Unique Max Loads for .45 Colt?

[Southern Shooter]

184587
I am a bit confused. The Alliant Powder page shows 9.5 grains of Unique as the max charge for both the 200 gr SWC and the 250 gr SWC. Is there an error, here?
Are these max charges considered "standard pressure" for .45 Colt?

Thank you

[DougGuy]

No because Unique can become spiky and unpredictable at 10.0gr and above in this caliber. I have not had any issues with Unique but I personally will not load 10.0gr of it behind *any* boolit in 45 Colt.

9.5gr is about max for Colt and Colt clones under a 255gr boolit.

[Southern Shooter]

So, 9.5 gr of Unique under a 250 gr cast boolit is at or below the 14,000 psi mark?

[Der Gebirgsjager]

250/255 gr. boolit I use 8.0-8.5 gr. Unique in my Italian Colt clones, and notice the difference between the two. Personally, I never go above 8.5 gr., and would think when you're up in the 9-10 gr. range they are best used in Ruger Blackhawks. Too warm for my taste.

[gwpercle]

Here is what Lyman #4 has to say on 45 Colt, maximum Unique , standard pressure loads:
Lee 452-200-RF , 200 gr. - 9.4 grains Unique
Lyman 452460 , 200 gr. SWC - 9.6 grains Unique

Lyman # 454190 , 250 gr. SWC - 9.0 grains Unique
Lyman # 452664 , 250 gr. RF - 8.2 grains Unique

Now we are all confused! I would go with Lyman data , it seems to be more complete and tested for a particular boolit design .
Gary

[Boogieman]

The new ,cleaner burning Unique, seems a little faster burning than the old. I would use the latest data.

[Greebe]

I have Lyman showing a Ruger & TC Only load for the #454190 250gr with 11.5 gr as MAX load with a velocity of 1185 out of 10" TC.

That data is from 2000 ish. Much higher then you see today. I have shot thousands of 250 gr lead .45 Colt with 10 gr Unique in Ruger Blackhawks and Winchester 94 and 92's. Never had a problem.

Who knows, maybe the formula has changed or the lawyers have changed.

[runfiverun]

to get it cleaner burning you have to add something, my guess is nitro glycerin.
2% nitro will make a powder burn cleaner but also a bit quicker it would also get a bit spikier at the top end.


9.5 grs is a pretty stout load, I wouldn't want to touch one off in my USFA's.
[not too bad in the lever gun]
8.5 not so bad, but I wouldn't appreciate a steady diet of them either, except in my ruger new model Blackhawk.
once I get much over 9-9.5grs of unique it's time to move along to 2400 or something similar.

[Love Life]

I got stuck cases at 10 gr of Unique in my USFA. Backed it down to a lowly 8.5 grains.

[Southern Shooter]

8.5 gr of Unique and a 250 gr boolit is no slouch, huh?

[Seeker]

My favorite and most accurate load out of my Blackhawk and Henry Steel is 10.5 grs. of Unique behind a 250 gr. Xtp. I don't have a favorite one with lead boolits yet...they all shoot good.

[Love Life]

8.5 gr of Unique and a 250 gr boolit is no slouch, huh?

No, it is not! I eventually changed to loading with black powder. I like the boom.

[runfiverun]

it's not as wimpy as you'd think, it's a bit over black powder velocity's.

it's good to see you posting again Dick.

[Love Life]

it's not as wimpy as you'd think, it's a bit over black powder velocity's.

it's good to see you posting again Dick.

It'll poke holes in things.

It's good to be back. A lot of new faces, and it's good to see a lot of the old members still around.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I avoided any confusion by staying with 6.5 Gr. of Red Dot with a 255 Gr. 50/50 alloy boolet to about equal the old original load velocity of +/- 900 FPS. That is a pleasant load to shoot either at paper or critters. I`ve taken a whitetail at 25 yds with this load so I know it`ll work.Robert

[MyFlatline]

I think the confusion is between pistol/older rifle data and the TC/newer rifles.
My Henry BBS handles 10 grains of Unique and a 255 superbly.
184644

[762 shooter]

It'll poke holes in things.

It's good to be back. A lot of new faces, and it's good to see a lot of the old members still around.

I missed you LL.

762

[44man]

Yes it works fine but I found the .45 only needs 7 gr for fun. Accurate for cans at 50 yards.
I found no advantage to increase except for hunting. But working for velocity with Unique is folly anyway. Better powders for that. Yet 10 gr is still all you need. It takes modern steels and the Colt factory loads are made for the weakest of the weak too. Like the 45-70, guns have limits. Even modern replicas might be only as strong as the first Colts.
They do not use Carpenter steel.

