45 Colt in Rifles

[tacotime]

I don't see much (if any) published load and ballistics data on .45 Colt for rifles.

Not looking for +P loads. Main purpose would be a short to medium range rifle for hogs.

Is there a GO TO powder for the 45 Colt in rifles?

Do we think rifle powders are best here? Is there any factory load data using rifle powders?

Does anyone have any idea about the safe pressure limits for the recent Win. Model 94 rifles?

Any idea of the velocity to expect out of a 16 inch barrel with a maximum (not +P) load for, say, 250 grain?

Thanks.

[Wheelguns 1961]

My 45 colt load book has a lot of rifle data. What bullet are you shooting? I will post the data for your bullet. I personally use the same loads that I use in my blackhawk. 8.5 grains of unique with a noe 454-280 wfn. I have a marlin 1892. They also make this in 44 mag so it should be able to handle ruger only levels, but I have never felt the need. You can expect approx. 150-200 fps more than a revolver.

[tazman]

ballistics by the inch has some reference data for longer barrels up to 18 inches.
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/45colt.html

My Lyman reloading handbook has some data for rifles as well. 16 inch barrel test. Velocities range from 1000fps to 1250 fps depending on powder.

[Outpost75]

I use the same ammunition in my .45 Colt rifle that I do in my revolvers. I don't see any point in developing rifle-only loads not useable in the wheelgun, as doing so defeats the purpose of having a rifle-revolver combo in the first place.

Some velocity data for typical loads in rifle and revolver:

.45 Colt Velocity _________Colt New Service 5-1/2”____H&R 22”

Western 255-grain Lubaloy___866, 20 Sd_____________1027,18 Sd

Saeco 260-grain #955 FN
6.0 Grains Bullseye_________862, 29 Sd_____________982, 28 Sd
6.5 Grains Bullseye_________900, 18 Sd____________1093, 7 Sd
7.2 grains Bullseye_________953, 15 Sd____________1145, 10 Sd
16 grs. #2400_____________970, 28 Sd____________1229, 27 Sd Do not exceed in Colt SA and New Service.
*18 grs. #2400___________*1080, 21 Sd__________*1320, 19 Sd Ruger Only*

[tacotime]

I was thinking 250 or 260 hard cast, or maybe even a 250 XTP.

[Outpost75]

I was thinking 250 or 260 hard cast, or maybe even a 250 XTP.

The Speer 250-grain DeepCurl HP works great at .45 Colt revolver velocities and does not come apart at rifle velocities.

No experience with the Hornady XTP in this caliber, but in the .44-40 the 200-grain XTP had to be driven over 900 fps to expand at all in revolvers.

There is no reason whatever to use "hardcast" in the .45 Colt for either rifle or revolver. 1:30 tin-lead from Roto Metals performs splendidly at full Ruger revolver velocity and up to 1400 fps in rifles, both in the .45 Colt and .44-40 Win. Or if you want to use inexpensive scrap alloy use a 50-50 mix of wheelweights and plumber's lead with 1% tin added to improve fill-out. No need for over 10 BHN.

[sac]

I don't see much (if any) published load and ballistics data on .45 Colt for rifles.

Not looking for +P loads. Main purpose would be a short to medium range rifle for hogs.

Is there a GO TO powder for the 45 Colt in rifles?

Do we think rifle powders are best here? Is there any factory load data using rifle powders?

Does anyone have any idea about the safe pressure limits for the recent Win. Model 94 rifles?

Any idea of the velocity to expect out of a 16 inch barrel with a maximum (not +P) load for, say, 250 grain?

Thanks.

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

I use a rcbs 45-270 saa with h110 out of a marlin

[perotter]

For full power loads in 1894 I used the Lee 255gr and H110, 1700+ fps. But have used Unique(1125 fps) with the same bullet to kill deer.

[FLINTNFIRE]

I am loading 6.4 of promo for 1873 uberti clones and a 1873 uberti rifle clone , fun to shoot powder coated no clean up at all , and serious fun to shoot.

