45 Colt Lever guns

I just couldn't get my groups under 4" at 50 yds. with any regularity with either the .357 or the .44 Mag. I had both guns for 2 years or more and tried many different loads but finally gave up and sold them. I bought a '94 in 44-40 last spring that is acceptable but not great. It also has feeding problems. The best Winchester I've had was a 7-30 Waters that occasionally shot 1" groups but usually stayed under 1.5" at 100 yds. with factory ammo. I am on my 2nd 99 in 300 Savage, also a very accurate rifle. I am currently working up a load for a 303 Sav. in another 99 that looks promising. I am considering buying a 45 Colt Winchester Trapper ($490, Wholesale Sports) or Trailend ($500, W.S.) and wondered about their reputation for accuracy. I would like to get a 32-20 but the price is usually a bit high.
 
I had similar experience with my old model 94 trapper in 44 mag, before selling it I put a reciever sight on it and the groups tighened right up.Turns out it was the iron sights, for some reason they just didn't work for me.I'm thinking about buying another trapper and putting my weaver V3 scope on it
 
The best pistol cartridge lever gun by far is a Marlin 1894CB for accuracy and reliability.

Was your Marlin an older model that had the micro-groove rifling or the newer ballard rifling? I find the ballard rifling far more accurate than the micro-groove type.

I don't think it was the caliber but the guns that you where using. You should expect far better acurracy than 4" @ 50 yards with the ballard style rifling.
 
I have a Marlin Cowboy Competition in .45 Colt and the accuracy is outstanding . I'm using two bullets , the Hornaday 300 grain XTP and the Beartooth , gas checked hardcast 300 grainer . CCI 350's to light them with WW cases and 23 grains of H110 to an OAL of 1.640". 5 shot groups of 1.500" or under all day long at 100 yards .

I don't load softball ammo but did purchase one box of Winchester Cowboy ammo with the 255 grain bullet and that didn't provide very good accuracy . 3 inches at 50 yards . Over the winter the plan is to develope a small game load and expect one ragged hole with 5 shots at 50 .
 
My .357 was microgroved. Both had receiver sights. The .357 did shoot well with jacketed bullets but terrible with cast. the .44 mag was a 94 Trapper. i never tried jacketed bullets in it. I use these in cowboy or cast bullet shoots.
 
I've read somewhere that if your using cast in the micro grove barrel of the trapper's you want the bullet diameter to be at least .431 or maybe ever .432.I guess you could slug your barrel and make sure the bullet size is .001 of an inch larger.
 
Been playing with a Trapper in 45LC that I picked up from another member. What a hoot!!!! I am making my own ww water quenched FN 325gr GC bullets from a Lee mold. These things look like a pencil eraser on steroids. They hit hard...

Accuracy using open sights has been spectacular. At 35yds, it can cut one big hole. Just got back from the range and we were hammering a rock at 150yds off hand. Definitely sub dinner plate groups. Would not hesitate to hunt with it out to at least 150yds.

Poor accuracy when using cast has a lot to do with the bullet and how you load it. doing a bit of research into alloy sizing and hardness, gas checks and loads will all play dividends.

right now using H110 to move this bullet at 1550fps. No leading and I am using Lee Alox lube. I have also loaded 200gr SWC Lee tumble lube bullets over a light charge of titegroup. These also shoot into very small groups and make a wonderful plinking load. My guess would be around 1100fps - make a great defense load too. Have not shot jacketed bullets yet but have some 200gr XTP's on the shelf.

However, I sincerely doubt any need for these after seeing what my heavy cast does to phone books and milk jugs. This will become my camp bear repellant.

Jerry
 
I had no problems getting 2" groups in my Armi Sport 1892 clone .45LC using factory Federal flying ashtrays.

Have you tried a 92 type gun? Originals are out there, copies from Rossi and Armi Sport available.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom