I'm trading for a 45 colt big boy. I've loaded for my Blackhawk using H110. But don't know if that's the best powder for a 20" rifle barrel vs a 4" pistol barrel? I'm looking to use a hardcast bullet and want a +P type hard hitter for hunting. What are your thoughts on powder for rifle use?
45 colt in a Henry big boy
- Thread starter coop2564
- Start date
Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum
86alaskan
Well-Known Member
I too am looking for a cross over load for my rossi 92 45 colt. All that I've gone through shows that the powder is just fine for the longer barrel and that you'll see a very nice velocity increase with the extra length. You can try reloader's nest or handloads.com for some tips. I've been running the same stiff +P loads from my super redhawk and my rossi and they shoot equally well with no issues. I can say that they sure are stiff coming from a light 5-6lb lever rifle though.
With a 250 to 300 gr hard cast bullet it will not matter if it is going 800 fps or 1800 fps it will usually shoot through a deer so put it in the vitals and it is dead. You will probably have to do a little trailing up but it is dead some place. With pistol calibers in rifles the same powder that works in the pistol usually will work just a well in a rifle. H110 is a good max pressure powder for the 45 Colt. I used to kill deer regularly with an old 45 ACP Colt 1911A1 WWII bring back with a cast 200 gr SWC pushed by 7 grs Unique which should have ran around 900ish fps. Never shot one much over 50 yards but I also never recovered a bullet, 45 hole in and 45 hole exit.
86alaskan
Well-Known Member
^^^^ this^^^^ load up a good hardcast and it'll punch a clean 45cal hole through a deer no problem. The main difference is shock from speed. Whereas a 30-06 has a substantial hydraulic shock at impactdue to velocity, that 45cal won't, but will plow straight through as a solid. I'll be using my 45 colt lever in the woods loaded heavy and slow suppressed.
I get the penetration, but there is a big difference in arch resulting from speed. 900 vs 1600, it helps big time in putting the bullet in the vitals. Heavy and slow works fine for pistol ranges but for rifles it makes better sense to me to get that velocity up and flatten the arch for better and quick shots where you dont have time in thick woods to range and dial in for the trajectory.
86alaskan
Well-Known Member
Agreed coop, I'm running them that slow to avoid the super sonic crack. Also, AAC says I'm good to go with my TiRant 45 as long as the rounds are kept subsonic, so that's what I'll do. It really is fun thumping stuff with a lever rifle that quiet.
mtwarych
Well-Known Member
My son has a 45 Colt lever action rifle to match his birdshead Ruger.
We have been using CFE Pistol for the loads for the rifle. At 8.8 grs under a 250gr LRNFP we are getting just under 1300fps out of a 20" barrel.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/
We have been using CFE Pistol for the loads for the rifle. At 8.8 grs under a 250gr LRNFP we are getting just under 1300fps out of a 20" barrel.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/
