I recived this Colt SAA circa 1884 (according to the Colt historian) from my cousin who got it from my father-in-law. It was in poor shape with almost all finish gone, the original grips gone and a piece of 1/4" re-bar for a base pin. I sent it to Bill Adair and he did a complete restoration of it and it looks beautiful. Before anyone screams in anguish over my shooting a 1st. generation Colt SAA, I'm going to do it so get over it.
I don't want to shoot black powder or any of the BP substitutes that leave a corrosive residue. What are your recommendations for powder type/manufacture and charge weight for 250 gr. plain base cast bullets?

I'd try some Trail Boss. I've used it in modern .45's (and other rounds). Hodgdon has data for it on their website.

Thanks for the tip!

I've been shooting my first-gen BP Colt SAs since the late '60s with heavy cast bullets and stout loads of 2400 powder. My favorite is one made in 1894, I've put many thousands of heavy loads through it with no problems at all.

In 45 Colt or 44 Spec I once used loads of up to 17 grains of 2400 with no problems except recoil but now I use 13.5 grains/2400/250-gr bullet for a more moderate load, easier on my hands. 2400 requires a heavy crimp for best performance and even then it will still leave some unburned powder behind so don't worry about it, just crimp heavily and enjoy.
Regards, Joe

here is what Hodgdon shows on the 250gn bullet for all pistols in 45 cal colt that are in good condition. I would choose a powder that generates the lower end PSU or CUP pressures.

use the Hodgdon site for a complete list of all bullet/powder cobinations for their product.

www.hodgdon.com

250 GR. CAST LRNFP IMR 800-X .452" 1.600" 6.5 778 9,100 PSI 8.0 911 13,300 PSI
250 GR. CAST LRNFP IMR SR 4756 .452" 1.600" 8.2 786 10,600 PSI 9.0 864 12,200 PSI
250 GR. CAST LRNFP Hodgdon HS-6 .452" 1.600" 9.0 787 7,800 CUP 10.5 946 13,300 CUP
250 GR. CAST LRNFP Winchester AutoComp .452" 1.600" 7.8 867 12,600 PSI 8.5 923 13,200 PSI
250 GR. CAST LRNFP Hodgdon Universal .452" 1.600" 6.5 742 9,200 CUP 7.8 941 13,000 CUP
250 GR. CAST LRNFP Winchester 231 .452" 1.600" 5.8 785 9,100 CUP 7.1 916 13,900 CUP
250 GR. CAST LRNFP Hodgdon HP-38 .452" 1.600" 5.8 785 9,100 CUP 7.1 916 13,900 CUP
250 GR. CAST LRNFP IMR SR 7625 .452" 1.600" 7.0 768 9,600 PSI 8.2 890 13,000 PSI
250 GR. CAST LRNFP IMR PB .452" 1.600" 5.8 746 10,200 PSI 6.8 875 12,700 PSI
250 GR. CAST LRNFP IMR Trail Boss .452" 1.600" 4.5 606 8,800 PSI 5.8 727 12,700 PSI
250 GR. CAST LRNFP Hodgdon Titegroup .452" 1.600" 5.0 716 7600 CUP 6.2 881 13,000 CUP
250 GR. CAST LRNFP IMR 700-X .452" 1.600" 4.8 765 11,300 PSI 5.7 856 13,200 PSI
250 GR. CAST LRNFP Hodgdon Clays .452" 1.600" 4.2 713 8,500 CUP 5.1 817 13,400 CUP

Accurate 5744, like Trailboss, is a fluffy powder that fills the huge 45 Colt case for reduced loads. Speer has always been my best source for reduced loads.

Thank you all for your replies.

onefunzr2 - "member Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club" me too 66-67, Coral Sea, Roosevelt, Oriskany, Enterprise.

Big E must have been a big step up for you, what with NO stack gas to contend with. Sorry to presume. I forget that not all 5800 souls aboard worked the flight deck.

'68 Big E cruise for me...not ship's company.

Best of luck firing your old Colt.

I sure as heck would not recommend any smokeless powders for any gun made with 1884 metals. Especially not with heavy charges of smokeless.

Be sure to post pictures after the top strap blows!

You can easily blow the top strap offa even a new Ruger Super Blackhawk, photo means nothing except the loss of a good revolver. I've personally fired over 5K rounds of medium smokeless factory and handloads through ~5-6 1890s-era Colt SAs with no problems at all. Plus a further 10K heavy smokeless loads through several others fitted with later replacement cylinders. But as always, YMMV.
Regards, Joe

I've had good luck in the 45 Colt area with 7.5 grains of HP-38.

I would recommend that you look at the bottom end of the velocity loads for this shooter and stay in the 700-825 fps range with small amounts of some of the faster burning smokeless. That shooter is valuable and no doubt has some sentimental value as well.

Let us know your results and we would all enjoy a photo of it.

quote:

You can easily blow the top strap offa even a new Ruger Super Blackhawk, photo means nothing except the loss of a good revolver. I've personally fired over 5K rounds of medium smokeless factory and handloads through ~5-6 1890s-era Colt SAs with no problems at all. Plus a further 10K heavy smokeless loads through several others fitted with later replacement cylinders. But as always,

I have read a few books on the history of metal technology. Probably read more of these books than the average person, like one more. Currently I am reading one called “American Iron 1607-1900” http://www.amazon.com/American...nology/dp/0801868165

That nice machine work on those pre 1900 firearms can sure fool someone into thinking that the goodness goes all the way through. But it does not. Anyone with a materials background, and a historical understanding of steel technology would understand the variability, absolute lack of process controls, and lack of technological understanding of steels from that period. I mean nickel steel was the latest, greatest, hottest steel technology in the mid 1890’s. Stainless did not come around until the WW1.

These were plain carbon steel structures, many of which were not even heat treated. I read somewhere that S&W was not heating its cylinders until the 20’s? I have a Colt M1909, the steels of the era were soft.

This death trap was state of the art prior to 1914. Would anyone suggest that this is a safe aircraft?



I would suggest the original OP post his question on SASS. There are a lot of Cowboy shooters shooting relics. They would have a much better opinion on the suitability of a propellant for an 1884 vintage revolver. .

Slamfire, your points are well expressed and quite pertinent albeit somewhat conservative IMO. I spent 2 years studying gunsmithing at Trinidad and then more years studying engineering & such at my state's cow-&-chicken school and then many, many more years in a career in the nuclear power industry, so I'm well aware of the problems with 19th-century steel and QC.

I'm just reporting what I've actually experienced in shooting many thousands of rounds through these old SA Colts since the '60s. Zero problems in (conservatively speaking) more than 5K but less than 10K rounds of BP-equivalent smokeless loads in ORIGINAL 19th-century cylinders and another waaayy more than 5K but maybe a little less than 10K rounds of very heavy almost-magnum loads in MODERN replacement cylinders. All this took place with early BP-frame SA Colts in various chamberings, mainly 44 Special and 45 Colt but also many 357 Mag and wildcat 41 Special rounds as well. My favorite SA is one made in 1894 and it's had more than 10K 44 Special rounds through it since 1970, enough to actually wear out the throat of its first NOS replacement 44-cal bbl. Just reporting the facts as I've experienced them.

For regular use however, I'd suggest temporarily substituting a modern replacement cylinder especially when shooting any handloads.
Regards, Joe