45 (Long) Colt in an 1866 Yellowboy replica - are 100 meter possible?

[dh1633pm]

I load mine with AA5744. I use 255 Grain RNFP Lead and 250 Grain Hornady XTP. All with good luck. I tried some 200 grainers but the performance wasn't good. I can shoot at the range out to 200 yards (183 meters or so) and ring the steel plate which is 1 foot square. I can do this repeatably. All four 45 Colt rifles will do this. Rossi M92, Marlin 1894, Winchester 1873, and my Roller. It takes a while for the bullet to get there. Its a boom, lower the rifle, then a ding.

 

[call1911]

From what I know (manuals, online info) Accurate 5744 is by far not suited for a 1866 lever action rifle.
On Accurate's webpage it is listed for 45 Colt but only for 30.000 psi loads.
My burnrate chart puts AA5744 in the range of VV N110 or Hodgdon H110 and both wouldn't come to my mind as an option for an 14.000 psi max rifle or handgun.
As I am not risking my health or my wifes rifle this is no option for me. Besides I never have seen this powder at any place here.

I might be able to hit a 1ft (30cm) target with my Swedish Mauser and the iron sights on it - once in a while.
But I wouldn't dare to think I could do this with the buckhorn (?) sight on the 1866 lever action.

 

[Dudedog]

Looked for fun and it seems Lovex (+Shooter World) don't list data for .45 LC
But I am sure that they have powders that will work in it.
If you are not in the US these may be more available where you are so I would be tempted to try emailing Lovex and see if by chance they have data.
never used either but Lovex D036 is a bit slower than Uniques burn speed.
Vectan lists .45 LC loads

 

[Charlie98]

But I wouldn't dare to think I could do this with the buckhorn (?) sight on the 1866 lever action.

To quote Elmer Keith... '...just hold more front sight!'

I've shot my Marlin 1894 in .41MAG out to 600yds with good results. I even took a poke at the 900yd dinger and got close, but the bullet was running out of gas and it was really a stretch. Granted, I was using a Williams receiver peep, but at the 900yd I actually put the front bead on top of the rear sight aperture. The idea is to have a repeatable index mark... and with a good spotter (at longer ranges, but even at 200yds...) you can learn to adjust hold-over to get it on the target. It is the same with pistols. At the same range, I was shooting my 4" Smith & Wesson .41MAG... at 500yds. I put the base of the ramp on top of the rear leaf, and just had my spotter walk me onto the target. After about 12 rounds, I was getting 6 of 6 shots on the 500yd steel.

I'll bet if you gave it a go, with a good spotter, you would be surprised at what you can do.

 

[cfullgraf]

From what I know (manuals, online info) Accurate 5744 is by far not suited for a 1866 lever action rifle.
On Accurate's webpage it is listed for 45 Colt but only for 30.000 psi loads.

Western Powder data, Edition No. 8 has data with Accurate 5744 for 14,000 psi, standard 45 Colt loads. See page 37.

http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WesternPowdersHandloadingGuide8.0_WEB.pdf

 

[call1911]

Western Powder data, Edition No. 8 has data with Accurate 5744 for 14,000 psi, standard 45 Colt loads. See page 37.

http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WesternPowdersHandloadingGuide8.0_WEB.pdf

I just looked to page 23 of this document and saw this: (only for 14.000 psi loads)


And the info on page is for a SWC bullet - which I don't have and much heavier bullets - which I also don't have.
Even if it would work, no dealer has this powder AFAIK here.

Like I said, for the moment I let my plan to hit something at 100m rest and will use the Mod. 1866 for up to 50m. Here it shines with one big hole on the paper target.