recommended powder for 45 long colt

Hi,

Thus far i've been using universal - you can see my comments in the thread about 45 long colt versus cowboy and self defense rounds.

Anyways, I'm considering buying another 8 lbs of powder specifically for 45 long colt. I was considering unique, but am open to suggestions.

My loadings are to duplicate factory loads of 800-900 fps. A little slower is ok. I don't want any magnum like stuff.

So, based upon the 45 long colt - what would be the ideal powder (if it exisits) for this round?

Thanks for your expertise,

LW

I'm about at the end of my jug of Unique and have a jug of Universal waiting in the wings... Never had any trouble with the Unique but I read the Universal metered better and figured I'd give it a try.

AA #2 for light loads. Very position insensitive in that big old case, unlike 98% of powders, including the one touted as such.

"...8 lbs of powder specifically for 45 Long Colt..." Got a load worked up?
If you switch powders you'll have to work up the load again. As I'm sure you're well aware.
Unique is a good powder, but bulky and a bit smoky(compared to Bullseye). It's also the powder used for the accuracy loads in my Lyman manual. 8.0 is given for both 250 grain semi-jacketed and cast, plus a 235 grain cast. 813 fps for the jacketed, 830 fps for the 250 grain cast. 850 fps for the 235. 8.0 is the starting load for the 250 jacketed and 235 grain bullet.
I'd still buy a pound and work up the load first.

Hodgdon Clays or Hodgdon Titegroup for me. That's all I use for my 45LC and I load tens of thousands. Meters well.

kinda partial to W231, myself

I'm sticking to Unique. If it's smoky, I'd never notice because all I shoot is cast bullets anyway.

"...If it's smoky..." Bullseye isn't any better. Just not as bulky. Not that it matters.
"...all I shoot is cast bullets anyway..." Ditto. Jacketed bullets are far too expensive to shoot regularly. Especially .45 calibre(ACP only, myself, but still too expensive). Never found cast bullets to be smoky though. Don't care if they are either.

Power Pistol was suggested in the Hornady manual for the heavier bullets.
Unique has been a good powder for me. I don't think you can go wrong there.

Goex FFF works very well...a little smokey maybe...no possibility of over-charge or double-charge.

Simple answer - Unique for all my .45 Colt loads

I can't believe nobody has suggested Trail Boss. Ultra fluffy and fills the case nicely, affordable, low smoke...what's not to like?

With a 250 gr. LRN, 6.2 gr. Titegroup I had a 2" group out of my 6.5" barrel on a 25 yard range. For my shaky hands that is good shooting. Burns clean and is very comfortable. Chart showed 881 fps.

I use Unique! 8.5 pushing a 250gr LRN bullet. Best combo I have found for my pistol.

I like W231/HP-38 best for the .45 Colt.
For heavy bullets and for jacketed bullets HS-6 works very well for me.

Other powders that work well for the .45 Colt for non-magnum loads other than the 2 I just mentioned:
Green Dot, AA#5, Unique, Universal, Herco and Trail Boss. There are others that will also work because for the most part the .45 Colt isn't a hard caliber to load for.

I use Trail Boss also. Fills case, hard to double charge, and flows through my powder measure great.

Been using Unique since 1973, 8 to 10 grains, with 8.5 being the factory load. I just started using 6.2 grains of Titegroup and have been pleased with that also.

Trail Boss and Unique do the bulk of my work for the .45 Colt.

I'm also in the Unique camp for typical .45 colt loads. Pretty hard to beat IMO.

8.5 Grains of Unique and never look back. Unless you want to experiment and work up some new loads which is always a noble venture get a jug of Unique and walk away. Bill

Alliant Promo is perfect, and the price is right. Use Red Dot load data.