I just don't like the way Unique meters.
Looking at #5, True Blue, BE86 and Universal.
Loading for standard loads with 200gr. RNFP., Not Ruger loads.
What do you guys use for best accuracy?
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I just don't like the way Unique meters.
Looking at #5, True Blue, BE86 and Universal.
Loading for standard loads with 200gr. RNFP., Not Ruger loads.
What do you guys use for best accuracy?
I've recently been loading Commercial #1 using Universal data with good results with 200 & 255gr boolits. It meters well through my Lee Auto Drum.
Trail Boss. Works great in all 4 of my 45colts and I use it in my ROA as well.
Does it meter well ?Quote:
Originally Posted by SSGOldfart
What problem are you having metering powder?Quote:
Originally Posted by hylander
For the most part, we have all gotten past Unique not metering as well as some others.
No problem other than Unique does not meter well at all, no consistency.Quote:
Originally Posted by shoot-n-lead
I switched from Unique to Power Pistol. Power Pistol burns cleaner, meters well and is more consistent in velocity which delivers better accuracy. Charge weight is also very close the same.
What powder measure are you using? I had to get the small drum for my Uniflo to stop powder cutting. Works very well and less then a tenth of a grain difference from first to last in a 50 shell batch.
Red Dot. Back when I used smokeless in the 45 Colt, that worked best of everything I tested.
-Nobade
I cant say for accuracy but I use HP-38 on pretty much all my hand gun loads , I load for all from 380 to 44mag , and I have found that this is a good all around powder, mainly for plinking , coarse I use unique and many other powders , im like you I dont use any extruded because of the way that it meters, the only powder measure that I ever owned that would consistently throw a good charge with those types of powders was an old B&M measure that I had years ago , wished I still had it .
+1 for Red Dot/Promo in 45 LC
+2 on the RED DOT
Bullseye! Used for factory loading of .45 Colt for 100 years. Fine particle size suited for machine loading.
Suitable for either full charge, standard pressure or light cowboy loads.
Excellent ballistic uniformity!
5.0 grains with 255-grain bullet is recommended "starting" load, ~720 fps.
6.0 grains with 260-grain bullet 800 fps revolver velocity, 13,600 psi http://www.castbulletassoc.org/forum...llets-45-colt/
6.5 grains with 255-grain bullet approximates factory velocity 880 fps. at standard pressure.
7.2 grains with 230-grain bullet is standard pressure, 1000+ fps, flat shooting.
For standard loads in the big Colt case, I've often used Unique with good results. I do, however, have a Redding powder measure with both small and large micrometer powder chambers for it. With the small chamber, Unique measures out just fine so a measure with a small volume option may get you back on track with Unique.
That said, I've been gravitating towards Hodgdon's Tightgroup powder in these older-large-volume cases. Shot to shot variation is reduced from Unique and accuracy is very good. As Outpost notes above, Bullseye is also a good choice for standard loads in the 45 Colt.
I use Red Dot for a lot of different cartridges including 45 Colt. I use 6.0 grains of it with 200 grain RNFP out of a 7 1/2" Uberti Cattleman and it shoots great. For my 45 Colt loadings though, I batch load and don't use a powder measure to drop the charges. I use a dipper and with consistent dipping method, I can get very consistent loads that are checked every 5 casings with my beam scale. A spent 9mm casing with picture frame wire wrapped mourned the ejection groove and twisted into a handle makes the perfect dipper for that charge.
I have also used Green Dot when powder was hard to get as well as Unique - I keep going back to Red Dot.
I use a LEE Auto Disc Pro and don't worry about "metering" problems with any powder.
If you want an easy metering powder for the .45 LC you can't beat AA#5.
I use trail boss and hp-38 in my 45. Both meter well in my uniflow.
I like Herco in 45 Colt as well as Unique. Got to use a bit more but it works well. There is also HS-6 which works well.
I'm having good luck using ETR-7 in 45 Colt and acp. Meters well and cleaner and less smoky than unique or 231.
I am one of those who never had any problems with Unique. I have loaded thousands of 45 Colt rounds with nary a problem. I hear folks tell of problems metering Unique, but that has never been a problem for me. I use an old Hollywood measure and Lyman 55s.
Most of my loads in the past ten years have been with Bullseye. Outpost gave you all the info you need on that powder. It is a very good one for many handgun loading.
