45 Colt load question?

[triker]

I just bought a Lipseys, 45lc/acp, SS, 4.63 barrel. I know it is the medium frame and cannot use the hot loads. I see here that a good standard load is 255 gr lead over 8.0 Unique. Just how hot a load is that? I want some good non-punishing target loads. Is this what I am looking for or do I need to load a little lighter? I am older, closer to 70 than 60 and don't want to be beat up enjoying the shooting sport. I like the big bores, but in milder loads. So, 255 over 8 or someone have something that might be better for target? thx triker

 

[Boatshop]

I use a 240 gr. truncated lead bullet (my own cast bullet) over 5.5 gr. of Titegroup, out a Ruger Blackhawk with a 7.5" barrel. No leading and low recoil. I'm also pushing 70. Just plain fun to shoot.

 

[Tellico]

A 200 gr LSWC over 6.5gr Trailboss is a fine target load that will kill paper targets graveyard dead and feel like a .38 WC load.
Fred

 

[powder smoke]

255 gr bullet over 8 gr of unique is rather mild. ps

 

[DeletedMember275]

255 gr bullet over 8 gr of unique is rather mild. ps

Agreed; without chronographing it, I would guesstimate it's about 800-825 FPS.

 

[Lee Martin]

That's plenty safe for that size frame. Another strong load in my 45 Colts is 7.0 of Green Dot with the same bullet. I have chronographed it and got 860 fps from a 5.5" barrel.

 

[Scott]

I'm using 8 to 8.5 grains of Unique with 255gr LSWC in my Blackhawk (also a 4 5/8") for plinking loads; don't have a chrony but they feel about the same as the Winchester "Cowboy Load". I use the same bullets with 9.5grains Unique for hunting.

 

[triker]

Thanks guys, was just curious. Will start with the 255 over upper 7 gr and go from there, maybe 7.8 or so, or is that to light to start? Am going to try and get to 8.0 and see how it is, or should I just start out at the 8.0? 8.0 seems to be the old standby for a good load in it. triker

 

[Lee Martin]

7.0 isn't too light and 8.0 isn't too heavy. Anything in that range will serve you well.

 

[jeffnles1]

I load between 7.6 and 8.5 of Unique over a 250gr bullet for 95% of my 45 Colt shooting.

The 7.6gr charge is very mild. The 8.5 gr is also mild. Last time I shot the 8.5s over my chronograph I was getting about 830 +/- out of a 4 5/8" barrel. That same load out of a 20" Carbine gave about 1015fps. Still very mild. Most of my more recent manuals show 8.5 as top end but they are taking into account all the old Colts out there and also the advice of their lawyers. Some of my older books show 10gr max charge over same bullet. I think those would be pretty warm.

As always, take any load data at your own risk.

Jeff

 

[Pathfinder2]

I have shot mostly 45 colt reloads in my Rugers for over 30 years. You will not go wrong with starting with the 8.0 Unique under a 250/255 lead bullet.

 

[Rclark]

Another strong load in my 45 Colts is 7.0 of Green Dot with the same bullet.

I've taken to this load too for .45 Colt. Equivalent to the 8.0g Unique load (diff was only 5fps over my chronograph) . Shoots very well indeed in my guns.

No problem loading Unique between 7.0g to 8.5g . Test and see what 'fits' your recoil sensitivity and of course for accuracy.

 

[PO2Hammer]

A 200 gr LSWC over 6.5gr Trailboss is a fine target load that will kill paper targets graveyard dead and feel like a .38 WC load.
Fred

That's my light load as well.

 

[wizofwas]

7.0 gr. of Unique pushes a 255 gr. lead bullet at about 730 fps. from a 5 1/2 in barrel. Very mild load.

 

[triker]

7.0 of unique might be a little low then out of my 4.63 barrel. I am going to start at 7.8 or whatever my measure will do close to that. triker

 

[jeffnles1]

7.0 of unique might be a little low then out of my 4.63 barrel. I am going to start at 7.8 or whatever my measure will do close to that. triker

I also have a 4 5/8" barrel Ruger. My light load of 7.6gr Unique is quite mild. Haven't shot it over my chronograph in years and wouldn't want to go off of memory and misquote something. I'm thinking just shy of 800fps but the memory isn't what it was in my younger days.

Even a more stout load of 8.5gr Unique is still pretty mild. I shot a few of them over the chronograph last week out of a Rossi carbine (20" barrel) and the average of 5 shots was 1073.

These are plinking and target loads. The 45 colt, in modern firearms, can be loaded much more stout, but I've found paper and steel plates are not that hard to bring down.

 

[triker]

Well, I tested out some loads today. Had some with 7.0 and 255 SWC and some with 7.5 and 255 SWC. At 25 yds they were on elevation wise, but shooting left quite a little, probably me as most all my guns shoot left. Felt as if the 7.0 kicked harder than the 7.5. I haven't shot a 45 colt for years and forgot just how hard they do kick. But then I am older and softer than I used to be. Going to load some more at 7.5 and 8.0 and see what they do. triker

 

[porsche]

I always liked 7.5 unique with 255 grain lead flat nose. Mild but still a thump.

 

[Ted]

250 grain lswc over 8.0 of unique. Easy to shoot all day and no problem taking down bowling pins at 25 yard. Will shoot clover leafs from a Ransom rest at 25 yards with both my S&W 25-3 and my Uberti Evil Roy peace maker. Now if I could just get it to shoot like that off hand.........


Ted

 

[triker]

I kinda forgot how much fun the 45 colt can be to shoot it's been so long. Big difference from shooting most other calibers. Even loaded light, it goes boom and most of my others just go bang. I don't have 44 mag, so my comparisons are 45acp and 38, 9mm. Definately had fun yesterday. Now got to load some ammo today. Another fun day for sure. triker

 

[powder smoke]

7.0 gr. of Unique pushes a 255 gr. lead bullet at about 730 fps. from a 5 1/2 in barrel. Very mild load.

I like those for my Bond Arms derringer fun if I want to step it up I move to 410 buck shot!