[GBertolet]

I like 7.7 gr 231, with a 255 gr RNFP in my 24" Marlin. Delivers around 1050 fps. Great plinking load. Great for shooting tin cans and ringing gongs. Shoots very well, probably does around 850 fps in a revolver. Close to factory duplication ballistics. I tried Bullseye, Unique, and Titegroup, but 231 grouped a little better at 50 yards, with this bullet anyway. No need to cast bullets hard. 50/50 lead-wheelweight mix does quite well.

[Good Cheer]

If you're shooting a suitable single shot the magic of smokeless powders can let you jack up a bore rider design to serious hunting performance; the less lead in the case the mo' better.
254434
Someday maybe a series of tests would isolate the "best" powder for this boolit.
Meanwhile I'd just as soon shoot hollow bases with lube filled cavities over black.

[shortlegs]

17 gr 2400 under lee 255 gr boolit. Full penetration on a 300 lb hog with high shoulder shot at 75 yds. Shot from a H&R classic rifle average was 1338 if i remember correctly.

[jimb16]

I shoot 9.0 Unique with a 230 Gr. LRNFP in my Uberti 1873 pistol and rifle. Accurate enough for target and bad mojo for deer. My buck this year just dropped in his tracks.

[Harter66]

Shot a few hogs with 9.0 Unique under the NOE version of the 454424 at 1100 fps MV in a 92' .
I dabbled with data from Quick Load with H322 and a 350 held to 20,000 psi . Start loads 15% off the max was @ 1280 fps which was 230 fps over my target speed and made up my mind to get a 45-70 . Love that steel butt plate on the Rossi M92' .....err something . Probably would have gone high 1300s and that would probably scramble even a pretty big hogs brains with a bad head on . The 255s gave me 100% passthroughs in 24-36" of hog .

[tacotime]

Great info and more is welcome! Thanks Gents.

[Mk42gunner]

It has been a few years, but the one time I was going to use my Marlin 1894CB for deer hunting I used 2400 under a Lyman 452424 lubed with FWFL. I don't have the data in front of me but it was under max. Shot okay and no leading, alas I never saw a deer while I was carrying that rifle.

Robert

[Savvy Jack]

I don't see much (if any) published load and ballistics data on .45 Colt for rifles.

Not looking for +P loads. Main purpose would be a short to medium range rifle for hogs.

Is there a GO TO powder for the 45 Colt in rifles?

Do we think rifle powders are best here? Is there any factory load data using rifle powders?

Does anyone have any idea about the safe pressure limits for the recent Win. Model 94 rifles?

Any idea of the velocity to expect out of a 16 inch barrel with a maximum (not +P) load for, say, 250 grain?

Thanks.

Lyman's 49th Handloading Manual has rifle loads for 7 bullets

Their most accurate loads as follows;

Sierra 185gr JHP - XMP-5744 - Max Load
Speer 225gr JHP - Power Pistol - Max Load
Sierra 240gr JHC - XMP-5744 - Light Load
Hornady XTP 250gr - Power Pistol - Max Load
454190 - 700X - Max Load
452664 - no list as accurate
452424 - TightGroup - Max Load

[bigboredad]

In my 45 rifle the fastest powder I use is unique but prefer slower powders to take advantage of the longer barrel. I like 4227 in my Blackhawk as well as my Rossi. I have some 5744 that I'd like to try in the Rossi. It worked great in my 45/70 and my Blackhawk. Western powder has data for 14000 psi loads and Ruger only loads for 5744

Sent from my SM-T377V using Tapatalk

[tacotime]

Shortlegs the 17x2400 you use turned out to be the best group with the 250XTP. The Lyman said max was 17.5 in the rifle data section (not the Ruger/TC section). No chrono yet but I am suspecting it will stop a hog out to 100 to 125. Before this I thought about getting the 300XTP, but I am not sure there is any advantage.

Just slugged the bore so I can try some cast now.