I'm looking to develop a load for my 45 Colt rifle. I'm going to let my inexperience show a bit and admit I'm not sure where to go.
A little background, the rifle is a Henry lever action w/20" barrel. Scoped with a Leupold 1.5-4x using Tally mounts. I have loaded 45 colt for my Blackhawk staying within mostly standard 45 Colt pressures. I have used MBC coated 250gr RNFP with success w/Unique. I've also used a couple different Berry's bullets, and even tried both MBC and Berry's w/W231. I'm not totally a newbie with 45 Colt.
Enter my dilemma. I was pretty sure I could use my pistol load and it would shoot acceptable. My load is MBC 250 gr RNFP and 7.8-8.0 Unique. That is not proving out. I sighted in the new scope on paper at 25 yards and moved to 50. Groups were poor at 50. I made up some more rounds with 8.3 and 8.6 to see if it made a difference in group consistency. Neither of the 3 loads were acceptable to me @50 yards with groups around 4-5", honestly I did not measure them they were so bad. I was not expecting to cover 5 shots with a quarter with the above but I was hoping to do better.
I am not sure if I should continue to try to find a way for this bullet to work ? If so up the charge a bit ant try 8.7 and 9.0 Unique? I've not seen that little bit of an adjustment make as much of a difference as I am looking for, but maybe. What else can be done ? I am crimping to the crimp groove, and no FCD. Crimping and seating are in the same step. All the same brass trimmed to length to ensure consistent crimps. Try a tighter crimp ? Is it possible this bullet just will not work in my rifle ?
I could try W231, but I've never heard of Unique NOT working for someone in 45 Colt.
Of course maybe its the shooter........ I did have another rifle with me at the range the same days and shot that with acceptable success.
-Jeff
A little background, the rifle is a Henry lever action w/20" barrel. Scoped with a Leupold 1.5-4x using Tally mounts. I have loaded 45 colt for my Blackhawk staying within mostly standard 45 Colt pressures. I have used MBC coated 250gr RNFP with success w/Unique. I've also used a couple different Berry's bullets, and even tried both MBC and Berry's w/W231. I'm not totally a newbie with 45 Colt.
Enter my dilemma. I was pretty sure I could use my pistol load and it would shoot acceptable. My load is MBC 250 gr RNFP and 7.8-8.0 Unique. That is not proving out. I sighted in the new scope on paper at 25 yards and moved to 50. Groups were poor at 50. I made up some more rounds with 8.3 and 8.6 to see if it made a difference in group consistency. Neither of the 3 loads were acceptable to me @50 yards with groups around 4-5", honestly I did not measure them they were so bad. I was not expecting to cover 5 shots with a quarter with the above but I was hoping to do better.
I am not sure if I should continue to try to find a way for this bullet to work ? If so up the charge a bit ant try 8.7 and 9.0 Unique? I've not seen that little bit of an adjustment make as much of a difference as I am looking for, but maybe. What else can be done ? I am crimping to the crimp groove, and no FCD. Crimping and seating are in the same step. All the same brass trimmed to length to ensure consistent crimps. Try a tighter crimp ? Is it possible this bullet just will not work in my rifle ?
I could try W231, but I've never heard of Unique NOT working for someone in 45 Colt.
Of course maybe its the shooter........ I did have another rifle with me at the range the same days and shot that with acceptable success.
-Jeff