45 Colt loads.

[ESquared]

I'm witouh Tom (above). I've focused on Unique for my 45 Colt, and I'd think that if you got an acceptable "zero", sight-wise, at 75m with 8.5 gr of Unique, you'd be within an MOA at 50 and 100m. I'm assuming you're talking about iron sights?

Surely that would get the job done on silly-wets (as someone around here calls them), wouldn't you think? Worth giving it the ol' college try, that's for sure!

[fortyshooter]

Welcome from Va.!
Your .45 Colt load will depend on what type gun you are going to use.
If a rifle like a Henry or Marlin you can load it up a bit to Ruger/Marlin loads and using a jacketed bullet get more speed for a bit flatter travel.
However using the earlier design Winchester 1873 rifle with toggle link action you should stick with the 14000 psi Colt loads.
For revolvers it's much the same with the beefy Ruger Super Blackhawk and Redhawks handling the heavier Ruger only loads and the
standard Colt loads for the Colt type revolvers.
I only shoot out to 80 yds. max and the 250-255 gr. bullets work well with 8.0-9.0 gr. of Unique for my standard loads.
For the heavier built revolvers I might use 2400 powder for 250-300 gr. loads for more punch without pressure getting to high.

Best to get a couple of loading manuals and also read up on Brian Pearce articles regarding loading the .45 Colt.

[Mzzlldrinpa]

I need to stick with lead bullets. That's what the matches require. I am shooting a Henry BBB. I will play with the unique a little more, see what works best. Seems like 8 to 9 grns. Maybe try some hp-38 with little adjustments as well. Now I have another excuse to reload some more. Thank you everyone for the welcome and the help!

[fortyshooter]

I need to stick with lead bullets. That's what the matches require. I am shooting a Henry BBB. I will play with the unique a little more, see what works best. Seems like 8 to 9 grns. Maybe try some hp-38 with little adjustments as well. Now I have another excuse to reload some more. Thank you everyone for the welcome and the help!

You could also try Power Pistol as it will give you a bit more speed while staying within 14000 psi pressure limits.

[wingnut]

Mzzlldrinpa-

Interesting problem you presented! Here some numbers/charts you can play with using 9.0g Unique for 100 yds, 8.5g for 75 yds and 8g for 50 yds. Study them and see if, with adjusts, they can be something to experiment with. Data was made with QuickLoad & QuickTarget. Pay little attention to the atmospherics & twist. Concentrate on "Path to LOS."

Code: Select all

9.0g Unique, 16460 psi, sighted in at 100 yards:

 Tabular trajectory data at Non-Std. Atmosphere
 Gunsite Altitude : 4000 ft.
 Air Density      : 0.076385 lb./ft³
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Gun / Ammunition : .45 Colt (SAAMI)
 Bullet Type      : .452, 250, LYM LFN 454190
 Bullet Weight    : 250 grains or 16.20 Grams
 Muzzle Velocity  : 1266 fps
 Twist Length     : 18.0 in.  (RH)
 Gyro.  Stability : 9.41
 Crosswind Speed  : 10.0 Mph 
 Ballistic Coefficient(s) (G1) :
 C1_1=0.270@V>0 fps;
 Optimum trajectory information : 
 Optimum sight-in range (X) = 104 Yds. 
 with max. ordinate above LOS at range (M)= 56 Yds.
 and max. point blank range (P)= 123 Yds.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Sight-in clicks, 1 click = 0.915 cm/100 yd. or 0.36 in/100 yd.
 Height of sight above bore axis = 1.905 cm or 0.75 inch
 Gun is zeroed-in at 100 yds,
 by sighting-in at level firing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Range  Velo Time of  Energy   Path   Spin / Wind-  Total  Sight correction  Target
        city  flight            to     dage, Wind    drop   for setting new   lead
                                LOS    of 10.0 Mph             zero range     33 fps
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
·Yards   fps     s    ft.lbs.   in.    in.     MOA     in.   Clicks     MOA     yds ·
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|    0  1266  0.0000    890    -0.8    0.0   -----     0.0   ------    -----    0.00
|   25  1224  0.0602    831    +1.7   -0.1   -0.33     0.7    -19.0    -6.53    0.66
|   50  1185  0.1225    780    +2.7   -0.4   -0.83     2.8    -15.1    -5.19    1.34
M   54  1179  0.1327    772    +2.7   -0.5   -0.90     3.3    -14.1    -4.84    1.45
|   75  1150  0.1868    734    +2.2   -1.0   -1.25     6.5     -8.1    -2.78    2.04
X  100  1118  0.2530    693     0.0   -1.7   -1.67    11.9      0.0     0.00    2.77
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M = Peak vs. L.O.S, X = Set Zero, P = Max. Point Blank Range
Elevation above Angle of Site (0.0 deg.)  = 0.2006 deg.

