45 auto rim 452423 and unique and colt 1917.

[smkummer]

Lyman 45th states 6.8 grains for max. charge and over 900 FPS in a 6 1/2” 25-2. Later manuals dropped it down to 6.0 grains for 750 FPS. Anyone have data from a colt 1917 with this bullet and unique? Thanks ahead of time.

[35remington]

From a 5 inch 625-3 6.8 grains gets 950. This is a gracious plenty and I certainly would not exceed that charge. For more frequent use 6 grains gets in the 830-850 fps range. This with the mentioned bullet.

[smkummer]

Thanks, I went through my loaded ammo from the past and I see I have both 6.2 and 6.6. I friend got a nice Colt 1917 for his son while he was away for military service. So between 4 of us, we have 3 colt 1917s and one Smith 1917. We make it a nice range day with bowling pins. 850 FPS with a 45 cal. 240 Kieth bullet will be a potent load for steel plates and bowling pins.

[Outpost75]

The M1917s are not overly strong, I would treat them gently. I use 6 grains of Unique or 5 grains of Bullseye in mine as max. loads, but most of the time limit charges to 4 grains of Bullseye or 5 grains of Unique with #452423.

[smkummer]

The M1917s are not overly strong, I would treat them gently. I use 6 grains of Unique or 5 grains of Bullseye in mine as max. loads, but most of the time limit charges to 4 grains of Bullseye or 5 grains of Unique with #452423.

Ok, I don’t want to hurt these guns either. The 1973 cast bullet handbook stopped at 6.0 grains unique but only showed 750 FPS out of a 6 1/2” Smith model 25-2. Our 1917s of course our 5 1/2”. I guess I’ll just have to chrono and see what FPS we are getting. 750 is OK but was hoping for something that at least could match the performance of the 230 ball at 830 FPS.

[35remington]

It will do that but the bullet is heavier and seated deeper than 230 ball and is running at higher pressure when obtaining the same speed. Depending upon who makes it the 452423 variants differ somewhat. My NOE is different than my Lee group buy which is different than my Lyman.

Reasonable to figure that the bullet at 950 is running at plus P pressure at a minimum. 6 grains Unique will notably exceed 750 unless something is off with the particular gun. I too would not suggest 6.8 grains in a 1917.

[smkummer]

Ok, thanks guys. My 452423 is an old lyman single cavity and I sized water quenched WW alloy to .452. One of the shooters also has a S&W 45 5” 1989 model. I’ll try to report back with velocity if we can get a chronograph working.

[Outpost75]

Ok, I don’t want to hurt these guns either. The 1973 cast bullet handbook stopped at 6.0 grains unique but only showed 750 FPS out of a 6 1/2” Smith model 25-2. Our 1917s of course our 5 1/2”. I guess I’ll just have to chrono and see what FPS we are getting. 750 is OK but was hoping for something that at least could match the performance of the 230 ball at 830 FPS.

Whether that is possible at safe pressures depends upon the barrel-cylinder gap of your revolver. If your cylinder gap is over 0.008" don't expect over 800 fps, and if as large as 0.010" maybe 750 fps, but if 0.005" or less the 830 fps with 230 cast lead is safely attainable without straining the gun.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

My 452423 drops boolits that weight 250 gr. Mine is an old Lyman single cavity too.

[ddixie884]

I wouldn't worry too much about the 1917 being weak. They are safe with .45acp factory ball with jacketed bullets and fast burning powders. Slower mid range powders like Unique and cast bullets give less pressure for the same performance. JMHO-YMMV.............

[35remington]

Not the 452423 and the mentioned charges of Unique. These give in excess of standard pressures for the reasons noted.

[ddixie884]

Yes you are right. I never used the 45423. I always used the 454424 in my 1917s...........

[Piedmont]

Something else to be cognizant of is seating depth on this one. The shoulder in the chamber (shelf at the end), variable cylinder throat diameters, and variable sized bullets will lead to two different seating depths. Seat it deeply for sure and easy chambering and up go the pressures if others were loading it longer with the same powder charge.

[ddixie884]

True..............................