Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
Using 255 gr lead Keith bullet. Something to teach shooting with.
Need a light load and a medium load. Thanks!
Platform is S&W 25-5.
Need a light load and a medium load. Thanks!
Platform is S&W 25-5.
Need easy shootin' .45 Colt load
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Quantrill
Member
Steve,
I have been using a 240gr bullet (Lyman #452400 - LRN) with 5.5 gr of 700X for years as a light load and as a CAS load. I believe the same load with the Keith bullet would be just as tractable and just as accurate. Unique would probably do for the medium load but I really haven't tried it so I won't comment further. Quantrill
I have been using a 240gr bullet (Lyman #452400 - LRN) with 5.5 gr of 700X for years as a light load and as a CAS load. I believe the same load with the Keith bullet would be just as tractable and just as accurate. Unique would probably do for the medium load but I really haven't tried it so I won't comment further. Quantrill
From the RCBS Cast Bullet Manual for 255 grain SWC cast bullet:
Red Dot 5.5 gr(696 fps) --> 6.5 gr(814fps)
700X 5.2 gr(695fps) -- > 5.7 gr(758fps)
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My personal favorite "teaching" load would be 4.5 gr Bullseye with the same bullet, for around 650fps.
Good Luck...
Joe
Red Dot 5.5 gr(696 fps) --> 6.5 gr(814fps)
700X 5.2 gr(695fps) -- > 5.7 gr(758fps)
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My personal favorite "teaching" load would be 4.5 gr Bullseye with the same bullet, for around 650fps.
Good Luck...
Joe
redneck2
Member
FWIW...
I use 255 Laser Cast Keith style LSWC's pushed by a mid-range load of AA5. Don't remember what it is right off hand...if you need it I'll look it up. Easy shooting, and I'd feel very comfortable taking this deer hunting.
I cringe every time I see someone use Unique. I've used a lot of Unique, but got away from it. Works OK, but man is it dirty. I actually had one guy at an indoor range ask if I was shooting black powder. If you use Unique, load near the top end to get a cleaner burn.
I like the AA 5 because it is clean, consistent in my Dillon, and meters exceptionally well. I'd suspect Titegroup or Universal Clays would probably perform as well, but I can't imagine anything being more consistent (metering) than a ball powder. I use WW primers. HTH
I use 255 Laser Cast Keith style LSWC's pushed by a mid-range load of AA5. Don't remember what it is right off hand...if you need it I'll look it up. Easy shooting, and I'd feel very comfortable taking this deer hunting.
I cringe every time I see someone use Unique. I've used a lot of Unique, but got away from it. Works OK, but man is it dirty. I actually had one guy at an indoor range ask if I was shooting black powder. If you use Unique, load near the top end to get a cleaner burn.
I like the AA 5 because it is clean, consistent in my Dillon, and meters exceptionally well. I'd suspect Titegroup or Universal Clays would probably perform as well, but I can't imagine anything being more consistent (metering) than a ball powder. I use WW primers. HTH
I have a 6.5" 25-5 and shot some loads of 8 grains of Unique under a 255 just about two hours ago. Unique is a good powder for the 45 Colt, better than most for sure. Unique is the standard by which all other loads are measured in 45 Colt and for good reason. I have shot Universal extensively in it and was NOT getting the consistency I was looking for until I was well into the +P range and recoil was beginning to be noticeable. This is the ONLY cartridge I load that Universal has not worked better than Unique in though......
I have tried Clays with listed loads and found them to be somewhat more position sensitive than I wanted, same for Blue Dot and Super Field. The more I think about it the more I want to try Power Pistol in it, it should be tops but I have not tried it yet. The softest loads will be the slowest powder. H110/W296 is not very friendly, but 2400 should be good in midrange loads. 4227 should also be quite soft shooting.
You need to get away from the 250 grain bullets. Shoot some 200's and the recoil drops DRASTICALLY. No way I would hand a newbie my 25-5 with a 250 doing 850fps, not even at 750. To you and I it is a big ol' kitty cat, but to a newbie it packs a wallop. Most of my shooting buddies even avoid the 45 Colt with 250+ grain bullets.
The 45 Colt is just not practical to load light with the MASSIVE capacity it has. You need very bulky powders that are position insensitive and burn well at garden hose type pressures, and that is hard to do. Unique is what I would try for the newbies, loaded under 200 grain bullets.
