45 Colt accuracy question

[tomf52]

What size grooup would be considered acceptable for 45 Colt through a Handi rifle at fifty yards. Using a 200 gr Lee bullet and various charges of several different powders the best I can seem to get is about 3" or 4". Using BUllseye, Unique, 2400.

[felix]

That would be a function of your eyes first and foremost. Cannot shoot better than you can see. Put a scope on that gun. If it already has one, you need to see an eye doctor. Groups should be half that size if ammo is made half way decent. ... felix

[fcvan]

Ive got a Classic Carbine in 45 Colt. I've had very good luck with everything from 200 to 300 grains. I've run round ball loads at 900 fps and pushed a 200rn with a plain based gas check at 1700-1800 fps. Accuracy has been quite good. I've been sizing at .452 and use Lars BAC for lube. Other than a few loads with 4227 most of my shooting has been with Unique. Check to make sure your cases aren't sizing the boolit down and the groups should tighten up.

[geargnasher]

The H&R chamber and throat is an abortion, I never got mine to shoot under five inches at 50 until I started shooting Lee 457-340-RF boolits sized .457" and using a cut-down .45/70 die set on the brass. After that it would shoot about an inch at 50. Now I just paper patch for it and get good groups at a hundred with a red dot sight.

Gear

[harvester]

I put a Williams FP receiver sight on my Handi Classic 45 colt and shoot under two inches at 50 yds off a rest with most loads. I think I could do even better with a scope as stated above.

[fredj338]

Yeah, I would think peep sight, 2" should be easily done. On good days, I can get 4"/50yd benched groups w/ my 4 5/8" RBH & open sights, & my eyes are pretty gettin pretty old.

[tomf52]

This is with a scope. Bore slugs out at .453 and bullets are sized at .454. Shot out of a Caldwell Lead Sled. Gun just makes no attempt to group well at all for me. Bullets are ACWW with LLA.


edit - Actually, I have used several different scopes to eliminate that consideration. Just ordered Lee's 255 RNFP mold to try that.

[Outpost75]

....The H&R chamber and throat is an abortion, I never got mine to shoot under five inches at 50 until I started shooting....boolits sized .457" and using a cut-down .45/70 die set on the brass. After that it would shoot about an inch at 50.....Gear

Mine slugs .452 groove diameter, but the throat ahead of the case is .457". I've had best results so far shooting Saeco #954 as-cast and unsized at .455", using soft alloy of 8-10 BHN with 6.5 to 7 grains of Bullseye. I'm not interested in specialized "carbine" loads which I cannot use in my New Service Colt, as doing so would defeat the purpose of having the companion .45 carbine in the first place. I'm getting 2" and under for long series of 5-shot groups with iron sights at 50 yards, which is as good as I need, because I don't consider this a "long range" gun. I can ring the steel 8" gong at 100 yards at will, and the combination is hard to beat.