Lee 459-405-hb in Handi Rifle?

[FergusonTO35]

I shoot the same bullet with 12.5 grs of Unique, and it shoots stupid good. Better than I can shoot, and most of my friends, if we miss clangers, at 100-150 yds it is our fault. A buddy has a Buffalo Classic and it loves this bullet, with a old weaver 6x scope, will shoot 5 into a ragged hole at 100yd about 1.5 inches in diameter. Cast them, lube as described above, load and enjoy, all their is to it.

What kind of gun do you shoot them out of? Ever kill anything with it?

[FergusonTO35]

Ok, just sealed the deal on a really nice Henry single shot with Skinner sights. Hopefully it will be here in a week or so.

[gumbo333]

In my Henry lever I’ve had very accurate 1000/ 1100 fps 405 cast loads with Unique , Red Dot and 700X, but Blue Dot is my best. I’ve used no fillers.

[FergusonTO35]

What kinda loads do you use with Blue Dot? I've always thought that it could be a decent powder for rifle boolits.

[NEKVT]

I use the Lee 459-405-HB unsized in my cut down 20" Trapdoor "Sporter". 24.0gr 4227 with .75gr dacron gives a comfortable and accurate 1120 fps at that barrel length.

[FergusonTO35]

Sounds great. Does Blue Dot really need a filler?

[FergusonTO35]

Ok, so I scored a nice Lyman 457191 mold. Anybody got some nice loads with Unique for this boolit?

[Sgt H]

I have been loading 12gr Unique under the Lyman 457191, CCI large pistol primer. My 457191 is an older small block mold and is not bevel base like most. Drops right at 300gr out of COWW. 1150fps and very light recoil, calculated recoil of this load is about 1/3 of the standard service load of a 405gr boolit at 1350 or so. Has been accurate enough for me to win a couple of gong matches with targets out to 200 yards shooting my 1886 Browning. Have recently acquired an RCBS 45-325-fn-u which is dropping at 340gr out of COWW. Don't have a load for it yet but I am going to try unique in the 11-13gr range. Velocity should be about 1100fps. Lots of drop at 200 but once you work out the sight settings it is no trouble ringing the steel. The low velocity light bullet loads are lots of fun due to the light recoil.

[FergusonTO35]

Sweet, thanks alot. Matter of fact I have a few trays of LP primers and have been wondering what I could use them in, since all of my pistol cartridges take small primers.

[FergusonTO35]

Just thinking out loud here: I wonder if I could also use the 457191 in a sabot with my .50 cal muzzleloader? I know .45 Colt Boolits work quite well. Would the .458 slug be too fat to load?

[BLAHUT]

Yes, if you can hit what you aim at, it will kill deer>

[FergusonTO35]

I don't doubt that, I just wonder if a .459 slug would be too fat to load with a sabot intended for a .452 pistol boolit.

[Sgt H]

Not into the inlines but a few friends are. I believe there are sabots for .458 bullets in the .50 calibers. If not the 457191 can be sized down to .452, it has already been done to load in .45 caliber handgun rounds dating back to the days of Elmer Keith.

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks, that's what I figured. Anyhow, the new Henry arrived yesterday and it is sweet, thanks Hornetguy! I rolled up some loads with 11 to 12.5 grains Unique and 300 grain slugs, hopefully can test drive after work today.

[FergusonTO35]

Took the Henry for a test drive at 60 yards today. It is quite pleasant to shoot and all loads were easily minute of deer. 12.5 grains really did well, made three shots in a very tight cloverleaf. Very satisfying to shoot a simple rifle with open sights and your own boolits!

[pworley1]

That bullet has worked great in every rifle I have tried it in including the handi rifle.

[FergusonTO35]

Thanks, I remember it was about the only Boolit that did well in the Marlin I used to have. 12.5 grains is no fluke, made another nice group with it today after work. Only problem I have had so far is the primer strikes are not as strong as I think they should be. One Remington primer required a second strike, all the others went bang but I really would like them to be stronger. Is this a known issue with these rifles?

[Sgt H]

Got to the range and tested loads with the RCBS 325-FN-U. Loads with Unique were a bust, 6-8" groups at 100. Loads with 20 and 21 grains of 2400 shot into 3" give or take .25" out of my 1886 Browning with a Marbles tang sight. Good enough for ringing the gongs out to 200.

[FergusonTO35]

What charges of Unique were you using? 12.5 is the sweet spot for my Henry. Planning to try Green Dot and 700x also.

[Sgt H]

12-15 in 1 grain increments. 2400 - 20-24 also 1 grain increments. 20 and 21 shot about the same, 22-24 were pretty good also but a bit larger groups. In all fairness though I was getting fatigued by the time I got to the 22-24 grain loads. I was switching between the 1886 and my Sharps to let them cool. The loads I was testing for the Sharps were 420 and 525 grain bullets loaded to about 1350 and 1275 respectively. By the time I finished the 22-24 grain 2400 loads I had fired almost 100 rounds, maybe getting punch drunk. Those 525's rock you even in a 10+ pound rifle. That and just prior to sitting down at the bench to test 45/70 loads I shot a NRL match.