In my quest to look for a .45 Colt handload that I can use for target shooting with my Pietta 1873 SA with a 4 3/4 inch barrel, I would like to keep track of what I come up with. All of the loads are trying to stay within or close to the 14,000 PSI standard given that this revolver is a SAA clone and is not expected to survive loads that one would put through a Ruger Blackhawk or Winchester 92. A Ruger Blackhawk or a Rossi R92 are not in my possession so if you are wondering why I don't use that, that's why. The Pietta is what I have for now so that's what we're starting with.
The project starts with gauging the chamber throats of the Pietta for uniformity. A lack of uniformity will negatively impact accuracy as each chamber being different may widen the group. I've heard of some guns shooting 5 inch groups being reduced to 1 inch groups with corrections to the chamber throats. I ordered three pin gauges starting at 0.451 to 0.453 inch to test the Pietta's chamber throats. We're looking for 0.4525 inch for cast bullets meaning the 0.452 pin should pass but the 0.453 pin should not. That's exactly what ended up being the case. A pleasant surprise from an inexpensive revolver. Now that the gun checks out, let's look at the loads.
The Pietta 1873 SA in .45 Colt, AKA the Cabela's Special.
As usual, if you try to duplicate these loads, that's on you and I am NOT responsible for your actions.
I am using data found here.
https://hodgdonreloading.com/rldc/
Update Index:
I will start putting a shorter update list here so you can see how things are progressing.
2024 Updates: Winchester WinClean 244 added to powders list. Also a baby was born.
2025 FEB Update: Pietta barrel slugged with muzzleloader bullet and found to be around .450 or .451. Corrected charge data for 244 added along with GT Bullets delivered and loaded into cases with both HS-6 and 244 for testing.
2025 MAR Update: The Hornady XTP bullets have been added to the test list as options intended specifically for deer hunting. This is starting to turn into bullet and powder testing and less about just powders. Imagine that.
Updates Detailed:
I'm starting with GT Bullet's 225 grain cast lead semi wad cutters sized to .452 inch but I will also try to tinker with the Laser Cast 200 gr .452 RNFP I have for target. They have a 15 BHN which is too hard for use in hunting at these velocities. I will only use them for target shooting. I've ordered 200 of the bullets are waiting for them to be cast, shipped and delivered. There is currently a 21 week backorder so it will be a while before I can get started.
Unlike the .357 Magnum post, I will be focusing on powder selection instead of trying a bunch of different bullets (2025 update: That turned out to not be true). I'll be starting with HS-6 because I have close to 2 lbs of it at this time but if I can't get a satisfactory load from it, then I will move on to other powders. I am very interested in CFE Pistol as the Hodgdon reloading data shows the highest velocities. I have some alternative powders I would like to look at in the future depending on local availability such as Universal, 2400 or Unique. Universal actually has the highest velocity data according to the Hodgdon website but I can't get it easily without online ordering. I don't want to pay HAZMAT fees if I don't have to.
Update Feb 2024: The below data is specific to keeping the chamber pressures below 14,000 PSI. However, there is speculation that the newer SAA clones can handle as much as 23,000 PSI. I'm not trying to Elmer Keith my gun but there's only one way to know. Well, two or more actually, but I don't have QuickLoad. That's $155 software package that gives you probable pressure curves. There are other calculators but PMAX doesn't have HS-6.
Update 2 Feb 2024: Looking at the math, the 225 grain bullets I ordered are likely to show up around June. I ordered a bullet mold from MP Molds. It's a 4 cavity hollow point version of the H&G #68 mold from a long time ago. Apparently, that mold was great for target loads which fits right in line with what I'm trying to do here. It's also a hollow point mold so I can use it for other things latter on. These are 185 grain bullets according to the site but we'll need to see what weight they actually cast at. I'm seeing some data that says the bullets will drop out closer to 195 grain. I'll start adding this bullet to the list when I have loading data. Apparently, Hodgdon only has 1 load for 185 grain bullets for .45 Colt and that's using Accurate Number 5. I can get #5 from Bas Pro if needed. I'll have to check my Lyman book for more but what I am able to find in forums has that this bullet will do nicely for what I have in mind. That bullet should also work for my .45 ACP guns as needed. Seems like a good choice. Looking further, Hodgdon does have a load for a 180 grain bullet using CFE Pistol which just reinforces the notion I should get a bottle. I pulled several points of data for the 180 grain bullet and each are noted as such.
