Friend of mine was at the range with a couple of .45 Long Colts and was told he should point the muzzle skyward and tap the cylinder prior to shooting as concentrating the powder nearer the primer would insure higher velocities.

I've heard of position sensitive loads, but as I remember they involved light bullets and Bullseye. Anyone have any experience with such stuff, or is it an Urban Legend?

I don't think it matters much unless you are precision target shooting. Even then, the powder volumn would need to be very low &/or the case very large. I've shot a truck load of .45colt & your friend is just going thru extra motions.

Use a bulkier powder and use a firm roll crimp.

Yesterday I tried IMR Trail Boss for the first time. Gun is a Pietta 1858 Rem. with a R&D conversion cyl. in 45 Colt. Trail Boss is the "bulkiest" powder I know of and 5.8 grains of it only leaves about .200" space between the top of the powder and the base a 255g cast bullet. I was really surprised at the chronograph results. Muzzle down, gun slowly raised to firing position = 640fps avg. Muzzle up, gun slowly lowered to firing position = 720fps avg. This was consistent over the 30 rounds fired. You can actually hear and feel the difference when firing the gun. Go figure!

Jon

This is a condition often encountered with those little tiny charges of fast powders Lyman gives for use in big cases with cast bullet loads. In such loads, it is recommended that the muzzle be elevated to permit the powder to settle around the flash hole before firing. This is one of the reassons why I favor larger charges of slower powders for cast bullet loads in large cases.......

it would only apply to the .45 Colt if the charge was miniscule........ A charge of Bullseye might indeed fall into this category in the .45 Colt-perhaps even a charge of Unique......