Is it safe to load .452 SWC 45 ACP coated lead bullets in a Henry 45 LC rifle

[linko]

I just got a nice deal on a Henry in 45 LC.

I haven't loaded 45 LC before and the only cast coated 45 caliber bullets I have are .452 ACP SWC bullets (185 & 200 gr).

Chey cast 200 gr SWC and Brasos 185 gr SWC both coated

are these safe to load in this lever rifle?

[TjB101]

I don’t load for 45 colt but I believe it requires a roll crimp into the bullet cannelure / crimp grove … the bullets you are showing do not have a defined area for a roll crimp, those are tapered crimped around the driving band (top band) of the bullet / 45acp

[Baltimoreed]

Load up a couple dummys and see if they feed. I don’t know how finicky a henry 45colt is. If they feed I don’t know why you couldn’t use them. But my marlins like heavier bullets.

[linko]

I will look into crimp requirements and also try a few dummy rounds

[Super Sneaky Steve]

You can roll into or above the grease grove. Being flat nose they should be safe as long as they feed.

[Froogal]

The recoil from a .45 Colt is substantial enough to UNSEAT a bullit that does not have a crimp groove. I have experienced it myself in a revolver when I missed crimping a few rounds. The bullet unseated and locked up the cylinder.

[gwpercle]

For lever action rifles where you want to load the magazine tube full of ammo , you will have the pressure of the magazine spring pressing hard on the stack of rounds , boolit to base/primer .
You want a flat point , which you have ...but you also want a roll crimp to keep the boolits from being forced / pushed down into tha case creating a dangerous situation . Your boolits are for semi-auto pistol which have a taper crimp and NO Roll Crimp Groove . A good taper crimp may hold ...but you run the risk of the taper crimp being overcome by the force of the magazine spring and repeated recoil from every shot fired and the bullet being shoved back into the case on top of the powder ...if fired a round will be over pressure and not a fun experience .
Now you could single load and shoot rounds at the range - single shot , or load one round in the chamber and one in the magazine for a two shot ...that would be safe .
Most of the time at the range with my Win. model 94 30-30 and cast boolit loads I load them single shot , 1 at a time and don't bother filling the magazine with loaded rounds .

Would be best , if you want a magazine full , to get a mould/boolits with a flat point and crimping groove ... But single loading is also an option since you have the boolits on/in hand !
Gary

[DougGuy]

Honestly? Almost no one loads boolits that light for this caliber. Save what you have in the pics for 45 ACP, get some 255gr boolits for the Henry.

[littlejack]

^^^^ What DougGuy said.^^^^
But!!! Also, we must compare what has been stated about the crimp groove, and the old original 45 Colt bullet. There is no crimp groove. There may have been a cannalure in the original cases to stop the bullet from being pushed down in the case from recoil. I have that mould, and have not had any issues with the slugs being pushed down into the modern day cases. I have also loaded 45 Colt rounds with the 45 acp cast 230 grain ball equivalent with no issues. It can be done, but the 200 grain swc is definitely gonna be short loaded in the 45 Colt case.

[Bazoo]

I’d try loading them using the lube groove for a crimp groove. As long as your throat permits it, it would work fine I’d think. I’d also consider using a lee collet crimp die on the side of the top driving band, it will displace metal and make a crimp, but will provide resistance to bullet setback.

Personally I’d try it if things are tight it for whatever reason you need to use what you got.

[Winger Ed.]

The dia. is right, but you'll sure want a good roll crimp on them if it'll work.

I'd look at this as the perfect opportunity for why I 'needed' to buy a proper 250-ish grain mold.

[Froogal]

Honestly? Almost no one loads boolits that light for this caliber. Save what you have in the pics for 45 ACP, get some 255gr boolits for the Henry.

200 grain bullets in .45 Colt is pretty much standard for cowboy action shooting. That is what ALL of us use.

[littlejack]

The 200 grain rnfp CAS bullets that I've acquired through trades, have a crimp groove, unlike the 200 grain swc which does not. The 45 200 grain swc was designed for a completely different application.

[M-Tecs]

Lots of load data here using light bullets. I don't have a clue if the AOL will cycle in the Henry.

https://shootersreference.com/reloadingdata/45-colt/

https://reloadammo.com/45-colt-load-data/

https://forum.castbulletassoc.org/thread/12823-target-loads-in-45-colt/#:~:text=The%20minimum%20load%20for%20a%20200%20gr %20cast,the%20barrel%20with%20that%20light%20of%20 a%20charge.

https://www.go2gbo.com/threads/light-45-colt-loads.136815/

https://singleactions.proboards.com/thread/11392/light-loads-45-colt

https://www.rugerforum.net/threads/load-too-light-45-colt.46623/

https://forums.sassnet.com/index.php?/topic/329032-mild-load-for-45-colt/

[Johnny Diamond]

honestly? Almost no one loads boolits that light for this caliber. Save what you have in the pics for 45 acp, get some 255gr boolits for the henry.x3

finem respice ~ memento mori

[mehavey]

Roll crimp into the 'lube" groove. No problem at all.
Hodgdon (https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=true&type=53) has plenty of loading data -- especially for the 200gr
If if the SWC/shorter OAL cycles, you're fine.

