45 LC rifle load data

[danyboy]

Bought a gunsmith's personnal Marlin,model 1894, made in 1903 lever action rifle he converted from 44-40 to 45LC. Looks like he re-barrelled it. Looked for 45 Colt rifle data but most of what I found was meant for revolvers.

[felix]

Fill the case up with WW680, or RL7 to the base of you choice 300+ grainer boolit. About 30K CUP. That would not expose your lever gun to any damage. You will be shooting a mini/midi 45-70. ... felix

[Calamity Jake]

Just use Ruger/TC load data from the books. They don't get much hotter than that.
After all the 45C is a pistol round.

[cajun shooter]

The 45 Colt may be loaded to out do the 44 mag. The old wifes tale of the meek 45 Colt was based on the old cases of yesterday. The 45 cases made today will handle the same pressure as the 44 mag. Handloader magazine has a web site that has a load section. There are more than one section on rifle loads that are putting a 250 gr bullet down range at 1600 fps or higher. The powders used are any that you can buy such as H-110 , 2400 and so on. Go to any loading manual you have and load up the hot rounds for Rugers. Your rifle will hold them easy. After a few 300 gr. bullets down range that should put you at ease.

[ktw]

H110/ww296 in the range of 21-22 gr over a 300-350 grain cast bullet.
2400 in the range of 17-19gr with a 250-280gr jacketed or cast bullet.

You should verify those in one or more of your reloading reference manuals but those are the powders that worked for me in a 45 Colt carbine.

-ktw

[danyboy]

What about the primer. Loading books are suggesting large pistol. Any reason why I can't use large rifle ?

[ReloaderFred]

Large Rifle primers won't fit in Large Pistol primer pockets. They're different lengths, but the same diameter. The two primers are also different in priming composition.

Stick with LP primers, as the data calls for.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[missionary5155]

Greetings
When I started loading my Rossi I tried 2400 with the Lee 265 FN. Got to 19 grains and it shoot so well I never tried another load. Shoots the same in both Rossi 92¨s.
With me sitting it does under 2" at 50 yards.

[danyboy]

Than you guys, always comforting to know some people are willing to help others.

[gon2shoot]

I shoot 19 gr of 2400 under a 255gr RFN in the rifles, other loads shot as well, but this works for all my guns (17 1/2gr is a real close second)

[budman46]

danyboy,
my large action martini in .45 colt with 22" bbl handles lee's 300 gr gc cast (w/o check) very well over 21-22 gr of h-110...chrono'd @ 1550fps.
budman

[Cowboy T]

2400 powder works great for 250 to 255 gn cast boolits. My most accurate load is 21.9 gn of 2400 powder. Works great in the Super Redhawk 454.

[danyboy]

Just loaded my first paper patch bullets. Used Lyman 446110, .446", patched to .454" on top of 18 gr. SR4759. Bullet is tight against the powder and seems to chamber well.
Never loaded any bullet against smokeless powder with no air space. Going to the range this weekend. Hope pressure won't be too high for the old rifle.

[NHlever]

It occurs to me that the OP's rifle was made in 1903, and is probably made of milder steel than the current Marlin's are. It sounds like a fine old rifle, and I would be tempted to stick to standard 45 Colt loads, or ACP level (21,000 psi.) loads. Brian Pearce has done a lot of work on that, and has some good load recommendations. I have shot many Ruger level loads through a Marlin Cowboy rifle in 45 Colt, and it is truly a mini 45-70, but those loads are pretty stout, even in the newer guns.

[Nrut]

It occurs to me that the OP's rifle was made in 1903, and is probably made of milder steel than the current Marlin's are. It sounds like a fine old rifle, and I would be tempted to stick to standard 45 Colt loads, or ACP level (21,000 psi.) loads. Brian Pearce has done a lot of work on that, and has some good load recommendations. I have shot many Ruger level loads through a Marlin Cowboy rifle in 45 Colt, and it is truly a mini 45-70, but those loads are pretty stout, even in the newer guns.
Agreed!
Seems like most/all the posters skipped right pass the made in 1903 part and suggested Ruger type loads.....[smilie=b:

[danyboy]

Went to the range: tried out .446 lyman446110 paper patched to .454" with 18gr. of SR4759. Bullet seated tight against powder charge and even a little bit compressed.
Also tried my chrono for the first time: 1217fps, 1042, 1078, 1068, 1052, 1087, 1111, 1080, 1115, 1122.
Don't know much about velocity variation but I am a bit disapointed about max velocity achieved; thought it would be a bit higher.
I will go back to 255gr. bullets and will probably downsize them to .446 to paper patch them up to .454" and try to get a little more velocity.
Grouping was 2½" at 50 yards with Williams Peep sight but standard front sight. Will look around for an aperture front sight. Must be easier to center it in the peep sight.