Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles American Select powder and 45 colt

Good Day All, The only fast powder I could find to purchase locally within 100 miles was American Select. The data shows it is between Red and Green Dot but there is only 1 load given in the Alliant manual for a 230 gr bullet.I guess the lack of Data kept this dusty bottle on the shelf.
Would any one have any load data they can share? Can I use it like Red Dot in the 45 Colt? I use between 6.5 and 7.0 grains of Red Dot under a 250 gr hardcast bullet in my Rossi Trapper and Ruger with good results.
Thank-you kindly
Doc.

Judging by the other loads they show in other cartridges, I'd probably just stick with the 6.0 grain limit. Normally, if I can find data for a powder with a 'same' weight bullet in the 44 Mag, I'll use that as a way to find a max in my Ruger 45s. But the Alliant site doesn't show anything but for the 44 S&W (which is even less than the Colt) so that won't help. Some of those quick powders can turn on you with very slight variations, so I would probably start at 5.0 and see what your 20-grain-heavier bullet shows on the chrony, then work up as you're comfortable. Me, I've probably flirted with enough things in life so I quite comfortable keeping my hands, eyes and related appendages. 250 grains of lead moving 750-800 fps can be a lot of fun until something better comes along (and don't overlook stuff like 800-X and what-not if you see it; that's one we see from time to time even though more ordinary pistol powders don't show up much at all. 800-X is a bit coarse to measure, but it sure shoots well and gives decent speeds.)

Yes it looks like a kind of orphan powder that hasn't seen much use.Thanks kindly

The 1996 Alliant Reloader's Guide shows .45 Colt data for American Select.

Under the Cowboy Action Load Data section:

5 1/2" barrel
250 SWC
4.6 gr 603 fps no pressure shown
5.3 gr 706 fps no pressure shown

In the regular section they show

7.3" barrel
230 gr LRN
5.8 gr 810 fps 12,800 c.u.p.

250 gr Lead
5.5 gr 795 fps 13,000 c.u.p.

Michael

After a bit of testing IN MY GUNS I can load this powder with Red Dot Data. It is a touch slower and gives softer recoil and report.
I like it. I went up to Ruger Red Dot Data
Doc

It's very clean, cleaner than the "dots" and a good CAS powder.

Some years back, I measured powder residue from a number of CAS powders, using a .38 Spec, loading 150's to 600 fps.

Solo 1000 was the cleanest, Am. Select, very close.

Red Dot can be a tack driver with the .45 Colt.

DF