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Recreating 45 ACP performance in BP

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Professor Marvel:
if one wishes to duplicate .45 ACP ballistics in a .45 Colt revolver,
one can get .45 Cowboy brass and load per .45 ACP recipes! Sort of what I do...


BUT  the OP has asked
"what loading of blackpowder would it take to create a revolver cartridge
with a performance comparable to the 45 ACP, with a velocity over 800 fps and energy around 350 J?"

A simple question.

data found from various sources on the web.
----------------------------------
.45 ACP:    230 gr FMJ   835 ft/s   356 ft⋅lb
Maximum pressure (SAAMI)   21,000 psi (140 MPa)
---------------------------------
.45 Schofeld:   230 gr Lead    730 ft/s   276 ft⋅lb
      250 gr Lead    710 ft/s   283 ft⋅lb

--------------------------------
.45 Colt   Maximum pressure (SAAMI)   14,000 psi

From a 7-1/2-inch barrel , BP loads:

35 grains BP    250 gr Lead   ~900 + fps
30 grains BP    250 gr Lead   ~800 + fps.

28 grains BP   230 gr lead    730-800 fps

your mileage WILL vary depending upon brand , lot, etc.
I have found Swiss to be cleaner and faster than GOEX
and Scheutzen to be right up with Swiss.

I myself would not worry about the difference between 28 gr and 30 gr as long as
the load was consistant and hit to POA. As previously pointed out, Modern .45 Colt cases won't hold as much BP as the old cases.

So, I would find a consistant load that fits in the case, compresses nicely, and use a firm crimp.
A chrony is your friend here!

More important is the right Lube, and enough of it.

a long and interesting discussion can be found here (especially KCSO's posts)
https://www.levergunscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=20916

yhs
prof marvel

SPJ:
After searching more online I think I would be better off if I could find more information on attempts to recreate the Frankford Arsenal .44 Martin cartridges like this fellow
https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=62381.0
https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=61387.0

This guys work on 44 Colt reloads is also very insightful
https://www.blackpowdercartridge.com/new-bullet-for-the-44-colt

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