Range report Ruger .45 Blackhawk

[Kermit2]

I went to the range today and shot my Ruger / Lipsey's flat top Blackhawk which is chambered in .45 Colt / .45 ACP. Mine is stainless and has a 4 5/8" barrel. I tested two handloads and have attached photos of the targets. The targets were shot at 25 yards. The first target was shot using a load made up of .45 Colt brass, Wolf large pistol primers, 9.0 grains of Unique powder, and 250 grain RNFP cast lead bullets produced by GLC Bullets. I fired 25 rounds and my chrono showed the average velocity was 999 fps. The second target shows the results of a handload made up .45 Colt brass, Wolf large pistol primers, 9.0 grains of Unique powder, and 250 grain RNFP bullets cast using a 50/50 alloy of wheel weights and pure lead and cast with a Lyman #452664 mould. I fired 25 rounds of this load and my chrono showed the average velocity was 959 fps. I felt the results were pretty good since these are the first two .45 Colt loads I've tried through the revolver.

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv1/slsf1/GLC.jpg

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv1/slsf1/50-50.jpg

[stubshaft]

Not too shabby!

I switched from Unique to AA #5 a couple of years ago since it meters so much better and has almost identical burning rates.

[singleshot]

Can you use AA#5 in cast rifle loads like Unique?

[13Echo]

Never tried AA#5 in the .45 Colt but it works great for my .45ACP. It seems it may have been tailored for the auto. I do use Unique in my 45 Colt and after trying other powders keep coming back. It is just so versatile for everything from light to moderately heavy loads and it works well in just about any pistol and a lot of rifle cartridges. It also seems to meter the same from lot to lot. I've been through a couple of different lots of AA#5 and each one had substantial changes in metering to get the same weight charge. If I had to have only one pistol powder it would be Unique. None-the-less I do like #5 for my auto.

Jerry Liles

[jsu]

I also have the very same gun just bought it two weeks ago. I have shot some different loads and boolits in mine to see what it might like. It shot 9gr. Unique 255 gr. Rfn the best so far
Good luck.

[Char-Gar]

AA5 was developed by/for IMI for use in the 9mm Luger round. It is a hair slower than Unique and can be used for any application where Unique has been sucessful. I have had very good luck with it in a number of handgun rounds.

[stubshaft]

Can you use AA#5 in cast rifle loads like Unique?

I've used it in my:
22 K-Hornet
.223
30/30
308
And found that it reacts just like Unique with similar velocities and apparent pressures.

[rststeve]

I have the same gun also and I am using lyman 452664 with 12.9 gr blue dot this gun shoots like no tomorrow. Had a Ruger blackhawk 80's vintage had the worst barrel tool marks I had ever seen. The new Rugers have shinny barrels. Big improvement for ruger.

[JerryL944]

Hi All

I have a Henry Big Boy / Golden in .45 Colt and a Ruger Black-Hawk Bisley Blue steel 7 1/2 in in .45 Colt

I have tried several powders and I like AA # 5 the best for metering and the quantity used per load and the speed / power I can get . It shoot very clean . The accuracy is great .
I have been using about 10.0 to 11. 2 per load depending on what bullet I am using ( 225 gr FTX or 250 Gr XTP ) haven't used lead yet but think I will be using one of the plated ones ????

What sweet caliber and a Reallllll PUSY CAT to shoot When most people look at that bullet they think it will kick like a mule ..... I have read that a FULL LOAD .45 Colt has MORE Power than a .44 mag with the same Grn and style bullet at the same range etc ??????

But it is a great caliber and the Henry and Ruger well enough said .

Jerry 944