Hi All,
I've recently decided to start handloading .45 Colt cartridges for my Ruger Blackhawk (.45 Colt/.45ACP).
At the moment, I'm only interested in loading standard pressure (and not the heavier Ruger-only) loads for this gun. I've read a couple of books regarding handloading including the ABC's of Reloading and Modern Reloading (by Richard Lee). I currently own all of the tools required to load handgun cartridges, including carbide dies for .45 colt.
I need to purchase, however, reloading components and I am seeking some advice from the expert loaders (forgive me if these question are totally naive):
1. What reloading manual do you recommend? The book Modern Reloading is also a reloading guide, but I'm interested in having an alternate manual as a reference.
2. What powder do you recommend that I start with? As I mentioned before, I'm primarily interested in standard pressure, moderate velocity (800fps, 255gr bullet) loads - nothing too hot to start. I'd like to find a versatile powder that I could also use to load other cartridges later on (such as .44sp/.45acp).
Also, I read somewhere that I should look for a powder that will overflow the casing if I accidentally double-charge a round. Is this really important?
I've heard the name "Unique" mentioned a lot. Is this a good powder for my needs?
3. I'd like to develop a load that uses a jacketed or copper-plated bullet for use at local indoor ranges. Has anyone used the total copper plated bullets from Rainer? Do I load these bullets using the load data for a regular cast lead bullet or do I use the load data for a regular jacketed bullet?
4. The load manuals that I have list a lot of loads that use Unique and cast lead bullets. However, they do not list loads for jacketed bullets and Unique powder. Can I safely apply the load data from the cast lead bullet loads to the jacketed or copper plated load or would this not be appropriate or safe to do? For example, if my load manual list 7.6 gr of unique for a 250gr cast lead bullet, can i use the same amount of the same powder for a 250gr jacketed or copper plated bullet?
Thanks in advance.
I've recently decided to start handloading .45 Colt cartridges for my Ruger Blackhawk (.45 Colt/.45ACP).
At the moment, I'm only interested in loading standard pressure (and not the heavier Ruger-only) loads for this gun. I've read a couple of books regarding handloading including the ABC's of Reloading and Modern Reloading (by Richard Lee). I currently own all of the tools required to load handgun cartridges, including carbide dies for .45 colt.
I need to purchase, however, reloading components and I am seeking some advice from the expert loaders (forgive me if these question are totally naive):
1. What reloading manual do you recommend? The book Modern Reloading is also a reloading guide, but I'm interested in having an alternate manual as a reference.
2. What powder do you recommend that I start with? As I mentioned before, I'm primarily interested in standard pressure, moderate velocity (800fps, 255gr bullet) loads - nothing too hot to start. I'd like to find a versatile powder that I could also use to load other cartridges later on (such as .44sp/.45acp).
Also, I read somewhere that I should look for a powder that will overflow the casing if I accidentally double-charge a round. Is this really important?
I've heard the name "Unique" mentioned a lot. Is this a good powder for my needs?
3. I'd like to develop a load that uses a jacketed or copper-plated bullet for use at local indoor ranges. Has anyone used the total copper plated bullets from Rainer? Do I load these bullets using the load data for a regular cast lead bullet or do I use the load data for a regular jacketed bullet?
4. The load manuals that I have list a lot of loads that use Unique and cast lead bullets. However, they do not list loads for jacketed bullets and Unique powder. Can I safely apply the load data from the cast lead bullet loads to the jacketed or copper plated load or would this not be appropriate or safe to do? For example, if my load manual list 7.6 gr of unique for a 250gr cast lead bullet, can i use the same amount of the same powder for a 250gr jacketed or copper plated bullet?
Thanks in advance.