Help with .45 Colt Load

[Big D]

Hey yall. I just recently began reloading for the good ole .45 Colt as I also recently acquired an Uberti Cattleman II as well as a Uberti 1875 Remington both with 7 1/2" barrels. So far, I decided to settle on either 225/250gr RNFP coated bullets. I have reloaded and shot approximately 200 rounds so far using Unique. My first loads were on the light end, 7.3gr Unique and they proved accurate and mild in recoil. I then went up to 8gr Unique, and both bullet weights were again accurate with a small increase in recoil, still pleasurable. I have contemplated pushing slightly further and maxing out at 8.9gr Unique, but I have read in some loading manuals anything over 8.5gr may be tough on the gun. I have also came upon numerous loads using 9gr Unique. I have not yet been able to chrono any of my loads. When I acquired the aforementioned handguns, I also purchased some Freedom Munitions new manufactured 255gr jacketed FP ammo, rated at 850fps. This ammunition definitely feels quite a bit hotter than both of my handloads. Should I quit while I'm ahead or would 8.9gr of Unique actually be relatively safe to try?

 

[AJC1]

Safe is related to pressure. If your guns are recent production and in good shape just dont go over the rated pressure and your good. 45 colt is not a modern cartridge and is not a magnum. Why continue to go up if it is already serving its purpose????

 

[whughett]

Assuming your using a load manual published by a known source, powder, bullet or firearm manufacturer I’d feel safe going up to and including the max load. Once you have, as mentioned above, what’s the point IMO max loads are seldom the most accurate and unless your trying to anchor some beastie or just like the recoil flash and bang not worth the extra powder. Not to mention ,as you yourself noted, wear on the gun.

I also load a shoot the 45C not only in a cattleman but several conversion cylinders and a S&W mode 25. For paper punching I actual prefer several 200 grain bullets. One is the 250 grain RNF’s little brother the 200 grain RNFP.

Enjoy. IMO the most American of all calibers the 45’s.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Should I quit while I'm ahead or would 8.9gr of Unique actually be relatively safe to try?

Alliant's website lists a max load of 9.5 grains with a 250 grain lead bullet so I would say it would be relatively safe to try.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...=1&weight=250&shellid=36&bulletid=67&bdid=204

However, I don't know if I would feed a SAA clone a steady diet of them. No personal experience with clones but just my thinking on the subject.

 

[whughett]

Doesn’t Uberti address the Ammo requirements/restrictions in their manual. The cattleman I shoot belongs to my son, I’ve never seen the manual.

 

[45 long]

Like whughett, I load 45 Colt for a conversion cylinder. Most of my loads have been with Universal, but today I went to the range with some 230 gr lrn loads with Trail Boss. Very pleased with both the lower recoil & improved accuracy. Instead of that bottom end "whoomph", I was getting more of a higher "Crack". Might consider.

 

[Targa]

I wouldn’t push it. If I were going to start playing with hotter rounds and .45lc can get plenty hot, surpassing .44mag hot, I would pick up a Ruger. Again, this is just me.

 

[AJC1]

I wouldn’t push it. If I were going to start playing with hotter rounds and .45lc can get plenty hot, surpassing .44mag hot, I would pick up a Ruger. Again, this is just me.

There is some guns that can handle hotter loads, i believe one to be the ruger super redhawk. If you load hot rounds for that gun and then put it in another then bad things may happen. I have seen this hotter than 44 mag statement before and this is just misuse and abuse of the weapon. Just because something can survive a few "hot/overpressure" loads does not make it a good idea. If you want that kind of performance you got the wrong gun/cartridge. 44 Mag is a great round, or even a 454 or 460. This is just as bad of an idea as using a toyota tacoma to pull a full size trailer. It may work for a while but when things are not perfect you may find yourself in a bad situation.

What are you trying to achieve. If your just experimenting then try a slower powder like IMR 4227 or power pistol. Power pistol will give you a lot more boom and shoot flames like a cannon if your going for effect....

 

[whughett]

Like whughett, I load 45 Colt for a conversion cylinder. Most of my loads have been with Universal, but today I went to the range with some 230 gr lrn loads with Trail Boss. Very pleased with both the lower recoil & improved accuracy. Instead of that bottom end "whoomph", I was getting more of a higher "Crack". Might consider.

Another favorite load. I went to TrailBoss maybe two years ago. 45C cases just too big for reliable plinking loads with modern smokeless powders. I also load several bullet styles with 3F black powder.

 

[AJC1]

Another favorite load. I went to TrailBoss maybe two years ago. 45C cases just too big for reliable plinking loads with modern smokeless powders. I also load several bullet styles with 3F black powder.

Have you ever tried 777? Ive watched videos of fortunecookie45lc using that in a 45c but i have not tried it...

 

[whughett]

Naw, one of them “purist” from the BP forum. Holy black only in cap guns.
Unless it’s smokeless in cartridges of course

 

[Riomouse911]

7.5 gr Unique, the Acme 225 gr coated RNFP and WLP primers and you're good to go shooting all day, every day.

Don't beat up the Colt clones by hotrodding the .45 Colt. IMHO, the 45C does it's magic with those middle of the road loads; they're fun to shoot, easy to load and things (Guns, cartridge cases, your nerves) last far longer .

Stay safe.

 

[Charlie98]

FWIW, you are on the right track with Unique in the .45 Colt for probably 90% of reasonable loads. That is not to say there aren't other powders that do well... but I've used Unique almost exclusively in the 25+ years I've been loading for it. Hot rodding it won't provide much benefit; if you want a little more velocity, switch to something like IMR4227 or 2400 in loads from published sources... and not Ruger-only loads, of course. My revolver is a Ruger, so it gives me a significant safety margin that you probably don't have with the Uberti, but I still only stick with standard .45 Colt loads (I like the 255grn cast bullets, meself...) because if I need moarrr power, I have a .41MAG for that. In my shorter 5.5" barrel, IMR4227 didn't work very well, but with your longer 7.5" barrels, you might give it a go.

 

[Slamfire]

I saw no real advantage to pushing 250's/255's faster than 850 fps in my USFA Rodeo. My load of a 250/255 L with 8.5 grs Unique was accurate and powerful in these Colt SAA replicas.

All these charges are thrown charges. Unique is my go to powder for 44 Special and 45 Long Colt.


5 1/2" USFA Rodeo


255 LSWC (.452") 8.0 grs Unique thrown, lot 6/21/1993, Starline cases, WLP primers
25-Mar-07 T = 80 °F

Ave Vel =864
Std Dev =28
ES = 75
High =898.8
Low = 800.1
Number Shots =24


255 LSWC (.454") 8.5 grs Unique thrown, R-P cases, WLP primers
12-May-02 T = 84°F


Ave Vel =844
Std Dev =33
ES = 117.8
High =907.6
Low = 789.8
Number Shots 12


240 JHP Sierra (.4515") 8.5 grs Unique thrown, R-P cases, CCI300 primers
12-May-02 T = 84°F

Ave Vel =848
Std Dev =54
ES = 146.4
High =911.8
Low = 765.3
Number Shots: 6