Update 3 FEB 2024: I loaded up some 200 grain cast using both HS-6 and Triple Seven. I wanted to see if 777 was usable in this instance. It turns out to have done pretty well with the 200 grain. I also now have a 185 grain mold from MP Molds to make hollow points. During the testing, the Pietta show very low. I don't know that I could file enough front sight to fix how low the drop is at 25 yards. I need to do more testing but I didn't hit the paper target once when shooting over the chronograph and aiming directly at the paper IDPA target. A different firearm is likely needed. The data collected is below.
Update 4 JUL 2024: The GT Bullets 225 grain hollow points are in. I also have a bottle of WinClean 244. Instead of Titegroup (for now) I will be testing with the Winchester 244.
Update AUG 2024: After spending some time thinking about it, I wanted to see about using .45 Colt for hunting from a revolver. I know I can get enough velocity from a rifle but from a revolver, what sort of velocity would I need to load something such as a 250 gr XTP and be able to hit a deer at 100 yards and still get that bullet to expand. A video I watched had an XTP hitting water jugs around 1188 fps at the target and getting great expansion. I don't know if those XTP bullets will still expand at 1000 fps but let's pretend that they do. After fiddling around with a ballistic calculator, I would need the cartridge to push that XTP at a minimum velocity of 1220 fps. Mr Joey Hunt reports the Lyman Reloader book has 26.5 gr of H110 could do 1400 from a Ruger Blackhawk but from the 5.5 inch barrel I had been interested in only got around 1150 fps. I have ordered a book of my own to see what the range would be and if I can get to 1220 fps. I do have a bottle of H110. That's likely going to be a tall order with lots of recoil. It's got me thinking about .41 Magnum again.
Update FEB 2025: I slugged the barrel of the Pietta SAA with some Hornady muzzleloader round balls. While my micrometer isn't high dollar, I did get around .450. I have seen where there are .45 ACP/.45 Colt versions of my gun and I wonder if they just use the same barrel. I'll be sizing my cast bullets to .452 until I think I should otherwise change. I also updated the WinClean 244 load as I realized the bullets used in the RLDC data are very different. Adjusted to closer to the 230 grain cast. The double ended wadcutter has much more friction as the bearing surface is the entire length of the bullet increasing pressure. The cast bullets I am using have much smaller bearing surfaces. The end point for the 225 gr DEWC was 7.2 for 244 where the heavier LSWC ends at 7.7 grains with the same pressure. It didn't make sense until I realized what was going on with the bullet styles. Once I figured that out, I switched the data over to the higher charge weights. Thankfully, I hadn't loaded anything just yet and only did case prep. The data for HS-6 and WinClean 244 has been adjusted. That said, the end data just doesn't exist for the 225 gr bullet and powders I'm using so I'm having to extrapolate from existing data. Thankfully, 230 grains is heavier than 225 grains so I have so safety buffer.
Update March 2025: After finding out the Pietta's bore is in the .4505/.451 diameter range common to .45 ACP, I started thinking about additional bullet options. The Hornady XTP bullets for 45 ACP are loaded into a Hornady Custom brand offering that Lucky Gunner tested as working well in the mid 900 range. It got me interested in finding load data for .45 Colt and those bullets or at least close to it. The Hodgdon RLDC didn't have anything so I started doing comparative research. .45 Colt is has maybe 40% more case capacity than 45 ACP. I don't know if the 45 ACP +P loads at 19000 PSI are running around the 14000 PSI max for 45 Colt but I did end up finding a recipe for HS-6 and 200 grain JHPs. It took some digging but I have data at 11.7 grains to 13.0 grains of HS-6 for a 200 grain .451 XTP. The claimed velocity is 1111 fps from a 7.25 inch test barrel under 14000 PSI. My 4.75 inch SAA clone should be just fine with the max charge. It might even exceed the 1000 fps desire I have. I ran the numbers through a calculator at 20 yard zero at 1050 fps and found that the bullet should be moving around 924 fps at 100 yards. I suspect this would make for a great deer hunting load and I want to try it sometime. This data came from Shooter's Reference. There wasn't any load data for the 230 grain XTP but I still want that arbitrary 1000 fps for some reason. I'm just stuck on that as being useable. Bullets have been ordered.
On a side note, I would love to see how these would do in a rifle, velocity-wise. They may do amazing.
