230gr 45colt loads

daleo8803 · January 26, 2011, 01:02 AM

atm i only have a 230 gr bullet mold for my 45s. i use bullseye, trailboss, and unique powders normaly. i want to get the 230gr lead bullet to around 950 or 1000fps but i can only seem to find loads up to around 850fps with a 230gr lead bullet. can someone recommend a load or were to find one? thanks

dale

reloader28 · January 26, 2011, 08:52 AM

The Lyman 4th edition cast bullet book lists

Unique
7.4 min-9.3max at 1029fps and 13,600psi.

My Speer book had the max at 9.5 but a touch slower.

chewie146 · January 26, 2011, 09:55 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong here folks, but why not use the jacketed bullet data? They usually specify higher charges for jacketed loads because they won't lead your barrel. But, lead bullets create lower pressures in barrels, so the jacketed data would be safe to use, but it would likely lead to more leading. I know I do that in my .357 with lasercast bullets from Oregon Trail. It leads to some impressive velocities. Even with the lasercast, though, I do get some leading.

Edit:

You can also use a gas check to avoid this situation, btw.

AlaskaMike · January 26, 2011, 11:40 AM

Dale, what type of gun are you intending these loads for. If it's a Blackhawk you have a lot of options, and it would be extremely easy to get the velocity you want. On the other hand, if you have a Colt SAA or clone it's doable, but you just have to be a bit more cautious.

Chewie, using jacketed data for cast bullets of appropriate hardness and diameter is generally fine. There's a big difference though between pure lead bullets which are very soft, and cast bullets which can vary from sorta hard to really hard. Push those soft, pure lead bullets at jacketed velocities and you're virtually guaranteed to lead up your barrel. On the other hand, the plain-base bullets I cast using air-cooled wheel weight alloy are routinely pushed to jacketed velocities with little to no leading at all.

zxcvbob · January 26, 2011, 11:50 AM

My favorite .45 Colt load is a Lee 230 grain cast bullet with 7.5 grains of Red Dot -- but that's a hotter load than you asked for and uses the wrong powder.

Seven grains of Bullseye, or 8 to 8.5 grains of Unique should get you pretty close to what you want. I can run some software predictions tonight when I get home.

daleo8803 · January 26, 2011, 01:40 PM

Thanks guys. The gun is a ruger blackhawk so no worrys about that.

On a side note im getting a new loading manual tommorw. I can get speer or nosler, which one should I get?

Thanks

Dale

zxcvbob · January 26, 2011, 08:17 PM

I like Lyman's 48th Edition, but maybe that because it's what I started with. I think they are up to 49 now.

Looks like 7.5 grains of Bullseye or 8.5 grains of Unique will get you about 1050 fps, and they are not even "Ruger only" loads.

WESHOOT2 · January 27, 2011, 11:14 PM

Your cases will demand plenty of case neck tension to avoid bullet creep ( and I also use the Redding Profile Crimp die and apply a heavy 'roll').

daleo8803 · January 28, 2011, 02:56 AM

ok guys another question.

i got the 14th edition speer manual today. it says with 8.5grs of unique and a 230gr leed bullet you should get 850fps out of a 5.5 inch barrel. i have a 7.5 inch barrel. how much more fps should i get? im saving to get a crono but it will still be a few weeks before i can get one.... thanks

dale

WESHOOT2 · January 28, 2011, 08:23 AM

Absolutely NO way to tell; testing required.

reloader28 · January 28, 2011, 10:26 AM

As Weshoot2 said, its hard to tell exactly. But a friend has a 44mag with a barrel about 1 1/2" long than mine and is runs about 100fps faster than mine with loads from the same box.

daleo8803 · January 30, 2011, 09:56 PM

loaded up some 230gr lead bollits, and 8.5 grains of unigue. i got some nice groups at 20 yards free hand. im going to get a chrono soon and see what im getting fps wise. thanks guys!!

