45 Long Colt Primer - Regular, Magnum, or Doesn't Matter?

[gungate]

Can I use either large pistol primers (300) or magnum large pistol primers (350) for 45 long colt?

 

[lazarus]

Can I use either large pistol primers (300) or magnum large pistol primers (350) for 45 long colt?

Sure. A reminder that they won’t behave quite the same and if you are close to maximum pressure, reduce and work backup if switching. I don’t think there’d be any powders that would be appropriate for 45LC that needs magnum primers.

 

[gungate]

Sure. A reminder that they won’t behave quite the same and if you are close to maximum pressure, reduce and work backup if switching. I don’t think there’d be any powders that would be appropriate for 45LC that needs magnum primers.

These are target loads at the low end of charge. I realized I have 2k of LPP and 1k of MLPP. I was wondering why I got both.

 

[lazarus]

These are target loads at the low end of charge. I realized I have 2k of LPP and 1k of MLPP. I was wondering why I got both.

Oh. What kind of powder and how low end?

A warning is that magnum primers, especially with a low powder charge is probably going to be a lot less consistent. Case fill and settling is a lot more of an issue there. Position insensitive powders would be a lot more important.

You also get that ever present “detonation” issue. Which I think is still bunk. But I still read guys have done it and seen it happen with a too low charge causing a detonation and blowing up their gun. 98% sure those few cases are really low case charge…and double charging it. Unless ridiculously low, double a very low charge, is still significantly over pressure for most powders and cartridges.

 

[gungate]

Oh. What kind of powder and how low end?

A warning is that magnum primers, especially with a low powder charge is probably going to be a lot less consistent. Case fill and settling is a lot more of an issue there. Position insensitive powders would be a lot more important.

You also get that ever present “detonation” issue. Which I think is still bunk. But I still read guys have done it and seen it happen with a too low charge causing a detonation and blowing up their gun. 98% sure those few cases are really low case charge…and double charging it. Unless ridiculously low, double a very low charge, is still significantly over pressure for most powders and cartridges.

Hodgen Titegroup 6.5g - 200gr RNFP

Most of what I am seeing is to use magnum primers.

 

[lazarus]

Hodgen Titegroup 6.5g - 200gr RNFP

Most of what I am seeing is to use magnum primers.

Hogdon is using a general Winchester LPP, but those are hot enough to be used with either. With TG regular primers should be fine. Magnum should also be fine.

Something a lot slower could cause issues in a Revolver with a magnum primer and a light charge, because it can kick the bullet out before proper combustion is really going and you vent a lot of extra gas out of the cylinder gap and now you’ve got a stuck bullet. That charge you shouldn’t be remotely close to that.

Sorry, I was thinking light charge was something well under the bottom end, like trying to get a 600fps mouse fart.

 

[LGood48]

Hodgen Titegroup 6.5g - 200gr RNFP

Most of what I am seeing is to use magnum primers.

I use Titegroup in my .45 Colt reloads. None of the data I have (Lee, Hodgdon, Sierra, Lyman and Hornady show anything other than standard LPP.

 

[Uncle Duke]

Hodgen Titegroup 6.5g - 200gr RNFP

Most of what I am seeing is to use magnum primers.

I'd be curious to know what data sources are specifying Magnum primers for Titegeoup.

 

[gungate]

I'd be curious to know what data sources are specifying Magnum primers for Titegeoup.

They aren't specifying "for Titegroup", it is more a generic, "Use LPM for 45LC".

Google Search

 

[Bisleyfan44]

I use Titegroup in my .45 Colt reloads. None of the data I have (Lee, Hodgdon, Sierra, Lyman and Hornady show anything other than standard LPP.

This is THE correct answer.

 

[Bisleyfan44]

They aren't specifying "for Titegroup", it is more a generic, "Use LPM for 45LC".

Google Search

Maybe with H110 or WW296 in upper end Ruger-only loads. Maybe.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Maybe with H110 or WW296 in upper end Ruger-only loads. Maybe.

Or sometimes with 4227 .

 

[John from MD]

I have been using Magnum primers with .45 Colt since the drought started. My normal load is 5.8gns of Red Dot behind a 200gn Lee bullet. There is no significant difference when switching primer types with this load.