[Wayne Smith]

^^^^ What DougGuy said.^^^^
But!!! Also, we must compare what has been stated about the crimp groove, and the old original 45 Colt bullet. There is no crimp groove. There may have been a cannalure in the original cases to stop the bullet from being pushed down in the case from recoil. I have that mould, and have not had any issues with the slugs being pushed down into the modern day cases. I have also loaded 45 Colt rounds with the 45 acp cast 230 grain ball equivalent with no issues. It can be done, but the 200 grain swc is definitely gonna be short loaded in the 45 Colt case.

The original boolit was made with no crimp groove because it was loaded over a full case of BP. The black powder held the bullet from sliding back. Same thing with the original 44-40 boolit - no crimp groove.

[mehavey]

Even w/o a crimp (or lube) groove on a traditional BP bullet design,
one can do a 3/4-turn roll crimp of the mouth right into the lead itself.
(Separate crimp op'n from seating)

So easy, even a Caveman....
(Not-to-worry)

[45_Colt]

Even w/o a crimp (or lube) groove on a traditional BP bullet design,
one can do a 3/4-turn roll crimp of the mouth right into the lead itself.

I've been following this thread with interest. Going to be loading light for some fun shooting in a T/C.

Had the same thought, can easily create a crimp groove into the lead while crimping the case. It shouldn't need a big crimp as these are light loads. Just enough to hold the boolit in place.

45_Colt

[mehavey]

A short OAL will not be your problem (actually, SAAMI's 1.6" is pretty short)

Here's what appears to be the OP's 200gr H&G-68 copy, loaded as short
as it will go and still crimp into some portion of the cleaning band.

https://i.postimg.cc/cHyy7SXw/45-Colt-HG-68-Min-OAL.jpg
1.615"

(Normally I'd crimp mid-band as my Marlin`94 will feed as long as 1.658")

[Rich/WIS]

Don't have a Henry but in my buddies 44 Mag the RCBS 44-250 SWC had feeding issues, the first driving band would hang up on the chamber mouth. He has Henry 45 Colt but loads the Lee 255 RF.

[M-Tecs]

The original boolit was made with no crimp groove because it was loaded over a full case of BP. The black powder held the bullet from sliding back. Same thing with the original 44-40 boolit - no crimp groove.

The 45 Colt was not chambered in rifles until recently. In a revolver bullets pull out from recoil not push in.

[littlejack]

M-Tecs
I think we knew that. Still though, in smokeless powder loads for the 45 Colt cartridge, the bullet is not being supported by the powder charge as it would be with the BP loadings. So, in a tube magazine there is the possibility of the bullet being pushed down into the case, if not crimped.

[Randy Bohannon]

Load a handful feed them one at a time and see if there’s any potential and the crimp issue goes away,you will have answered your question for yourself. They sound to small for a lever gun ,the biggest bullet you can chamber is the right one with the right profile.

[linko]

I tried a few of the SWC bullets crimped, that I showed in my post. They will not feed, they hang up trying to go in chamber. Catch on the lip to bullet junction.

I ordered 250 grain RNFP bullets with a crimp groove

297013

[gwpercle]

I tried a few of the SWC bullets crimped, that I showed in my post. They will not feed, they hang up trying to go in chamber. Catch on the lip to bullet junction.

I ordered 250 grain RNFP bullets with a crimp groove

297013

When you find the boolit design that you like and it feeds well and shoots accuratly ...
That's the time you need to order a Boolit Mould and :castmine:
join us - Castin Are Fun !
Gary

[linko]

When you find the boolit design that you like and it feeds well and shoots accuratly ...
That's the time you need to order a Boolit Mould and :castmine:
join us - Castin Are Fun !
Gary

Geeze you read my mind. This may be the first bullet.

What kind of lead to buy is still unclear as there appear to be so many alloys/mixes.

May start with finding the right molds to buy.

45 Colt
45 ACP
38 Special/357
9 mm
30-30

are my calibers that would use lead bullets

[mehavey]

45 Colt and 45 ACP "tend" to use different bullet designs

Lyman 452190 is the classic 250gr 45 Colt
Lyman 452734 is classic 225-230gr 45 ACP

[linko]

45 Colt and 45 ACP "tend" to use different bullet designs

Lyman 452190 is the classic 250gr 45 Colt
Lyman 452734 is classic 225-230gr 45 ACP

Really appreciate this input.

Is there a go to furnace