Loading for a .45 Colt levergun

[wiiawiwb]

I've been reloading .45 Colt for my Ruger SRH and things have been going well. I just bought a Rossi levergun also in .45 Colt and would like to load for that as well. I've never loaded for any rifle before.

When I went to Lyman's 49th all of the case and bullet dimensions are the same. They also showed the same bullets and the load range of Unique and HS-6 being the same for both handgun and rifle.

I plan on loading 255 gr coated SWD from Missouri Bullet:

http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=210&category=20&secondary=14&keywords=

1) Is there anything different about loading .45 Colt for a rifle vs. handgun that I should know about?

2) Are coated bullets ok to use in the carbine?

3) Since the bullets are loaded one behind the other in the levergun, I plan on using a SWD bullet profile so there could be no detonation of the primer in bullet in front upon shooting recoil. Does that make sense?

 

[MEHavey]

While some might suggest a slower powder for longer rifle barrels, Unique & HS-6 are just fine.

"Coated" is fine as well (But see last sentence below**)

Semi Wad Cutter (SWC) is also fine for use in tubular magazines.
But (your might have to) check for that shape's ability to feed cleanly into
the chamber entrance on a lever action.

So you might want this one instead:
http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=49&category=5&secondary=&keywords=

**
(Don't get hung up on "coated." People have been shooting grooved & lubed bullets for a century & a half)

 

[cfullgraf]

Generally, if you look at loads for rifles that shoot handgun cartridges and the data for use in handguns, they are the same or very close to it.

Any standard Colt handgun load will work in your rifle. I cannot say if the Rossi has the strength for the T/C and Ruger only loads but if it were my rifle, I stick to the standard 45 Colt loads.

Semi-wadcutters sometimes hang in feeding in my 357 Magnum Marlin 1894. A little retraction of the lever, maybe with a giggle, usually gets it centered up for feeding. Don't expect to do any rapid fire though with SWC bullets.

Enjoy your rifle.

 

[wiiawiwb]

I have 6 "dummy" SWC rounds that I made when I first got the MBC bullets. They all fed and all ejected without any problems. Hopefully that means that profile does work in my Rossi M92.

I also have the RNFP that you linked to. My only concern was the flat point profile on that bullet was smaller than the SWC and whether that could cause an accidental discharge from the recoil by bumping one bullet against the primer in the bullet loaded before it.

The two MBC coated bullets above are ones I already have so I thought I'd use those if there were no problems doing so.

 

[Bullseye]

I use #2 Alloy Round Nose Flat Point 250 gr bullets in 45 rifle. That rifle is a Uberti !873 Sporting Rifle. I load my own and use a modest 8.2 gr Unique and a light crimp on the canelure groove. This rifle has a toggle bolt and higher pressures would wear the linkage from what I understand. Your model 92 does not. I could be wrong but I believe it is called a breach bolt which is exactly what and why the later Winchesters used it. To be able to fire more powerful cartridges in the lever guns.
This is a very nice load as I can use it in my Uberti cattleman revolvers as well. I could go a little higher but I find no reason to.
I think a Rossi 92 would handle any regular factory mfg flat nose bullet just as well as these I shoot.
My Uberti will not feed semi-wadcutter bullets well. There really isn't a need for anything else. I have loaded powder coated bullets in the same form and weight. I like them both but I do think I have a little better accuracy using the .452 #2 Lubed RNFP 250 - 255 gr bullets. To me, staying on the medium powder ranges with these bullets work great in both of my firearms.

 

[MEHavey]

I also have the RNFP... concern was the flat point profile...

That is the classic profile for nearly all cartridges of that era.
It's fine for tubular magazines.


But if the SWC profile feeds OK, by all means use it.

 

[GooseGestapo]

One thing I found loading for a .45colt rifle was that you may need to slightly exceed standard .45colt powder charges to maintain case to chamber obturation.
At the Hodgdon recommended maximum of 7.8gr of Universal, I got a lot of blow by back into the action sooting the cases badly and "gunking" the action with bullet lube and combustion fouling.
By increasing the charge to 8.2gr, the cases remained obturated to seal the chamber and eliminated blow by.

