Reloading Info on 45 long Colt

[JLA]

Originally Posted by hunter29180

would love to see the picture muddober! beween you and JLA im getting a better education on my favorite load..the 45 lc! course I still want a rifle chambered to the 454 so i can load my 45 lc cases to the 44 mag level without worry! course thats just wishing for big bear use, the 45 is fully able to take any deer i would want! and i am past able to hunt the deep woods for bear anymore.. almost cant hunt rabbit at this point unless i bait them in..and I was raised not to bait a game animal in...its much more fun to track and plan the hunt!

You know the marlin 1894s chambered in .45 colt are safe with .44 mag level loads..

[twobit]

For cowboy loads (target loads) in .45 colt Trailboss powder works very well.

It is fluffy and fills the case enough that an accidental double charge is highly unlikely. A maximum charge is to fill to the bottom of the seated bullet WITHOUT compressing the powder. Trailboss was designed for the large cased calibers that were originally designed for black powder. I use it for "target loads" in my .45 colt and .38 special. I use Unique for my defensive/ hunting loads in .45 colt. Look up the literature on trailboss powder for more info.

[al45lc]

Originally Posted by hunter29180

would love to see the picture muddober! beween you and JLA im getting a better education on my favorite load..the 45 lc! course I still want a rifle chambered to the 454 so i can load my 45 lc cases to the 44 mag level without worry! course thats just wishing for big bear use, the 45 is fully able to take any deer i would want! and i am past able to hunt the deep woods for bear anymore.. almost cant hunt rabbit at this point unless i bait them in..and I was raised not to bait a game animal in...its much more fun to track and plan the hunt!

There is no discernible reason why you can't load the 45lc to high levels in the Marlin lever action, I've done this for many years. An issue of Handloader Magazine years ago had a load by Brian Pearce for the Ruger Blackhawks that he indicated was perfectly safe in the Marlin due to it's forged receiver and bolt, and is the same load I've shot hundreds of times through that gun.
Even with the micro groove rifling, this firearm is super accurate and a fine Deer rifle.
My pet heavy load is 21 grs. of H-110 with a cast GC 325 gr bullet. Accurate from both the Blackhawk and the Marlin.

[hunter29180]

Originally Posted by JLA

You know the marlin 1894s chambered in .45 colt are safe with .44 mag level loads..

Originally Posted by al45lc

There is no discernible reason why you can't load the 45lc to high levels in the Marlin lever action, I've done this for many years. An issue of Handloader Magazine years ago had a load by Brian Pearce for the Ruger Blackhawks that he indicated was perfectly safe in the Marlin due to it's forged receiver and bolt, and is the same load I've shot hundreds of times through that gun.
Even with the micro groove rifling, this firearm is super accurate and a fine Deer rifle.
My pet heavy load is 21 grs. of H-110 with a cast GC 325 gr bullet. Accurate from both the Blackhawk and the Marlin.

Well isnt education GRAND!! learned something new there! may have to rethink my thoughts there..any others safe to use these in?..like the Rossi? its a bit less $$ than the Marlin..$700 comparied to $559 for the rossi...

Originally Posted by twobit

For cowboy loads (target loads) in .45 colt Trailboss powder works very well.

It is fluffy and fills the case enough that an accidental double charge is highly unlikely. A maximum charge is to fill to the bottom of the seated bullet WITHOUT compressing the powder. Trailboss was designed for the large cased calibers that were originally designed for black powder. I use it for "target loads" in my .45 colt and .38 special. I use Unique for my defensive/ hunting loads in .45 colt. Look up the literature on trailboss powder for more info.

Already using Trailboss and love it!

[JLA]

Holy smokes! who you buyin your marlins from? I paid 375 out the door for my .44 mag. Found it used, in great shape..

Any of the .45 colt leverguns that are also chambered in .44 mag would handle the higher pressure .45 colt loads. that includes the rossi M92s, the henrys, and the winchesters.

[JLA]

Notice its an older gold trigger model.

[al45lc]

Originally Posted by JLA

Holy smokes! who you buyin your marlins from? I paid 375 out the door for my .44 mag. Found it used, in great shape..

Any of the .45 colt leverguns that are also chambered in .44 mag would handle the higher pressure .45 colt loads. that includes the rossi M92s, the henrys, and the winchesters.

What about the Henry Big Boy with the brass receiver? I don't know, that's why I'm asking, but one might assume if it's chambered for .44 Mag that the .45 lc would also handle the pressure.

[JLA]

It will. I noted the henrys. A good friend of mine shoots a brass frame bigboy with hot .45 colts. Kilt lots of piggy with that rifle.

[JohnnyFlake]

I have been considering the purchase of a .45 Colt Lever Gun. At this time I am favoring the Marlin but cost is up there, may have to go for something more reasonable. Anyway, a question for those of you who have them. What is a realistic maximum effective range, for pigs, deer, etc. of a stout .45 Colt load with a 250/270 boolit?

[JLA]

inside 100 yds.

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by JLA

inside 100 yds.

