Thirty years ago I was loading home cast Keith style lead 250 grain bullets with 11 grains of Unique powder. The Speer manual said something like 1100 ft per second. I had no chronograph so take that for what it's worth. My revolver at the time was a 7 & 1/2 inch barreled Ruger Blackhawk. Those were my pet loads and were pretty accurate. I worked up to those loads, so just as the disclaimer here, any hot load should be worked up to, and only in a Ruger at your own risk while watching for flattened/ruptured primers.If memory serves I used standard large pistol primers by CCI. Thanks for this video. 😎
We're very close in load choices. For deer and pigs I load 10 grains/Unique under a 255 grain SWC and a large pistol primer. I use this in both my Blackhawk and Rossi R92. It works very well. Thank you for the video.
That load through the Marlin was awesome! You definitely got a winner there! The loads through the Ruger are pretty dang good too…really good out of a pistol. Wish I could find some Unique powder locally. I started loading .44 Special this past week, but only have Titegroup. Unique would most likely be a better powder to be honest. But sure hope these will work in both my revolver and Henry. Anyways, hope you had a great week!
@@j_c_hunt yes that’s another one I’ve not been able to find. Not a lot of options locally and it sucks to pay the hazmat for a 1 lb can. Also need some black powder…. Haven’t been able to find that either.
I would try raising up your padded block about 4" or so. Put sandbags or some other blocks under your hand, even pieces of wood with a folded towel over them then put a folded towel down under your elbows. You won't have to bend over so far and your eyes will be behind the sights better.
I’ve been wanting to mention that if you do a search of FMG publications you can sign up for free digital content. On line articles delivered daily. My personal favorites are Wheelgun Wednesday but every day I find a worthwhile read. Writers include John Taffin, Mike Venterino, Roy Huntington, Clint Smith,Tank Hoover and a host of others. Good podcasts periodically on gunsmith tips. If I used social media I’d contact that way. Sorry-Jack
Nice load and shoots well. The best 3 is definitely what most reputable writers are doing. Ayoob, Wilson, Taffin, Hoover. They find the best 3 from a hand held 5 shot is equal to what a Ransom Rest produces. I’ve shot cast since 1971 and lately started using powder coated bullets. My velocities are a bit higher than uncoated or gas checked. Zero leading for easy cleaning also. I’ve been buying from Missouri Bullet but there are a mess out there. Accuracy is also very good. Good videos. Keep it up!
The 454190 is the original bullet for the 45 Colt and it has a very small flat point on the end of a pointy round nose. Your bullets are a little different. There is a gas check 454190 called the 454485. Your mixup is no big deal but the only reason I am bringing it up is because the 454190 with 10 gr of Unique would be higher pressure than your bullets and probably shoot 1080 fps. It would shoot faster because it seats way deeper. You wouldn't blow up a Blackhawk, but 10 gr with the 454190 is probably 24k PSI and getting into the scary range for old guns or 70's era spaghetti western Italian 45 colts. Your shallow seated bullets with 10 gr loads are probably only 20k PSI. Anybody who is watching this who wants a stout load with the actual 454190 could get around 1000 fps with 9.2-9.4 grains.
Good point. I found out after I filmed this, the bullets I was calling 454190 are actually LBT 250 grain LFN. The Meplate is actually also just a tad larger than a 255 grain K SWC. Thank you for bringing that up. Yes I try to warn about some of these when I show them. 10 grains isn’t listed for any SAA or clones I’ve ever seen. I don’t know 100% of it would damage one or not, so I don’t run the risk of trying or anyone else trying. I just stick to giving fair warning it’s a Ruger only loading.
I size the stuff I cast thru a Lee sizer .452, and pan lube. I want to get a lubrisizer someday to size and lube in one operation. When I buy already sized and lubed bullets, I get them all .452. My barrel slugs .451, and I had the throats cut .4525. Thanks for the question.
I’ve been shooting cowboy loads through my Blackhawk and my Henry rifle. Are cowboy loads just not very accurate or group well?? I need to start reloading the .45 C ammo. I’ve got everything ready to roll except the bullets. Do gas checked bullets group better in general???
Good accuracy depends on a lot of factors. Cylinder throats being one of the biggest parts. Gascheck bullets just help to prevent leading when running cast bullets up in the hotter end of the loading spectrum. I’ve not noticed anything different between cast and cast with a gascheck personally as far as accuracy is concerned.
Second hand from someone who had a good bit of it, and got out of reloading and sold their stuff off. So I’ve been nursing what I got, to try and keep what I can to use from going so fast.
Thirty years ago I was loading home cast Keith style lead 250 grain bullets with 11 grains of Unique powder. The Speer manual said something like 1100 ft per second. I had no chronograph so take that for what it's worth. My revolver at the time was a 7 & 1/2 inch barreled Ruger Blackhawk. Those were my pet loads and were pretty accurate. I worked up to those loads, so just as the disclaimer here, any hot load should be worked up to, and only in a Ruger at your own risk while watching for flattened/ruptured primers.If memory serves I used standard large pistol primers by CCI. Thanks for this video. 😎
I'm Always looking for good 45 colt information, thanks JC
Wow thats definitely some power...you sure shoot em well.
Fantastic pet loads and it is a joy to watch this all unfold.