I have tried Clays with listed loads and found them to be somewhat more position sensitive than I wanted, same for Blue Dot and Super Field. The more I think about it the more I want to try Power Pistol in it, it should be tops but I have not tried it yet. The softest loads will be the slowest powder. H110/W296 is not very friendly, but 2400 should be good in midrange loads. 4227 should also be quite soft shooting.
You need to get away from the 250 grain bullets. Shoot some 200's and the recoil drops DRASTICALLY. No way I would hand a newbie my 25-5 with a 250 doing 850fps, not even at 750. To you and I it is a big ol' kitty cat, but to a newbie it packs a wallop. Most of my shooting buddies even avoid the 45 Colt with 250+ grain bullets.
The 45 Colt is just not practical to load light with the MASSIVE capacity it has. You need very bulky powders that are position insensitive and burn well at garden hose type pressures, and that is hard to do. Unique is what I would try for the newbies, loaded under 200 grain bullets.
Mannlicher
Member
A favorite plinking load for my 25-5 has been a 250 grain LSWC over 9 grains of Unique. I show right at 900fps, with exellent accuracy.
Clark
Member
8 gr. Unique, 255 gr.
achadwick
Member
I use 7.8 gr of Unique under a 255 gr SWC for about 850fps from my 5.5" barrel Blackhawk.
If you want a REALLY light load, try 3 grains or so of Bullseye under a Hornady .457" roundball. I get about 440fps from my BH and recoil is negligable. My 8 year old son shoots that load with no complaints.
If you want a REALLY light load, try 3 grains or so of Bullseye under a Hornady .457" roundball. I get about 440fps from my BH and recoil is negligable. My 8 year old son shoots that load with no complaints.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
255 SWC over 7 gr of 231
I also attached the web page from reloadammo.com as a word.rtf
http://www.reloadammo.com/45cload.htm
I also attached the web page from reloadammo.com as a word.rtf
http://www.reloadammo.com/45cload.htm
Attachments
Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
Hmm...some points taken...I don't want to push this near 900 or even 800 fps...does anyone have a 600 or 700 fps load?
This won't be the only gun she'll be shooting...she'l start with a .22 and then a 9mm, but this 25 is so slick, I think if I could load a nice easy shootin cartridge, she'd get a lot of value out of it.
Hmm....can I shoot a 200 SWC for a .45 acp from this? I forget! lol... That's what I get for always thinking "heavy" when I think of .45 Colt!
This won't be the only gun she'll be shooting...she'l start with a .22 and then a 9mm, but this 25 is so slick, I think if I could load a nice easy shootin cartridge, she'd get a lot of value out of it.
Hmm....can I shoot a 200 SWC for a .45 acp from this? I forget! lol... That's what I get for always thinking "heavy" when I think of .45 Colt!
Steve, just crimp over the front of the full diameter shoulder on the bullet, seating all of the big part of the SWC in the case. 4 grains of Clays will move it out at about 550-600 fps, silly slow but they sure are fun to shoot. Outside on a bright day you can see them fly sometimes.
Steve Smith
Moderator Emeritus
Bingo.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Johnny Guest
Moderator In Memoriam
A sorta in-between load - - -
I see loads for the standard weight bullets, 250 -- 255 gr, and the lightweight ones, 200 gr.
I've had very good service using the 230 RN lead bullet (normally for .45 ACP use) with 6.2 of Unique, up to about 8 gr. of 231. In the big ol'case, the 6.2 U flings the 230 about like the old .45 S&W (Scofield) load. I really like it for shooting IDPA-type matches with my Mountain Gun.
Actually, the regular Cowboy Action .45 Scofield load is a nice, light training load. Also, this short-cased load, either from the various factories, or as a handload, makes it very easy to tell the light loads from the hairy-chested numbers.
Mannlicher:
Best,
Johnny
I see loads for the standard weight bullets, 250 -- 255 gr, and the lightweight ones, 200 gr.
I've had very good service using the 230 RN lead bullet (normally for .45 ACP use) with 6.2 of Unique, up to about 8 gr. of 231. In the big ol'case, the 6.2 U flings the 230 about like the old .45 S&W (Scofield) load. I really like it for shooting IDPA-type matches with my Mountain Gun.
Actually, the regular Cowboy Action .45 Scofield load is a nice, light training load. Also, this short-cased load, either from the various factories, or as a handload, makes it very easy to tell the light loads from the hairy-chested numbers.
Mannlicher:
Indeed, one of my personal favorites, sir, but hardly in the category specified by Steve Smith.
Best,
Johnny
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