Help with .45ACP Ranier bullets and Unique

[MarineTech]

This morning, I got a GREAT deal on 200gr. and 230gr. Ranier .45ACP bullets (to the tune of 1200 of each for $250 total). Since I've currently got about 14 pounds of Unique sitting on my powder shelf, I'm looking to work up loads using both for my 1911 and my S&W 25 revolver for general target shooting. I've been researching various resources online for most of the day and coming up with load data that varies WIDELY in charge weight and OAL for the 230gr bullets, and very little data at all for the 200gr RN bullets in either lead or jacketed loads.

Yes, I know that Unique isn't the best choice for .45ACP, but I've had good luck in the past using 6.1gr of Unique with FMJ bullets in .45ACP, and like I said, I've got a stockpile to use up.

So, can anybody suggest loads using Unique powder for Ranier 200gr. RN and 230gr. RN plated bullets?

 

[rfwobbly]

There's really nothing wrong with Unique. It one of those powders that everybody should have a can of. A lot of records have been set in pistol competitions using Unique, so while not the latest thing out there, it's no slouch either.

Ranier says to load it using LEAD data and work up from there.

If you have no lead data in your manuals, then I would start with the Alliant Power web site. They have loads listed for 200gr Speer LSWC, and 230gr Speer LRN, and both show Unique.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

 

[mdi]

What does your manual say? You do have one (or three) don't you? Unique is made by Alliant so get an Alliant manual. Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook should cover any lead bullet...

 

[hancjamk]

Unique is a great powder for 45acp... I think you will be pleased...

 

[rg1]

I saw this info from another poster with Rainier bullet data:
http://web.archive.org/web/20050502124831/http://www.rainierballistics.com/loaddataMW.htm
I would say that the maximum data listed in the above site is a little high. I think for the 230gr. Round Nose bullets, 6.1 up to 6.5 of Unique would do fine. Haven't loaded any 200 grain bullets myself. Start low and work up!

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, I know that Unique isn't the best choice for .45ACP

Hmmm?
Wish somebody had told me that when I started using it almost exclusively for .45 ACP in 1964.
And that is all I still use today.

Your 6.1 grain load will work perfectly fine with the 230 grain bullets to make very close to factory ball FMJ-RN 830 FPS velocity.

The 5.5 under the 200 grain would make pretty decent light load range fodder at around 750 FPS maybe.

rc

 

[birddog]

I've used Unique exclusively for .45acp, along with almost every other pistol caliber that I load.

Don't use ME as a reference, but I use 5.0 grains pushing a 230 gr lead round nose bullet, or 6.0 pushing a 230gr FMJ, both safely within the suggested guidelines. I haven't varied this load in years. It reliably feeds both a Ruger KP 345 and a Springfield Armory 1911, and has been used hundreds of times in a Kimber Ultra CDP II. Haven't found a reason to use anything else.

 

[MarineTech]

Thanks for the help all.

Yes I know that Unique is a good powder for .45ACP. Like I said, 6.1gr with a 230gr FMJ has been my go-to load for practice and plinking for years. I've found that 5.4gr of Titegroup has a tendency to be more consistent over the chrony and cleaner, and that's what I use for IDPA down south and the local action pistol shoots here in northern Maine.

I haven't used the Rainier bullets before in .45ACP, particularly 200gr RN, so I was looking for ideas on where to start and what's worked well for folks in the past.

 

[mbruce]

Can you use 200gr lswc load data when loading 185gr lswc?

 

[Steve in PA]

I use 6.5gr if Unique under my 230gr Rainiers. I've shot this load for several years. I currently have 2k rounds already loaded for this year and I'm working on another 1k right now.

 

[buck460XVR]

I do not use Raniers, but I do use Berry plated 200 grainers in my 5'' Colt government. Over 6.6 grains of Unique they are one of my most accurate loads.

 

[Damon555]

6.5 grains of Unique behind the Ranier 200 grainer is my go to load for my 1911.

I use unique for many different pistol and revolver loads. Unique and H110 are the only 2 handgun powders I use.