45 lc all around load

[240gr&up]

I've resently found myself out of work, and sold off most my pistols, keeping a couple in .45lc (Blackhawk, Redhawk, Flattop, G2 & Encore) To cut down on my reloading cost Im looking for 1 load that I can shoot in all of them using hard cast bullets with enough power to deer hunt, defence against black bears, and cheap enough I can afford to shoot it alot (plinking). Maybe Im asking too much of 1 load? Maybe I can go 2? I don't know, what are your thoughts?

 

[Sagebrush Burns]

Load up any 250-260 bullet in front of 8.5 Unique and you can do anything you need a handgun to do. Plinking, hunting, self defense...

 

[Bigboreshooter]

For over 25 years my "standard" 45 Colt load has been a hardcast 250gr SWC over 9.2 grains Unique. It has worked well in a variety of Blackhawks, S&W 25-5's, a Redhawk, and my Birdshead Vaquero.

 

[Rclark]

8.5g of Unique (977fps) /Universal (1013fps) under 255g SWC or 250 RNFP is a good all around load. Good powder economy too.

 

[jimbo1096]

I'll third the 8.5 Unique as a good all around load. It's what I used for informal target and camp carry back when I could do all that stuff.

 

[Ziptar]

I'll 4th it.

A 285gr 270-SAA over 10gr Unique is almost as good an all around load too but, a little heavy for plinking and not as economical (by a little) as a 255gr and 8.5gr Unique load.

 

[VA Shooter]

I'll 5th it

 

[Lee Martin]

270 Keith and 12.5 grains of HS6.

 

[DGW1949]

I've resently found myself out of work, and sold off most my pistols, keeping a couple in .45lc (Blackhawk, Redhawk, Flattop, G2 & Encore) To cut down on my reloading cost Im looking for 1 load that I can shoot in all of them using hard cast bullets with enough power to deer hunt, defence against black bears, and cheap enough I can afford to shoot it alot (plinking). Maybe Im asking too much of 1 load? Maybe I can go 2? I don't know, what are your thoughts?

Pick a good, flatbased, SWC bullet, load 10 of them over 8.0 of Unique and shoot them at a known distance to establish an accuracy baseline. From there, work-up towards 8.5 in steps. Somewhere in there, you'll find the exact charge that shoots best for you.
The guns you mention can tolerate a bit-heavier charge of Unique....but beings how 8.5 will push a 250ish bullet clean-through a white tail, there aint much point as far as on-target "performance" goes.
I like Winchester WLP primers.
The 45LC likes a heavy crimp.
A soft-cast SWC bullet will usualy expand somewhat when it hits meat, but are harder to find (and usualy cost a bit more) than run-of-the mill hardcast bullets.
Alox is your friend.
I've yet to put a good hit on any living thing with the load I mention, that didn't go down and stay down. That said though, I don't shoot black bears so I have no experience to offer there.

Hope this helps.

DGW

 

[Smee781]

I believe its just about been said but I will say it again, 8.5 Unique, its my go to load for 45's

 

[Olsherm]

Isn't that 8.5 charge with a 250ish bullet pretty stout for a Uberti ,colt or USFA gun? Just wondering.I have fired some with 7.5 with a 252 to 253 grain SWC and they seemed pretty stout loads.However,I do not have a crony so I really don't know how fast they are going. By the way I have not found a good shooting load in any charge of Unique as yet. Could be the shooter or maybe I am not pushing them fast enough??Let me know what you think. Thanks olsherm

 

[dougader]

Isn't that 8.5 charge with a 250ish bullet pretty stout for a Uberti ,colt or USFA gun? Just wondering.I have fired some with 7.5 with a 252 to 253 grain SWC and they seemed pretty stout loads.However,I do not have a crony so I really don't know how fast they are going. By the way I have not found a good shooting load in any charge of Unique as yet. Could be the shooter or maybe I am not pushing them fast enough??Let me know what you think. Thanks olsherm

The Lyman 49th Ed. lists 8.5 grains as max with the "Keith" swc (#452424) for the Colt and other clones (14k psi loads).

Most of the guns listed by the OP are quite a bit more stout. The one to watch is the NM flat top, although Brian Pearce has listed loads to ~ 23k psi in his Handloader articles.

I have a Montado on the Ruger medium frame, and although I load a 265 WFNGC with 13 grains Blue Dot for woods carry, I shoot a lot more 250-255 grain slugs with 6.5 - 7.0 grains WW231.

 

[kelbro]

Isn't that 8.5 charge with a 250ish bullet pretty stout for a Uberti ,colt or USFA gun?

Lyman shows 8.5 to be the max for standard 45s and the start load for their 'Ruger/Thompson' loads.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

How does having a couple of different powders or a couple of different loads with the same powder cost more money? 8) 8)

 

[Old Judge Creek]

ANY recipe that brews up a lead 230-250 grain bullet at 900-950fps will do just about anything that needs doing IMO. That's been my standard carry load in the bush for 44s and 45s for at least forty years now and it's never failed me.


And while Unique works, i detest it's dirtyness... :wink:

 

[protoolman]

Unique has been my number 1 powder for .45s for years.

