Lee 340 grain load

[Lead melter]

My very first mold was a Lee 340 grain .457" plain base. I had come upon a deal of $15 for 150 unfired Winchester 45-70 brass formed for use in a 40-65. I needed a fireforming load and hence, the Lee came into my possession and has sat in the factory box since then.

My method was to seat a Remington 405 grainer nose first into the case to expand the neck, pull the bullet with an inertial puller, then seat the Lee boolit over 10 grains Unique. Got kind of an hourglass figure, but they formed perfectly.

My question is twofold:
What is a decent 1200-1500 fps load for this boolit, hopefully using Unique powder?
Has anyone toyed with the idea of using this boolit, sized accordingly, as a basis for a heavy 45 Colt load? I know it will size to .454" or .452" as I do this sizing step using the Lee 405 grainer, cast in soft lead, for use in my .45 front-stuffer?

If you have some data for the Colt load, that may be my next project. Seems like the nose profile would be just fine for my Win '94 Legacy.

[bobv]

A couple of years ago I had Win Legacy in 45 LC and tried the Lee 340 sized to .454 or .452 ( don't remember) loaded them with 2400 ( also forgot load data) It worked OK and some good recoil. I have an article on the subject I believe by Paco Kelly. Which stated the correct loads for the Win rifle , and warnings also!!Like I said it was fun to shoot and had a good punch. I'll try and find the article.
Bob

[ktw]

I use this bullet in a Winchester 94 45 Colt Trapper

My carbine has a large chamber. A fired/unsized case will accept a bullet sized at .457 so thats the way I load them.

The two loads I use most often are
21.0 gr H110/CCI350 for around 1380 fps in the 16" barrel.
16.0 gr 2400/CCI300 for around 1200 fps

I have never tried it with Unique.


-ktw

[Buckshot]

..................Like this?

http://www.fototime.com/68E891AD4F08210/standard.jpg

While my Legasy/Rossi M92 clone (rifle) has not demonstrated 'Tackdriverishness' :-) it does shoot these pretty well. Or was well as anything I've put through it to date. Considering I undertsand it has a 38" twist. Shame on me I've never bothered to check. As with the Lee 457-405F this 340gr slugs also drops a bit smaller then I and most other folks would care for, however it makes it easy to size down. My Rossi will swallow a cartridge with it sized .456".

My Ruger Vaquero shoots it exceedingly well, but I've not loaded it hotter then about 920 fps (7.5" bbl). The rifle will back off smartly using this slug, and a few peppy loads I've used.

................Buckshot