Goex FFFg 45lc load

[olered]

I have aquired a pound of this Goex and am wanting to see about making up some loads for cas. Is 3F ok? I have shot others guns loaded with 34 g of this powder and found it too stiff for me. Any of you using the 3F have any loads that are more manageable. I found after 3 rounds I was flinching.

[Ranch 13]

I shoot 37 grs of Goex 3f in the 45 colt, like the velocity and the accuracy. Also the chronograph says it's about as spot on the original 45 colt ballistics as one could expect.

[Pettifogger]

What most competitive shooters do is use a reduced charge of BP and then fill the rest of the case with filler.  For example, grits or cream of wheat.  Seat the bullet with some compression and everthing will stay in place.  Nothing like the smell of fresh BP burned grits in the morning!    I use two powder measures.  One dumps the powder and the second dumps the grits.

[Blair]

olered,

What weight bullet are you using?
The 'breakfast" cereal filler loads will also help to reduce recoil but not as quickly a using a lighter bullet.
My best,
Blair

[olered]

Blair I am going to be using 200gr bullets. I am going to try melting the smokelees lube from some bullets and then pan lube them with SPG to get started.
I will also be ordering bullets from Mark Whyte. I need to research what he has available.

[Blair]

olered,

Pretty light bullet for a .45 Colt.
You may need 34gr of FFFg to offer you some compression of the powder. I should think recoil would be an issue?

I use 31gr, of FFFg under a 250 gr. bullet in all of my revolvers, no filler, no wadding.
It may be a bit more recoil than a lot of folks care for, but I have gotten use to it and prefer it.
I hope this helps.
My best,
Blair

[Abilene]

I'm using 3F for everything lately as I got a bunch of it from a guy at a bargain.  I often shoot gunfighter so want a load that doesn't kick too much for my weak hand.  I do like Pettifogger but don't have the fancy press.  All my loading is with dippers and a Lee Turret.  My pistol load is a 200gr bullet, 1.6cc of BP (about 24gr weight), heaping 1.0cc plus of grits, giving good compression.  My bullets are unlubed (melt out crayon lube, but do not relube) for pistols.  For 15 years I squirt some butter-flavored crisco over the 1st two rounds after loading the gun at the loading table.  Much easier than panlubing.

You would not be happy with reduced .45 loads for the rifle (recoil is no biggie in the rifle anyway), but for pistols yeah.

[Good Troy]

I've shot a 200 grain FP with both 3F and 2F at around 34 grains volume.

Just recently, I've reloaded 45 S&W (Schofield) with 25 grains 3F, a wonderwad and seated a 0.451" round ball over it.  I used them in a match this weekend, and was quite pleased (at least with the load, but not my performance)!  These are in the recoil neighborhood of 38 factory load.

You could accomplish the same load in a long colt cartridge, using a filler to make up the space as others have said.  I suggest the round ball and wonderwad (lubed patch) as an alternative to melting the lube off your bullets, and relubing them. 

BTW, I've used Missouri Bullet Co. for a source of un-lubed/un-sized bullets for my BP loads.  They are harder than your classic BP bullets, but not as hard as others that I've purchased with smokeless lube.  These have worked well in my SAA copy 45, '73 Win 44-40, NMV and Rossi '92 in 38.  I've also had success in my 38-55 '94. 

[olered]

I'm using 3F for everything lately as I got a bunch of it from a guy at a bargain.  I often shoot gunfighter so want a load that doesn't kick too much for my weak hand.  I do like Pettifogger but don't have the fancy press.  All my loading is with dippers and a Lee Turret.  My pistol load is a 200gr bullet, 1.6cc of BP (about 24gr weight), heaping 1.0cc plus of grits, giving good compression.  My bullets are unlubed (melt out crayon lube, but do not relube) for pistols.  For 15 years I squirt some butter-flavored crisco over the 1st two rounds after loading the gun at the loading table.  Much easier than panlubing.

You would not be happy with reduced .45 loads for the rifle (recoil is no biggie in the rifle anyway), but for pistols yeah.

I have some 200gr bullets that I want to try. Would I be under loading if I were to start with say the 1.3 dipper which Lee shows as being about 20.70 gr weight then working up from there?

[Abilene]

I have some 200gr bullets that I want to try. Would I be under loading if I were to start with say the 1.3 dipper which Lee shows as being about 20.70 gr weight then working up from there?

