45 Colt loading with Unique and Lead RNFP?

[ClemBert]

I've been loading Colt 45 with: Starline brass, Winchester LP primers, Goex 35 grain black powder, Walter Wad, and a 250 grain lead RNFP bullet. So I have a little experience with 45 Colt.

My questions are in regard to using smokeless powder. I picked up a pound of Unique and plan to use the same 250 grain lead RNFP bullet. My Lyman guide shows the weighed Unique charge to be from 6.3 gr (754 fps) to 8.2 gr (931 fps). My questions are:

1. What is the largest Unique load that your guide shows for a lead 250 grain RNFP bullet?
2. What is the highest feet per second achievable with this bullet and it not be considered to be a +P load?
3. Am I limited pretty much to ~900 fps on the top end if I don't want leading to occur in the barrel?
4. Is smokeless lube always a must for this cartridge given the barrel length is between 3" to 7.5"? I'm not planning on any rifle shooting.

 

[jmortimer]

Ir you go to the Alliant web site you will see a max load of 9.5 grains for a 250 grain lead bullet. Not sure what gun you are using but I would go with 8.5 to 9 grains max.

 

[Hammonje]

My best load was 8.0 gr Unique with a 250 gr LRNFP in a .45 Colt M92 rifle and Ruger Vaquero. Brass was Starline/Wolf LP Primer/OAL 1.55".

Do not have velocity data yet. Only a matter of time since I own a chronograph. accuracy compared with 7.5 and 8.5 gr load.

 

[GeauxTide]

If your revolver is rated for 14,000psi loads, stick to the 8.0gr load. In my Blackhawk and Bisley, my favorite load is 10gr under a 275 LFN. Many complain about Unique being dirty, but I've used it for 40 years in lead loads for 357, 41, 44m, 45acp, and 45lc. Very efficient and accurate loads are easily produced.

 

[Pathfinder45]

Unique and .45 Colt

With 250 and 255 grain cast bullets I've experimented with various charge weights ranging from 8.0 to 10.5 grains in my Ruger Vaquero; all with good results. I've settled on 9.5 grains that gives me all I want from Unique. It must be mentioned that anything over 9.0 grains is not safe for many .45 Colt revolvers. Even 8.0 grains can be considered maximum for older guns. Clembert, tell us which gun you are loading for. A long time ago I had a 1902 vintage Colt Single Action that shot really well using 8.0 grains of Unique. Although there are other good powders for the catridge; if all you have is Unique; it makes for a very happy union with .45 Colt. Unique is still one of the very best powders for .45 Colt.

 

[mkl]

Eight grains of Unique is my "go to" load in the 45 Colt. I use it for everything from 200 to 250 grain bullets. I've tried a bunch of different powders in several different guns, and that eight grain Unique load seems to always give the smallest standard deviation in my chrony.

No leading and burns clean in my guns.

 

[ClemBert]

Clembert, tell us which gun you are loading for.

I've been shooting 45 Colt through my SS Ruger Old Army with 7.5" barrel. However, I also have a Taurus Judge with a 3" barrel. I bought the Taurus Judge as a fun niche firearms to be used for rattlesnakes, car jackers, etc. but I'd like to try out some 45 Colt through it for grins. I figure I might as well use the LRNFP bullets I use for blackpowder shooting. They come with smokeless powder lube. If it matters, the Taurus is a SS 3" cylinder version with 3" barrel.

p.s. the ROA has a 45 Colt conversion cylinder installed if anyone was thinking WTH....

 

[Scorch]

My standard load for the 45 Colt with 250 gr LRNFP is 8.0 gr of Unique with a Winchester LP primer.

 

[Doodlebugger45]

There is a difference between swaged lead bullets vs. hard cast bullets. I know black powder shooters often use the soft pure lead bullets. I have never used anything but very hard cast bullets. I have shot my 454, 45 Colt and 480 Ruger up to 1400 fps and didn't encounter leading. With soft lead bullets though, I don't know.

 

[ClemBert]

The bullets I'm using are .452 cast bullets with composition: 92% lead, 6% antimony, 2% tin with a Brinell Hardness Number of 18.

It looks like the overall consensus is that 8 grains of Unique is optimal or at least a very desirable load for 45 Colt.

 

[Hammonje]

It depends on whether you are at the range/farm or wandering around hunting grizzly bears in AK.

The Ruger Blackhawk or Vaquero will throw some nasty hollow points rounds.

I mess around with my Puma M92 and Vauqero's. The accuracy out of the 24" M92 is great. I get about a 3-4 MOA group at 100 yards. I am shooting at playing cards and not breaking much of a sweat to hit them from a sitting position. You are throwing a pistol round out to 100 and the lack of velocity allows environmental factors to open you up some. You can put them all through the same hole at 50 yds.

 

[Doodlebugger45]

Hammonje,

I am intrigued by your results in the Puma 92. I have been doing a lot of experimenting with the 45 Colt cases fired in my 454 Casull revolver. Do you consider the Puma to be strong enough to shoot the 45 Colt rounds recommended as "Ruger only"? Yeah, I know I can buy a Puma that is chambered in .454 Casull, but...a couple friends bought those and they don't cycle a .454 round worth a dang. After my experimenting with .45 Colt cases pushed way harder though, I'm thinking it might not be any handicap though as long as the firearm can handle the pressures of some of these .45 Colt loads I have been shooting in my BFR revolver.

 

[Hammonje]

I doubt the Puma would stand up to Ruger only loads. It's not a beefy receiver. You don't need to load em hot anyhow since you have a 16, 20, or 24" barrel to push them as compared to a pistol with a 5.5" barrel.

The 8.0 gr Unique load in Starline cases was dead on. Why do I need more velocity???? I want accuracy. The round does not lend itself to even mid-range performance.

 

[velocette]

ClemBert;
I too have found that 8.0 gr of Unique is an excellent load for the 250 gr bullet in .45 Colt. However I have discovered that Unique can be hard to find occasionally. I have substituted Hodgdon's Universal (clays) for Unique with excellent results. Its a little cleaner and a little more energetic. The manuals claim it yields slightly higher velocitys with equal or lower pressure. 7.5 gr of Universal is roughly equal to 8.0 gr of Unique.

This for when you cannot find your favorite.

Roger

 

[Clark]

Hammonje
Member

Join Date: January 11, 2010
Location: Lilburn, GA
Posts: 57

I doubt the Puma would stand up to Ruger only loads. It's not a beefy receiver. You don't need to load em hot anyhow since you have a 16, 20, or 24" barrel to push them as compared to a pistol with a 5.5" barrel.

The 8.0 gr Unique load in Starline cases was dead on. Why do I need more velocity???? I want accuracy. The round does not lend itself to even mid-range performance.

Isn't there a 454 Casull Puma?
http://www.notpurfect.com/main/puma.html

I have been shooting 25 kpsi loads in the weaker 1894 action, and it kicks like a mule.