8.5g Unique, 14776 psi, sighted in at 75 yds:

Tabular trajectory data at Non-Std. Atmosphere
 Gunsite Altitude : 4000 ft.
 Air Density      : 0.076385 lb./ft³
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Gun / Ammunition : .45 Colt (SAAMI)
 Bullet Type      : .452, 250, LYM LFN 454190
 Bullet Weight    : 250 grains or 16.20 Grams
 Muzzle Velocity  : 1223 fps
 Twist Length     : 11.0 in.  (RH)
 Gyro.  Stability : 24.9
 Crosswind Speed  : 10.0 Mph 
 Ballistic Coefficient(s) (G1) :
 C1_1=0.270@V>0 fps;
 Optimum trajectory information : 
 Optimum sight-in range (X) = 101 Yds. 
 with max. ordinate above LOS at range (M)= 54 Yds.
 and max. point blank range (P)= 119 Yds.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Sight-in clicks, 1 click = 0.915 cm/100 yd. or 0.36 in/100 yd.
 Height of sight above bore axis = 1.905 cm or 0.75 inch
 Gun is zeroed-in at 75 yds,
 by sighting-in at level firing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Range  Velo Time of  Energy   Path   Spin / Wind-  Total  Sight correction  Target
        city  flight            to     dage, Wind    drop   for setting new   lead
                                LOS    of 10.0 Mph             zero range     33 fps
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
·Yards   fps     s    ft.lbs.   in.    in.     MOA     in.   Clicks     MOA     yds ·
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|    0  1223  0.0000    830    -0.8    0.0   -----     0.0   ------    -----    0.00
|   25  1185  0.0624    779    +1.1    0.0    0.04     0.7    -12.0    -4.12    0.68
M   42  1160  0.1059    747    +1.4    0.0    0.06     2.1     -9.6    -3.29    1.16
|   50  1149  0.1267    733    +1.4    0.0    0.06     3.0     -7.6    -2.60    1.39
X   75  1117  0.1929    693     0.0    0.0    0.04     7.0      0.0     0.00    2.11
P   99  1090  0.2581    659    -2.9    0.0    0.04    12.4     +8.3    +2.84    2.82
|  100  1088  0.2609    658    -3.1    0.0    0.04    12.6     +8.6    +2.96    2.85
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M = Peak vs. L.O.S, X = Set Zero, P = Max. Point Blank Range
Elevation above Angle of Site (0.0 deg.)  = 0.1638 deg.

8.0g Unique, 13191 psi, sighted in at 50 yds:

 Tabular trajectory data at Non-Std. Atmosphere
 Gunsite Altitude : 4000 ft.
 Air Density      : 0.076385 lb./ft³
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Gun / Ammunition : .45 Colt (SAAMI)
 Bullet Type      : .452, 250, LYM LFN 454190
 Bullet Weight    : 250 grains or 16.20 Grams
 Muzzle Velocity  : 1177 fps
 Twist Length     : 11.0 in.  (RH)
 Gyro.  Stability : 24.58
 Crosswind Speed  : 10.0 Mph 
 Ballistic Coefficient(s) (G1) :
 C1_1=0.270@V>0 fps;
 Optimum trajectory information : 
 Optimum sight-in range (X) = 98 Yds. 
 with max. ordinate above LOS at range (M)= 53 Yds.
 and max. point blank range (P)= 116 Yds.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Sight-in clicks, 1 click = 0.915 cm/100 yd. or 0.36 in/100 yd.
 Height of sight above bore axis = 1.905 cm or 0.75 inch
 Gun is zeroed-in at 50 yds,
 by sighting-in at level firing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Range  Velo Time of  Energy   Path   Spin / Wind-  Total  Sight correction  Target
        city  flight            to     dage, Wind    drop   for setting new   lead
                                LOS    of 10.0 Mph             zero range     33 fps
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
·Yards   fps     s    ft.lbs.   in.    in.     MOA     in.   Clicks     MOA     yds ·
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|    0  1177  0.0000    769    -0.8    0.0   -----     0.0   ------    -----    0.00
|   25  1142  0.0647    724    +0.5    0.1    0.20     0.8     -5.1    -1.75    0.71
M   31  1134  0.0805    714    +0.5    0.1    0.18     1.2     -4.5    -1.55    0.88
X   50  1111  0.1313    685     0.0    0.1    0.22     3.3      0.0     0.00    1.44
|   75  1083  0.1997    651    -2.2    0.2    0.25     7.5     +8.2    +2.82    2.18
P   80  1078  0.2135    645    -2.9    0.2    0.26     8.5    +10.0    +3.44    2.34
|  100  1058  0.2698    621    -6.3    0.3    0.30    13.6    +17.4    +6.00    2.95
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M = Peak vs. L.O.S, X = Set Zero, P = Max. Point Blank Range
Elevation above Angle of Site (0.0 deg.)  = 0.1277 deg.