[Lloyd Smale]

9.3 has always been a sweet spot for 255s in my 45s. Seems to do best in most of them. If I want more power then that I will usually go to 2400.

[waco]

It'll poke holes in things.

It's good to be back. A lot of new faces, and it's good to see a lot of the old members still around.
Dick! Long time no see! How have you been?

[runfiverun]

9.3 is good in the 44 mag too.

[oldblinddog]

I used to shoot (circa 1980) a 6" S&W 25-5 .45 Colt loaded with 9.0 gr of Unique under a RCBS 250 gr Keith type bullet sized .452". The case was crimped behind the front scraping band. These loads were exceedingly accurate and entirely safe in the Smith.

[PositiveCaster]

I am a bit confused. The Alliant Powder page shows 9.5 grains of Unique as the max charge for both the 200 gr SWC and the 250 gr SWC. Is there an error, here?
Are these max charges considered "standard pressure" for .45 Colt?
Oddly, this lead bullet data is identical to that in the Speer No. 14 Manual. Yes, this data meets SAAMI specs, in fact it is probably comfortably below 14,000 CUP.


.

[Smoke4320]

I think the confusion is between pistol/older rifle data and the TC/newer rifles.
My Henry BBS handles 10 grains of Unique and a 255 superbly.
184644
Which 255 gr bullet

[Lloyd Smale]

yes it is my friend. Don't know what it is about that load weight but it just seems to work. Loading 44s is where I kind of discovered it.
9.3 is good in the 44 mag too.

[MyFlatline]

Which 255 gr bullet

Accurate 45-255A

[Smoke4320]

MyFlatline thanks for that reply
Also what distance was that target

[MyFlatline]

MyFlatline thanks for that reply
Also what distance was that target

50 yards . I have a place 15 minutes from the house for testing, sure is nice.

[runfiverun]

that's where I got it from too, then switched it over.
I sent some stuff to Sam a while back and now that's his 44 load.

I worked the 8.5 load because of the lighter revolvers and it also works in the 41 mag.
but in the .4 type lever guns at 25-40yds it will efficiently take out the 1" dots in the little [racing] games we play around here.

[Doog-Meister]

8.5 gr Unique with a 250 gr cast SWC Boolit has been my go-to 45LC load for many years.

IMO, if you need more oomph - shoot jacketed bullets in a Ruger Blackhawk, or get a .44 mag.

[Moonie]

8.5 gr Unique with a 250 gr cast SWC Boolit has been my go-to 45LC load for many years.

IMO, if you need more oomph - shoot jacketed bullets in a Ruger Blackhawk, or get a .44 mag.

I don't think that most any 45 caliber jacketed bullets would equal my 325gr HP cast boolit when cast from the proper alloy above 21gr of H110/W296.

[Idaho45guy]

Sorry to dig up a thread from the grave...

Was shooting my new Henry Big Boy X today and the load it liked best that was "hot" for bear and wolf defense was 10.5 grains of Unique behind a Hornady XTP. 1.5" group at 55 yards using a red dot and my +50 eyes. Didn't feel all that hot and everything looked good. This load was one I had made a few years ago and was doing an internet search to see just how hot it was and found this thread.

No idea how robust the new Henry actions are, but the load performed well and felt rather tame.

275707

[Land Owner]

My Ruger NM Blackhawk, without leading, digests 10.5 gr. of Unique under a 255 gr. Lyman #454190, which I also use interchangeably in my H&R Buffalo Classic! What a pair of guns and FUN as HECK to shoot.

[cwlongshot]

Hello Richard!!

U
Yup Unique a d the 45Colt lineage goes back decades... At one time its only powder listed for 45Colt "reloads"!!

CW

[kcajeel]

You guys have restarted my fire with your 45Colt rantings. My Ruger has been out in my barn safe for 5 or 6 years and forgotten. I'm going out there now and loading some bullets. Gonna look at my notes but 9 grains sounds pretty good to me.

Enjoy the winter, and keep yourself safe.

[DougGuy]

10.5gr is too hot for a Colt or Italian clone. Not sure it isn't over 45 ACP+P of 23,000psi but it has to be close, this would be max in a medium frame Ruger (three digit prefix serial number).

