I am looking for a .45 Colt target load for paper punching at 25 and 50 yards.
I am using the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook which gives a suggested starting charge of 7.5 grains of Unique with the 200 grain Lee 452-200 cast bullet. Is this "suggested starting charge" a minimum charge or can one go lower?
Firstly, I advise everyone to review the Wall of Text posted here
https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=55347.0As all of my old martial arts instructors said, even black belts benefit by periodically reviewing basics!
My second edition Lee manual, printed 2013, shows a minimum or starting load of 8.4 gr Unique with a 200 grain cast bullet.
My 49th edition of the Lyman Reloading Handbook , 9th priniting january 2014 shows a minimum or starting load of 8.6 gr Unique with a 200 gr cast leD bullet for 918 fps and 8700 cup.
Way back, the hogden manual number 26 listed
For the 200 grn bullet they list following
unique 8.0 838 fps 11,600 cup to 9.0 883 fps
Howver, as stated in the Wall of Text, powder formulas changed slightly over the years, and the Hogden manual is considered ancient.
Do not reduce thie starting or minimum charge of Unique, since the cavernous case can cause pressures to rise unexpectedly.
If lighter loads are required, a more fluffy, slower powder is recommended.
I find the starting loads for .45 Colt to be mild and pleasant, as nicce as the old “softball” loads
For target .45 acp.
If one is loading for extreme frugalitiy, one can use the much smaller .45 cowboy cases and load down to
A minimum of 4.8 gr unique for similar pressure and velocity, this will “almost” double the number of rounds one can get from a bottle of powder. If one is
cheap frugal….
From the manufacturer, they recommend only one load
https://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/powderlist.aspx?type=1&powderid=3&cartridge=3645 Colt 200 gr Speer LSWC Unique 9.5gr 1,061 fps
We had some discussion back here
https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php?topic=53144.0Hope this helps
Prof mumbles