Favorite 45 Colt loads

[Jrprock]

Howdy. New here. Thought I'd start by sharing my personal favorite loads for my Big Boy Steel carbine in 45 Colt.

I've tried a few different bullets and have settled on 250 gr Laser cast lead and the 240 gr Hornady XTP mag.

With the lead bullets I prefer either 7.5 gr of 231 or 10 gr of Universal. Both burn clean, are very accurate and easy to shoot all day. I also load the laser cast with up to 25 gr of H-110. These are at least as accurate and pack a punch!

With the 240 gr XTP mags I've gone way up there with H-110. Settled on 28 gr per John Linebaugh's data. I don't have a chrono so I slowly increased the charge watching for pressure signs. The gun has never balked and none of the brass(Hornady, Starline and Federal only at this level) has shown any indication of a problem. I use magnum primers with this and all my 45 Colt loads.

I'm thinking of trying some heavier ~280 gr Keith style bullets for deer next season. Any suggestions?

What loads do you guys like?

[JEBar]

first, welcome aboard .... happy to have you join our community and am looking forward to exchanging info .... please consider going to this thread

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2019

and add your Henry collection to the number owned by our folks

[RanchRoper]

I don't reload but Winchester 250 gr LFN Super X shoots the best and most consistent in my Henry Big Boy. Hornady 255 gr cowboy action loads LFN would be a close second.

[ditto1958]

Welcome from Wisconsin! I don't shoot 45 Colt (yet), so I don't know much of anything about reloading for it.

[BigAl52]

Welcome from Colorado. I have a big boy carbine. It likes 6.5 grs of red dot with a 250 gr coated missouri cast and 12 grs of hs-6 is also a good load. I havent used any of the Hornady 250gr xtp yet as I dont use this gun to hunt with so I havent shot any of the heavier loads. I use standard primers in my loads for the 45 colt. Al

[445sm]

]Use the same load with 296 federal 155s 240 xtp mag , 250 xtp with 20.5gr lil gun at1450
Run a 247gr keith 28gr reloder-7 1400,. 225 Missouri bullets 225 lead 18.5gr lmr 4227 1275fps
Same 225 9.1gr Uniq 1221fps run there 225 hi tec coated 23gr 4227 1374fps run this bullet to 1904 3" groups at 25yrds
These loads MY NOT be safe in your gun. Shoot safe

[CT_Shooter]

Welcome from CT.

[dmsbandit]

I don't push my rugers or rossi model 92. No need. The colt has been killing things for over a century with a 250gr bullet at 1000fps.


So, I use 17grs of 2400 powder under either a 259gr XTP HP or Berry's Plated FN. Kills deer easy and doesn't beat me or the gun up.

[Mgderf]

I don't push my rugers or rossi model 92. No need. The colt has been killing things for over a century with a 250gr bullet at 1000fps.


So, I use 17grs of 2400 powder under either a 259gr XTP HP or Berry's Plated FN. Kills deer easy and doesn't beat me or the gun up.

^This.
Deer are not armor plated.

[Jrprock]

I tend to load at the upper end of pressure for several reasons.

1. Much flatter tragectory. It's fun to shoot milk jugs at ranges exceeding 200yds and the difference in holdover is huge between the different loads levels.

2. It's fun! The 45 Colt is a very flexible cartridge and I enjoy loads at each end of the spectrum.