Smoke free 45 Colt powder?

[45reloader]

I'm not sure if it's just me being picky but I seem to remember my last reloads smoking less then this last batch.

Maybe it's me.

But before I buy anymore powder what powder do you use?

 

[Jim Watson]

What bullets? Most of the smoke is from smoldering cast bullet lube.

 

[Mal H]

I agree with Jim, most of the smoke is due to the lube on lead bullets, and lead is almost always what folks use in .45 Colt.

However since you asked about powder, I have been using Universal Clays quite a bit in my .45 Colt loads and it burns very cleanly. I still get smoke from the lube, but the cases are clean - no soot.

 

[45reloader]

I always pick up the Oregon Trail Laser-Cast Bullets at Cabela's.

Never had an issue before.

Maybe I'll order the RLN from penn bullets also.Always used them for just hard cast hunting lead bullets before.Just to save on shipping,and I use my Cabela's points to buy bullets at the store,which really keeps the price low.

 

[Ruger4570]

For most of my 45 LC rounds I use Herco. I never noticed any freat amount of smoke from my loads, other than the few Black Powder ones.

 

[subierex]

It doesn't seem to be Titegroup. I shoot 200gr LRNFP (from Kempfs) target loads in my (Rossi) 1892 45 Colt and it smokes quite a bit from the breech. Also, the brass is badly sooted (?) on one side. I love this load though as it seems very consistent/accurate.

I plan on trying Unique for my next batch, but I'm not holding out any hope for cleaner burn.

 

[Linear Thinker]

Win231 smokes very little in 45 Colt, but I don't use open lead bullets any longer. Experimenting with Trail Boss, very little smoke with a mild load of 5.6 grains under 250gr Rainier copper-plated heads.
LT

 

[Slamfire]

I believe that most of the smoke is from bullet lubes. There may be some from powder residue, but it is not enough that I can recall any. And I have been shooting 45 LC's since 1987, shot at least 10,000 rounds with a 255 L and 8.5 grains Unique.

Smoke does not make any difference on target. So I think the emphasis on "clean" burning powders is "much ado about nothing".