45 LC question

[Grayfox]

And although not a "Ruger / TC / Freedom Arms"-type revolver the M25-5 is no pantywaist, either.

While I don't recommend trying to magnumize the .45 Colt, John Linebaugh proved the Model 25-5 could easily handle loads in the +P range without ill effects.
OTOH: considering that a standard velocity load will generally go completely through your average Whitetail Deer, I see no reason to push this fine old cartridge.

 

[BSA1]

I am probably the only person in the world that doesn’t like Unique. How much do I dislike it? Well I have about 1/2 pound in the tall round cardboard container sitting on the shelf. I can never get Unique to measure consistently enough for me.

I use a lot of W-231 in my medium bore calibers but don’t like it in the 45 Colt. I tried it when I was doing a lot of CAS and it felt inconsistent when I shot it.

I switched to 700X. It is a flake powder so it fills more of the case. I haven’t tried it but I would also consider using 800X if for some reason 700X becomes unavailable. There is reloading data available for both powder.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I am probably the only person in the world that doesn’t like Unique. How mich do I dislike it? I have about 1/2 pound in the tall round cardboard container sitting on the shelf. I can never get Unique to measure consistently enough for me.

I use a lot of W-231 in my medium bore calibers but don’t like it in the 45 Colt. I tried it when I was doing a lot of CAS and it felt inconsistent when I shot it.

I switched to 700X. It is a flake powder so it fills more of the case. I haven’t tried it but I would also consider using 800X if for some reason 700X becomes unavailable. There is reloading data available for both powder.

Whatever spins ya propeller ..........Lots of choices out there.

 

[series guy]

I have shot thousands of 255gr lead bullets loaded with 5.5gr of Titegroup.

 

[venomballistics]

Of those listed, Unique would be my first choice. CFE pistol might be the next.
Herco, and blue dot are also worth consideration, though BD might be a bit slow for your objectives.

 

[venomballistics]

While I don't recommend trying to magnumize the .45 Colt, John Linebaugh proved the Model 25-5 could easily handle loads in the +P range without ill effects.
OTOH: considering that a standard velocity load will generally go completely through your average Whitetail Deer, I see no reason to push this fine old cartridge.

exactly ...
While theres plenty to be found in the cartridge, it's legacy is a bit of a scattered mess of revisions.
This is why we have the 44 magnum and the 454 casull, to avoid the issues inherent to the rodded out 45LC

 

[alwslate]

I am probably the only person in the world that doesn’t like Unique. How mich do I dislike it? I have about 1/2 pound in the tall round cardboard container sitting on the shelf. I can never get Unique to measure consistently enough for me.

I use a lot of W-231 in my medium bore calibers but don’t like it in the 45 Colt. I tried it when I was doing a lot of CAS and it felt inconsistent when I shot it.

I switched to 700X. It is a flake powder so it fills more of the case. I haven’t tried it but I would also consider using 800X if for some reason 700X becomes unavailable. There is reloading data available for both powder.

No you are not the only one who does not like Unique. I hate it . Poor metering and the largest extreme spreads when compared with other powders in any cartridge, even with weighed charges. I have about a half pound somewhere around here that will be poured on the ground whenever I come across it. Bullseye is much better and 7.0 grs gives factory ballistics of about 870 FPS with a 255 gr cast bullet in the .45 Colt.

 

[Dvus]

I have used 700X for years, but I'm looking into 231 because I'm tired of the unburned powder. I set my six shooter on the bench after a cylinder full and find 20 to 30 unburned flakes fall out of the gun. And it's just as bad with my lever guns, only it all falls into the action. I tried Unique a couple of decades ago, but didn't care for the dirty mess it made.

 

[Simson-Suhl]

Unique works very well for me in my three USFA SAA's.

 

[Miracle Man]

Several years ago I was into the maxed out H110 loads in my Blackhawk. Never failed to open the eyes of whoever was around, haha.

But I'm well past that now for the most part. I'm way more into casual mild load plinking. I don't like the recoil, muzzle blast, sore web of my shooting hand anymore.

We all get old

 

[rockquarry]

Several years ago I was into the maxed out H110 loads in my Blackhawk. Never failed to open the eyes of whoever was around, haha.

But I'm well past that now for the most part. I'm way more into casual mild load plinking. I don't like the recoil, muzzle blast, sore web of my shooting hand anymore.

We all get old

I've had four Ruger single-actions over many years, got rid of them all. I attempted to load the .45 Colt hot when it was a fad in the 1970s, but my experimentation was very short lived. I found the Ruger to be a terrible gun for heavy recoil. Sensible loads were far better loads.

 

[gwpercle]

I've loaded 45 LC for a Ruger Blackhawk for awhile now. But the bulk of my loading was with JHP's and JSP's. Only dabbled in lead a tiny bit.

This forum has spurred my interest in crossing the Rubicon into lead, so I just bought some 255 gr. Keith style lead SWC's.

I'm not looking for a hotshot load, just a fun plinker. I used tight group a few years ago for lead but man it's like shooting black powder haha. Is 231 a good subsitute? I'm open to whatever have several powders. CFE pistol, W231, Tite group, unique, and others.

