trickyasafox
Member
Lee's 2nd and Alliants website list charges from 5.0 to. . . 5.0
anyone have problems with lighter? how much lighter did you go?
anyone have problems with lighter? how much lighter did you go?
need help with light unique loads in 45acp
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wally
Member
I've never gone below 5.2gr with Unique in .45ACP and seem to get a lot of unburned flakes on the bench in front of me when shooting with loads below about 6.0gr, but function was fine.
I think the Lee manual must have just copied from the Alliant website which seems to be a typo as I've used 6.0gr Unique with every bullet type I could get my hands on from 185gr to 230gr both jacketed and hard cast for the past 20+ years. I've gone as high as 7.2 for Jacketed bullets (using the specific bullet makers maximums) and 6.6gr for some very hard 200gr lead SWC. No issues and long brass life.
I'd certainly consider the 6.0gr a good minimum for 185 gr bullet as they shoot about like a 9mm in terms of recoil.
I think if you go much below 3.5gr you are likely to have powder measure metering problems with Unique based on my loading for .380ACP (using RCBS "Lil Dandy and Lee AutoDisk measures).
--wally.
I think the Lee manual must have just copied from the Alliant website which seems to be a typo as I've used 6.0gr Unique with every bullet type I could get my hands on from 185gr to 230gr both jacketed and hard cast for the past 20+ years. I've gone as high as 7.2 for Jacketed bullets (using the specific bullet makers maximums) and 6.6gr for some very hard 200gr lead SWC. No issues and long brass life.
I'd certainly consider the 6.0gr a good minimum for 185 gr bullet as they shoot about like a 9mm in terms of recoil.
I think if you go much below 3.5gr you are likely to have powder measure metering problems with Unique based on my loading for .380ACP (using RCBS "Lil Dandy and Lee AutoDisk measures).
--wally.
dbarale
Member
I use 5.8gr of unique with a 185 cast SWC BUT, I use Winchester primers (WLP) that are supposed to be hotter and I crimp heavy. That brings the unburnt powder to an acceptable level.
Also, I shoot those in a revolver wich allows me to reduce the OAL without worrying about feeding or reliabilty.
Also, I shoot those in a revolver wich allows me to reduce the OAL without worrying about feeding or reliabilty.
trickyasafox
Member
fair enough. maybe i'll start going the other way with it then. i was kicking it around 6 grains, but got a little intimidated when i saw their recomendations.
wally
Member
Its really worthwhile to look at several manuals and discount the highest and lowest weight loads unless you are using the exact same primers, bullets, and cases.
I was shocked when I saw the Alliant numbers, worried it was "old Unique" which I was using, vs. the "new cleaner burning" formula. I was very careful and dropped back with my first lot of the "new" powder. Can't say I've noticed any differences other than it is cleaner than the "old" stuff was. I've settled on 6.0gr because I can change bullets without changing the powder measure and saw no real benefits from the hotter loads.
--wally.
I was shocked when I saw the Alliant numbers, worried it was "old Unique" which I was using, vs. the "new cleaner burning" formula. I was very careful and dropped back with my first lot of the "new" powder. Can't say I've noticed any differences other than it is cleaner than the "old" stuff was. I've settled on 6.0gr because I can change bullets without changing the powder measure and saw no real benefits from the hotter loads.
--wally.
Jim Watson
Member
There are several things going on here.
1. Lee does not run a load lab, they just copy the powder companies' data.
2. Lee's "never exceed" load is the powder company's maximum; but Lee's starting load is what their nearest dipper or disk delivers that is less than or equal to that maximum. So every once in a while the Lee data will have little or no difference between start and max.
3. Alliant shows 5.0 gr Unique for a 230 gr lead target load. Pressure is low, but they do not show anything heavier, presumably because they think people will get upset if they load lead bullets to full power and see a little fouling in their barrels. They go up to 6.0 gr Unique for a 230 FMJ and 6.4 for a 230 JHP, which are getting close to old standard loads.
Multiple manuals is a good thing, but you have to understand what you are looking at. I really like Lyman books but their starting loads are extremely light and there is almost no chance that they will function a standard auto, for example.
1. Lee does not run a load lab, they just copy the powder companies' data.
2. Lee's "never exceed" load is the powder company's maximum; but Lee's starting load is what their nearest dipper or disk delivers that is less than or equal to that maximum. So every once in a while the Lee data will have little or no difference between start and max.
3. Alliant shows 5.0 gr Unique for a 230 gr lead target load. Pressure is low, but they do not show anything heavier, presumably because they think people will get upset if they load lead bullets to full power and see a little fouling in their barrels. They go up to 6.0 gr Unique for a 230 FMJ and 6.4 for a 230 JHP, which are getting close to old standard loads.
Multiple manuals is a good thing, but you have to understand what you are looking at. I really like Lyman books but their starting loads are extremely light and there is almost no chance that they will function a standard auto, for example.
TEDDY
Member
you want a liight load.3.5 gr bullseye or 700X with 180/200 gr swc lead.bullseye is what the top shooters use
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