45LC - 300GR in lever action ?

Kondor

Kondor

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
109   0   0
Location
Barrie Area 705
Howdy, I have a henry Big boy in 45LC , Starting to reload for, thinking bear hunting would be good with it. I have everything to reload, I went ahead and thought 300Gr XTP bullets from hornady would be a good choice for bear, doing some research on how "hot" they could be loaded, I saw a forum post elsewhere that a gentleman had contacted henry and they specified the rifles are not designed for anything larger than 270Gr projectiles. Currently trying to trade the projectiles but I wanted to see if anyone had personal experience loading 300Gr's in a lever action, It seems a few people have done it without issue, Just thought I'd check a few more sources and see what others are loading!

Thanks!
 
from what I had read that the COL is a bit long with them supposedly causing feeding issues, I read it a few times on a few different forums, I Manged to organize a trade, now I need to find load data for 250 Gr with my current powder!
 
The Lee reloading manual has data for 300gr jacketed bullets in .45 Colt, but velocities aren't great. If you have a gun that can handle .454 Casull (basically .45 Colt Magnum) then that bullet is more of a natural. And there's a gray area between with some folk hotrodding the older case but you're taking your chances there.

250gr cast lead round-nose flat-point (RNFP) seems to be more the natural bullet in a .45 Colt round. I've always had good results from that on a load of Unique, but then I've never met any bears.
 
I loaded some for my Miroku 1982.
Using the Ruger hot loads from the manuals.
Do you research before loading them not all rifles can handle the ruger loads.
I find they shot way off from the sights.
Joe
 
Kondor said:
Howdy, I have a henry Big boy in 45LC , Starting to reload for, thinking bear hunting would be good with it. I have everything to reload, I went ahead and thought 300Gr XTP bullets from hornady would be a good choice for bear, doing some research on how "hot" they could be loaded, I saw a forum post elsewhere that a gentleman had contacted henry and they specified the rifles are not designed for anything larger than 270Gr projectiles. Currently trying to trade the projectiles but I wanted to see if anyone had personal experience loading 300Gr's in a lever action, It seems a few people have done it without issue, Just thought I'd check a few more sources and see what others are loading!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Depends on the bullet. A 300gr bullet designed for 45 colt will not make the COL any longer because more of it will be inside the case. See the bullets in my sig line - 300 to 500 gr 45-70, but the same COL for each.

If you're sticking to SAAMI maximum pressure for the old 45 Colt, then a 300gr is kind of useless. But if you have a modern firearm and are loading to 44Mag pressures then a 300gr is interesting. The guys who do it say the 45Colt is capable of more energy than a 44Mag because bigger case = more powder.

Did Henry say why they don't recommend 300gr bullets? Determining that would be a good place to start.
 
My Rossi Puma in 45 Colt is designed to shoot 44 Magnum, so I have tried several 44 Mag loads in the larger 45 Colt, which result in lower pressures that if it had been loaded in a 44 Mag.

With a 310 gr Cast bullet, my best load is the now-discontinued SR4759 with 18.0 grs giving 1350 fps, but 22.0 grs of H4227 gave decent accuracy at 1275 fps.
 
Last edited:
jethunter said:
Depends on the bullet. A 300gr bullet designed for 45 colt will not make the COL any longer because more of it will be inside the case. See the bullets in my sig line - 300 to 500 gr 45-70, but the same COL for each.

If you're sticking to SAAMI maximum pressure for the old 45 Colt, then a 300gr is kind of useless. But if you have a modern firearm and are loading to 44Mag pressures then a 300gr is interesting. The guys who do it say the 45Colt is capable of more energy than a 44Mag because bigger case = more powder.

Did Henry say why they don't recommend 300gr bullets? Determining that would be a good place to start.
Click to expand...

Henry's response was mainly that they wont cycle properly

thats good to know can make it a hot load!

Henry has specifically said that the rifle can handle "Spicier" loads I will have to try loading up some jacketed 250gr's to higher velocity's!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom