Handi-rifle 45 colt

[tomme boy]

Does any one here have one of these? What are the bores running for size. I have one coming and want to know if I need to order a new mold. I have a RCBS 45-250 but it throws bullets at .451" What powders seem to work well?

[wgr]

i size mine to.453 and use 110/296 powder under a 300grain LBT bullet. .451 seems a little small to me but i would try them befor getting another mold

[geargnasher]

Mine slugs at .452" and insists on .453" or larger boolits. I've loaded it from mild to wild, with just about everything except black powder, which is probably in truth the best possible propellant for the cartridge and shallow rifling with the large, long throat that mine has

What did you have in mind to do with yours?

Gear

[tomme boy]

Shoot clay pigeons and cans.

[tomme boy]

Looks like I need to call RCBS

[fcvan]

I have no idea what mine measures. I have shot the Lee .452 230RN, the Lee .452 255RF, the .450 200RN which is actually a conical for a black powder revolver, and Lee .451 Round Ball also for the black powder revolver. I recently horse traded for a Lee .452 300RF which I intend to pour up a few this weekend.

The round ball was loaded for grins and giggles. At 900fps it sounded like I was shooting a 22lr. The .450 RN is actually a tapered bullet to aid in loading in the 1858 Remington Copy. It bumped up to seal and showed no signs of leading. I scored a hollow-point version of this mould as well. I think this tapered based boolit design would be a good candidate for one of Pat Marlins Plain Base Gas Checks. I also plan on trying this boolit with Black Powder just to see how it does with a lube biscuit and such.

My loads with the .452 255RF have been from 950fps to 1400fps using published load specs. I intend to do the same with the .452 300RF when I get the opportunity and then - tin cans, beware! Frank

[John Boy]

Go over to the H&R forum on Graybeard Outdoor and ask your question ...
http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/board,126.0.html

[geargnasher]

It's really tough to beat the classic 255 RFN boolit cast from wheel weights and powered by a mild book load of Red Dot or Unique for general shooting. Use RCBS Cowboy dies, or Hornady .45 Colt dies for this gun, the carbide dies size the brass way too much and hurt accuracy. Think "neck" size and leave the lower half of the cases alone.

Gear

[fcvan]

I went to the hills today just to shoot the classic carbine. The Lee 255RF with 7.6 grains of unique averaged 960fps. The same boolit averaged 1200fps with 20 grains of H4227. Both my brother and I enjoyed that load but it sure left a lot of soot in the bore.

I also launched some round ball and 200RN boolits with 7.6 grains of unique just for fun. The tin cans were shown no mercy. Next go around i'll be using Bullseye with published loads for both the 255RF and 300RF Lee molds. Frank

[geargnasher]

Seriously, try Red Dot.

Gear

[tomme boy]

Think range scrap lead is going to be too soft? I use this in my 45acp and get no leading.

Oh ya, I got one of Mihec's .454" 270gr rcbs clone with both sets of pins in the mail for me right now. Early Christmas present for me.

Talked to range officer today and told him that I bought a 45 Colt rifle. He says, Hang on. Comes back with 2 boxes of factory Remington 45colts. Says "here ya go" "Guy bought the wrong ammo and could not return these" I guess cleaning the range up and cutting the grass on my time pays off.

[Paul5388]

I had envisioned a cheaper way to approach lightweight .45-70 loads, but I can't seem to get the sights to adjust anywhere close to where I'm shooting. I've tried factory sights, Williams and even added a spacer under the front sight, but no combination will sight to POI. Of course, I was also thinking in terms of a 270 gr bullet at more than 1400 fps, which 1450 fps is about the tops I've achieved with it.

I have several .454" molds, but no .458" and I didn't want to expend 350-400 gr with each bullet, so I chose the .45 Colt to try. It looks like it was a bad choice.

[tacklebury]

I had envisioned a cheaper way to approach lightweight .45-70 loads, but I can't seem to get the sights to adjust anywhere close to where I'm shooting. I've tried factory sights, Williams and even added a spacer under the front sight, but no combination will sight to POI. Of course, I was also thinking in terms of a 270 gr bullet at more than 1400 fps, which 1450 fps is about the tops I've achieved with it.

I have several .454" molds, but no .458" and I didn't want to expend 350-400 gr with each bullet, so I chose the .45 Colt to try. It looks like it was a bad choice.

Perhaps you should consider a different powder. ;) I use 21.5 gr. Reloader7 under a 300 gr. Hornady XTP Magnum. Took a 4 point like it was struck down by lightning this year. Might try reading this article by Paco Kelly. ;)

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

[tomme boy]

Paul, how high is it shooting?

[Good Cheer]

Got the 454613 mold altered to have adjustable plugs for hollow base, plain and gas checked. Erik did a beautiful job on it. When I get the chance it's gonna be the one I try in my H&R. The big lube grooves will hopefully work well will black.

http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy192/SNARGLEFLERK/454613modified.jpg

[Paul5388]

It has been a while since I shot it and at my age memory can be a problem at times. The rear sight has always had to be in an extreme position, either all the way up or all the way down and even then it is still off of the POA. That was at close ranges, like 25 yards, but it really didn't get any better at longer ranges.

I first shot it with some factory Magtech I acquired somewhere, then I used 2400, H4227 and H110 hoping the extra velocity would bring things down, so what I probably need to do is install a holograph sight like I have on my shortened .38-55 Handi that has no front sight left. A tang sight might work too, if I wanted to spend that much money with no assurance of it working right.

[Paul5388]

I went back and looked at some loading data and found 23 gr of H4227 with a 270 gr bullet (group buy .45-255) averaged 1458 fps out of 20" of Handi barrel. 13.0 gr of Blue Dot produced 1250 fps with that same bullet and 21.0 gr of Lil'Gun produced 1620 fps again with the same bullet.

http://www.bbhfarm.com/albums/album23/aac.jpg

The bullet on the left is the one I'm using, but both are 270 gr in my alloy. The Ohaus design gives a little more case room from less seating depth.

[Outpost75]

My. 45 Colt Handi Rifle shoots best with Saeco #954 cast of wheelweights, loaded as-cast and unsizdd at. 455" diameter, lubricated with Lee Liquid Alox, and 6.5 grains of Bullseye. It shoots consistently under 2 inches ar 50 yards, with iron sights, and gets 1077fps from the 20-inch barrel. I shoot the same load in my Colt New Service for 2-1/2" groups at 25 yards and 880 fps.

[Good Cheer]

Been threatening to try a case full of Jacks Battle Powder (topped with a lube cookie under a crimped orange juice carton card wad) to push a soft lead paper patched into the rifling but don't know if I'll ever get around to it.