45 colt loads with Unique powder

[Parker2020]

New to loading this cartridge and its really confusing to me how a cartridge that has been around for as long as this one has so much conflicting load data
posted . I bought some Winchester Super X factory loaded ammo (255 grain lead bullet )with an advertised velocity of 860 FPS out of a 7" barrel .
I chronographed these rounds out of my 20" barreled rifle @ 1060 FPS.
I reloaded rounds using Unique powder working up in .1 grain increments 6.0 -7.2 grains loaded up some Hornady lead 255 grain bullets with 7.0 gains of Unique listed as the max load in my 45 colt load book .
7.1 Grains of Unique yielded velocities of 1053 FPS avg.
7.2 grains gave velocities of 1071 FPS avg.

So it looks like approximately 7.15 grains of Unique equals the Winchester Super X factory 45 Colt load.

My Lyman reloading manual lists maximum loads of 8.5 and 9.0 grains of Unique with similar bullets in contrast to the 7.0 grain max listed in my
45 Colt only "Load Book" . I want to stay within the SAAMI pressure limits listed for this cartridge but load data I have read online is all over the place for max loads using Unique powder . The rifle I am loading for has the weaker "toggle link" type bolt lock up mechanism so I don't want to over do it on cartridge power . Any suggestions ?

[Spaceghost]

I would speculate your .45 colt only book has safe loads for very old firearms. I would just stick with your 7.15 grain load and call it a day. If you aren't seeing any signs of over pressure and it's grouping well, of course. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

I am a middle of the road reloader, and unique is my go to powder. It's a little dirty and takes up a lot of space, but it gets the job done and my groups are tight. Plus, a double charge will spill all over the place. Not to mention I load on a dillon 650 with a powder check, just in case.

[Bastard]

just make sure that you don't use anything that is listed as Ruger or TC loads.
as far as sugestions; as long as you don't have pressure signs you should be alright, you could always pick up the Lyman cast book as well (its on my list)

Lyman 49th shows 8.5 max - Hornady 8th lists max as 7gr of Unique as well try some trail boss if you ever get the chance, my favorite 45 colt powder.

[J-cat]

Some of the older loads were developed in balloon head brass with more case capacity. They need more powder to make the max pressure threshold. Newer, solid head cases need less powder. Maybe that's why the discrepancy. Also, pay attention to the bullet. Hornady swaged bullets are shorter than similar cast bullets. They leave more room in the case at the same OAL. More room equals less pressure.

[Parker2020]

Thanks for the responses . I carefully segregated all the spent brass according to powder charge and after inspection none of them show any signs of over pressure .
The only difference I noticed is the higher the powder charge there was less smoke residue on the outside of the case but from what I have read this is normal with this round . The rifle I am loading for is a modern reproduction of an old design so the metal should be stronger than the original version .

[Eljay]

With most/all rounds if the loads are light the brass won't expand to fully seal the chamber and you'll get smoke on the outside. As long as you already knew they were light loads it's not a problem.

45 Colt's a funny one because it's originally black powder, with about a 40gr capacity. With the modern cases there's less space as he noted above and you can fit in more like 35gr with some light compression. But it's still a pretty huge case for the amount of smokeless you would need to replicate that load and you would have to really screw up to see visible pressure signs. I'd pretty much decide on a chrono limit you're comfortable with and go by that. The factory ammo you're matching is right at the top of the traditional "cowboy load" limit (850fps) so you should be good where you are.

That's a long winded way of saying I think you're in good shape with your load.

[orangeusa]

I've been using 7gn of HP-38 with 250 gn lead boolits ( Xtreme Cowboy RNFP ) and I'm pretty happy with that setup. MAN I love how HP-38/Win231 meters... I worked my way up to that - which is basically a max load in most recent books.

The hard lead (non-cowboy style) bullets do leave major powder streaks down the brass as you mentioned. Heck even stock Winchester and some stock Black Hills do the same.

I'm trying to emulate Black Hills.. I just don't have Unique, so HP-38 is my goto.

I just loaded some minimum loads of 2400 and haven't shot them yet... 13.6 gns... ( I weigh them all ). This stuff meters BETTER than HP-38!

I've been less than happy with Trail Boss. It meters poorly, yeah, you can't double charge, but gad it's the largest dang powder I've ever seen. The donuts are HUGE. And it smokes like there is no tomorrow... I used 200gn bullets and worked all the way up to max and never was happy with the powder.

But lots of other folks love TB.

Thanks for posting this thread... 45Colt loads seem to be all over the place as to maximum loads in various books/websites ect. I'm shooting a Blackhawk, but not using those BH/TC loads... yet...

Please don't quote me on any of these suggestions without consulting other sources - as I am still a relative noob, but you knew that....

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