BP in .45 Colt

[Dick Dastardly]

Now here's one Big Lube®LLC bullet that shoots well in ALL your Colts.  It's the former DD/PUK/ROA-II now renamed the DD-ROA Flat.  The rename is because of machining considerations.  This bullet is lube/sized to the chamber diameter and seated with NO other wads, over bullet smear, cookies or any other lube considerations needed.  The filled wide lube grove and interference fit to the chamber dimensions absolutely guarantees against cross fire from the cylinder face.  This bullet performs very well in 44 Cal C&B guns, as it's name would indicate.  The dual rebate makes it sit straight and proud on the chamber face for easy seating.

It also shoots very well in 45 Colt, 45 ACP, 45 Schofield and Cowboy 45 Special cartridges.  I've been enjoying it in my Remington Rolling Block 45-70 loaded for low recoil Plainsman shooting and for a small game getter around camp.  Weighing 210 grains puts it in the low recoil category for 45 Cal Cowboy Action shooting.

FWIW, this bullet shoots very well in 45 Colt rifles and is very safe to use in tube magazines thanks to the flat nose.  That design feature came from Paladin UK.  Thanks Paladin.

DD-DLoS

So, for those wanting a Cowboy Action bullet that will work great in ALL your 45 Caliber guns, this is the one.  It's the most versatile bullet for that mission yet.

[PJ Hardtack]

OK, now that we've established that some of us are idiots for using the wrong type of bullet for BP, let's move on ..... ;>)

I was so focused on buying the Lyman 452664 DC that when I bought a used 454190 DC in excellent condition, it didn't twig until just lately; even after I cast a batch of bullets from it!  Duhh .....

The point about the design not carrying enough lube for BP rifle use is moot in my case, as the only .45 Colt long arm I own is my Uberti 'Lightning'. It will NEVER see BP as I dread the thought of cleaning it!

In the event the lube is insufficient for pistol BP, I know what can be done about in the way of a mod - remove the middle driving band.

[Steel Horse Bailey]

PJ, it should be fine in a revolver. 

[Bryan Austin]

OK, now that we've established that some of us are idiots for using the wrong type of bullet for BP, let's move on ..... ;>)

I was so focused on buying the Lyman 452664 DC that when I bought a used 454190 DC in excellent condition, it didn't twig until just lately; even after I cast a batch of bullets from it!  Duhh .....

The point about the design not carrying enough lube for BP rifle use is moot in my case, as the only .45 Colt long arm I own is my Uberti 'Lightning'. It will NEVER see BP as I dread the thought of cleaning it!

In the event the lube is insufficient for pistol BP, I know what can be done about in the way of a mod - remove the middle driving band.

I noticed in your original post you never did state whether for a rifle or revolver so I stayed away. Now it looks as if you are asking in regards to revolver usage. Now is it for CAS or just plinking?

I use 35gr of swiss FF and the 454190 in my Uberti Cattleman 5.5" barrel revolver. I am still using Dick Dastardly's pearl lube (insert silly trade mark symbol here) that I have. After 25 shots I have to remove and clean the front of the cylinder so it will rotate freely (could be me) and after 50 shots, it is still accurate. I almost sold the revolver because I could not get it to shoot accurate. Then I tired the above loads. It's a keeper now. I have compressed and loaded 40gr of GOES FFF and it chronoed at over 1,104 fps. But it looks like that might be too much for the solid head brass. I found three cases that had a slight bulge just in front of the head. 40gr of Swiss FF chronoed at 945fps. I am going to try again soon and confirm the fps for Swiss FF

[PJ Hardtack]

savvy jack

I will be shooting the 255/35 gr FFg loads in local CAS matches. If I have to occasionally remove cylinders to wipe them clean, so be it.
If I was a 'gamer', I wouldn't be shooting BP at all.

As for velocity - who cares? I was given a chrony years ago as a present. It's been out of the box twice - once to prove that it worked and another time to learn that the ammo companies and loading manuals lie. By the time I pack up all the kit, gear and paraphernalia for a trip to the range, the chrony set up is just more than I can bear. If the bullets go to the intended place, how fast they get there is of no interest to me.
Especially when I read that some of the most accurate ammo has the most extreme spread!

I once watched a pal chrony and zero three .270 loads prior to a horse packing hunting trip. One hour later I asked if he had settled on a load. I presumed he opted for the most accurate. No, he chose the fastest! I asked what the difference was and he said 75 fps.
Did he really think that was going to make a difference to any game he hit?

[Bryan Austin]

savvy jack

I will be shooting the 255/35 gr FFg loads in local CAS matches. If I have to occasionally remove cylinders to wipe them clean, so be it.
If I was a 'gamer', I wouldn't be shooting BP at all.

As for velocity - who cares? I was given a chrony years ago as a present. It's been out of the box twice - once to prove that it worked and another time to learn that the ammo companies and loading manuals lie. By the time I pack up all the kit, gear and paraphernalia for a trip to the range, the chrony set up is just more than I can bear. If the bullets go to the intended place, how fast they get there is of no interest to me.
Especially when I read that some of the most accurate ammo has the most extreme spread!

I once watched a pal chrony and zero three .270 loads prior to a horse packing hunting trip. One hour later I asked if he had settled on a load. I presumed he opted for the most accurate. No, he chose the fastest! I asked what the difference was and he said 75 fps.
Did he really think that was going to make a difference to any game he hit?

The chronograph is a tool, nothing more, nothing less. Since I don't have a C.U.P. measuring equipment, I sub it with the chronograph. When the max fps is matched, I start backing off on the load for accuracy. It just so happened in my testing of the 454190 that a max load of 40gr of Swiss FF matched the fps of the original loads back in the day plus it was the most accurate. 40gr of Goex FFF exceeded the original fps of the 1870's but was still accurate so I backed off on the load anyway. With the 44-40, I have yet to produce an accurate load with any combo. That is all for revolvers at 50'. I now have access to a 200 yard target for my 44-40 rifles. I have no others rifles in any other caliber cept for a .22 for squirrels.  

[rbertalotto]

This thread was VERY interesting and very timely...........Thanks for all the great info.

I just picked up a couple of 5.5"  1858 Remingtons with 45LC conversion cylinders. Lots of research later here is what I decided to do......

Ordered a mold from Dick D for 45SLIM, Big Lube bullets and a whole bunch of Cowboy 45 Special brass.

Gonna load FF black and some Green Dot and Trail Boss "fad" powder........

My feeling is this combination will give me the accuracy I want with the recoil I desire and make plenty of smoke to impress the Indians......

Should be fun!

[Tascosa Joe]

Mako:

I lost track of this, sorry I did not answer before.  I shoot a Cimarron 24" 73 rifle.  I run the bullets thru my Lyman 45 luber with a .454 die and use SPG.  I also shoot a lot of Master Casters .45 Schofield bullet, which appears to be a Lyman 454190.  He sends them to me "as cast" and I lube them with SPG.  I dont think I have ever looked for the star on the end of the barrel.  Will do that next time out. 

Well, we have a new coach, I wonder if he can keep Alabama from using us as their practice squad.

Joe