Performance advantage of original balloon head cases

[mashaffer]

Has anyone actually determined how much of a velocity improvement is to be had by getting the full 40 grains in a 45 Colt. Other than using actual balloon head cases perhaps someone with a 454 could load some up with 40gr of fffg and compare to the modern 45 Colt case (about 37 or 38 grains IIRC). It would be interesting to know just how important the extra capacity was as compared to just having better powder back in the day.

mike

[ddixie884]

Since there haven't been any balloon head cases made in many years, I guess your .454 suggestion is probably the best.........

[plowboysghost]

I can get 40-gr of 3F Goex under a Lee .452-255RF in modern cases all day long.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSRZa2zOfr4

[taffin]

Jun 27, 2020 10:23:04 GMT -5 mashaffer said:

Has anyone actually determined how much of a velocity improvement is to be had by getting the full 40 grains in a 45 Colt. Other than using actual balloon head cases perhaps someone with a 454 could load some up with 40gr of fffg and compare to the modern 45 Colt case (about 37 or 38 grains IIRC). It would be interesting to know just how important the extra capacity was as compared to just having better powder back in the day.

mike

OF COURSE "ANYONE" HAS! FROM MY BOOK "ACTION SHOOTING COWBOY STYLE": 40 GRAINS OF BLACK POWDER WITH A 255 GRAIN BULLET USING BALLOON HEAD BRASS, GOEX FFg, CCI #350 PRIMER GIVE 1,035 FPS FROM A 7-1/2" USFA .45 COLT. MODERN BRASS WILL HOLD 37.5 FFg AND CLOCKS OUT AT 928 FPS. WITH THE .44 WCF (.44-40), BALLOON HEAD BRASS, 40 FFg AND A 200 GRAIN BULLET IS ALSO OVER 1,000 FPS FROM A 7-1/2" BARREL. THE ORIGINAL .45 COLT LAODS PROVED TO BE TOO MUCH FOR AVERAGE TROOPERS SO THE .45 SCHOFIELD LOAD WAS USED LONG AFTER THE .45 S&W SCHOFIELD SIXGUN WAS DROPPED. 30 FFg AND A 230 GRAIN BULLET GIVES 860 FPS.

[ddixie884]

Mr. Taffin, I should have known you would have been there and done that. Good job............