Have a AWA 1873 colt

Have some Unique, imr4756, herco, bluedot

What load do you like?

For what use, plinking, CAS, hunting? Any decent loading manual has tons of data for the 45COLT SAA. That is the data I would use. The 1873 is not a particulalry strong action design, so no Ruger type loads IMO. Unique is a great choice for 1000s of trouble free rounds. I have run 1000s of lead bullet loads thru mine for CAS.

250 gr bullet and 7 gr Unique

quote:

Originally posted by POP:
250 gr bullet and 7 gr Unique

+1, a good solid load for the "Long Colt".

I've been using Trail Boss as of late. It meters like water. Load data is on Hodgdon's website.

I would think that small amounts of the faster burning powder would fix you up right. Many of the newer manuals have sections dedicated to the SAA shooters.

Also the Cowboy Action Shooters, while many of them will shoot the .38, use a ton of very very low velocity loads. Some of those used are in the 450-550 fps range. While that might be a tad slower than you need to go it might function as a starting point for ya.

Also a Google search should turn up a wagon load of data for your needs.

7.5 grains of unique pure lead 250 grain hollow base bullets.. These bullets will shoot around a cylinder/barrel missilinement problem and will not lead the bore at these velocities..I started using pure lead for black powder loads. they are very simular to the original colt .45 loads.. My marlin cowboy load shoots these under an inch at 50 yards and with absolutely no leading.. A damp patch cleans the rifle.. my pistol is not lined up properly leads in the forcing cone some but pure lead cleans up easist.. The harder the lead the harder it is to get out.. If you want a bullet source ill dig it out for you.. He hand casts the hollow base bullets with rapine mould,. email ffffgdave@yahoo.com

I would add my .02 for Trail Boss.

Hard to get too much in the case (actually I don't think you can) meters easily and shoots clean and accurate.