[mothermopar]

Just got my Lee Loader for 45 Colt! Looking over the provided reload recipes, one that looks good to me involves universal powder. Is universal powder otherwise called 'universal clays'???

Also what brass, primers and lead rnfp bullets would you all suggest?!

[dagger dog]

Hodgdon load manual lists Universal and Clays as different powders, the load data sheet from my Lee .45 Colt die set list liists them seperate also.

Winchester brass if availabe is quality, I have also used Remington nickle cases without problems, ditto primers, In Large Pistol, I like Winchester,CCI, just about any,I have also shot the Wolf brand with good results.

Check out the round nose flat point bullets at Missouri Bullets, the people there have a very good reputation for customer satisfaction.

If you are going to shoot a fixed sight revolver, most of those are regulated to shoot a 250-255 gr lead bullet to point of aim.

have fun and be safe

[jpdavis423]

Make your own conclusions:

http://www.hodgdon.com/shotpist.html

Jeff

[Walkalong]

Yes, Universal is Universal Clays. Yes, it is a good choice along with Unique, W-231, and several others.

Just plain Clays is a different and much faster powder that CANNOT be substituted.

[squarles67]

Yes, Universal is Universal Clays. Yes, it is a good choice along with Unique, W-231, and several others.

Just plain Clays is a different and much faster powder that CANNOT be substituted.

+1

The best load I've found so far for my Blackhawk is 6.8g Bullseye with Missouri Bullet 250 RNFP (Cowboy #1)

4.62" bbl Blackhawk
Avg 874
ES 18.25
SD 6.92

[GooseGestapo]

Indeed; Universal Clays, is usually just referred to a "Universal". It is close, but not the same as Unique.

Both Universal, and Clays are very good in the .45Colt.

I cast my own bullets, and prefer the Lee #.452" 255gr RFN. I've found that accuracy with Universal improves as charges increase with peak accuracy from both my Winchester M94, and Ruger BlackHawk 4-5/8" bbl. Velocity is about 1,250fps from the rifle, and 980fps from the revolver. This occurs at 9.2gr of Universal. This is my standard, go-too load for the .45colt. If you need more than this, you need a .375H&Hmag or a .45/70 rifle.......
It takes 10.0gr of Unique to equal this load, and it' just a tad over what most manuals list as acceptable for ALL .45colt firearms.
And yes, I've got/had several .44magnums and assorted other handgun magnum cartridges, not to mention all the bolt action, and lever action centerfire's,,,,,,

With Clays, it's 6.0gr for around 800fps. This duplicates factory ammo, and is very inexpensive to load and shoot. Also quite accurate.

An overlooked problem with most Colt SAA revolver-safe loads, is that from a rifle, you get leakage of gas from around the case if loads don't maintain sufficent pressure till the bullet leaves the barrel to keep the case obturated to the chamber. Universal/Unique are the fastest burning powders I've found that will seal the chamber without exceeding recommended loads. And then, only with Colt SAA max. safe max loads. (About 8.2 for Universal, and 8.7gr for Unique with my gun and components.....). Bullseye, Win231, and Clays won't maitain sufficient pressure to keep from getting a "whiff" of gas in the face.....and very dirty and sooty brass, chambers, and actions...

[ArchAngelCD]

I also agree Universal (Universal Clays) is a good powder for the .45 Colt. It's a lot like Unique but it meters much better and it's a cleaner powder. (if that bothers you) As for primers, I like Winchester large pistol primers because they can be used for both standard and magnum applications. They work very well in my .45 Colt ammo. I use once fired brass but if you need to buy brass Starline Brass (http://www.starlinebrass.com/) is high quality and the price is right too. You can but Starline brass in smaller quantities from online vendors like Midway USA, Graf (http://www.grafs.com/retail/) and others. I've been using Missouri Bullets (http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?category=5&secondary=14) since I tried them out. They make a good product and a good price.

[oneounceload]

There are THREE powders from that family - Clays, Universal Clays, and International Clays - all are shotgun powders that can also be used in selected pistol recipes.

From another company comes ClayDot. Be careful you get the correct one.

Universal Clays and Unique are VERY close in burn characteristics, and in many recipes for shotgun and pistol, the recipe is the same amount; however, as mentioned, Universal is a cleaner-burning powder

[Walkalong]

Universal is faster than Unique. A good bit quicker in some applications.

[mgkdrgn]

If you are going to -buy- brass ... there is Starline ... and then everything else.

You can buy direct from Starline ... just google for the site.

Primers ... large pistol primers. Wolf tends to be a liiitttllleee harder to seat than the others.

Bullets ... for lead, Missouri Bullet company. I'm a particular fan of the 255gr "Elmers".

[rbernie]

I'm using the Missouri IDPA #4-XD (45ACP) 200gr bullet in my plinking 45 Colt loads, sitting over top of 9gr of Unique. Right now, I'm using mixed range pickup brass but I have an order in for 1K of Starline (due for delivery in mid-July).

[1858]

I use Hornady brass, Oregon Trail bullets (250gr and 300gr RNFP), H110 powder and CCI large magnum pistol primers for hot .45 Colt loads. I use Starline brass, Oregon Trail bullets (200gr RNFP), Trail Boss powder and Winchester large pistol primers for standard loads. You can't go wrong with Starline or Hornady brass. I use Starline brass for .454 Casull loads too. I just ordered 2,000 180gr .357 bullets from MBC so I can't say anything about MBC quality yet. Customer service seems to be excellent with very quick shipping and their prices are lower than most. I have zero complaints re Oregon Trail bullets but MBC is cheaper and their 180gr bullet is a RNFP which will work better in my 1894CSS compared to OT's TCFP. I hope the lower cost doesn't equate to lower quality. I've found Oregon Trail bullets to be incredibly consistent in terms of diameter at least.

:)

[Ed Gallop]

I cast my own so know little of commercial bullets. I prefer the look of round nose flat point. The diameter should be either .452 or .454 depending on the gun so slug your barrel to be sure. I have used several powders but much prefer Trail Boss for the feel and case fill. I also like Starline brass best and order straight from Starline. However, I've reloaded Winchester and Remington brass hundreds of times over without problems. The savings from casting my own lead is significant because I shoot my 45 Colt more than any other gun (usually 100+ rounds weekly) in my back yard. Some day they might successfully strip mine my back field for lead. Ed.

[Arkansas Paul]

I like 9 grains of Unique behind a 255 Keith style LSW from Missouri Bullets.
I don't get all picky about the brand of the brass. When I buy .45 Colt brass, I get once fired stuff that's mixed headstamp. I haven't hunted with it yet, but when I do, I'll separate by headstamp to develop an accurate hunting load though.
Can't beat Missouri Bullets though. Good stuff, good price.
I also am not picky about the brand of primer. The only two I've used so far have been CCI and Remington, but both had perfect results.

[thewilbur]

I found a very nice 45 Colt (standard pressure) combination this weekend:
200 gr cast flat nose bullet using Lee Dipper 1.6 for 6.7 grains of Trail Boss - 1,000 fps. This load produced 1.3" groups at 25 yards (they would have been 0.8" if it weren't for two uncalled flyers).

[Red Cent]

Mothermopar, what handgunl do you have and what do you want to do with it? Shoot through telephone poles or target practice?