 

[COR]

Isn't that 8.5 charge with a 250ish bullet pretty stout for a Uberti ,colt or USFA gun? Just wondering.I have fired some with 7.5 with a 252 to 253 grain SWC and they seemed pretty stout loads.However,I do not have a crony so I really don't know how fast they are going. By the way I have not found a good shooting load in any charge of Unique as yet. Could be the shooter or maybe I am not pushing them fast enough??Let me know what you think. Thanks olsherm

He wasn't asking about any of those guns but I'd think that's pretty warm. If Unique doesn't work try some W231 or HP38. I like the W231 personally (but they are the exact same powder). Maybe the bulllets are too hard? Just throwing that out there...There are so many choices that with a little experimenting you'll find a good one quickly.

 

[BB Rvlr]

I've. Always been partial too 7gr W231 with a 255gr swc. I use that in my S&W model
25s and plan on trying it in my new Vaquero convertable when I get it out of layaway. Now to figure out some .45 acp loads for it...

 

[tek4260]

I am going to second HS-6. Universal and Unique are good powders, but HS-6 is always more accurate for me. Plus, it gives higher velocities than Unique at comparable pressures.

I tried it since Linebaugh recommended it for standard loads, and as usual, he was right.

 

[Rclark]

I like 13g of HS-6 too although I don't remember it being 'more' accurate... but one does use more powder which is why I didn't bring it up. I like to keep a box of .45 Colt loaded with it around.... My favorite is IMR 4227 ... but my guns likes 20g under the 255g SWC or 250g RNFP as my general load.... so doesn't meet the 'cheap' to shoot criteria (350 shots per pound compared to ~820 shots per pound of Unique/Universal) . Just can't go wrong with Unique or Universal though for an all around powder. Just picked up 2# of Universal yesterday for my .44Specials ....

 

[Lee Martin]

7.0 of Green Dot under a 270 grain Keith is another nice reduced Colt load. It's a tad warm for SAAs, but works well in larger frames (Rugers, S&W, etc).

 

[JustsayMo]

I'll add my voice to the choir on the Unique load. Mighty accurate in my Rugers and Marlin 1894. Hard hitting and plenty accurate.

I like the RCBS 452-270 SWC but have had good luck with pert near everything I've tried 240-300 grains. It'll do everything I need a handgun cartridge to do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w3I6EisXHU

 

[DGW1949]

How does having a couple of different powders or a couple of different loads with the same powder cost more money? 8) 8)

Good question.
Me thinks that the answer lies in how much of which powder is required to acheive a specific result. Just as an example....when loading for the 45LC, it takes close to 16 grains of say, 2400....to do what 8.5 grains of Unique will do. Using Unique in a senerio like that perty-much cut's ones powder cost in half.
There's "other" powders that could be used though, and in some the difference in charge-weight may not be as great as the example I used. But it is still what it is.....unless ya go to something like Bullseye, which I personaly wouldn't use in such a large cartridge.
Then there's the thing about SOME powders being wrong for an "all around" load, and that SOME powders needing special primers, or SOME being "touchy" as to charge weight. Unique has none of them drawbacks when used in the 45LC. In fact, it has been the "standard" go-to powder for the 45-Colt ever since the first "smokeless" powder was loaded in that particular cartridge....over a hunert years ago.

So, why tamper with success?....and particularly when the powder in question is relatively ecconomical to use.

Leastways, that's how I look at it.

DGW

 

[Tx gun runner]

Unique is one best pistol powders you can buy in any caliber and with work in rifles also .

 

[240gr&up]

Well, looks like I need to pick up some Unique, and start gathering wheel weights. Sounds like I will be shooting for damn near free!
Thank you all.

 

[Rainman]

I've used Unique for over 40 years myself and it truly is a versatile pistol powder but in the last year I have been migrating toward the cleaner burning Universal. The only cartridge I haven't swapped out is my 44 SPL Skeeter load of 7.5 gr Unique. It just seems sacrilegious to mess with that one.

Also giving 300-MP by Alliant a try as well. Should be awesome in the 45.

Dan

 

[COR]

Sounds like I will be shooting for damn near free!
Thank you all.

Well, I'd not go that far!

Wheel weights usually aren't free my friend, but it is a substantial savings if you can find a shop that will put a bucket aside for you. I have a friends dad who runs a Goodyear tire shop and he has to keep it on the down low since they are required to recycle all wheel weights. I still give him 20 bucks for a bucket full. Probably about 60lbs, and some of them are not useable due to being zinc. Just an FYI

Casting is the only way I can shoot hundreds of rounds per month if I have the time...with a 5 month old it isn't money that keeps me from shooting that is for sure!

 

[WESHOOT2]

270 Keith and 12.5 grains of HS6.

I'm all about THIS one....

 

[Lee Martin]

270 Keith and 12.5 grains of HS6.

I'm all about THIS one....

Thanks. That load is deadly accurate in all of my Ruger 45 Colts.

 

[WARD]

I'd also like to chime in on the 12.5 gr of HS-6 --- It is my favorite load for 45 Colt. I use it in my 5.5" FT, my 5.5" Bisley & 4 5/8 BH with great results all around.

Ward