Loading for Henry .45 Colt

[at_liberty]

The 45 Colt can be safely loaded to crazy velocity even with heavy bullets. Just make sure you shoot the correct loads in the correct firearms.

45LC> 44Mag.

Can you give me something more than "I read it on the internet"?

[JagerDog]

Can you give me something more than "I read it on the internet"?

You don't need to look any further than Hodgdon. Plenty of recipes for "Ruger"(blackhawk) loadings. Plenty of empirical data that many modern lever guns handle these "Ruger" loads just fine. Best to stay away from the Ruger #1 loads though. IIRC the ceiling is around 35kpsi. Or look up anything from Linebaugh for 45 colt.

[bubbapug1]

here u go...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=963803

The Henry's were black powder guns. The loads should be limited to 15,000 psig. You are exceeding that with the H110 load. I don't think the linkage on a lever gun can take 30,000 psig.

[CGT80]

If you are looking for mild, a 230 grain round nose boolit (used in 45 acp) over Red Dot powder is a cheap and soft load. I don't have a 45 lever action, but I use 45 colt in my Smith 460 8 3/8" revolver for very light loads. I use 6.0 grains of red dot. My pistol will handle rifle pressures and has a short barrel compared to your rifle, so double check the load books. Red dot will give similar results to Trail Boss, but it is much cheaper. It also takes up very little space in the shell, so you have to be careful not to double, or even quadruple charge, as it will hold a lot of red dot.

Win 231 will work in the 45 colt as well and is similar to red dot. Herco is another good cast boolit powder that can be used light, but may give a bit more power than red dot. Also, the diameter of bullet/boolit for a 45 colt can vary. Old standards were 0.454" or so and many modern firearms seem to be 0.452". It can make a difference in accuracy, and with lead bullets, a small bullet will be more likely to lead the barrel.

[Na-vah-duh]

Thanks all for the replays. I tried 9.5 gr unique under a 225gr xtreme plated projectile. Load was extremely mild and grouped great. Velocity was 1230 fps.

[JagerDog]

here u go...

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=963803

The Henry's were black powder guns. The loads should be limited to 15,000 psig. You are exceeding that with the H110 load. I don't think the linkage on a lever gun can take 30,000 psig.

Huh?

An OLD blackpowder Henry isn't what's being discussed.

45 Colt was a blackpowder cartridge too...so?

Various models from various mfg's take 30kpsi without issue (or they wouldnt be chambered in 357 and 44 mag). Where the current mfg Henry rates, I don't know.

[at_liberty]

You don't need to look any further than Hodgdon. Plenty of recipes for "Ruger"(blackhawk) loadings. Plenty of empirical data that many modern lever guns handle these "Ruger" loads just fine. Best to stay away from the Ruger #1 loads though. IIRC the ceiling is around 35kpsi. Or look up anything from Linebaugh for 45 colt.

Hodgdon data I have, copied recently from their website, doesn't support the velocity numbers cited by the OP. The load, however, is below the max for H110, noting that the actual bullet rated is the 250 gr Hornady XTP. There is no lead bullet load for 255 gr. Such a bullet would need to be gas checked in my shop, when intended for this kind of velocity and barrel length time.

"Emperical data" is that "I read it on the internet" or "I read a magazine article" (later debated) stuff that makes me nervous.

Where are the "Ruger #1 loads" documented?

Is there any test in a Henry rifle or any other lever gun shooting heavy 45 Colt?

What does Henry company say without lawyers in the conversation?

[MongooseV8]

I would only shoot top loads in a 1892 falling block style action, a single shot Encore, or a modified Ruger Super Blackhawk. There are plenty of resources to support the super hot loads, I'm not going to do your research for you.

[JagerDog]

Hodgdon data I have, copied recently from their website, doesn't support the velocity numbers cited by the OP. The load, however, is below the max for H110, noting that the actual bullet rated is the 250 gr Hornady XTP. There is no lead bullet load for 255 gr. Such a bullet would need to be gas checked in my shop, when intended for this kind of velocity and barrel length time.

"Emperical data" is that "I read it on the internet" or "I read a magazine article" (later debated) stuff that makes me nervous.

Where are the "Ruger #1 loads" documented?

Is there any test in a Henry rifle or any other lever gun shooting heavy 45 Colt?