I LOVE your 45 colt videos i am looking into starting to reload in 45 colt as well
We're very close in load choices. For deer and pigs I load 10 grains/Unique under a 255 grain SWC and a large pistol primer. I use this in both my Blackhawk and Rossi R92. It works very well. Thank you for the video.
That load through the Marlin was awesome! You definitely got a winner there! The loads through the Ruger are pretty dang good too…really good out of a pistol. Wish I could find some Unique powder locally. I started loading .44 Special this past week, but only have Titegroup. Unique would most likely be a better powder to be honest. But sure hope these will work in both my revolver and Henry.
Anyways, hope you had a great week!
Get you some 2400 for the 44 special. It was one Elmer Keith mentioned in Sixguns using a good bit seems like.
@@j_c_hunt yes that’s another one I’ve not been able to find. Not a lot of options locally and it sucks to pay the hazmat for a 1 lb can. Also need some black powder…. Haven’t been able to find that either.
I would try raising up your padded block about 4" or so. Put sandbags or some other blocks under your hand, even pieces of wood with a folded towel over them then put a folded towel down under your elbows. You won't have to bend over so far and your eyes will be behind the sights better.
Looks good, I would be real happy with that! Well done
I’ve been wanting to mention that if you do a search of FMG publications you can sign up for free digital content. On line articles delivered daily. My personal favorites are Wheelgun Wednesday but every day I find a worthwhile read.
Writers include John Taffin, Mike Venterino, Roy Huntington, Clint Smith,Tank Hoover and a host of others. Good podcasts periodically on gunsmith tips.
If I used social media I’d contact that way. Sorry-Jack
Those are also my pet load out of my blackhawk 270 lbt gas chech over 10 gr of Unique. 👍
Nice load and shoots well. The best 3 is definitely what most reputable writers are doing. Ayoob, Wilson, Taffin, Hoover. They find the best 3 from a hand held 5 shot is equal to what a Ransom Rest produces.
I’ve shot cast since 1971 and lately started using powder coated bullets. My velocities are a bit higher than uncoated or gas checked. Zero leading for easy cleaning also. I’ve been buying from Missouri Bullet but there are a mess out there. Accuracy is also very good. Good videos. Keep it up!
Thank you for the kind words! I’ve been studying powder coating my cast bullets to see how well they do! Appreciate the insight and info also!
Talk about some hot 45lc Unique loads. Look up the work of John Linebaugh.
I’ve read up on them. He did some impressive stuff with it.
like your bench and chair.
It looks like you found a great load with Unique powder. I happen to have the same Ruger Blackhawk and I love it. 😃👍
The 454190 is the original bullet for the 45 Colt and it has a very small flat point on the end of a pointy round nose. Your bullets are a little different. There is a gas check 454190 called the 454485. Your mixup is no big deal but the only reason I am bringing it up is because the 454190 with 10 gr of Unique would be higher pressure than your bullets and probably shoot 1080 fps. It would shoot faster because it seats way deeper. You wouldn't blow up a Blackhawk, but 10 gr with the 454190 is probably 24k PSI and getting into the scary range for old guns or 70's era spaghetti western Italian 45 colts. Your shallow seated bullets with 10 gr loads are probably only 20k PSI.
Anybody who is watching this who wants a stout load with the actual 454190 could get around 1000 fps with 9.2-9.4 grains.
Good point. I found out after I filmed this, the bullets I was calling 454190 are actually LBT 250 grain LFN. The Meplate is actually also just a tad larger than a 255 grain K SWC. Thank you for bringing that up.
Yes I try to warn about some of these when I show them. 10 grains isn’t listed for any SAA or clones I’ve ever seen. I don’t know 100% of it would damage one or not, so I don’t run the risk of trying or anyone else trying. I just stick to giving fair warning it’s a Ruger only loading.
Have you tried the skeeter load of 7.5g of Unique?
I thought it was 8 grains, but I did. It did pretty good, but not as good a grouping as 10 grain
@@j_c_hunt You’re right. 7.5 is for the 44 special now that I think of it.
Just curious, JC, what diameter do you size the 454-190? Have you slugged your Blackhawk chambers and barrel? Thanks for the video!
I size the stuff I cast thru a Lee sizer .452, and pan lube. I want to get a lubrisizer someday to size and lube in one operation. When I buy already sized and lubed bullets, I get them all .452.
My barrel slugs .451, and I had the throats cut .4525. Thanks for the question.
Thanks JC! That's valuable info and will help us work toward the great groups you get.
I’ve been shooting cowboy loads through my Blackhawk and my Henry rifle. Are cowboy loads just not very accurate or group well?? I need to start reloading the .45 C ammo. I’ve got everything ready to roll except the bullets. Do gas checked bullets group better in general???
Good accuracy depends on a lot of factors. Cylinder throats being one of the biggest parts. Gascheck bullets just help to prevent leading when running cast bullets up in the hotter end of the loading spectrum. I’ve not noticed anything different between cast and cast with a gascheck personally as far as accuracy is concerned.
how did you find Unique powder?
Second hand from someone who had a good bit of it, and got out of reloading and sold their stuff off. So I’ve been nursing what I got, to try and keep what I can to use from going so fast.
Try 13gr of hs6 it is magical
At what distance were you shooting?