Read a bunch about .45 Colt (appropriate) smokeless powers; I use 8 gr. Unique under a 250 gr. lead FN bullet. As most are aware, Unique is hard to get (at least at a reasonable price around here). Shoot the round in both an 1873 and USFA SAA - a perfect load for me. As I understand, Universal Clays duplicates Unique performance albeit with less soot. Is this a good route to go in the absence of Unique and does the Universal behave as stated - not sure if I can secure Universal either however if like performance, it at least gives me an alternative. Thanks.
.45 Colt Question
- Thread starter Steve S.
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RugerOldArmy
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
I use W231 and HS-6 for most of my 45 Colt loading.
Powders other and Unique and Universal I have tried in the 45 Colt with success are AA#5, Red Dot, Zip and Trail Boss.
Powders other and Unique and Universal I have tried in the 45 Colt with success are AA#5, Red Dot, Zip and Trail Boss.
The great thing about your particular .45LC load is that there are an awful lot of powders, just about anything commonly used for lead loads, that will give you similar performance to your regular, go to load. You probably already have some of them on hand.
THe Dove
BOOMER SOONER!!!
I suggest Accurate #5 as well. With that said, I shoot mainly 230 grain cast boolits through my 45 Colt SAA.
The Dove
The Dove
Steve S. I have been shooting, reloading, and casting bullets for the 45LC for many years. The 45LC has been my favorite pistol caliber ever since I was a young kid shooting with my Grandpaw and His old friends. I used 8 grs to 10 grs of Unique with a 250gr to 255gr cast RNFP bullet in my Ruger 45LC`s for many years. But an old shooing partner of mine, gave me two 8lb containers of Win 231 10 or 12 years ago and I have been useing, 7.0 grs of Win 231 with a 250gr or 255gr RNFP cast bullet ever since. I have found this to be all the power I need to shoot pigs or deer with or any other hunting I get to do. I even use this load to CAS with,both in Rifle and Pistol. I turned 71 years old in Oct and I find this, to be a very comfortable load for me to shoot, with all the power I need for recoil, I hate to say it, is beginning to take its tole on me.
ken
ken
I use unique for my 45LC. If I ever run low, I have trail boss on hand for a back up. Its cleaner, and easy to come by. But I like unique 1st and try to never run low.
BSA1
member
I love Universal in 45 Colt. I load it a little above max with 255gn plated flat points for my Rugers. It will work really well in place of Unique. Meters better and is much, much cleaner. If you can get your hands on some jump on it. You may not go back to Unique.
I've used AA# 2&5, 700x, bullseye, WST, and 2400 all with great success in 45 colt with 250-255 grain bullets.
RugerOldArmy
Member
Trail Boss: I've given this powder a LOT of attempts in .45 Colt, with 200 RNFP and 255 RNFP.
I've never been able to get a load that shot accurately. Maybe it is just me. Maybe it is my Vaquero or my 1873 Win Uberti rifle. Unique and AA #5 shoot great, and to a lesser degree, W231.
Swiss FFFg shoots fantastically!
Trail Boss was the most disappointing powder for me, ... ever.
Just my experience, FWIW. I regret getting as much Trail Boss as I did.
I've never been able to get a load that shot accurately. Maybe it is just me. Maybe it is my Vaquero or my 1873 Win Uberti rifle. Unique and AA #5 shoot great, and to a lesser degree, W231.
Swiss FFFg shoots fantastically!
Trail Boss was the most disappointing powder for me, ... ever.
Just my experience, FWIW. I regret getting as much Trail Boss as I did.
I am surprised that you are having issues with TrailBoss, it is all i use with my 1873 pistols and 1873 Uberti Leveraction rifle. I shoot MB 250LRNFP and i am accurate at 100yds with my rifle. What load are you using? Most of the guys i shoot cowboy with all use Trailboss. Could be one or two things, either change your load, or maybe your bullets are two hard?
Lefty
RugerOldArmy
Member
I loaded the entire range IMR listed for two MBC bullets, into test lots of 50, .2 Gr apart:
- 200 Gr LRNFP (Cowboy)
- 255 Gr LRNFP (Cowboy)
Test guns were an 1873 Win replica (rifle) and a Ruger New Vaquero.
- Starline Brass
- CCI Primers
- Mild roll-crimp in the crimp groove.