Found load data for WinClean 244 7.3 to 8.5 grains for 1079 fps
200 grain data from 1895 Gunner
https://1895gunner.com/loaddata/45%20colt%20200gr%20hdy%20xtp.html
225 grain data from 1895 Gunner
https://1895gunner.com/loaddata/45%20colt%20225gr%20hdy%20ftx.html
Life update for March 2025: I'm being lazy on loading the 225 grain GT bullets and getting out. With the baby and a new work schedule, I no longer have the free days like I used to. I still plan on making and testing, I just need to motivate to actually load the 50 cases I have prepped. They will get the 225 gr GT bullets.
March Update #2: 225 grain cast HP from GT Bullets are loaded up with HS-6 and Win244 for testing. I just need to get out there and shoot. The Hornady XTP 200 gr bullets are en-route but USPS is being weird about the routing. After finding additional load data sources, the options start to open up for higher velocity loads using the 185 grain bullets. While I was intending to use cast 185 grain, it's possible to find load data for jacketed bullets for 244. As usual, I will continue to do research. 180 grain LRNFP 6.8 grains to 9.1 grains. HS-6 probably won't like the lower weight bullets.
March Update #3: HS-6 and 244 data for the 225 grain GT Bullets cast HP is now up. I'm also adding data for the 200 gr XTP for 244. The HS-6 data is showing in excess of 1100 fps from a 7 inch barrel which is very interesting but seeing how things went with 244, I'm very interested to see how the two will stack up to each other. I expect I will get my 1000 fps velocity with the HS-6 but I can't wait to see what the 244 will produce. I will put together another 50 round test string with the XTPs.
Triple Seven (777)
Triple Seven is a black powder substitute and needs to be treated like BP. Be extra careful.
200 grain RNFP from Oregon Trail (Target Only) - I have a bunch of these from before
Staring data: 35 grains by volume
Ending Data: 40 grains by volume (this is not a full case load and has mild compression)
Observed Velocities:
35 grain - 946 FPS Avg - ES 34 FPS
40 grain - 999 FPR Avg - ES 21 FPS (There was one reading that was much lower than the rest so I tossed it)
Shot Groups: No group data at this time as I didn't have enough loads to test velocity and accuracy. The Pietta's point of impact is very low and very left even from a rested position.
Notes: The Triple Seven loads with these bullets were fun. They were very smoky and the plume as entertaining. The 40 grain by volume load was very close to the 1000 FPS I'm looking for and I would bet that a 185 grain bullet would hit that. I don't know how these would do for hunting but I know how to find out.
WinClean 244
While I was looking for alternatives for Unique for bunnyfart/light loads, the burn chart had Universal and Winchester or WinClean 244. I didn't see Universal around but did find 244 at Bass Pro. I got a bottle on the way back from our 4th of July vacation. It was originally intended for the 105 grain 38 Special subsonic rounds for my Marlin CST but there are all the common pistol calibers including magnums. I figured I would try it out in .45 Colt to see if the SAA would fair any better.
225 grain LSWC HP from GT Bullets (Sized .452)
The load data I selected from the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center for a cast 225 bullet turns out to be for a double ended wadcutter cast bullet. The cast 230 grain bullet actually uses a higher charge weight which isn't surprising given how much lead is in contact with the barrel in the DEWC bullet. I'll be adjusting the load data upwards on the high end. I'm hoping to get around 1000 fps from my 4 inch barrel with a near-max load. I didn't start at the low end on this one. The original values are 6.0 grain at 849 fps up to 7.7 grains at 1044 fps 13500 PSI). I suspect I could run another tenth with these 225 grain bullets being that they are just a little bit lighter and still be within the safe pressure range. I also think that the cylinder could likely handle higher pressure than the 14000 PSI level. I suspect that based on the options for 45 ACP cylinders.
Adjusted Data - 6.0 grains 7.7 grains (849 to 1044 fps from a 7.5 inch barrel)
Observed Velocities:
7.5 grains - Avg - 874 FPS - ES - 16
7.6 grains - Avg - 867 FPS - ES - 18
7.7 grains - Avg - 897 FPS - ES - 22
Notes: I was pretty impressed with how the 244 did. I had hoped that I would get close to 1000 fps with the 225 gr bullets but I didn't.
200 grain Hornady XTP JHP - I want these for deer hunting. With the success of the 200 grain cas, I will just go straight to the heavier loads starting at 12.6 grains and working up to 13.0 gains.