Some years back, soon after it became available in the US, I bought 16 lbs of the Israeli made AA5. It is a little slower than Unique, but runs through a meter like water. It gives first rate accuracy, but in less than full factory pressure loads, it will leave unburned powder. I have used this AA5 in 38 Special, 357 Mag, 9mm, 45 ACP and 45 Colt and it has worked well in all.
A few months back, I lucked in to 16 lbs of Bullseye. I have 8 lbs of Unique, 8 lbs of 2400 and still have 8 lbs of AA5. At 74.6 years old and shooting less these days, I am set for handgun powder.
I would give Trail Boss a try, even just for the safety factor, you can not double charge a case with it, it also shot very well for me.
W231 and HP38 are one and the same powder, and are good choices...., I also like 2400 and Red dot.. I guess it all depends on what you have the most of, and want to use.... I have a Win 94AE Centennial in .45 LC .. I use 16gr of 2400 under a Lee 255gr Boolit (452-255-RF), a bit much for a single action army or other handgun, but a Decent one for my Rifle... probably 1150-1200FPS Love this load..... Very accurate and light recoil (for me)
ETR7 from Expansion Industries ...
Ruger 4 5/8" ... 5.8gr @ 678fpd ... 6.7gr @ 716fps
Rossi, 24" barrel ... 6.7gr @ 885fps
Rossi, 20" barrel ... 6.8gr @ 930fps
Burns clean - not position sensitive and no issues in hot or cold weather
Like Char-Gar, I have no metering problems with Unique in my Redding #3. Suggest AA#5 or HS-6.
Don
Dillon machine doesn't meter it well.Quote:
Originally Posted by jrmartin1964
Can't go wrong with Bullseye.
Another Red Dot user here.
Titegroup is my go to for revolver. Yes it is concentrated so a double charge or a short charge is harder to spot but I like it. Versatile, not position or temp sensitive. Burns well in lighter loads. And for lack of a better way of describing it I like the recoil "profile" to me it seems that the recoil is different, it is subtle but seems smoother. Oh and it cures bunions and helps grow hair on your head too!
I have never tried the fluffy stuff (Trailboss) but I might one of these days.
My fall back is Unique.
my 550 drops a fleck or two of unique every now and then, but it keeps the charge weights close enough I don't see it on paper.
I really like Titegroup for the under 14-K loads in the big 45 cases.
it burns clean and doesn't give me any grief metering or large velocity variations.
as much as I hate the stuff in the small cases that's how much I like it in the big volume cases.
it makes some real nice light poof type loads in the rifle cases too.
Hodgdon on line data for the bullet you state is;
Universal 6.4gr for 749fps 5,700cup
Universal 8.8gr for 1067fps 13,600cup
I shoot 9.0gr under a 255grswc in my S&W 625 Mountain Gun.
Hope this helps.
If I'm just enjoying a day at the range and shooting nice light and "arthritis friendly" loads I love Trail boss..meters great in my Lee Auto Drum every time...for a little more bang for my buck I load 231...I don't get into the statosphere with my 45 Colt loading...again the 231 measures like water in my Autodrum
More votes for Red Dot and AA #5.Robert
Bullseye & Red Dot. I've never had problems with Unique but you have so never mind.
Best, Thomas.
For my 200 grain 45 colt cowboy loads, I am using 700X. But these are only about 700 FPS. If I wanted, I am sure with 700X I could get into the 900 range. Bulky and appears to not have position sensitivity but it meters like unique. Since I am a 700X shooter with 12 gauge, that is what I use. If I was a red dot shooter in 12 gauge, then I would be all over red dot for 45 Colt.
I too like Titegroup. It meters very well and is not position sensitive, which is great for lighter loads in a large case. Very accurate in my Vaquero.Quote:
Originally Posted by Scharfschuetze
Red dot and HS6
Another vote for 231/ HP-38. It meters very well for me, and I have been happy with it in the 45 Colt.
I have lots of 231,what is your load?Quote:
Originally Posted by blackhawk man
4 years ago I got back into rifles, had less than half a pound of dupont 3031, there was dang little powder to be found of any kind. Then I read, and reread, and rereread Ed Harris's "the Load"
And I started digging, and started buying Red Dot.
I guess I should change my name to RedDotFreak or something.
But yeah, Red Dot, it works, in everything. May not be the fastest, but some of those small penny pinching loads are amazingly accurate.
Some say it is dirty. I say if you have sooty cases up the charge half a grain.
That is all it took to turn my light .40sw carbine from a black brass maker into a sweet talking clean and shiny brass making machine.
YMMV