Unique in .45 Colt

Thumper · August 20, 2002, 12:50 PM

I've settled on a load of 8.9 grains of Unique for milder fun loads.

I can't find the max load listing for 255 gr cast lead with standard primers.
Alliant's page is up, but their "technical info" page is down. My manuals are all very...um...PC.

I'm shooting a stainless Blackhawk. What's the max Unique powder throw (Ruger and T/C only) for my configuration? If you have an "experimental" load, remember to post it in bold (That's for you Steve S.) with your favorite disclaimer.

Thanks

riddleofsteel · August 20, 2002, 06:32 PM

Unique will give you about the same FPS as the powder charge in my Blackhawk with a 255 grain bullet.
8.9 grains will kick that bullet to around 900 FPS.

My favorite load is 8.5 grains of Unique with a standard large pistol primer in a Remington case. It has the potential of one hole accuracy from my Blackhawk or S&W Mountain Gun and plenty of buck and roar. According to my Pact II chrony it is delivering around 850 FPS from my 7.5" Blackhawk. This is also the maximum load in Unique I could recommend for the S&W.

10 grains of Unique will push 1000 FPS with a 255 grain SWC out of my Blackhawk but at the expense of incresed recoil, roar and smoke. If you are pushing for this type of velocity out of the .45 Colt you may be better served by W231 or H110.

H110 will deliver more velocity at lower pressures with heavy bullets. One of my favorite hunting loads in the Blackhawk is H-110- 27.0 gr. - 1459 fps. This is a stout load and is for Ruger strength guns ONLY!

Go here for more info and enjoy.

http://www.sixgunner.com/FAQ/fav45.htm

Redneck2 · August 20, 2002, 06:44 PM

I was going to post exactly as above...agree 100%

For "moderate" loads, I use AA5. Cleaner than Unique. For my RUGER ONLY loads, I use 10.8 grains, 255 Lswc. 1 hole groups at 10 yards are pretty easy.

maxwayne · August 20, 2002, 09:00 PM

I tend to stay between 7 and 8 grains of Unique.

Johnny Guest · August 22, 2002, 11:47 AM

I have gone hotter but see no reason to do so.

I've also had good results with H. Universal and even 231 in my Mountain Gun.

Thumper · August 22, 2002, 11:58 AM

Guess I'm gonna have to buy a can of H-110 for the spicy stuff. Thanks everybody.

cheygriz · August 22, 2002, 03:34 PM

I wouldn't go higher than 10 grains of Unique, regardless of the gun. H-110, WW296, AAC#9 and IMR 4227 will serve you better for heavy loads.

My favorite .45 Colt load is 8.0 GR Unique, Remingtom standard LP primer with a 250 Gr cast Kieth style SWC cast in wheelweights from a Lyman mold.

When I'm feeling too lazy to cast, I use the 250 plated Rainier with same powder charge.

mec · August 26, 2002, 06:41 PM

I use the same 8.5 grain load as r of s with velocities in the 945 range from my long barrel blackhawk. A lot of people go with 9 grains and ten is ok in the Blackhawks. the old Colt peacemaker hunting load was 10 unique and a 255plus or minus lyman /"keith" swc. They even listed this charge in the old loading manuals and I suspect that it shook a lot of Colt SAs loose way before their time.

August 20, 2002, 12:50 PM	#1
Thumper Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 2000 Location: Sugar Land, Tx Posts: 1,507	Unique in .45 Colt I've settled on a load of 8.9 grains of Unique for milder fun loads. I can't find the max load listing for 255 gr cast lead with standard primers. Alliant's page is up, but their "technical info" page is down. My manuals are all very...um...PC. I'm shooting a stainless Blackhawk. What's the max Unique powder throw (Ruger and T/C only) for my configuration? If you have an "experimental" load, remember to post it in bold (That's for you Steve S.) with your favorite disclaimer. Thanks

August 20, 2002, 06:32 PM	#2
riddleofsteel Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2000 Location: above ground Posts: 1,558	Unique will give you about the same FPS as the powder charge in my Blackhawk with a 255 grain bullet. 8.9 grains will kick that bullet to around 900 FPS. My favorite load is 8.5 grains of Unique with a standard large pistol primer in a Remington case. It has the potential of one hole accuracy from my Blackhawk or S&W Mountain Gun and plenty of buck and roar. According to my Pact II chrony it is delivering around 850 FPS from my 7.5" Blackhawk. This is also the maximum load in Unique I could recommend for the S&W. 10 grains of Unique will push 1000 FPS with a 255 grain SWC out of my Blackhawk but at the expense of incresed recoil, roar and smoke. If you are pushing for this type of velocity out of the .45 Colt you may be better served by W231 or H110. H110 will deliver more velocity at lower pressures with heavy bullets. One of my favorite hunting loads in the Blackhawk is H-110- 27.0 gr. - 1459 fps. This is a stout load and is for Ruger strength guns ONLY! Go here for more info and enjoy. http://www.sixgunner.com/FAQ/fav45.htm __________________ For him there was always the discipline of steel.

August 20, 2002, 06:44 PM	#3
Redneck2 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 519	Funny... I was going to post exactly as above...agree 100% For "moderate" loads, I use AA5. Cleaner than Unique. For my RUGER ONLY loads, I use 10.8 grains, 255 Lswc. 1 hole groups at 10 yards are pretty easy.

August 22, 2002, 11:47 AM	#5
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	Agree exactly with riddle - - - I have gone hotter but see no reason to do so. I've also had good results with H. Universal and even 231 in my Mountain Gun.

August 26, 2002, 06:41 PM	#8
mec Junior member Join Date: December 6, 2001 Posts: 1,536	I use the same 8.5 grain load as r of s with velocities in the 945 range from my long barrel blackhawk. A lot of people go with 9 grains and ten is ok in the Blackhawks. the old Colt peacemaker hunting load was 10 unique and a 255plus or minus lyman /"keith" swc. They even listed this charge in the old loading manuals and I suspect that it shook a lot of Colt SAs loose way before their time. Last edited by mec; August 28, 2010 at 10:23 PM.

August 20, 2002, 09:00 PM	#4
maxwayne Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2001 Posts: 402	I tend to stay between 7 and 8 grains of Unique.

August 22, 2002, 11:58 AM	#6
Thumper Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 2000 Location: Sugar Land, Tx Posts: 1,507	Guess I'm gonna have to buy a can of H-110 for the spicy stuff. Thanks everybody.

August 22, 2002, 03:34 PM	#7
cheygriz Senior Member Join Date: May 11, 2002 Location: high up in the rockies Posts: 2,289	I wouldn't go higher than 10 grains of Unique, regardless of the gun. H-110, WW296, AAC#9 and IMR 4227 will serve you better for heavy loads. My favorite .45 Colt load is 8.0 GR Unique, Remingtom standard LP primer with a 250 Gr cast Kieth style SWC cast in wheelweights from a Lyman mold. When I'm feeling too lazy to cast, I use the 250 plated Rainier with same powder charge.