45 colt trapper

[flatbed]

Just brought home a Winchester Trapper in 45 colt and have a good supply of Lee 310gc boolits that I have cast.

Will someone recommend a good Deer load for this rifle/bullet combo ? I have most of the current reloading manuals and they are "all over the map" on loads. What I am looking for is somebody that has experience with this combination. Any input will be apprecaited.......Flatbed

[Rafe Covington]

I use 17.5 grs of 2400 with a 300 gr cast bullet in my Trapper, Fed large pistol primer using Starline cases. I have never chronographed the velocity, it shot thru a 235 pound hog at 40 yds. :redneck:

buffalohunter

[flatbed]

10-4.........Thanks Buffalohunter

[Potsy]

If I were looking in the upper end range, I'd go around 23grn. H-110 or W-296.
I used to have a Trapper .45 Colt (WISH I STILL DID!!!)
Looking back in my notes, 23grn. Win296 gave 1550 fps with a 300 grn Hornady XTP. Don't know why that (or a grain or two less) wouldn't work with the 310GC'ed Lee.
I never grouped that load, did a little informal shooting out to 50 yards or so, I'd have shot a deer with it, that's all I remember.
Yes, there was some recoil out of a 5lb Trapper.

[gon2shoot]

17.5 gr. of 2400 is my load too. Not run over the chrony since the loads worked as hoped.

[NickSS]

The only 300 gr load I have tried in a 45 colt was a sized down 300 gr 457 flat oint 45-70 bullets sized to .454" This slug was launched with 23gr of W296 with a small rifle primer in cut down 454 Casull brass. I never chronoed the load but it shot into around 4 inches at 100 yards and put down a wild boar with one shot that broke the front shoulder and exited the other side at the rear of the rib cage. The boar went right down and skidded to a stop. Range was about 40 feet. I still have the trapper that I used and it shoots well.

[Catshooter]

Now I haven't shot anything alive with it, but the NEI 310 grain Keith boolit over 20 grains of 2400 runs 1430 fps from my Trapper. Very accurate too.


Cat

[ktw]

Start in the range of 17-18gr 2400 or 21-22 grains of H110/W296. I personally prefer and use H110.

My 45 Colt Trapper has a large chamber. I can finger seat 457 bullets in fire-formed brass. .452 jacketed and .453 gas checked shoot well in it, but I have to size to 456/.457 in order to get plain-based to shoot well. Don't be afraid to try some of the lighter weight 45-70 bullets like Lyman 457191, Lyman 457122-HP and the Lee 457-340 sized to fit fire-formed brass.

-ktw

[runfiverun]

man i'd clean forgot i have one of these it may be unfired from new.
i hope it doesn't need a boolit that large, or it's gone.

[mattbowen]

I have a question, can the 2400 load be used in a colt clone or is the pressure to high? The reason I ask is I am getting my rifle this week but plan to get a SSA 45 Uberti this year and would like to shoot the same load "IF" possible.

Thanks

Matt

[DanWalker]

18.5 grains of 2400 under that LEE 300 grainer in my trapper has accounted for several deer and hogs, an antelope, and a bunch of prairie dogs and jackrabbits.
It ALWAYS penetrates and ALWAYS exits.
On game performance is superb on big game. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a moose or Bison with this load. It's what I carry when I'm tromping around bear country.
I've gone as High as 20 grains of 2400, but it was really battering the gun. The mag tube began popping loose after less than 100 rounds. I backed down to 18.5 grains and found bliss.
My chrony reads 1500 fps with these loads.

[marlin.45]

Not that it is a Win 94 but my 22" Marlin 1894CB regularly uses 300grn. hand cast RNFP (custom Mountain Mold) over 22.0grn H110 and in target use it groups under 1" at 50yds with iron sights. Win brass/Federal LP primers. Sorry it has never been used on anything fluffy due to the flinty backstops available around here so penetration unknown.

Good punchy recoiling round which exits at 1650-1700fps.

But I wouldn't recommend it running that hot in a 94.