Best Bullet Design for Model 94

[warf73]

My son has been ridding my backside for months to get a lever action rifle so we can plink at grandpa’s house. Little does he know we are both getting one.
He loves to help me cast and enjoys to ability we have to shoot so much because we do cast our own bullets and make our own lube.

If all goes well within the month of March I’ll be getting (2) Model 94’s in 45LC.
These rifles will be used mostly for plinking and maybe the occasional rabbit.

I’m wanting the up most reliable bullet design for feeding threw these rifles.

What are your thoughts on this guys?

Thanks Warf

[45 2.1]

The RF nose has been the best feeder in several 45 Colt rifles for me. I like the Lyman 454190 the best, but it doesn't have a crimp groove.

[Dale53]

warf73;
You might want to look at Lee Six Cavity 200 RF and 255 RF. When you are trying to feed two rifles, a six cavity mould should be a serious consideration. These are plain base bullets and there is a limit to how fast you can drive them (depending on the particular rifle) but you should be able to have a lot of fun at 1000-1500 fps.

However, I do not have a .45 Colt lever action (I do have a 30-30 and a 45-70, both Marlins). You might ask others here if they have tried that particular combination. At the low cost of Lee moulds (even six cavities) the risk of ordering one out and trying it is low. If it doesn't work, you should be able to easily get rid of it with all of the Cowboy interest in the .45 Colt.

You can get these at under forty dollars from F&M Distributing or Midway, etc

Just some thoughts...

Dale53

[ktw]

I've been doing some load development work with 300-350 grain bullets in a 45 Colt, Win94 lever action lately. I have yet to find a feeding problem with any bullet I've tried in it to date. This includes both keith wadcutters and round-flats with either small (457122) or large (Lee 452-300-RF) meplats.

-ktw

[trk]

I have the Trapper in both .44 Mag and .45 Colt.

Observations:
The .45 Colt has a rather sloppy chamber compared to the .44 mag. Expands the brass much more.

Both feed just about everything (including full wadcutters).

Both require a snapping action to eject the case - cases can easily fall down past the lifter and jam the action.

[TAWILDCATT]

I to have a 94 trapper.mine was new.the first rd blackened the case.got differant ammo same condition.called winchester sent them rifle they rebarreled,much better but not perfect.I was told they hade trouble with the subcontractor with 45 and 44 barrel chambers.I think they used the old specs.I do use wadcutters in mine and they function perfect .to bad win out of business.may be the quality was a problem.

[ktw]

Observations:
The .45 Colt has a rather sloppy chamber compared to the .44 mag. Expands the brass much more.

The chamber in my 94 is big enough to load .457 boolits in unsized cases. After loading and crimping them they cycle and chamber normally. No more overworking the brass.

I have two carbide sizing dies for 45 Colt. I have noticed that the RCBS die sizes the brass down quite a bit more than does the Lyman die.

-ktw

[Nazgul]

I use the Lee 255gr in a six cavity to feed two 94 Legacys.

[Larry Gibson]

Got to agree on the RF as a great feeder in my Rossi M92 rifle in .45 Colt. I use the Lee 452-200-RF at 1200 fps, great accuracy with minimal recoil. However, I also have a Lee 6 banger 452-190-SWC. That bullet is a fantastic light weight bullet in the .45 Colt (both the Rossi M92 and the Uberti SSA). At the same 1200 ffps out of the rifle it is 925 fps out of the Uberti SAA. Very accurate out of both. It feeds flawlessly through the rifle. The SWC looks a little funny in the old .45 Colt case but beauty is as beauty does.

BTW; I use 7.5 gr Bullseye with either bullet.

Larry Gibson

[warf73]

We have this group buy going on right now.


The meplat is 0.225" and the crimp groove is set where it works best for accuracy in my pistols and rifles. Weight is 253 gr. bare and the weight of my 454190 as cast is 254.6 gr., so it is a very close match when lube is applied.
3397


If you want full details look here

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=13953

This is what I'm going to feed my 94.

Warf

[Cherokee]

For my Win '94 Trapper, Marlin '94 and Uberti '66, and all my 45 Colt revolvers, I use the RCBS 230CM bullet, a RNFP design @ 230 gr. Very accurate in all rifles and pistols I have shot.