Best of luck!

[wingnut]

However, I'd agree with Esquared for simplicity. Just center punch the 75 yarder. Choose an aim point on the near & far sillywet to compensate for the different POI. Just as you are probably doing now. BTW, is your front sight bead the opposite color of the sillywets (white vs black)?

Code: Select all

8.5g Unique, 14776 psi, sighted for 75 yds:

Gun / Ammunition : .45 Colt (SAAMI)
 Bullet Type      : .452, 250, LYM LFN 454190
 Bullet Weight    : 250 grains or 16.20 Grams
 Muzzle Velocity  : 1223 fps
 Twist Length     : 18.0 in.  (RH)
 Gyro.  Stability : 9.3
 Crosswind Speed  : 10.0 Mph 
 Ballistic Coefficient(s) (G1) :
 C1_1=0.270@V>0 fps;


 Optimum trajectory information : 
 Optimum sight-in range (X) = 101 Yds. 
 with max. ordinate above LOS at range (M)= 54 Yds.
 and max. point blank range (P)= 119 Yds.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Sight-in clicks, 1 click = 0.915 cm/100 yd. or 0.36 in/100 yd.
 Height of sight above bore axis = 1.905 cm or 0.75 inch
 Gun is zeroed-in at 75 yds,
 by sighting-in at level firing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Range  Velo Time of  Energy   Path   Spin / Wind-  Total  Sight correction  Target
        city  flight            to     dage, Wind    drop   for setting new   lead
                                LOS    of 10.0 Mph             zero range     33 fps
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
·Yards   fps     s    ft.lbs.   in.    in.     MOA     in.   Clicks     MOA     yds ·
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|    0  1223  0.0000    830    -0.8    0.0   -----     0.0   ------    -----    0.00
|   25  1185  0.0624    779    +1.1   -0.1   -0.42     0.7    -12.0    -4.12    0.68
M   42  1160  0.1059    747    +1.4   -0.3   -0.67     2.1     -9.6    -3.29    1.16
|   50  1149  0.1267    733    +1.4   -0.4   -0.79     3.0     -7.6    -2.60    1.39
X   75  1117  0.1929    693     0.0   -0.9   -1.18     7.0      0.0     0.00    2.11
P   99  1090  0.2581    659    -2.9   -1.6   -1.54    12.4     +8.3    +2.84    2.82
|  100  1088  0.2609    658    -3.1   -1.6   -1.55    12.6     +8.6    +2.96    2.85
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M = Peak vs. L.O.S, X = Set Zero, P = Max. Point Blank Range
Elevation above Angle of Site (0.0 deg.)  = 0.1638 deg.

[wingnut]

Powders for comparison only modeled for bullet speed (MV) by QuickLoad & very near 14000 psi:

Cartridge : .45 Colt (SAAMI)
Bullet : .452, 250, LYM LFN 454190
Useable Case Capaci: 28.626 grain H2O = 1.859 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.580 inch = 40.13 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm

Bludot 13.7g, 1311 fps
Power Pistol 10.3g, 1292 fps
Accurate #7 14.3g, 1333 fps
Accurate #9 16.0g, 1332 fps
Universal 7.5g, 1142 fps
HS-6 10.7g, 1237 fps
HP38 7.3g, 1100 fps

I do not know how hard the modeled bullet is. Therefore, approach this "max" with caution. Also, hardcast would be recommended to reduce lead fouling at these MV's.

[Mzzlldrinpa]

Well now Mr Wingnut sir. My hat is off to you. That's a whole lot of information. I will be sure to replicate these loads. I really appreciate your assistance. I also thank everyone for their replies as well. I have enjoyed reading everything. This gives an idea of how to proceed. I have been holding off target accordingly but, just thought about the idea of different loads. Gives me another excuse to shoot, load, repeat!