•••45 COLT and 245 swc•••?

[the Black Spot]

I was asked this question: "is 5.5 gr of unique too low of a load with a 245 cast swc bullet in the 45 colt, would it cause a squib?"

What are yalls thoughts?

 

[Walkalong]

Alliant lists 5.5 to 9.0 for a 250 Gr lead SWC, so you are right at minimum, so yes, be very careful at that level. You may have to bump it up a little. Try 10 at 5.5 and see, making sure all bullets leave the barrel (You'll likely be OK.), but your friend may find they are too weak to suit them, and want to work it up a little higher. That's pretty light.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

I've been reloading 45 lc for since 1973. I would start low end at about 6.5 gr of unique, my best load is 9 gr. Remember the case is large and a very lite load my not ignite reliably.

 

[RecoilRob]

The CAS people have run into problems with very light 45 Colt in some guns which have a largish chamber. The really powder-puff loads won't expand the case enough to seal so a lot of gunk gets blown back into the action and the cases come out fouled and black. In fact, this is partly what caused the Taurus Thunderbolt rifles to have such a bad reputation. Being a loose copy of the Lightning...CAS guys got all excited that they'd be fast and hold lots of ammo...which they do. But if you run less than standard pressure ammo they blow so much crud back through the action that they tie up in a hundred rounds or less.

Besides the cautions about squibs, you might inspect the fired cases and if they show lots of soot...bump up the load until they come out pretty clean like normal.

 

[the Black Spot]

Thanks for the info

 

[PapaG]

Not the same but I've run 3000plus 45 Colts with the 200 rnfp and 5 grain of Clays for cowboy shooting with zero problems. Your results may vary.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

I have gone as light as 6.0 gr. Unique with a 255 LSWC with good results.

This territory can be dangerous if you have a bullet stuck in the barrel and fire again. What I do when testing light loads is to use a target at a distance where I can watch the bullet strike the target. If I don't observe the impact I stop and check the gun.

 

[USSR]

Personally, I wouldn't go that low with a charge of Unique. That's what Bullseye is made for.

Don

 

[Walkalong]

200 rnfp and 5 grain of Clays for cowboy shooting

Clays is a good choice for very light loads in large cases.

 

[the Black Spot]

I was told there is another load he likes which is 10.5 gr of blue dot with same 245 gr cast bullet. This is a better load for sure than 5.5 of unique.

 

[Slamfire]

I was told there is another load he likes which is 10.5 gr of blue dot with same 245 gr cast bullet. This is a better load for sure than 5.5 of unique.

For low velocity loads I would use Trailboss, though I have not tried that powder from what I have read it was developed for ultra low velocity loads in big cases. I would try Bullseye or Titegroup but even these may not be appropriate for what you want. I would not use Blue Dot. Based on the wide extreme spreads I found with Blue Dot, the 45 LC, and cast bullets, you are more likely to stick a bullet in the barrel with Blue Dot. Blue Dot works best with high pressure and jacketed bullets.

5 1/2" USFA Rodeo 45 LC

250 LRN (.452") 8.5 grs Unique thrown, R-P cases, CCI300 primers
12-May-02 T = 80°F

Ave Vel = 855
Std Dev = 16
ES= 59.91
High= 885.4
Low = 25.5
Number Shots 12

250 LRN (.452") 11.5 grs Blue Dot R-P cases, WLP
11-Sep-05 T = 85 °F shoots close to point of aim acceptable accuracy

Ave Vel = 845
Std Dev = 48
ES =183.6
High =933.3
Low =749.7
N = 18

250 LRN (.452") 12.0 grs Blue Dot R-P cases, WLP
11-Sep-05 T = 85 °F shoots close to point of aim good accuracy

Ave Vel = 904
Std Dev = 44
ES =149.6
High =955.2
Low =806
N = 15

 

[midland man]

I only use 6.8gr greendot behind my 250gr cast bullets! so with your bullet I would start with 6gr of greendot and work up!!