it by the rim. Seems to me to be a more steady hold.