Staring Data: 7.3 grains (839 FPS)
Ending Data: 8.5 grains (1091 FPS)
Observed Velocities:
8.1 gr -
8.3 gr -
8.5 gr -
Notes:
185 grain Cast from an MP Molds #10112 (Data is for a 180 grain)
Staring data: 6.8 grains (914 fps)
Ending Data: 9.1 grains (9.1 fps)
Velocities:
Shot Groups:
HS-6
200 grain RNFP from Oregon Trail (Target Only) - I have a bunch of these from before
I bypassed the lowest starting level and went straight to 12.0 grains and making 5 rounds each level for testing. I increased grain weight by .2 grains for each group.
Staring Data: 11.7 grains
Ending Data: 13.0 grains
Velocities:
12.0 gr - 905 FPS Avg - ES 30 FPS
12.2 gr - 927 FPS Avg - ES 142 FPS
12.4 gr - 942 FPS Avg - ES 61 FPS
12.6 gr - 952 FPS Avg - ES 57 FPS
12.8 gr - 1002 FPS Avg - ES 43 FPS
13.0 gr - 1007 FPS Avg - ES 80 FPS
Shot Groups: No group data at this time as I didn't have enough loads to test velocity and accuracy.
Notes: Some of extreme spreads where okay and others not so great. I have heard that HS-6 prefers a near max load and that 12.8 did pretty okay. I may stick with that one. I'd like to see how the 185 grain cast loads do but this gives me hope for the Hornady XTP's.
225 grain LSWC
This data was also updated as I had the wrong bullet data. See the 2025 updates for details about the 230 grain LSWC vs 225 DEWC. I ended up loading only two batches of 10 rounds each of 10.7 and 10.8 grains based on data sourced.
Observed Velocities:
10.7 gr - Avg - 814 FPS - ES - 78 FPS
10.8 gr - Avg - 838 FPS - ES 40 FPS
Notes: I was pretty disappointed with this situation. It's probably a combination of things like differences in bullet design with the original load data along with using the powder wrong. I didn't really think I would get 1000 fps with HS-6 and this bullet but I would have liked to see in the 950 range.
200 grain Hornady XTP JHP - I want these for deer hunting. With the success of the 200 grain cast, I will just go straight to the heavier loads starting at 12.8 grains and 13.0 gains. That will give me similar testing results to how things went with the Win 244 225 grain loads.
Staring Data: 11.7 grains
Ending Data: 13.0 grains
Observed Velocities:
12.8 gr -
13.0 gr -
Notes:
185 grain Cast from an MP Molds #10112
All the data I have for this is from forums and most everyone is using Unique. I'm having to extrapolate data from my Lyman book and from Hodgdon's website. The Lyman book's data for a 200 grain bullet is 11.2 grains of HS-6. The book tends to step down in powder charge dropping to 10.5 grains for max charge with a 250 grain bullet. I suspect that operating in the same charge range with the lighter bullet than the 200 grain load will work. I will start with the Lyman Cast Handbook data for a 200 grain bullet and end with the Hodgdon data. I suspect that those 13 grain charges are going to be pretty fast moving. I'm currently looking for 1000 fps from the 4 5/8 inch barrel.
Staring data: 11.2 grains
Ending Data: 13.0 grains
Observed Velocities:
Future Powders Section
This section is for powders I am interested in but haven't purchased or loaded anything with yet.
CFE Pistol
CFE Pistol is highly interesting as the Hodgdon website shows the highest velocities for .45 Colt with a 225 grain. Not that we are using it. I also found load data for .38 Special and 105 gr bullets meaning I can load subsonic plinking loads for the Marlin 1894 but I think this would specialize for 45 Colt.
225 grain LSWC
Staring data: 6.4 grains
Ending Data: 8.0 grains
Velocities:
Shot Groups:
185 grain Cast from an MP Molds #10112 (Data is for a 180 grain)
Staring data: 8.5 grains
Ending Data: 10.2 grains
Velocities:
Shot Groups:
Titegroup
225 grain LSWC
Staring data: 4.4 grains
Ending Data: 6.0 grains
Velocities:
Shot Groups:
185 grain Cast from an MP Molds #10112 (Data is for a 180 grain)
Staring data: 6.0 grains
Ending Data: 6.9 grains
Velocities:
Shot Groups:
HP-38
225 grain LSWC
Starting Data: 5.1 grains
Ending Data: 6.9 grains
Velocities:
Shot Groups:
185 grain Cast from an MP Molds #10112 (Data is for a 180 grain)
Staring data: 6.0 grains
Ending Data: 8.2 grains
Velocities:
Shot Groups:
