45 ACP loads with Unique and Blue Dot

andyo5

andyo5

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I have been loading 230g FMJ, 230g HP, and 200 HP loads with Bullseye for years. I am interested in duplicating factory performance of non- +P ammunition. But lately it has occurred to me that not only does Bullseye become more energenic when the ambient temperature rises, but recoil is relatively stiff for factory duplication loads.
So I am looking at my other standybys...Unique and Blue Dot. I have used Unique before with good results, but not Blue Dot.
What are your favorite factory duplication loads (825 to 850 FPS with 230g bullets in a 5" barrel)?
Thanks
 
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I'm not sure if you're asking about Unique only. If not my favorite .45 Auto load is 5.5gr W231 under a 230gr LRN or FMJ bullet. IMO Blue Dot is too slow a powder for the .45 Auto.
 
5.4 gr of Unique under 230 gr LRN-I find anything over 6 gr has diminishing returns with unique ie-case wear-recoil-and un-burnt powder. I also use Winchester LPP's which I have to allow for as I increase the load-they are hotter, and designated for standard AND magnum loads. Go carefully, Flapjack.
 
Unique should work great for you. Blue Dot is great for magnum loads in large cases but burns too slow for good results in a .45 ACP.
 
Speer #13 lists a max load of 9.0 gr of Blue Dot in .45 ACP with a 230 gr jacketed bullet at 893 fps. The start load is 8.1 gr at 796 fps.
 
Been using 6.5 gr. Unique with a cast 230 gr. RNL as a hardball equivalent for many years. It's very accurate and runs about 870 fps.
 
Loading .45 ACP with a very slow powder lke Blue Dot is one of those things you CAN do, but, really, do you want to use all that powder at uber low pressure and put up with the mess of soot, unburned powder, and (it seems like) cinders?
You can get equal or higher MV with faster powders without the excess residue.
 
Last edited:
amazingflapjack said:
5.4 gr of Unique under 230 gr LRN-I find anything over 6 gr has diminishing returns with unique ie-case wear-recoil-and un-burnt powder. I also use Winchester LPP's which I have to allow for as I increase the load-they are hotter, and designated for standard AND magnum loads. Go carefully, Flapjack.
Click to expand...

The Lyman 49th edition listed the starting load of Unique with 230gr as 5.9gr with a Max Load of 6.5gr. Are there additional issues that arise from loading under the recommended starting load?
 
novalty said:
The Lyman 49th edition listed the starting load of Unique with 230gr as 5.9gr with a Max Load of 6.5gr. Are there additional issues that arise from loading under the recommended starting load?
Click to expand...

Twelve years ago, I loaded 6.5 grains of Unique with 230g FMJ rounds and was happy with it. Then came 'new' Unique. When I loaded the same loads with 'new' Unique, I found them way too hot. I found that I had to download to 5.8g of new Unique to get the same results.
 
I settled on 6.7 grains of Unique with 230 grain FMJ years ago. This gives a muzzle velocity of 871 fps in a 1911 with a 5-inch barrel. It gives a muzzle velocity of 830 fps from a Smith & Wesson Model 1917 with a 5 1/2-inch barrel.

Some older Lyman data (the 46th edition) takes Unique to 7.2 grains with 230 grain jacketed bullets. Testing loads with the extra 1/2 grain only took the muzzle velocity to 895 fps (852 fps from the Smith & Wesson Model 1917). I backed off this published maximum 1/2 grain and liked the results.



No right or wrong about it but it's odd how people's perceptions are different. I've long held that Unique burns dirty and is more likely to leave unburnt powder residue when moderate charge weights are used. In both straight-walled revolver cartridges and the .45 ACP Unique seems to "clean up it's act" to a great degree when used near max loadings.
 
I am loading 6.1gr of Unique with 230gr Berry's plated (Berry's recommends not loading over mid-range for FMJ equivalent). Thinking of changing powder even though recoil and accuracy seem to be fine, but man is it dirty. I shot 50 or so rounds on my last range session, and my S&W 1911 looked like I had shot a couple hundred with the level of residue.
 
DON'T LOAD BELOW MINIMUM LISTED CHARGES!

novalty said:
The Lyman 49th edition listed the starting load of Unique with 230gr as 5.9gr with a Max Load of 6.5gr. Are there additional issues that arise from loading under the recommended starting load?
Click to expand...