Unique (8.5 Gr w/255) and AA No 5 (10.3 w/255) produced groups a third the size with both guns. They both liked the 255 LRNFP better.
35 Whelen
Member
A couple of "secrets" that help when njo Unique is available:
AL 20/28- I find this powder fairly regularly.
I've tested it in 357 Mag, .44 Special (burned about 4 lbs of it), 45 ACP and 45 Colt and found it to be all but a direct replacement for Unique. In my .44's and 45 ACP velocities ran <2.5% higher when loaded in identical quantities as Unique. For some reason in the 45 Colt, I get velocity spreads a little higher than I prefer, but accuracy is still great.
Vectan A1- Just bought a 1.1 lb. can from Selway and have tested it in my .44 Special and 45 Colt. LOVE it. Very similar to Unique and velocity spreads are low and accuracy is really good. This powder is also readily available with Selway armory having 60 in stock at this moment and it's only 17.99 per container.
Power Pistol- I see this from time to time. It's a little slower burning than Unique, but work great in the 45 Colt.
Good luck,
35W
AL 20/28- I find this powder fairly regularly.
I've tested it in 357 Mag, .44 Special (burned about 4 lbs of it), 45 ACP and 45 Colt and found it to be all but a direct replacement for Unique. In my .44's and 45 ACP velocities ran <2.5% higher when loaded in identical quantities as Unique. For some reason in the 45 Colt, I get velocity spreads a little higher than I prefer, but accuracy is still great.
Vectan A1- Just bought a 1.1 lb. can from Selway and have tested it in my .44 Special and 45 Colt. LOVE it. Very similar to Unique and velocity spreads are low and accuracy is really good. This powder is also readily available with Selway armory having 60 in stock at this moment and it's only 17.99 per container.
Power Pistol- I see this from time to time. It's a little slower burning than Unique, but work great in the 45 Colt.
Good luck,
35W
Unique is my favorite powder. (8.5 x 250 Keith LSWC)
But I do think you could load the .45 Colt with scrapings out of your BBQ grill and get a pretty decent load..
It just don't seem to care much what you put in it, within reason.
rc
But I do think you could load the .45 Colt with scrapings out of your BBQ grill and get a pretty decent load..
It just don't seem to care much what you put in it, within reason.
rc
GooseGestapo
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Universal is my second favorite powder for .45lc. It was my favorite till I started using LongShot.
7.8 gr of Universal matches the 8.0-8.5gr of Unique with 255gr RFN. I use 8.2 because it's necessary to obturate the brass and maintain seal in my Win. Mod-94 24"bbl rifle. (Lighter charges blow back into action sooting cases and blowing bullet lube, eft into action.)
BTW, it takes ~7gr of GreenDot to match 8gr Unique/Universal.
It's what I'm shooting now as I was given ~6lbs!
But, for 275gr Keith SWC, it's, 9.2 gr of LongShot in the S&W 625.
7.8 gr of Universal matches the 8.0-8.5gr of Unique with 255gr RFN. I use 8.2 because it's necessary to obturate the brass and maintain seal in my Win. Mod-94 24"bbl rifle. (Lighter charges blow back into action sooting cases and blowing bullet lube, eft into action.)
BTW, it takes ~7gr of GreenDot to match 8gr Unique/Universal.
It's what I'm shooting now as I was given ~6lbs!
But, for 275gr Keith SWC, it's, 9.2 gr of LongShot in the S&W 625.
35 Whelen
Member
I never pay much attention to how clean a powder burns. I have noticed some maybe a little cleaner than others, but would never base a choice of propellant on cleanliness.
Data is available on the Nobel Sport/Vectan site which can be found by Googling it. There was no .44 Special data so I just started with light Unique loads.
35W
Arkansas Paul
Member
I too have had good success with a variety of powders in my .45 Colt.
My favorites are Unique for standard loads and 2400 for heavier stuff (which you probably don't want).
But I have also tried Red Dot, W231/HP38, 700X, Bullseye and Trail Boss.
Haven't found one yet that wouldn't shoot fairly accurately.
My favorites are Unique for standard loads and 2400 for heavier stuff (which you probably don't want).
But I have also tried Red Dot, W231/HP38, 700X, Bullseye and Trail Boss.
Haven't found one yet that wouldn't shoot fairly accurately.
1KPerDay
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