Newbie questions about reloading

[LJM]

My new BBS 45 Colt Carbine arrived yesterday and I got to shoot it today. What a great shooting gun!

Since Ammo is so expensive/hard to find, I have ordered equipment to start reloading the 45 Colt. My question is about cast “cowboy” bullets. It appears they are for < 1000 FPS velocities and I know the typical reload data is for pistols with shorter barrels. Will the increased velocity out of the carbine barrel put these out of the mild range or will they be ok? Looking at 255 grain cowboy bullet with mild powder loading (800-900 FPS according to the reloading data)

I have been able to find large pistol primers, but have had a hard time finding the bullets. These will just be for target shooting or the occasional nuisance hog (<50 yards)that is destroying the deer feeders.

I tried to search here for it but didn’t find the answer.

Thanks for the help!

[BigAl52]

Alot of the guys here use Missouri Cast Bullets the coated ones. You would be fine with those as long as you stay under or around 1500FPS. There are many more out there to choose from. Xtreme Bullets are copper plated. They also can be used. Right now I think MCB is way behind and have limited supply. Matts Bullets is another option. If you do a google search you can find alot of bullet makers. Some of the other guys may chime in with more. Berrys is another option.

[JEBar]

congrats on your new 45 .... can't help you with specifics for loading 45 caliber but do know that primers are scarce .... several of our folks do load 45's and I'm sure they will jump in with info .... be sure to add you new Henry to our community's total at the link below

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... start=1250

[Travlin]

Get a copy of THE LYMAN CAST BULLET HANDBOOK. There are loads for the 45 in there under both handgun and rifle sections plus a lot of good information. Read, read , read.

[Team Roper]

Congratulations on your new 45 Colt. That is a wonderful cartridge. I agree with Travlin, get the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. That is the book I also count on when handloading for my 255 gr. cast bullets that drop from Tom's Accurate Bullet Molds.

[John E Davies]

Try plated, these are a little pricey, but that may just be the current market. They say “4 in stock”.

https://www.xtremebullets.com/45-255-F ... -b0500.htm

I refuse to cast bullets for several reasons, not do I like needless exposure to lead, so I reload only jacketed or copper plated bullets.

For a lever action gun, you need to also consider deformation of the bullet tip due to the magasine and any possible issue with hanging up on the feed ramp. A rounded nose profile helps with the latter. Keep this in mind when reading reviews by folks shooting cowboy loads out of revolvers.... some pistol ammo simply will not feed at all.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[Travlin]

If the cast bullet is done out of a number two alloy, and a flat nose as it needs to be for a tube magazine, then deformation of the nose should not be an issue. I have never had that problem even when I was shooting my own cast bullets in my .348 Winchester lever gun. I assure you that the 71 Winchester has plenty of recoil.

[Team Roper]

No deformation with mine. These are the two different styles of 45 Colts that I shoot out of my revolver and my Carbine, a 255 gr. SWC and a WFN. I shoot the same styles but with gas checks out of my 45-70 in either 350 gr. or 405 gr. All feed reliably. Both rifles are Marlins so I can't speak for a Henry. However I shoot the 240 and 275 gr.WFN cast out of my 44 mag Henry and it feeds fine too.

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[Rifletom]

Whatever cast bullet you decide on, try and buy round nose flat point(rnfp), 8.0-8.5gr Unique powder and you'll be in good shape. I have the same Henry as you, and that is my load. Easy on you and the rifle and mighty accurate. Any other loading questions, ask away. Welcome aboard.

[fortyshooter]

Congrats LJM on your new .45 Colt Carbine! I have one also and reload for .45 Colt. A 250-255 gr. cast bullet at 12 Bhn hardness will work very sweet
with 8.0-8.5 gr. of Unique. I also shoot that load in my longer barreled Uberti/Winchester. What brand primers did you find?
Oh and do you have a SA revolver in .45 Colt too?

[LJM]

Thanks all! Great information.

All I could find locally was CFE Pistol primer. I was able to find some 250 grain coated Lrnfp bullets from SNS Casting (in stock and shipped the next morning). The bullets should be here Monday

The CFE load data shows 8.4 - 9.2 grains of powder for that type bullet. I plan on starting at 8.5 grains for about 20 rounds and see how that works.

[Headhog]

Welcome on board. I have a Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt that has only been fed a reloaded lead bullet diet from day one. I use the Missouri 250 grain "Pin Buster" bullets and have pushed them to just over 1100 FPS. I have no lead signs and the bore cleans-up with a wet patch of Ballistol.

Paul

[LJM]

Well nothing blew up with my first 35 hand-loaded rounds at 8.5 grains of CFE Pistol. I might try a little more next time. The max is supposed to be 9.2. That first shot did have me a bit nervous.

I guess it figures that after I order the bullets on line, my local sportsman’s warehouse has a box of 500 on the shelf today for $33.

Nothing like that 45 Colt!

[fortyshooter]

Well nothing blew up with my first 35 hand-loaded rounds at 8.5 grains of CFE Pistol. I might try a little more next time. The max is supposed to be 9.2. That first shot did have me a bit nervous.

I guess it figures that after I order the bullets on line, my local sportsman’s warehouse has a box of 500 on the shelf today for $33.

Nothing like that 45 Colt!

You are on your way now! I keep a note book of all my load info including chrono tests.

[Rifletom]

Way to go LJM! Oh, believe me, you're going to really like shooting that .45 Henry. You gonna buy that other box of bullets? Load away!

[straightShot]

First, read a good reloading book and then read it again. Don't ever get distracted while you reload. It's that serious. If you can't be meticulous and your process be a repeatable one, don't reload.

All that being said, stay safe, take good notes each time you reload, and have fun. It's addictive. You won't save money, but you will shoot a lot more.

[CT_Shooter]

First, read a good reloading book and then read it again. Don't ever get distracted while you reload. It's that serious. If you can't be meticulous and your process be a repeatable one, don't reload.

All that being said, stay safe, take good notes each time you reload, and have fun. It's addictive. You won't save money, but you will shoot a lot more.

Hey, StraightShot. Welcome to the forum from CT and thanks for adding your voice and sound advice to the discussion. Glad you joined us.