What does Henry company say without lawyers in the conversation?

To start you out:

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm

http://www.sixguns.com/range/Mlntrpr.htm

Also look up Linebaughs writing for the cartridge itself.

As I stated earlier, I was getting 1400+ with 300gr Speer in a 16" Marlin. The OP's velocity is well within accepted values for 45 Colt "+P".

There's not 255 lead data in "+P" due to generally accepted leading issues, not safety issues (for a relatively clean rifle). (You don't find 38 special +p loadings for 148 HBWC's either, but it has nothing to do wity safety). There is ample discussion on leading even being an issue given the right lead at the right size. That's certainly an area where YMMV.

I don't know what Henry says. I don't know how much testing has been done in the "aftermarket" on the Henry.

FWIW, the Puma is running Casull pressures in a modern '92 action.

[cruddymutt]

Thanks all for the replays. I tried 9.5 gr unique under a 225gr xtreme plated projectile. Load was extremely mild and grouped great. Velocity was 1230 fps.

Did you have sooting around the brass with that load? I have a bit with my Unique load and have considered bumping up the charge. I haven't mainly because my loads shoot so well.

[G-Man WC]

Loaded my Marlin 1894 with 250gr cast MBC and 5.5gr Trail Boss.
At that time (My 13yo son) was firing off the sand bags,
loving every shot and the huge dusty impact off the berm
behind the target.
I know reloaders that use W231 also to load 45colt
-g

[3006]

Take look at lilgun from hodgon work well in 45 long colt rifles I would never use unique in high power load for my 44 or 45lc Marlin's a makes fine plinking round for hotter loads I use 2400 or Lil gun
have not tried h110
Do you want more mild or less mild?

[at_liberty]

I would only shoot top loads in a 1892 falling block style action, a single shot Encore, or a modified Ruger Super Blackhawk. There are plenty of resources to support the super hot loads, I'm not going to do your research for you.

You mean other than hearsay from the internet? What book addresses this kind of loading in a 45 Colt rifle, hopefully pertinent to the modern Henry Big Boy? If you don't know, you needn't respond like you were given an assignment. If you think I should validate posts on my own, you can keep that to yourself.

[MongooseV8]

You mean other than hearsay from the internet? What book addresses this kind of loading in a 45 Colt rifle, hopefully pertinent to the modern Henry Big Boy? If you don't know, you needed respond like you were given an assignment. If you think I should validate posts on my own, you can keep that to yourself.

Like I said, Im not going to hold your hand. There are plenty of resources both legit websites and even in printed paper published books that list plenty of hotter loads that are well under the safe operating limits of the 45 Colt cartridge. As I already stated, I would not shoot these loads in any Henry, or even a Marlin. The 1892 falling block action is very strong, the Encores handle 60k PSI rifle loads just fine, and a modified Ruger BlackHawk can be even stronger.

Almost all 45 Colt loads printed are:
A)Using pistol length barrels to get the estimated velocity numbers
B)Way conservative to be safe in the early weaker actions, colt sa revolvers ect.

Keep in mind the velocities the op included are out of a 20" rifle barrel, using less that the starting Ruger listed loads and are well within the intended use and design of the Henry rifle he is shooting them out of. What you are calling "heresay" and "I read it on the internet" is actually published commonly used reloading data found in almost every generic reloading manual. This is one of the reasons its good to have and use more than one load manual when developing a load, as they are often not all the same.

I do think you should validate posts on your own when you are the one telling us, the guys that have already been there and done that; that we are wrong, or being unsafe, or giving bad/dangerous advice ect. You are making assumptions and claims with no evidence or examples to back you up, pointing a finger at us because you think we are doing the same. Im not trying to pick a fight or anything. If you live near the Bay Area Id be more than happy to meet you at the range for a day of lever action 45 Colt goodness.

[bubbapug1]

Colt 45 maximum recommended pressure is 15,900 psig

From Quickload....

A 45C case of H110 loaded to 23.5 grains with a 255 grain speer HP GD at oal of 1.580" should yield 1557 fps and develop a chamber pressure of 19,848 psig.

That is certainly a P+ load....I am not sure you want to go higher.

Final velociy is dependent on powder burn speed and barrel length, but the initial chamber pressure for a powder is the same regardless of barrel length.