45 Colt and Blue Dot

Just to be clear: Speer #9, dated 1974, lists their 250 grain lead SWC at 1236 fps using Blue Dot in a 7-1/2" Blackhawk; even higher with some other powders. We're not in uncharted waters here, nor are we trying to set new records. We are, however, talking about loads that are beyond the limitations of the Colt Single Action Army revolver, and it's replicas, and should therefore only be used in stronger firearms, like the Ruger Blackhawk and others known to be quite capable of handling them. Since these loads are beyond SAAMI specifications, and furthermore, are not factory loads, there is no guarantee of safety and those who use them do so at their own risk.
But you also ought to know that everytime you fire a standard factory load, you run the risk of blowing the gun to smithereens and yourself into an early grave. If that were not true, there would be no need for ammo recalls. Reloading is not for everyone, but it works well for some of us. We should all try to be careful, especially with guns, ammo, automobiles, chainsaws,....etc.
 
The .45 Colt, being my favorite cartridge, is somewhat strange when it comes to load data; suitable load data is entirely dependent upon the firearm it is to be used in. Since there is no SAAMI recognized +P designation for higher pressure .45 Colt ammo, most factory ammo is loaded to the SAAMI pressure specs of 14,000 psi, which is about 15,900 CUP. However, there are platforms that are perfectly capable of taking on higher pressure .45 Colt loads. Most everyone is familiar with the large frame Rugers and the 30,000 psi loads associated with them. But there are platforms that fall in the middle ground, such as the Smith & Wesson Model 25-5 and the Ruger New Vaquero which is built on a smaller frame size. With the 25-5, which is built on the large N frame, we have only to look at Smith & Wesson's Model 25-2 in .45 ACP to see what pressure level a .45 built on an N frame is capable of. The Model 25-2 is perfectly safe (says S&W) with .45 ACP +P loads. SAAMI lists .45 ACP +P at 23,000 psi, which is about 27,000 CUP. This puts safe loads for these 2 handguns and similar ones right in the middle between the SAAMI loads and the Ruger only loads. Having shot these loads, I will tell you they are no slouch, and will dispatch deer sized game with ease. Below are a couple links that make for good reading about .45 Colt loads at the various pressure levels.

Don

https://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/HL%2520246partial.pdf
http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=12
http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt45lc.htm
 
"As mentioned above and in my experience, almost any powder is "dirty" if loaded below it's optimum pressures and Unique has gotten a bad rap for this."

Very true.

But, Unique has only itself to blame for its reputation as being dirty.

Unique is, by a long shot, the most versatile of all of the powders available to reloaders. And that versatility means that it's going to be used in a huge array of cartridge with very different pressure levels.

I've always said that m biggest complaint with Unique is how poorly it meters.
 
Mike Irwin said:
I've always said that my biggest complaint with Unique is how poorly it meters.
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It's my biggest complaint as well. Unique, like 700X, 800X, Herco, and the "Dot" powders meter rather poorly but deliver very good results in some loads. I still use Red Dot, but have since moved on to other powders that meter much better for my fast and medium speed handgun powder needs.
 
I've always said that m biggest complaint with Unique is how poorly it meters.
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In a seasoned rotary drop (Hornady) I don't really have problems with it metering poorly. I did when the drop was new... static... but once I ran a few pounds of rifle powder through it, it settled down and works well. Well enough, anyway, for reasonable charges in handgun cartridges. It does require some additional attention... like hopper fill level and such. Personally, I've had more problems with ball powder, like W296 getting in between the drum and drop body tying things up, than Unique metering poorly.
 
It's my biggest complaint as well. Unique, like 700X, 800X, Herco, and the "Dot" powders meter rather poorly but deliver very good results in some loads.
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This is one of the reasons I prefer Herco to Unique. Being about 8% slower, a .1 to .2 grain discrepancy has less effect on accuracy, being a smaller percentage of the total powder charge. Add that Herco is more easily found and usually cheaper than Unique, it's a win-win.
 
Add that Herco is more easily found and usually cheaper than Unique, it's a win-win.
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That most be an area thing. I saw Herco for the first time ever a few weeks ago. And I've been shooting for quite a few years. Unique is 'everywhere'. I might have to grab a can and do a few tests with it next year.
 
I have no problems and no complaints about Unique whatsoever. It seems to be ideally suited to the 45 Colt. I judge all other powders by it as the standard for this caliber. Can we get more velocity with some other powders? Well, yeah, but you have to burn twice as much powder or more to do it, when Unique will definitely get me to 1,000 fps with 255 grain cast bullets. And with excellent accuracy.... My only problem with Unique is that I have other powders that I can't bring myself to throw away. So I simply must experiment. It's a heck of a dilemma, I tell you.;)
 
I have used both Unique and BlueDot for years in my .45 LC firearms - revolvers, pistols and rifles. Under 250-grain Hornady HPs 15.0 grains of BlueDot gives 1183 fps and 3 moa in my Dan Wesson 8” revolver. This is safe in my revolver but may be excessive in yours! It burns clean. High velocities with H-110 have worked well for me. Cast 300-grain bullets were extremely accurate with W680.

I have used 8.5-9.0 grains of Unique under 250-255-grain bullets in the .45LC for the last four decades with excellent results. In the past four years I have tried Universal and that powder has worked very well as a substitute for Unique. Bottom line - there are lots of appropriate powders for the old .45.

.
 
Pathfinder45 said:
Just to be clear: Speer #9, dated 1974, lists their 250 grain lead SWC at 1236 fps using Blue Dot in a 7-1/2" Blackhawk; even higher with some other powders.
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Just to be clear: 1974 was 44 years ago. IMHO it's not wise to even consider using data that's more than 4 decades out of date.
 
I used to have a lot of fun with Blue Dot, then, I bought a chronograph.

About 3 months ago, my last can of Blue Dot got spilled all over the front yard.

I'm done with it.
 
I no longer reload but when I did I always used Blue Dot in my m29 . Target or hunting it was always great.
I started with Blue Dot after looking at the very dirty powders available at the time . I showed shooters how clean the barrel was after 200 rds but no one believed me ! :p
 
As far as using old data goes, well, most of us that have been reloading since that data was new, have accumulated at least several reloading manuals since then. I read them all.
 
As far as using old data goes, well, most of us that have been reloading since that data was new, have accumulated at least several reloading manuals since then. I read them all.
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+1. Old reloaders and old data just go together.:D

Don
 
Just a side note here on Unique metering. I made a baffle for my RCBS Uniflow measure and used the small drum. Unique flows rather well with that set-up. Back to our .45 discussion. Learning some things here, as I'm CLOSE to getting my Henry in .45 Colt.
 
I like Blue Dot for medium heavy loads in .357 &.44 Mag because in burns clean and meters well in my Uniflow. I remember the old Unique, now that was dirty !!! hdbiker
 
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