Unique Max Loads for .45 Colt?

[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.


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[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.
Attachment 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.

Attachment 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.



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