UNIQUE Powder in .45 Colt

[The Cold Lake Kid]

To be clear, while I have been reloading for 60+ years, I can honestly say I have one year experience, 60+ times. That's why I follow "The Book" religiously.
Looking through what's left on my powder, I came across a part bottle of UNIQUE and wondered if I could use it for any of my .45 Colt loads, in Cowboy Action Shooting, using 250 Grain+/- LRNFP bullets. (I use New Model Ruger Vaqueros, 5 1/2 barrels, not the heavier old models)

So, I looked in my Lee Modern Loading, 2nd Edition, which gave a STARTING Load of 8.0 Grains and a MAX load of 8.0 Grains for 850 FPS
Humm. I'm shooting steel plates at near point blank Cowboy ranges, not hunting T. Rex
So I looked at Lyman, 50th Edition which gave a Starting Load of 6.3 Gr, for 754 FPS up to 8.2 Gr. for 931 FPS
Hornady 10th edition, using a 255 Gr. Lead bullet starts at 4.6 Gr. for 650 FPS up to 7.0 Gr. for 850 FPS and Redlines that load.

That range of charges has me wondering. Anybody using Unique for CAS?

 

[Snider shooter]

I use 6grs of unique with a 255 gr lead bullet for a light load.

 

[9.3 Hunter]

I've been using 9.5grs Unique or 7.1grs W231 for decades ... for revolver + rifle, for 250gr and 255gr LFPs: 6.0grs Unique for a light load...

 

[Dexter Morgan]

I use 6 grains of Unique for .44-Special

I also use 12 grains of Unique for .44-Magnum.

Works great for both applications.

 

[crazy_davey]

8.5g has been my go to load for as long as I can remember.

 

[Deathrawt]

I think I’m using 7.5 or 8 gr in my 45 colts
It’s not a thumper of a load and it works great
6gr of red dot works really good too

 

[The Cold Lake Kid]

I loaded 10 rounds with 5.0 grains Unique under a 250 grain LRNFP and I'll try them first in my Rugers.

 

[BattleRife]

5 grains? I hope your barrels are short, elsewise the bullets might not make it all the way to the end.

 

[The Cold Lake Kid]

5 grains? I hope your barrels are short, elsewise the bullets might not make it all the way to the end.

Hornady 10th Edition gives a starting load of 4.6 Grains and a velocity of 650 FPS with a 255 grain lead bullet, but I'll keep the squib rod handy, just in case!!

 

[Snider shooter]

5 grains? I hope your barrels are short, elsewise the bullets might not make it all the way to the end.

I use 5 grs in 44 mag with 180 gr WC in my contender pistol. Very accurate at 25. I have used 5 grs with 255 swc in my 45 Colt contender. 10” barrels and never worried about stuck bullets. Also works well in my pair of Pietta SAA 45 colts.