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Author Topic: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice  (Read 868 times)

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Offline kynardsj

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45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« on: March 02, 2010, 01:01:05 PM »
I've got the hot loads down pat for my 45 LC's in my Blackhawk but am a bit confused on the everyday loads. I read several manuals and am loading Unique behind a 250 grain RNFP. One manual says 9.0 grains gives 875 FPS and is a factory duplication load. According to the Reloading Pages of M.D. Smith anything over 8.5 grains of Unique is hard on guns. Not really worried about this load hurting my Blackhawk but just curious. I did load some over 8.0 grains and they were very pleasant after shooting my hot load of a 250 grain XTP over 24 grains of Lilgun. According to the Hodgdon website that load is only for Rugers, TC's and Freedom Arms.
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Offline Autorim

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2010, 01:22:48 PM »
So, what is the question?
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Offline kynardsj

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2010, 01:41:11 PM »
Is 9.0 grains a factory duplication load with a 250 gr RNFP at 875 fps or is this a bit hot for guns that aren't Rugers ?
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Offline P.A. Myers

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2010, 02:33:33 PM »
8.5 Unique did this to one of my Schofields. 8.5 Unique is my favorite 45autorim loading. Smaller case may help.



Unless you are locked into Unique, I would advise a faster powder than unique for lite 45colts  [Titegroup, Red Dot, Clays, etc.]
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Offline Bullseye

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2010, 03:12:34 PM »
I use HS6 for my standard factory loads equivalents.
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Offline Autorim

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2010, 04:38:45 PM »
I use Trail Boss for lighter loads in the .357, .41mag, .44 mag, .45AR and .45 Colt. I find it easy to measure, accurate and relatively clean burning.
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Offline LONGTOM

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2010, 05:06:32 PM »
I also use HS6 in my Rugers behind a 250gr bullet.
12.5grains is on the lower end for Rugers in the HODGSON's manual under silhouette loads.
Gives me just at 1050fps out of a 5" barrel.
Not harsh but you know it's there.
This load is above max for any guns other than the Rugers, TCs, or Freedom Arms.
Very accurate load!



LONGTOM
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Offline Ak.Hiker

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2010, 07:09:27 PM »
A good place to check is some of the articles that Brian Pierce has written over the years for Handloader Magazine.
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Offline BCB

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #8 on: March 03, 2010, 02:47:39 AM »
Well, if 9.0 grains of Unique is over maximum for boolits in the 250 grain range, I must be way over maximum for my 45-270-SAA that weighs in at 283 grains...

I have shot hundreds of those from a Blackhawk and have had no problem at all.  Several articles in Handloader Magazine list 9.0 grains of Unique and a 250 grain boolit as O.K. and that is for a 45 Colt of lesser strength than a Ruger...

Now, I'm not saying the 9.0 grains of Unique and a 250 grain boolit is safe, but I sure have had no problems using that same charge, a 283 grain boolit and a muzzle velocity of 975 fps.  It is the most accurate load I have with a powder of that burn rate in my 45 Long Colt.  H-110 and Lil' Gun give higher velocity and similar accuracy but of course with greater charge weights...

Good-luck...BCB
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Offline Steve P

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2010, 10:00:09 AM »
8.0 grains of Unique over a cast bullet is my plinking load.  Bullet is supposed to be 245gr but actually casts out with lube and check at 255gr.  Mild and accurate out of my Vaquero.

Steve :)
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Offline securitysix

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2010, 03:57:43 PM »
First lead bullets I ever loaded in my .45 Colt Blackhawk were actually a 230 grain LRN designed for the .45 ACP.  I forget how much Unique I used and my reloading notes are on a different computer that I'm 20 miles from right now.  Regardless, it was a very soft shooting load and looked a lot like the pictures of the old black powder .45 Colt ammo I've seen.
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Offline Castaway

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #11 on: March 04, 2010, 11:23:15 PM »
My favorite plinking load is 6.8 of Unique under a cast 250/255 grain bullet.  Cheap, low recoil and accurate
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #12 on: March 05, 2010, 01:56:57 AM »
9 grains will work fine for any bullet under 280 grain in the ruger small frames. there a bit stronger then a colt.
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Offline jimster

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Re: 45 Long Colt Guru's...I need advice
« Reply #13 on: March 05, 2010, 04:25:42 AM »
One manual says 9.0 grains gives 875 FPS and is a factory duplication load.

9.0 gr of Unique is hotter than any "standard" factory load I have ever shot, and 8.0 gr is just a wee bit hotter than most all standard "cowboy loads". 

When I was loading for my 45 Blackhawks I used 9.0 a lot, they never had a problem with 250-255 grain bullets with this load.  I no longer have any 45 Blackhawks and have only Colt replica's, so I can't go there anymore. 
Unique picks up pressure pretty fast, half a grain is pretty noticable.  Be careful working your way up to 9.0 and beyond, and remember jacketed bullets might have different pressure than cast bullets.  I still use Unique a lot, always seems to be a good one to have around for 45.   
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