dale

January 26, 2011, 01:02 AM	#1
daleo8803 Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 78	230gr 45colt loads atm i only have a 230 gr bullet mold for my 45s. i use bullseye, trailboss, and unique powders normaly. i want to get the 230gr lead bullet to around 950 or 1000fps but i can only seem to find loads up to around 850fps with a 230gr lead bullet. can someone recommend a load or were to find one? thanks dale

January 26, 2011, 11:50 AM	#5
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	My favorite .45 Colt load is a Lee 230 grain cast bullet with 7.5 grains of Red Dot -- but that's a hotter load than you asked for and uses the wrong powder. Seven grains of Bullseye, or 8 to 8.5 grains of Unique should get you pretty close to what you want. I can run some software predictions tonight when I get home. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

January 26, 2011, 08:17 PM	#7
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I like Lyman's 48th Edition, but maybe that because it's what I started with. I think they are up to 49 now. Looks like 7.5 grains of Bullseye or 8.5 grains of Unique will get you about 1050 fps, and they are not even "Ruger only" loads. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

January 27, 2011, 11:14 PM	#8
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	LEE 'U' die? Your cases will demand plenty of case neck tension to avoid bullet creep ( and I also use the Redding Profile Crimp die and apply a heavy 'roll'). __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

January 28, 2011, 08:23 AM	#10
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Absolutely NO way to tell; testing required. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

January 26, 2011, 08:52 AM	#2
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	The Lyman 4th edition cast bullet book lists Unique 7.4 min-9.3max at 1029fps and 13,600psi. My Speer book had the max at 9.5 but a touch slower.

January 26, 2011, 09:55 AM	#3
chewie146 Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2010 Location: New Mexico Posts: 853	Correct me if I'm wrong here folks, but why not use the jacketed bullet data? They usually specify higher charges for jacketed loads because they won't lead your barrel. But, lead bullets create lower pressures in barrels, so the jacketed data would be safe to use, but it would likely lead to more leading. I know I do that in my .357 with lasercast bullets from Oregon Trail. It leads to some impressive velocities. Even with the lasercast, though, I do get some leading. Edit: You can also use a gas check to avoid this situation, btw.

January 26, 2011, 11:40 AM	#4
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 943	Dale, what type of gun are you intending these loads for. If it's a Blackhawk you have a lot of options, and it would be extremely easy to get the velocity you want. On the other hand, if you have a Colt SAA or clone it's doable, but you just have to be a bit more cautious. Chewie, using jacketed data for cast bullets of appropriate hardness and diameter is generally fine. There's a big difference though between pure lead bullets which are very soft, and cast bullets which can vary from sorta hard to really hard. Push those soft, pure lead bullets at jacketed velocities and you're virtually guaranteed to lead up your barrel. On the other hand, the plain-base bullets I cast using air-cooled wheel weight alloy are routinely pushed to jacketed velocities with little to no leading at all.

January 26, 2011, 01:40 PM	#6
daleo8803 Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 78	Thanks guys. The gun is a ruger blackhawk so no worrys about that. On a side note im getting a new loading manual tommorw. I can get speer or nosler, which one should I get? Thanks Dale

January 28, 2011, 02:56 AM	#9
daleo8803 Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 78	ok guys another question. i got the 14th edition speer manual today. it says with 8.5grs of unique and a 230gr leed bullet you should get 850fps out of a 5.5 inch barrel. i have a 7.5 inch barrel. how much more fps should i get? im saving to get a crono but it will still be a few weeks before i can get one.... thanks dale

January 28, 2011, 10:26 AM	#11
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	As Weshoot2 said, its hard to tell exactly. But a friend has a 44mag with a barrel about 1 1/2" long than mine and is runs about 100fps faster than mine with loads from the same box.

January 30, 2011, 09:56 PM	#12
daleo8803 Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 78	loaded up some 230gr lead bollits, and 8.5 grains of unigue. i got some nice groups at 20 yards free hand. im going to get a chrono soon and see what im getting fps wise. thanks guys!! dale