Henry Rifle Forums

I've got a Henry H012GCC chambered in .44 Mag that I'll be loading cartridges for and could use some help with bullet selection.

What bullet shape and cartridge COAL will allow for good lever loading?

rfd wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 28, 2025 6:21 pm

I've got a Henry H012GCC chambered in .44 Mag that I'll be loading cartridges for and could use some help with bullet selection.

What bullet shape and cartridge COAL will allow for good lever loading?

I have one chambered in 45 Colt. I use Gallant polymer coated lead round nose. Slightly under SAAMI COAL. I also have Berry's copper coated round nose that I've tried. To me, Gallant is the better choice of the two.

Thanx, Mags. I'll only be using bullets I've cast, mostly 1:20 tin:lead. Some will get dip lubed and others will get powder coated and an ice water bath to greatly increase hardness. All for load development testing. I'll be loading some BP PPB cartridges as well, though they'll only be for single feed loading as they'll be bore riders. For their loading, I've annealed new Startline brass so that hopefully I'll get a good chamber seal on ignition to help keep the BP residue out of most of the action. All part of seeing how the different loads work and selecting the best loads for tasks at hand. Interesting stuff at least.

I have some NOE molds (432-224 SWC ad 434-258 SWC) and clearly SWC bullets have rifle lifter issues, even when the cartridge COAL is at or well under SAAMI COAL. I can turn the rifle on its side and jiggle the lever to get the cartridge up and worked into the chamber, as a work-around. I have an NOE 434-234-RF-BR2 mold coming and I think the RF nose will work with the lifter ... if not, I'll ring up Henry.

And therein lies the accuracy issue with most if not all lever guns, where most rounds are "loose chambered" and the COAL is way off from a good OOAL, for mag loaded cartridges. Single fed cartridges that would never work with a magazine, where the OOAL is taken into consideration and tweaked for accuracy is, well, best for good accuracy. Thankfully my Henry H0154570 single shot break open never has a feed problem.

PJM wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 01, 2025 6:58 am

Have had good luck with Missouri cast 240 gr swc, Cast Perormance 260 gr wfn with gas check, and hornady 240 gr xtp. #44200.

For what rifle?

No feed issues?

What's the COAL on each cartridge?

Why 1:20? Thats gonna be pretty soft for rifle velocities isnt it? You say testing loads for the tasks at hand, what kind of tasks are you thinking about. Asking for load or bullets suggestions and then not giving any details makes giving suggestions kinda hard.

Hello, new here but would like some advice. I am starting to reload 45LC and this is what I am using. 3-D swaged round nose bullets ( 230 grain ) with unique power. What should I weigh the power charge.

For a cowboy load 8.5gr Max.

Mags wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 09, 2025 10:31 pm

For a cowboy load 8.5gr Max.

Thank you for the reply.

jayt1000 wrote: ↑

Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:37 am

Mags wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 09, 2025 10:31 pm

For a cowboy load 8.5gr Max.

Thank you for the reply.

If you dont have a Lyman load manual I would suggest getting one for reference.

jayt1000 wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 09, 2025 8:55 pm

Hello, new here but would like some advice. I am starting to reload 45LC and this is what I am using. 3-D swaged round nose bullets ( 230 grain ) with unique power. What should I weigh the power charge.

BigAl52 wrote:If you don't have a Lyman load manual I would suggest getting one for reference.

Al gives good advice.

A few years ago, I posted a link on this forum to copies of several, older, published reloading manuals in PDF format. I just checked and that site no longer exists; otherwise, I'd just point you there. And, though I saved copies of all of them, I don't want to upload any because they may still be copyright protected. However, as a good reporter, I did locate two pages about the 45 Colt from the Lyman 48th edition that you may find useful. Let us know how you make out.

And, welcome to the forum.