Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Upper limits 45 Colt loads using Unique

I've got some questions for you gents. Most of my heavy loads in 45 Colt use H110 or W296. That's for 300 gr XTPs and 325 gr hardcast bullets.

By the way, I am using a Ruger Bisley capable of handling the "Ruger Only" loads.

Anyway, the manuals I have that list loads for hardcast bullets, specifically 250-255 gr bullets, show a top load of 9 grs. Unique. However, I see various articles and websites with people using up to 12 grains of Unique behind hardcast bullets (though most of these are bullets in the 300 gr. range).

Just exactly where is the line? Anyone know? For a 250 gr. hardcast bullet in 45 Colt, what would be the line not to cross when using Unique? I'm not looking to push the envelope. Rather, I don't want to go over the line.

Personally, anything over 11 grs. is want for better fuel for the application, like 2400 or Blue Dot. Longshot also works well for mid magnum pressure.

If using cast bullets, the "line" is always leading and loss of accuracy. Alloy and lube has a much to do with this as using jacketed bullet data, perhaps even more so.

I don't know what "upper limit" is, but my standard powder charge for any lead bullet from 250 to 300 grains is 10.0 Unique. I can see no reason to go beyond there with that powder. If I need more speed and/or heavier bullets (or jacketed) I'll use H110.

I don't know which manuals you're using, but Speer's #12 shows 10.5 Unique with a jacketed 300gr in their "Ruger/TC only", and 8.7 Unique with a 260JHP as the top non-ruger load.

There are plenty of worthy powders to load with, but I've standardized on Unique. I'm not one to push things until something breaks, but I feel 10.0grs is both safe (in Rugers) AND plenty for anything I want to do. It seems like a good compromise of economy, load density, and burn rate for heavier bullets at sub-1200fps. It's also an old powder name, and that warms a spot in my heart.

10

If you are serious about pushing your Ruger Bisley to its maximum load potential, you need to go to the ultimate source on the subject: John Linebaugh.

His website has one of the best articles on heavy/hunting 45 Colt loads anywhere. What makes it so uniquely valuable is that Linebaugh has tested the limits of the 45 Colt like no one else, and puts those test results on the line every day with the custom sixguns (and fiveguns) he makes and sells.

You can read the article here:

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

But to cut to the chase, Linebaugh recommends 12.0 gr of Unique as his maximum recommended load with a 260 gr cast SWC for 1200 fps and 30,000 psi; and 12.5 gr with a 250 gr JHP for 1300 fps and 29,400 psi.