"under loading" is subjective.  Try it and see if you like it.  That will still be more powerful than a .38, and when I shoot BP in my .38 conversions (just 3F, no filler) that is satisfying as well.  If you are experimenting, make up a few with different amounts of powder and compare the results.

[Cliff Fendley]

olered, If the 34 grains is too stiff a load for you try reducing to 28 grains using Schofield brass or filler in the 45 colt brass.

Regarding the bullets from Mark Whyte, the 200 grain JP bullets work really good for CAS and carry a lot of lube that keeps your guns from fouling up. That is what I have been using in 45 Schofield brass in front of 28 grains of 2F powder. That is a fairly mild load, I started shooting that because of some neck and shoulder problems.

The 3F will be just a little more stout than the 2F.

[Blair]

olered,

I don't do the volume Dipper stuff without a weight scale to check it for myself. But, that just seems to be me on this BB. Each and ever powder weights out differently, even by lot #.
Keep in mind, BP works best under some compression when the bullet is seated.
A "breakfast load" of some amount on top of the powder would be best. (but which dipper would you use for that measurement?)
My best,
Blair

[wildman1]

For 45 Colt loads if I am going to load them reduced I will use the Lee dipper 1.6 of 2f or 3f and the same of grits. Gives nice compression. For melting the lube out of bullets just place them on a cookie sheet covered with news paper or paper towel in the oven at 200 degrees should take about 15 minutes. If that doesn't melt it try 215. When you take them out of the oven roll them around on clean paper towels that will take the last of the smokiless lube off. Don't worry about the bullets being too hard if you are using a filler as it will seal the bore behind the bullet so you do not get gas cutting of the bullet and leading of your barrel. wM1

[Pettifogger]

All that's required for SASS is 1cc of BP.  1cc topped with grits and a 200 grain bullet goes bang and the target goes clang.  That's all that's needed.  The 200 grain bullet over 1cc will also do quite well on knock down targets.

[Coffinmaker]

I am, in all honesty, a certified WIMP!  I don't like recoil.  Unless your a masochist and like pain, recoil is also completely unnecessary for
CAS as mentioned by Pettifogger. 
I am a practitioner of the Very Light Bullet.  I am a founding member of the Very Light Bullet Society.  For CAS, and making steel targets
go KLANG, big bullets and heavy powder charges aren't necessary.  They are, in fact a hinderance.  Consider going to 45 Schofield cases and a 160Gr bullet.  1CC powder topped with Cream o Wheat or some such.  As long as you get a smidgen of compression on yer Cream O Wheat your just fine.

Coffinmaker

[Dick Dastardly]

Gentlemen, Pards, Cowboys all,

Rather than download 45 "long" Colt brass, give 45 Cowboy Special brass a look.  It shoots very well with 1.3cc (20 grains) of FFFg Genuine Powder.  The load is snugly compressed by a 200 grain Big Lube®LLC J/P 45-200 bullet and no filler is wanted or needed.  FWIW, this is the same amount of powder I use in 38 Special brass pushing Snakebite Big Lube®LLC 158 grain bullets.  Mild recoil, big bore smoke and flames.

DD-MDA

[Pettifogger]

Gentlemen, Pards, Cowboys all,

Rather than download 45 "long" Colt brass, give 45 Cowboy Special brass a look.  It shoots very well with 1.3cc (20 grains) of FFFg Genuine Powder.  The load is snugly compressed by a 200 grain Big Lube®LLC J/P 45-200 bullet and no filler is wanted or needed.  FWIW, this is the same amount of powder I use in 38 Special brass pushing Snakebite Big Lube®LLC 158 grain bullets.  Mild recoil, big bore smoke and flames.

DD-MDA

.45 Special brass has been unavailable for a long time.  The new owner of the headstamp is only selling loaded ammo and finding any of that is virtually impossible.  The only real option right now is the Schofield, shooting .45 ACP (the .45 Special is a .45ACP case with a rim) or cutting down .45 Colt cases.  Or take the easy way out and use filler.

[olered]

Thanks all for your input. Lots of knowledge here. For the time being I will just load 45Colt brass. Going to work up a handful of rounds in the 1.0, 1.3 and 1.6 dippers and top them off with some filler Have to check to see what the wife has in the cupboard. Don't want mouse farts but something so I don't get flinchy.

[Lefty Dude]

Walmart Grits are the most reasonable, FWIW.

[wildman1]

The Quaker Oats grits are cheaper than the WM brand. wM1