Thank you sir. I kind of suspected around a 100 yds and now it's more realistically, around 75/80 yds. Sadly, that is not what I am looking for. I should probably start looking at 45-70s

[al45lc]

Why limit yourself with a lighter bullet? With a receiver sight, I can keep 5 rounds in a 3" bull at 100 yards with my Marlin. I see no reason why it won't do the job at 150 if I do my part.
With a 325 gr bullet trucking along at 1500 fps, it is approx. equivilent to a 30/30 in energy between 100 and 150 yds depending on the 30/30 bullet weight.
If it's at or under 100 yds, I use the Blackhawk, that's why I handgun hunt, for the challange.
I found my range notes, that load chrony'ed 1516 fps in the Marlin, according to my ballistics calc, that's about 800 ft. lbs. at 125 yards, give or take.
That's more than enough for Deer, IMO. Colorado hunting regs calls for a minimum of 550 ft lbs at 50 yards from a handgun for Elk.

[JohnnyFlake]

Originally Posted by al45lc

Why limit yourself with a lighter bullet? With a receiver sight, I can keep 5 rounds in a 3" bull at 100 yards with my Marlin. I see no reason why it won't do the job at 150 if I do my part.
With a 325 gr bullet trucking along at 1500 fps, it is approx. equivilent to a 30/30 in energy between 100 and 150 yds depending on the 30/30 bullet weight.
If it's at or under 100 yds, I use the Blackhawk, that's why I handgun hunt, for the challange.
I found my range notes, that load chrony'ed 1516 fps in the Marlin, according to my ballistics calc, that's about 800 ft. lbs. at 125 yards, give or take.
That's more than enough for Deer, IMO. Colorado hunting regs calls for a minimum of 550 ft lbs at 50 yards from a handgun for Elk.

If your referring to my question on max effective distance with a .45 Colt Lever Gun, an effective distance of 125 to 150 yards would be where I'd like it to be. Less than a 100 yards isn't what I'm looking for. I don't mind a heavier bullet (325gn), I was just thinking the 250 or 270 would reach out further. What type of load does it take to get a .325gn bullet to 1500 fps out of a .45 Colt Lever Gun?

[JLA]

Its not that the bullet wont make it that far. Its that the bullets are pistol bullets and the velocities fall off fast and the bullet quickly destabilizes. After 100 yds most of them quickly begin to yaw and tumble, often keyholing the target and accuracy goes to pot.

My 1894 .44 mag is 2 MOA at 100 yds with a 240 gr XTP handload exiting the muzzle at 1800 fps. 2 inches at 100 yds and keyholing at 150 with a very random 6" group. Again, its not the gun or the shooterm its the physics working against the bullet.

Now, a faster rate of twist would help alot in keeping the bullet stable longer. Marlin 1894 . 44 mags for some dumb ass reason have 38 twist bores, so i need every bit of 1800 fps to keep the bullet stable out to 100 yds. The .45 colt rifles have the same slow twist.

One of these days I will rebarrel my 1894 with a 20 twist tube. then I shouldnt have a problem shooting 200 yds with it accurately.

For now, inside 100 is fine.

[JLA]

The henrys have the same slow twist bores too in .44 and .45 colt.

[JLA]

So do the winchester 94s in both calibers..

[JLA]

The rossi M92s look like they come with 20 twist barrels in both calibers.

That would be the better long range choice IMO. especially where heavy bullets are concerned.

[twobit]

The 16" and 20" Rossi have the carbine forearm and buttstock. Their 24" barreled rifles have a different (and I think nicer looking) forearm and a more curved buttstock. I have an original 1892 Winchester in 44-40 (made 1895) which has the 24" octagon barrel. The 24" Rossi looks very similar to the real 1892. I will buy a Rossi in the future in .45 colt and it will be a 24" octagon. I want a .45 rifle to go with my Cimaron Uberti .45 pistol. I still shoot my 1892 occasionally, but it is now 117 years old and I like to pamper it now.

[al45lc]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlake

If your referring to my question on max effective distance with a .45 Colt Lever Gun, an effective distance of 125 to 150 yards would be where I'd like it to be. Less than a 100 yards isn't what I'm looking for. I don't mind a heavier bullet (325gn), I was just thinking the 250 or 270 would reach out further. What type of load does it take to get a .325gn bullet to 1500 fps out of a .45 Colt Lever Gun?

21 grn. of H-110. This is a load I gleaned from Handloader Magazine in an article by Brian Pearce. I believe the Max is right at 22 grn.
This load is accurate and hard hitting in both my Blackhawks and the Marlin, and I've taken several Elk and numerous Deer with it. It's my 'Go-To' hunting load in the .45LC.
The bullet I cast is a Lyman 452651, with wheel weights it can go as high as 335 grn. I add Linotype to get it down around 325, then gas check it.
Heads up though, it kicks like a mule in the Blackhawk and the Marlin.
One shot was right at 110 yards according to the rangefinder, even from the Blackhawk the cow Elk barely went 60 yards. The bullet went almost through her, ending up in the ribs on the opposite side.
Similar bullets are available commercially if you don't cast.