While you can hear some difference if your hearing is good), at sixteen yards the bullet impact is right with those shot with standard primers. No case ruptures or any other issues in the couple of years I have been using them.

 

[ohen cepel]

Just checked my records, I haven't use a mag primer in any of my LC loads. Sure you could, but I try to keep the magnums for things which require a mag primer.

 

[pre64hunter]

Maybe with H110 or WW296 in upper end Ruger-only loads. Maybe.

Definitely with 296 magnum primers and don't load 296 light, stick to the load data. I had bad results near the low end of 296 load data with a hang fire type situation that could have blown up my gun, a first gen Colt Anaconda.

 

[trickg]

They aren't specifying "for Titegroup", it is more a generic, "Use LPM for 45LC".

Google Search

It's my understanding that Titegroup is a powder that doesn't care about where it is in the case at the time of firing, and I've never read anywhere that Titegroup needs a magnum primer. To the contrary, if anything I'd think that Titegroup should be used with standard primers.

On another note, out of curiosity I took some time today to go down through my Dad's reloading ledgers - 1958 until he passed in 1997 - to see what he loaded for 45 Colt. He probably forgot more about reloading than I'll ever know, so it's interesting to go through his ledgers to see if I can dig out some good information.

He almost exclusively used Unique to load 45 Colt, although he'd use Bullseye if he was specifically loading light, and he did a bit of experimenting with 2400, 4227 and Win 296. There is a solitary reference to loading with HP38 in 1995, but otherwise, it's almost all Unique.

 

[John from MD]

It's my understanding that Titegroup is a powder that doesn't care about where it is in the case at the time of firing, and I've never read anywhere that Titegroup needs a magnum primer. To the contrary, if anything I'd think that Titegroup should be used with standard primers.

On another note, out of curiosity I took some time today to go down through my Dad's reloading ledgers - 1958 until he passed in 1997 - to see what he loaded for 45 Colt. He probably forgot more about reloading than I'll ever know, so it's interesting to go through his ledgers to see if I can dig out some good information.

He almost exclusively used Unique to load 45 Colt, although he'd use Bullseye if he was specifically loading light, and he did a bit of experimenting with 2400, 4227 and Win 296. There is a solitary reference to loading with HP38 in 1995, but otherwise, it's almost all Unique.

Unique was the go to for the .45 Colt for a long time. 4227 is great for hunting loads.

 

[The Saint]

Like John, I too have been using whatever primers I had with no load change. Never noticed even a slight difference...so fair to say, at least with my cowboy action loads or BP loads....primer does not matter one bit.

 

[trickg]

Unique was the go to for the .45 Colt for a long time. 4227 is great for hunting loads.

Dad wasn't much of a pistol hunter - he did a lot of competing, but I don't think that 45 Colt was ever a go-to for that, so it would have mostly been for utility loads - shooting recreationally, or maybe on occasion shooting a coyote if a rifle wasn't handy at the time.

He loaded a bunch of 45 Colt in the early 90s, and I think that's because he and a friend picked up a couple of Uberti SAA clones. Otherwise the only other 45 Colts he had were I think an original first gen Colt SAA, and an 8" barrel Ruger Blackhawk.

 

[Uncle Duke]

It's my understanding that Titegroup is a powder that doesn't care about where it is in the case at the time of firing, and I've never read anywhere that Titegroup needs a magnum primer. To the contrary, if anything I'd think that Titegroup should be used with standard primers.

On another note, out of curiosity I took some time today to go down through my Dad's reloading ledgers - 1958 until he passed in 1997 - to see what he loaded for 45 Colt. He probably forgot more about reloading than I'll ever know, so it's interesting to go through his ledgers to see if I can dig out some good information.

He almost exclusively used Unique to load 45 Colt, although he'd use Bullseye if he was specifically loading light, and he did a bit of experimenting with 2400, 4227 and Win 296. There is a solitary reference to loading with HP38 in 1995, but otherwise, it's almost all Unique.

Unique and a 255 grain Keith have long been like ham and eggs with 45 Colt for a Colt SSA or Uberti clone revolver. Then probably around the time your Dad got his Ruger, that's when you start seeing the Magnum powders. Would make all kinds of sense. With the Ruger, he could range from mild to wild, and anywhere in between as the revolver is much stronger. Great round!