[Walks]

I've always been curious as to why the Lyman manual lists 8.5grs of Unique under the #452424/#454424 as max, and 9.0grs of Unique over the #454190 as max.
There's only 5grs difference in weight, so I've always thought it must be bearing surface.

I've tried 10.0grs of Unique under the Lyman #452424 and RCBS #45-255-SWC in both the Ruger Blackhawk and S&W M25. Accuracy as lousy, so I settled on 8.0grs of Unique. Gave me groups down to 2.0" in a Ruger. Best I could do.

I've always used a .44Mag Load of the Lyman #429421 over 9.5grs Unique as a great target load. Accurate as you could want.

[Midohhntr]

I just shot a few in my Ruger Blackhawk with 9 gr of Unique and the Lee 452-255 wfn , sized to .452. Granted only 10 rounds was shot but it was pleasant to shoot and accurate, no discernable leading in the barrel. kcajeel, try it, you'll like it..

[fredj338]

No because Unique can become spiky and unpredictable at 10.0gr and above in this caliber. I have not had any issues with Unique but I personally will not load 10.0gr of it behind *any* boolit in 45 Colt.

9.5gr is about max for Colt and Colt clones under a 255gr boolit.

I dont think Unique gets spiky in any caliber imo. Alient is putting out data for old SAA revos. You can certainly run hotter in Ruger BH. Personally I never understood running a given powder to max when you can just go to the next slower one.

[PositiveCaster]

I've always been curious as to why the Lyman manual lists 8.5grs of Unique under the #452424/#454424 as max, and 9.0grs of Unique over the #454190 as max.
There's only 5grs difference in weight, so I've always thought it must be bearing surface....

Yes, but the former is seated to a shorter loa by crimping over the front driving band. The result is that the powder capacity is likely smaller - longer bullet seated deeper. Their Ruger loads show the same discrepancy, in that case 10.2 and 11.5 grains.

I haven’t seen Unique to be at all spiky in the .45 LC either.



.

[Walks]

PositiveCaster,

I don't seat the #452424 to crimp over the front driving band, I seat in the crimping groove.
That works just fine in S&W M25-5, and all Rugers. Too long for Colt SAA's & clones.
For them I load the #452423 or N.O.E. equivalent.
When I actually do load a SWC in .45Colt.

[Idaho45guy]

Interesting. My Nosler reloading manual lists the max load of Unique for a 250 grain JHP at 11.3 grains. For Ruger-only loads.

275817

For Colt SAA, it doesn't even list Unique.

275818

[PositiveCaster]

...I don't seat the #452424 to crimp over the front driving band, I seat in the crimping groove....

That’s wonderful, but your question was about why Lyman’s data showed different charges for the two bullets. That was what I answered for you......




.

[Lloyd Smale]

that's where I got it from too, then switched it over.
I sent some stuff to Sam a while back and now that's his 44 load.

I worked the 8.5 load because of the lighter revolvers and it also works in the 41 mag.
but in the .4 type lever guns at 25-40yds it will efficiently take out the 1" dots in the little [racing] games we play around here.

8.5 with a 225 is my go to 41 mag load

[kingrj]

Unique is a great powder for just about any handgun cartridge...But for me Power Pistol in the .45 Colt seems to be an excellent alternative. Its burning rate is just a little slower than Unique..For full power Ruger Only loads 11 grains with a Lyman 452424 255 grain cast bullet gives me an average of 1050 fps from a 4 5/8" barrel. Cases fall out and shot to shot velocity variation is very low. Seems to work out that you can duplicate Unique load performance with about ONE more grain of Power Pistol. There is not a whole lot of data out there for PP usage in the .45 Colt but it seems to work very good for my "midrange Ruger Only loads".

[dondiego]

Unique is a great powder for just about any handgun cartridge...But for me Power Pistol in the .45 Colt seems to be an excellent alternative. Its burning rate is just a little slower than Unique..For full power Ruger Only loads 11 grains with a Lyman 452424 255 grain cast bullet gives me an average of 1050 fps from a 4 5/8" barrel. Cases fall out and shot to shot velocity variation is very low. Seems to work out that you can duplicate Unique load performance with about ONE more grain of Power Pistol. There is not a whole lot of data out there for PP usage in the .45 Colt but it seems to work very good for my "midrange Ruger Only loads".

Sounds like Power Pistol is a lot like Herco. I like Herco but have never used PP.

[kingrj]

The burning rate for Herco is very similar to PP..I have not used any Herco so I cannot comment on how it does in the .45 Colt but I would think it would be excellent..