A lot of the smoke you see might have come from the older style (Alox-Beeswax type) lubricants ... yes the old lubes work but the beeswax and other ingredients burned and left the dreaded " Gun Smoke" .
Try coated bullets next time , one of their advantages is no smoke .
Unique has been a favorite in the 45 Colt for years ...
my two pet loads are with 255 gr. cast lead SWC

1.) Target , tin can and plinking : 6.0 grs. Unique @ 590 fps
this load is very accurate in my Ruger Blackhawk .
This is my shooting range and tin can hunting load .

2.) Standard pressure field load - not too hot & accurate :
7.5 grs. Unique @ 718 fps . This is the load I normaly carry in the woods . Easy shooting load maybe from Skeeter Skelton , but my favorite for the last 40 years .

Last is my pet peeve ... call it the 45 Colt !
There has never been a 45 Long Colt ...every one of my 14 reloading Manuals . dating back to 1936 , all have it listed as the 45 Colt .
If Elmer Keith called it the 45 Colt then I'm going to call it the 45 Colt .
The 45 acp , 45 AR and 45 Schofield Are shorter ... and the 45 Winchester Magnum , 454 Casull and 460 S&W Magnum are all Longer ... but don't call the 45 Colt the 45 Long Colt ... it ain't
Gary

 

[reddog81]

I have shot thousands of 255gr lead bullets loaded with 5.5gr of Titegroup.

5.6gr is my preferred load but I’m sure 5.5 grains titegroup also works well.

 

[venomballistics]

A lot of the smoke you see might have come from the older style (Alox-Beeswax type) lubricants ... yes the old lubes work but the beeswax and other ingredients burned and left the dreaded " Gun Smoke" .
Try coated bullets next time , one of their advantages is no smoke

Yes ... this is a thing I tend to overlook in recent years since I completely transitioned to "the full plastic jacket"
In the good old days, if you got your lube formulation and load right, you knew it by how well it would water proof the entire range.
I had to bake a 1911 @170F so I could drop the mag and disassemble it for cleaning after a particularly heavy range day.
The lube was everywhere and set up after it cooled. Till then it was very well lubricated.
The stuff will lube areas of your firearm you never thought about and probably forgot about.
It certainly makes some smoke, and pumps sludge. I never really minded either trait unless I was at an indoor range.
What did make me transition to coatings was loading. After a while, lube would build up in the die until it would seat too deep.
Scrapers only worked for a few dozen rounds and it was seating deep again. I don't miss that part at all.
Loading wasn't as strict either. Certain powders would not play nice and lead line the bore, others would impose limits before they lead fowled. Coatings defeated all of it. Not that it matters as much in this case, where you're taking a walk on the mild side.

 

[smithra_66]

I've loaded 45 LC for a Ruger Blackhawk for awhile now. But the bulk of my loading was with JHP's and JSP's. Only dabbled in lead a tiny bit.

This forum has spurred my interest in crossing the Rubicon into lead, so I just bought some 255 gr. Keith style lead SWC's.

I'm not looking for a hotshot load, just a fun plinker. I used tight group a few years ago for lead but man it's like shooting black powder haha. Is 231 a good subsitute? I'm open to whatever have several powders. CFE pistol, W231, Tite group, unique, and others.

Can't go wrong with the Beatles load. "8 grains Unique."

Good medium level plinker. I can't imagine shooting jacketed bullets out of a 45 Colt!

 

[.38SuperMan]

I use polymer coated RNFP lead in my 45LC Blackhawk and have used 231, Unique, HS-6 and CFE Pistol with good success. My least favorite is 231 in light loads due to it being very dirty. My second least favorite is Unique as it can get pretty dirty too.

HS-6 (old WW540) and CFE Pistol both produce accurate and cleaner loads for me. I find both to work very well from mild to heavier loads.

 

[Beemer-mark]

I am probably the only person in the world that doesn’t like Unique. How much do I dislike it? Well I have about 1/2 pound in the tall round cardboard container sitting on the shelf. I can never get Unique to measure consistently enough for me.

I use a lot of W-231 in my medium bore calibers but don’t like it in the 45 Colt. I tried it when I was doing a lot of CAS and it felt inconsistent when I shot it.

I switched to 700X. It is a flake powder so it fills more of the case. I haven’t tried it but I would also consider using 800X if for some reason 700X becomes unavailable. There is reloading data available for both powder.

700-X is my go-to powder for 38WCF, 44WCF and 45 Colt. Same powder charge in each caliber using the original bullet weights.

I got almost a full pound of Unique sitting on the shelf. Doesn't meter for a darn. Universal is as versatile as Unique and measures just fine. IMR4227 is another great powder. Meters just fine and it's impossible to overcharge a case no matter what caliber. Impossible to find thought. I ran out last month.

 

[Model19man]

I find that 7.5 grains of W231 under a Keith style 454424 255 grain SWC works well in my 45 Colt revolvers.

 

[Model19man]

IMR4227 is another great powder. Meters just fine and it's impossible to overcharge a case no matter what caliber. Impossible to find thought. I ran out last month.

It's in stock everywhere and anywhere. IMR 4227 Smokeless Gun Powder 8 lb

 

[Beemer-mark]

It's in stock everywhere and anywhere. IMR 4227 Smokeless Gun Powder 8 lb

That got pricey. I buy local, lots of powder coming in but haven't see any IMR 4227. But just started looking. Loading 32WCF right now with Universal.