Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

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Scott Tschirhart
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Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

By Dave Scoville is one of the outstanding books of its type.

Not only is it chock full of detailed information about things you wouldn’t normally think about regarding getting accuracy from these guns, but Dave came by this information honestly.

Can you imagine shooting 80,000 plus rounds through a single Colt revolver?

This book is highly recommended.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by JimT »

That is an excellent book.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Paladin »

JimT wrote: Sun May 12, 2024 8:38 pm That is an excellent book.

+1
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Kinda puts to bed the idea that a SAA is delicate.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Walt »

Also an excellent book, Dave Scoville's follow-up "Colt's Single Action Army - Loading and shooting the Peacemaker".
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

I have that one as well. It’s giving me ideas about a replacement for Unique.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Walt »

They're both great books; "bibles" to me and have gorgeous pictures of Colt SAAs. They also have detailed suggestions of what has worked for the author through decades of experience.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by black river smith »

Glad to hear all the good additional comments about this book. After seeing the first three posting I went out to Amazon and found a copy and bought it, just to see his research findings. Can't wait to start to read it, after these postings.

Thanks for the reference.

Sideline comment to the LOSS of Unique powder. I used Unique exclusively for my smokeless powder shooting for 30+ years. Back several years ago when everything seemed to dry up from the retail shelves, I did decided that I needed to find the right or adequate substitute. I eventually settled on -- was Hodgdon Universal.

What I will miss and hope I can find still is Bullseye for my 41LC load. Unique was inadequate for this cartridge.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Pat C »

Just snagged a like new 1996 copy for $10.95 on ebay
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Walt »

Black River Smith, there are several powders that will substitute well for Bullseye. Accurate Arms #2, Red Dot, Power Pistol and TiteGroup ought to work just fine. Of those, TiteGroup is my favorite. It's a very versatile powder which works well through a broad range of pressure levels just like Unique.....except that it's available, more economical and meters more evenly.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Everyone tells me that I should try Universal but I’ve never seen it available on the shelves.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Griff »

And here I expected to see Load one, skip one, load 4, pull to full cock and release the hammer on the empty chamber. :)
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Grizz »

Griff wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 7:53 pm And here I expected to see Load one, skip one, load 4, pull to full cock and release the hammer on the empty chamber. :)
I thought the same thing. Bill Ruger saved my life. He invented the transfer-bar safety just for me. So I wouldn't wind up with 4 ADs. ;)
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

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Walt wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 7:04 pm Black River Smith, there are several powders that will substitute well for Bullseye. Accurate Arms #2, Red Dot, Power Pistol and TiteGroup ought to work just fine. Of those, TiteGroup is my favorite. It's a very versatile powder which works well through a broad range of pressure levels just like Unique.....except that it's available, more economical and meters more evenly.
Walt,
Thanks for the suggestions. I will keep a-look-out for any of those you recommended. I have Red Dot but never thought of it as a Bullseye substitute. Yes, hotter than Unique -- But. Never looked at TiteGroup, either. Can't even say I have seen it in retailers around my area. I will look and ask. Thanks again.

Pat C,
"Just snagged a like new 1996 copy for $10.95 on ebay"

That is a very nice price. When I looked on ebay days ago they were all in the $50 - $60 price range. My copy is also the 1996 copy, listed as Very Good(whatever that really means -- can be questionable). But states all pages are there -- that is a darn good thing. :roll: I gave $22 for my copy. So, like I said you got a very good price.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Comments that I agree with:
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Pat C »

There are four or five currently on ebay for $20-$23 , one even has reloading manual with it for $23.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by JimT »

I use a lot of Green Dot in the .45 Colt as well as 700X. The 'shotgun' powders work quite nicely.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Walt »

Thanks for the load suggestions, Jim....and some mighty fine shooting!
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Rockrat »

I think Universal has been discontinued

Also, how sharp should the firing pin be on a SAA? I picked up a nickled 357mag that pierces primers regularly. Even with factory 38 spcl ammo. If you dropped the hammer on your finger, you would have quite a hole in your finger.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Try taking a file to it and blunting the point of it a bit
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Walt wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 7:04 pm Black River Smith, there are several powders that will substitute well for Bullseye. Accurate Arms #2, Red Dot, Power Pistol and TiteGroup ought to work just fine. Of those, TiteGroup is my favorite. It's a very versatile powder which works well through a broad range of pressure levels just like Unique.....except that it's available, more economical and meters more evenly.
Walt,

I bought a pound of TiteGroup this afternoon. No Unique to be found anywhere. Thanks for the tip.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Griff »

I've been using RedDot in my 45 Colts for nearly 35 years. I now keep at least one full 8 lb jug on hand.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

I was looking for a replacement for Unique.

It looks like TiteGroup is a versatile powder for my range of loads. The label has a recommended charge weight of 6.2 grains under a 250 gr LRNFP for 881 fps. That’s quite useful if it shoots well.

Brian Pearce recommends 7.5 grains under an RCBS 45-270-SAA (in a Colt SAA) for 950 to 1000 fps. That’s a hunting load.

Looking forward to the experiment.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by black river smith »

Walt wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 7:04 pm Black River Smith, there are several powders that will substitute well for Bullseye. Accurate Arms #2, Red Dot, Power Pistol and TiteGroup ought to work just fine. Of those, TiteGroup is my favorite. It's a very versatile powder which works well through a broad range of pressure levels just like Unique.....except that it's available, more economical and meters more evenly.
Walt,
I do want to thank you for your suggests on a substitute. This posting seems to have disappeared from my view until now coming back up and re-read through everything. I am not always out at the local shops lately but I will definitely keep and eye out for Titegroup. I still have 1-1/2 #'s of Red Dot but did not think of using it before.

Thanks again for the list.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Walt »

I admit that small standard deviations are no guarantee of accuracy but my 6.2 gr loads using Titegroup under 250 gr bullets in .45 Colt usually run between 2 and 6 fps SD and that's a big step in the right direction.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

Walt wrote: Tue Jul 09, 2024 12:24 pm I admit that small standard deviations are no guarantee of accuracy but my 6.2 gr loads using Titegroup under 250 gr bullets in .45 Colt usually run between 2 and 6 fps SD and that's a big step in the right direction.
That’s really consistent!
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

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Griff wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 7:53 pm And here I expected to see Load one, skip one, load 4, pull to full cock and release the hammer on the empty chamber. :)
LOL me too...!

I like books like that though, that focus on one gun or one cartridge. Especially if written by one of the Old School types, who wrings every potential out of their firearm, and takes notes.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Walt »

Interesting video, thanks.

I will say that I question the consistency of Berry's bullets. They are probably okay but I don't use them. I am a fan of S & S cast bullets in relatively low velocity loads like .44 special and .45 Colt. I cast for any higher velocity loads in .357, .41 mag, .44 mag, .45 Colt and .454 Casull. My chronographing of .45 Colt loads has mostly been done with 5 1/2" barrels so my velocities are about 15 fps faster than his results in the video. I can't say exactly why my standard deviations are somewhat lower than his but again, I'm a fan of conventional lube grooves rather than the bullets coated with lube that he used.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

I prefer the traditional lube groove bullets as well. But I gotta tell you that those Bear Creek bullets really shoot well in my sixguns and carbines.
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Re: Loading the Peacemaker, Colt’s Model P

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Keep the power within design limits, and lots of well designed mechanical items last a long time. The Colt Peacemaker was well designed.
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