YES, there are additional issues. Never, but NEVER load charges under the listed minimum load. The reason is called detonation. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. The theories regarding "why" vary, but the one most often propounded is that when the powder doesn't mostly fill the case, it lies spread out along the bottom side of the case (when the gun is held in the firing position). When the primer fires, the flash along the larger area of exposed powder ignites the powder almost instantaneously instead of progressively. In technical terms, this is called a KA-BOOM.

Forewarned is forearmed. Don't ever load charges below the minimums listed.

John
 
that explains alot

The other day I loaded 50rds of 38spl....i used 4grs unique under a 158gr LRN.....very inconsistent recoil, with some rounds being mild and some feeling hot...really good info there, i thought that if I load at the start or a little under I would be safe from a ka-boom...looks like i need to bump my powder up a bit...


PALADIN85020 said:
YES, there are additional issues. Never, but NEVER load charges under the listed minimum load. The reason is called detonation. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. The theories regarding "why" vary, but the one most often propounded is that when the powder doesn't mostly fill the case, it lies spread out along the bottom side of the case (when the gun is held in the firing position). When the primer fires, the flash along the larger area of exposed powder ignites the powder almost instantaneously instead of progressively. In technical terms, this is called a KA-BOOM.

Forewarned is forearmed. Don't ever load charges below the minimums listed.

John
Click to expand...
 
Paladin, i know a lot of SASS shooters that have been doing it for years. Including me. 'Course, most of us seek light loads to be competitive. Comes with the game. I use 3.2gr American Select with a 105 gr LRNFP at 795fps. (Ruger 3 screw 357 with 38 Specials)

Favored load for 45 Colt is 4.2 gr American Select topped with a 165gr LRNFP. About 650fps.

Used to argue with an old feller named Strawberry Lars about me using 10gr of American Select with 7/8 ounce #8s in my 12gauge.

The term detonation reminds me of the oft used 148gr LFWC in a 38. They have never duplictaed it in a laboratory test.

Squibs (stuck rounds) do happen if you go too low.
 
amazingflapjack said:
5.4 gr of Unique under 230 gr LRN-I find anything over 6 gr has diminishing returns with unique ie-case wear-recoil-and un-burnt powder. I also use Winchester LPP's which I have to allow for as I increase the load-they are hotter, and designated for standard AND magnum loads. Go carefully, Flapjack.
Click to expand...
That's odd as Unique usually burns better as pressures go up. With a 230grRNFMJ, 6.3gr is very close to a factory equiv "ball" load, running about 830fps in several 5" guns. BD IMO, too slow for anything but +P equiv. loads.
 
novalty said:
The Lyman 49th edition listed the starting load of Unique with 230gr as 5.9gr with a Max Load of 6.5gr. Are there additional issues that arise from loading under the recommended starting load?
Click to expand...

SUre, running jacketed bullets too slow can cause them to stick, but don't get all hung up on one printed data source. It's why I recommend at least 3 published data sources for working loads up. Average the data & match the components as closely as possible.
 
dark star said:
The other day I loaded 50rds of 38spl....i used 4grs unique under a 158gr LRN.....very inconsistent recoil, with some rounds being mild and some feeling hot...really good info there, i thought that if I load at the start or a little under I would be safe from a ka-boom...looks like i need to bump my powder up a bit...
Click to expand...

Most likely your measuring technique, Unique is not know for good metering. At lower pressures though, it burns erratically. Most powders like a certain pressure range to give good, complete combustion.
 
I've loaded load 225 gr LTC with 6.6 grains Unique for ~875 FPS. I'd drop it down to ~6.2 grains to get ~850 FPS.
 
I am getting good groups from my M&P .45ACP and my HK USP .45 ACP with a 200gr hard cast SWC over 5.6gr Unique.

I load the 230gr Ranier plated over 6.4gr Unique or 4.9gr Bullseye.

When I shoot lead, I always clean the barrel after and I use a Lewis Lead remover to make sure that I have all of the lead out before switching back to JHP's. This may not be necessary but I prefer to be safe. I have not had any serious leading problems with either pistol.
 
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