45ACP-230-unique

[Will]

I haven't loaded 45ACP in many years and I seem to remember using 7gr unique with the 452374 230grRN. When I checked the load manuals lyman shows 5.3 start and 7.3 max but Lee shows 5.0 start and max. What do you guys use?

[RobS]

My Lyman manual (48th) says 7.3 grains max with the 452374 and I've found 6 to 6.5 grains shoots accurately and has less recoil.

[beagle]

I've shot loads of 6.0 grain loads in the .45 ACP. A great load./beagle

[bootsmorris]

I shoot 5.5 to 6 grains in my 45 acp handloads

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[Will]

thanks guys I'll try the 6gr

[runfiverun]

i think i cheaped out with 5.8 grs, i wanted to save a little powder.

[wantoutofca]

I use 5.6gr for 850-875fps

[fredj338]

First thing to do, throw the crappy Lee manual away. Yep, 7gr is a stout load w/ a lead bullet. Using 6gr @ 1.260" OAL will give you a ball equiv of 850fps in a 5" gun.

[Will]

My regular mix is WW plus 1% tin and a 50/50 alox lube. Is this a good mix for the 45?

[RobS]

First thing to do, throw the crappy Lee manual away. Yep, 7gr is a stout load w/ a lead bullet. Using 6gr @ 1.260" OAL will give you a ball equiv of 850fps in a 5" gun.

So the Lyman manual is what??? Same data as the Lee

[RobS]

My regular mix is WW plus 1% tin and a 50/50 alox lube. Is this a good mix for the 45?

Yep, many have great success with such combination.

[fredj338]

So the Lyman manual is what??? Same data as the Lee
Not really. The Lee often omits the type of bullet, just giving wt. So the OAL isn't helpful. They also omit lots of powder bullet combos. Lee doesn't do a lot of things well & their loading manual is no exception. They may have copied some of Lyman data, but really, it's a poor excuse for a reloaoding manual.

[Ed_Shot]

+1 for 6.0 gr Unique under Lyman 452374

[RobS]

Not really. The Lee often omits the type of bullet, just giving wt. So the OAL isn't helpful. They also omit lots of powder bullet combos. Lee doesn't do a lot of things well & their loading manual is no exception. They may have copied some of Lyman data, but really, it's a poor excuse for a reloaoding manual.

Point taken on the excluded or incomplete data etc.

[cbrick]

I tested Unique from 5.5 gr to 6.5 gr w/200 gr to 230 gr boolits and it liked them all. The lower loads were for HP's & the rest for TC & 068. All were accurate and functioned/loaded well. With 6.5 gr & the 068 it went clear through the paper, in one side & out the other. :mrgreen:

Rick

[rintinglen]

Clear through the Paper? Man, that's power. Makes a 357 look ill.

[geargnasher]

:groner:

Gear

[bpost1958]

I shot thousands upon thousands of rounds using the Lyman 230 cast and 6.0 of Unique lit by a Winchester or Federal primer.

[35remington]

The Lyman data is in considerable error. Do not use it. The velocity they list is produced with considerably less Unique than 7.3 grains, which is well past Plus P. Standard ball duplication of approximately 850 fps with the 452374 at 1.265 to 1.270" is produced in the vicinity of six grains. This should give you an idea of just how over it is.

Stay away from it. They haven't changed that listing since their 44th manual, and it is nearly fifty years out of date.

[lead-1]

I even have good luck with the LEE tumble lube 230 grain boolit over 6 grains of Unique.
My S&W 457 seems to have a little stiffer recoil spring than my Mutt 1911 or Glock 21 and that load cycles all of them. BTW, that load works decent in in my son's XD-45 also.

[avogunner]

5.5 gr with the Lee 228-1R for me.

[kir_kenix]

If memory serves I've used 5.2 or 5.3 grains with great reliability in the past. I usually find a load that functions reliably on the lower end of the spectrum, as opposed to top end loads, with cast. Saves wear and tear on the pistol, not to mention saves powder (hey that .2-.8 grains adds up on long range outings). Right now I keep bullseye in the powder measure, but unique is fantastic in the .45 acp.

And yeah, Lee load book is rarely a first reference for me (if it gets used at all). Richard Lee has some great ideas, and they make some pretty decent products to boot, but their load book doesn't hold a candle or Lyman or Hornady in my opinion. Some of the data in the Lyman is worth double checking, as some of it is pretty old however.

[geargnasher]

ALWAYS cross-reference with at least one other source and work up from starting data and you won't have problems. A red flag should go up comparing Lyman's Unique data to Universal data for .45 ACP and also checking the same two powders in another caliber.

Gear

[Pb2au]

6 grains of unique here as well. Smooth shooting, easy recoil, accurate.
Hmm,,I'm seeing a pattern developing here,,,,,,,,:idea:

[Bullwolf]

6.0 grains of Unique with a Lee TL452-230-2R (230 grain) cast boolit, tumble lubed in 45-45-10 and loaded to 1.265 OAL is my go to load for 45acp.

I have loaded as high as 6.5 grains of Unique with a 230 grain boolit, and I found it to be a bit too fast for me out of a 1911. I have ran a fair amount of the 6.5 grain loads though my 4506, but I rarely have cause to load it that far.

6.0 grains of Unique will cycle the slide on my 4506 just fine, and saves me 1/2 a grain of powder per shot.



- Bullwolf

[krag35]

6.0 Unique with a BD-45 works fine out of my Sig P220.

[Will]

Haven't heard many comment on bullseye. Have a friend who uses it exclusively for his 45 but don't remember his load. Anyone else prefer bullseye?

[trixter]

I use Bullseye and with Lee TL452-230-2R (230 grain) cast boolit, as well as the 200gr LSWC and find it most pleasing, most of the time I use 4.6gr.

[RugerFan]

I use 5.0 gns of Unique with 185-200 gn boolits. Very pleasant and accurate out of my 1911.