45LC Unique vs 2400
- Thread starter Seabass
- Start date
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
What does your manual recommend?
Use 2400 for hi velocity loads and keep the Unique for light to moderate loads. Revolvers like rifles are individuals, so what is safe in one might produce high pressure in the next. To know what is best in your guns, you have to work up your own loads.
Use 2400 for hi velocity loads and keep the Unique for light to moderate loads. Revolvers like rifles are individuals, so what is safe in one might produce high pressure in the next. To know what is best in your guns, you have to work up your own loads.
Listen to what Boomer says about working up your loads.
Below there's not much on 2400, but there seems to be a few Unique recipes.
http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=45 Colt&Weight=All&type=Handgun
Below there's not much on 2400, but there seems to be a few Unique recipes.
http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=45 Colt&Weight=All&type=Handgun
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Unique is an excellent, flexible powder for moderate laods. I load a 255 gr cast lead bullet with 7 gr of Unigue and a 230 gr jacketed bullet with 19 gr of 2400 (1000 fps).
If you have cast bullets, I suggest starting with 6 gr of Unique and working up to around 9 gr. Something in there should be what you want.
If you have cast bullets, I suggest starting with 6 gr of Unique and working up to around 9 gr. Something in there should be what you want.
If it told me I would not be asking would I?
The venerable .45 Colt is my favorite caliber since 20 years at least. I have tested many reloading recepies over the first two years but since I stick to my usual load that is 15.0 gr. of 2400 behind a 255 gr. (±925 fps) LSWC bullet. I sometime load it up to the Keith load for about *18.5 gr. of 2400 (±1125 fps). 2400 has a great advantage over the Unique as it will not lead the barrel and been a slower powder it will kick very differently so that it will be more like a "whooomp" than a more violent "bang". The 2400 shoots higher by the way.
All this sounds crazy but it's true. Another load I like best is my bear load: *21.0 gr. of 296 behind a 300 gr. LSWCGC. This one drives about 1100 fps and my 4 5/8" Blackhawk flip-up at 90° even with my little finger under the grip trying desesperately controlling the gun when firing. Some have got up to 1320 fps with such a bullet but my little finger talking to me bring me back to reality. I ONLY SHOOT HOT .45 COLT LOADS IN MY RUGER BLACKHAWK, so be aware. If you want your S&W Model 25 or 625 look like a 1851 Navy so this is the ticket. And yes 2400 is not cheap so when I feel too cheap I shoot my Buckmark.
*ONLY for Ruger and T/C guns. Period. You want to load hotter loads... just buy a .454 Cassul or a Smith .460.
All this sounds crazy but it's true. Another load I like best is my bear load: *21.0 gr. of 296 behind a 300 gr. LSWCGC. This one drives about 1100 fps and my 4 5/8" Blackhawk flip-up at 90° even with my little finger under the grip trying desesperately controlling the gun when firing. Some have got up to 1320 fps with such a bullet but my little finger talking to me bring me back to reality. I ONLY SHOOT HOT .45 COLT LOADS IN MY RUGER BLACKHAWK, so be aware. If you want your S&W Model 25 or 625 look like a 1851 Navy so this is the ticket. And yes 2400 is not cheap so when I feel too cheap I shoot my Buckmark.*ONLY for Ruger and T/C guns. Period. You want to load hotter loads... just buy a .454 Cassul or a Smith .460.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Maybe you need a new one.
