Henry Rifle Forums

The Hornady manual shows powder charge for LEVERevolution .45 Colt Rifle from 8.0 to 10.3 gr of AA#5. It shows the charge for Pistol beginning at 9.2 gr up to 10.3. In a pistol the 9.3 gr load is 850 fps. In a rifle the 8.0 gr load is 850 fps. What might happen if I fired the loads below 9.3 gr from a pistol?

From your info. it sounds like 850 FPS is the minimum speed for that bullet to begin opening up at impact. Those minimum loads are needed based on barrel length to deliver that 850 FPS. What is the gr. weight of that bullet? Not familiar with AA#5 as I use Unique or Red Dot for mild .45 Colt loads and jump to Alliant 2400 for the heavier bullets over 14,000 pressure limits.

IMHO, you would just get a slower muzzle speed due to gasses escaping out the cylinder to barrel gap. That does not happen in the rifle.

I wrote to Hodgdon asking that same question about .357 pistol and rifle loads using H110. The answer was a definitive, NO... Don't do it because the pressure released through the cylinder gap could easily result in a squib.
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... gap#p34040

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:26 am

Those minimum loads are needed based on barrel length to deliver that 850 FPS. What is the gr. weight of that bullet?

225gr LEVERevolution bullet. I hadn't thought of that. Looks like I may have to load for both guns separately. Accuracy for the Henry is more important.

CT_Shooter wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 22, 2020 8:48 am

I wrote to Hodgdon asking that same question about .357 pistol and rifle loads using H110. The answer was a definitive, NO... Don't do it because the pressure released through the cylinder gap could easily result in a squib.
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... gap#p34040

Thanks CT_Shooter I kinda thought that may be the answer. I'll work the load up for the Henry first and if it gets above 9.3 gr of powder then I can shoot them in the Ruger. Otherwise I'll load some specifically for that gun. I'll probably load cast bullets for the Ruger if I can't shoot same rounds in both. Easier to keep them separate.

Load to 10 gr. for both since you won't hurt the rifle or beefy Blackhawk. Top load of 10.3 is within the 14,000 SAAMI specs for .45 colt which is based on the weaker old Colt SA revolver. If those bullets have the flex tip they may require the slightly shorter Hornady Flex Tip case that Hornady uses.
I got some of those mixed up with my standard .45 Colt and that was a mess while reloading.

fortyshooter wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:22 pm

Load to 10 gr. for both since you won't hurt the rifle or beefy Blackhawk. Top load of 10.3 is within the 14,000 SAAMI specs for .45 colt which is based on the weaker old Colt SA revolver. If those bullets have the flex tip they may require the slightly shorter Hornady Flex Tip case that Hornady uses.

They do have the flex tip. I have 180 cases from factory LEVERevolution rounds. I'm going to use them. If I decide to load different bullets I'll use the standard cases I have. As you say the issue will be keeping them separate.
I want to see how the slower rounds shoot in my BBB so I am going to start working them up from 8.0 gr.