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.45 Colt Mag

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Greyhawk
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.45 Colt Mag

Post by Greyhawk » Mon Jun 25, 2018 6:31 pm

I've been trying to come up with a good .45 colt 'ruger only' deer hunting round. Last year I used Buffalo Bore Deer Grenades and I really was impressed.. But wow the cost! and they are not readily available.
So I decided to load my own 45 colt rounds... I've been using 250 grain XTP's and I've tried H110, 4227, LIL GUN, Titegroup, and 2400. I love H110 but I'm concerned about reports I've heard of poor cold weather performance. After all is said an done I think that I really like 20 grains of 2400, using Starline brass, WLP primers, and a pretty good crimp. Here are three photos, all shot from my Henry Big Boy at 100 yards, 50 yards, and 25 yards. There have been no signs of overpressure and the recoil isn't bad in my Henry.. But pretty stout in my Ruger Alaskan. Are these fairly typical of the groups you've been getting? Any suggestions or thoughts? I would appreciate any input.
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Re: .45 Colt Mag

Post by Cofisher » Mon Jun 25, 2018 6:47 pm

Looks like ‘minute of deer’ to me. I’ve no experience with the 45C...yet
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JEBar
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Re: .45 Colt Mag

Post by JEBar » Mon Jun 25, 2018 7:19 pm

the 100 yard group is not bad at all and the ones at shorter distances are even better .... personally, I wouldn't hesitate to deer hunt with the ammo you were using .... Ranch Roper has more experience with 45 Colt than anyone I know .... it might pay you to contact him if he doesn't see this post .... please take a look at our How Many ? thread (link below) and add yours to our community's total

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 100#p64100
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RanchRoper
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Re: .45 Colt Mag

Post by RanchRoper » Mon Jun 25, 2018 9:43 pm

Nice shooting. My 1860 has a toggle link action same as 1866 and 1873's. No hot loads for me but yours should drop whatever is comin' at ya'.
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Re: .45 Colt Mag

Post by BigAl52 » Tue Jun 26, 2018 9:03 am

You didnt mention anything about a scope on the rifle but if those are with iron sights I wouldnt change a thing. 2400 is a great powder in many pistol calibers. Even if a scope is used the 100 yard group is great for the 45 colt.
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Re: .45 Colt Mag

Post by Greyhawk » Tue Jun 26, 2018 11:45 am

Thanks for the replies guys. Yes, I do have a Leupold 2x7 scope on my rifle.. The shots were with the rifle resting on a sandbag. I think that's going to be my hunting load.. Anyone have a favorite 45-70 load? I have 3031, H4198 and 2400 powder... I do have some Hornady 300 grain hollow points... I tried some rounds with the 300 grainers with 48 grains of 3031, but wasn't super impressed. What do you think of 405 grain Laser Casts?
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Re: .45 Colt Mag

Post by BigAl52 » Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:01 pm

Greyhawk
If you do a search here in the reloading section I bet you will get some ideas for the powders you have. I have had luck with 405 cast with 3031 in the 36 to 38 grain range with 3031. I'm not one to load those big boomers because my old man shoulder kind of talks to me for a few days after shooting those big loads. One thing you might try is the Hornady Lever Evolution loads. I know my Henry All weather shoots that load real well and Im not sure I could load anything better than those shot in mine. I also tried some 300 grain bullets from Midway in the blue Midway ammo box. They shot real well with 5744 and I don't remember the load with that bullet right now as I am not at home to look it up. Al
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Re: .45 Colt Mag

Post by Ojaileveraction » Tue Jun 26, 2018 10:04 pm

Greyhawk wrote: What do you think of 405 grain Laser Casts?
I loaded and shot a big box of 405gr cast lead bullets. The XTreme brand. keeping them around 1200 to 1300 fps they were fun to shoot and accurate enough to ring steel with. I like H4198 for 45-70 and cast lead. Somewhere around 1400fps I started to get barrel leading.
Coated Bullets or gas checks help against leading if you wand to go faster. After about 1500fps it's more punishment than fun for me.
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Re: .45 Colt Mag

Post by Greyhawk » Tue Jun 26, 2018 10:26 pm

Thanks again guys.. Big Al you may be right. Here is a 100 yard 3 shot group with my Henry 45-70 and the 325 grain lever revolution. Pretty dang tough to beat that factory ammo! But it's fun working on loads.. I also included an interesting 'string group (with one winger)' That was 8 shots at a hundred yards with 300 grain hollow points and 48 grains of 3031.
I think I will take your guy's advice and try some cast bullets, lighter loads, and slow moving freight train velocity... Some loads that I've tried pretty much kick you into the next day.
Have a great night!
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Re: .45 Colt Mag

Post by JEBar » Tue Jun 26, 2018 10:40 pm

Greyhawk wrote:Anyone have a favorite 45-70 load? I have 3031, H4198 and 2400 powder...
our 45-70 performs really well firing 300 gr Nolser Ballistic Silvertips pushed by 51.5 gr of IMR 4198 .... muzzle velocity 2,220 which yields a very flat trajectory ... zeroed at 150 yards, its trajectory is never more than 2" high ... -2.2 inches at 175 yards ... -5.2 inches at 200 yards .... recoil yep but considerably less felt recoil than firing hunting level 400 or more gr loads
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