Winchester meets the 45 Colt.

[bigted]

altho the 45 Colt was never chambered in rifles back in the day ... they are so chambered today. namely the Winchester model 92 lever action. as such I have lusted after one for quiet a spell. having some trade ... I looked for a Winchester model 92 in the 45 Colt ... found an engraved model in a 24 inch round barrel that just took my breath ... so I invited it to go home with me.

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/1_zps4e295eb9.jpg (http://s777.photobucket.com/user/bigted1956/media/1_zps4e295eb9.jpg.html)

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/2_zpsd3840473.jpg (http://s777.photobucket.com/user/bigted1956/media/2_zpsd3840473.jpg.html)

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/3_zps3e78a8c2.jpg (http://s777.photobucket.com/user/bigted1956/media/3_zps3e78a8c2.jpg.html)

and after changing the rear sight to a more agreeable arraignment that my eyes do better with ...[full buck horn sight from Marples] .

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy55/bigted1956/4_zpse6fd1682.jpg (http://s777.photobucket.com/user/bigted1956/media/4_zpse6fd1682.jpg.html)

also for the wise-n hymens ... that hunk of leather covers the snazzy crescent plate ... why ... because my 6 foot 5 inch frame don't do well with the 13 1/4 inch length of pull. setup thusely ... I do a lot less gouging with my thumb and finger into my cheek and cheek bone. AND yes ... im a bit of a sissy ... :roll:

it has the terrible wrist mounted safety ... as well as the rebounding hammer ... such a travesty but what can a feller do? I researched the "fix" for these two things before it arrived and was prepared for action in the "fixing" dept. but lo and behold ... when it got here I had to clean and inspect it and after this ... I HAD to shoot the thing before going any further ... sure glad I did. I do not see a thing wrong with either system and at this point I am going to modify absolutely NOTHING. this smooth little shooter is sho nough the shizz nitzz.

into the loading room I took down a can of good ol GOEX cartridge and weighed out 40 grains powder and squeezed it in under my 266 grain Accurate mold number 454260 boolits. I primed the Remington cases with federal match large pistol primers.

looking for a hunting load I experimented with various smokeless powders and ran em cross my chrony screens. I found a good smokeless load but that did me no good with Gods own powder ... sooo ... taking my cartridge loads into the yard I ran a few across my screens to discover what the velocity would work out at and then taking this info I punched in the Taylor formula for KO.

so finding the velocity of my loads going in the 1100 FPS I wound up very nicely surprised. punching in the numbers in the Taylor formula I pleasantly found the number to be a high 21 ... being just almost 2 above the 44 mag numbers ... this with black powder.

im jazzed and cant wait to put this to work on blacktail deer in the brush/timber real estate in western Oregon. the smokeless loads are a fun and competent loads BUT ... those Black Powder loads are the snuffy stuff. they are scarcely a secondary load behind anything else in this category. the BP loads do everything expected from them AND in a spiffy RIFLE that was and is a nice lite carrying package that is so smooth I can barely believe it.

anybody else shoot a Winchester 45 Colt with the BP loads?

[Don McDowell]

Ted I've had a Winchester 94 trapper in 45 colt since 89
37 grs of Goex 3f and a Remington 250 gr bulk bullet shoots well, same powder and the rcbs KT 260 is a sledgehammer.

[bigted]

Don ... ever taken any game with yours? I cant imagine any other ...if within its range ... being any better on deer/antelope size critters.

[Don McDowell]

Ted no havent' used it on game animals, really wasn't legal until this past year. But have whacked a bunch of coyotes, prairie dogs and the like.

[Prs61109]

Beautiful rifle! Pretty cool to shoot BP in it too.

[bigted]

while I do shoot smokeless in my 45 colt weapons ... I always have a great time shooting blackpowder in them. this rifle is just the latest weapon to be fouled up with the honest powder.

when I get back to Oregon ... I fully plan on taking a few blacktail with it. I cant wait to wonder thru the cascades again and hear the coyotes in the night. as well as seeing the bobcats and cougars and smelling the stinky skunks ... what a fun time to come ... the herds of elk will stiffen my heart beat again ... funny what a feller misses even when living in paradise.

I can see this rifle being a part of all that as a partner for the wondering.

[Nobade]

That sure is a pretty rifle you got there Ted! And you're right, the 45 Colt loaded with BP doesn't take a back seat to much at all. I don't have a Winchester 45, but do have a Marlin and a USFA revolver. Both get shot mostly (USFA only) with black. I do shoot a B92 357 mag with black only, does that count? Not as much hit as yours bit the lead pot goes further!

-Nobade

[DougGuy]

NICE score bigted! That is a beautiful rifle!