[pls1911]

Blackhawk shooter here.
My "universal" load for the .45 colt/ 250 grain slug is 9.0 grains Unique, mostly because I have a substantial stash of the stuff. It's a pig killin' recipe.
I've used the same charge under the RCBS 270-SAA (heavier in my alloy), and truthfully cannot feel any difference, but believe 8.5 grains would still give 850-900 fps and be a bit more prudent loading.

[Idaho45guy]

Actually chronographed those loads in the Henry today and got an average of 1200 fps and 1" groups...

294643

[Larry Gibson]

The difference in pressure between various different cast bullets of essentially the same weight over Unique is simply a function of seating depth. For example, in Starline cases with Fed 150 primers the 454190 seated to and oal of 1.589 over 8.5 gr Unique gave a measured pressure of 18,000 psi. When seated to an oal of 1.664 the measured psi was 15,700.

It's the same reason different max pressure loads are listed for the 454190 and 454425. Also, the earlier listed Alliant load "max" load for the 200 gr bullet may have been a "max" load not because of pressure but because of the alloy used in the bullet.

Do not assume the max loads listed in manuals are based solely on SAAMI MAPs. The max load may, or may not, give a pressure equal to the SAAMI MAP. There are other numerous other reasons why "max" loads are listed. Pressure is only one of them.

[outdoorfan]

Actually chronographed those loads in the Henry today and got an average of 1200 fps and 1" groups...

294643

Interesting. I get almost 1300 out of my Henry X model. Load is 10.6 grs Unique and Noe 250 gr hp

[Idaho45guy]

Interesting. I get almost 1300 out of my Henry X model. Load is 10.6 grs Unique and Noe 250 gr hp

Good info. I may be bumping up the charge a little to see how it does. Don't want to lose that accuracy, though.

[outdoorfan]

Good info. I may be bumping up the charge a little to see how it does. Don't want to lose that accuracy, though.

Yes, good point!

10.6 grs was max with Unique and still able to hold good accuracy with my ~10 bhn bullets.

I found that I could also use CFE pistol at the same 10.6 grains and achieve slightly better than 1300 fps with the same bullet in the same Henry. That load also does 1020 fps in the S&W mountain gun.

[fredj338]

Yes, good point!

10.6 grs was max with Unique and still able to hold good accuracy with my ~10 bhn bullets.

I found that I could also use CFE pistol at the same 10.6 grains and achieve slightly better than 1300 fps with the same bullet in the same Henry. That load also does 1020 fps in the S&W mountain gun.

In the huge colt case, isnt affecting pressures much with Unique.

[Pavia]

8.5gr of Unique over a 250gr boolit is safe and effective in anything chambered in 45 Colt after World War One.

[Char-Gar]

I have been loading Unique in the 45 Colt for a very long time. I will not use more than 9 grains with a 250 cast bullet. I drop down to 8.5 for regular use.

Nothing to be gained by pushing the red line. Just let that big ol fat bullet do it's job.

[justindad]

The OACL is different, and shorter for the lighter bullet. Measure the lengths of those two bullets and subtract from the OACL length.

Powder charge per unit volume => pressure. However, max pressure happens after the bullet leaves the case, so it’s a bit more complicated… with bullet weight being a meaningful, secondary causal factor.

BTW, my Lyman manual gives a max Unique charge of 8.5 grains with a 452454 255gr bullet and 1.575” OACL. The screws loosen on my Uberti Regulator at 8.2gr, so I don’t go above 8.0gr.

[cwlongshot]

Doesn't anyone shoot heavier bullets like 300's?

I saw the 270 post that a favorite as well. But LEE's dandy 452-300 is good hunting bullet too!


CW

[Static line]

Nope. Not me. lol. How ya doing there CW? I was just sneaking around on here since I just got a new Uberti El Patron in 45 Colt yesterday. I've been shooting 8.5 grains of Unique in my Ruger with my 255 gr. Accurate bullet but figured that is a bit to much for my Uberti so I was just looking to see what others thought. I plan on dirtying up the bore today and pop cans in the snow.I might as well let the deer know that the Sherriff is still in town.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
We shoot 300 FN grainers in the Rugers, Dan Wesson and rifles when we go after corn crunchers. No doubt in our thinking any angle will not be a issue to well thwap those bean eaters in the river bottoms we hunt.

[Lex]

My favorite load is 10.0 great unique with 255gr swc bullet.i have shot thousands of that load but only in rugers and lever actions.