 

[midland man]

I have two rossi 92's 16in barrel one in 44mag and 45 colt. I load ruger only loads in my 45 colt rifle with no problems at all I am loading by the sierra manual and mine shoots great with 300gr jacketed softpoint sierra bullets and 17.9gr h110 powder and I have tried it up to 20gr h110 without a hitch. so all looks good here and by the research I've done, the newer 92 actions are very strong and can handle these loads. Infact my 44mag has the same thickness barrel and chamber so no doubt the 45 colt can handle it! I sure like both of mine and also I load the mbc cowboy number one bullet 250gr rnfp lead with 6.8gr greendot and works very well no leading at all...

 

[CraigC]

The Rossi is even stronger than a Ruger .45Colt.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also use a softer RNFP bullet for all my 45 Colt loads, handgun or Carbine.
http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=246&category=&secondary=&keywords=45 colt is a good choice if you want a coated bullet although I used the same bullet but uncoated.

 

[dh1633pm]

I have a Rossi 92 in 45 Colt. I have two loads. One for lead and one copper. I use H110 and AA5744.

For 250 GR HDY XTP, I use Hodgdon H110 at 25.0.

For 200 Gr RNFP Lead, I use AA5744 at 17.9.

Neither is loaded two hot, but both seem to work well in my Rifle. I have tried No 5, Lil Gun, Trail Boss and Bullseye.

I too found if you load them too light the chamber doesn't seal well and you get carbon streaks down the brass. Better wear glasses because the same rounds will shoot a little bit of powder back at the shooter.

I like the M92. It has been taken apart and all the internal parts polished. Its now much smoother than stock.

 

[25-5]

I shot SASS for some years. Loaded .45 Colt the same for the Vacqueros and Uberti 1873. 255gr RNFP & Titegroup. Got upset finding out that the .45 was not period correct for the 1873. Never a problem shooting.

 

[dgod]

45 LC is the same for Pistol and Rifle. there are 2 Sections in most reloading Manuals.

Hope this Helps

 

[Clark]

dh1633pm

I have a Rossi 92 in 45 Colt. I have two loads. One for lead and one copper. I use H110 and AA5744.

For 250 GR HDY XTP, I use Hodgdon H110 at 25.0.

I use 24 gr H110 250 gr XTP in a Win 94 45 Colt. The recoil is brutal. 1500 fps.

The odd thing is the accuracy. The bullet should be roll crimped into the cannelure, not touching the lands. That is different from my bottleneck cartridges.

 

[dh1633pm]

It does have a little kick to it. But I consider it well within the safe zone. I heard the Rossi's can handle some pressure, but I am not sure the 92 action was designed for such things even with modern metals. I could be wrong, but even if I am, I am not loosing out on anything. My second 45 Colt Rifle is a converted No 5 Roller with a heavy 16 inch barrel. It is heavy, but the weight is mostly to the shoulder. It hardly kicks at all.

I would consider the Roller a stronger action since it was designed for the 7x57. I temper that thought with the fact, its over a 100 years old. And no the roller is not completed. Have buttstock fitted, but hand guard needs a lot of fitting. Winter work.

 

[Cheesemaker]

I have a Rossi 92, 16" 45 Colt.
I stick with the tried and true 8.0gr Unique behind a 255gr SWC Missouri Bullet. Muzzle velocities are around 1040 fps. I do get a bit of soot on the cases but the action appears to remain clear.
I have had no feed issues with these SWCs. And, sticking with a flat/round point in a tubular magazine makes me feel better.

 

[dh1633pm]

Cheesemaker, I too use RNFP and SWC in mine. Both work really well. I don't keep Unique in stock. So I use what I do which is AA5744 and H110. I would assume you have good accuracy with them unless you would have switched to something else already. I did note that the Henry in 45 colt doesn't feed longer rounds that the Rossi will feed with no issues.

 

[snuffy]

I got a Rossi 92 in 45 colt a couple years back. I too had the ?? would it take M-94 levergun loads?? So I called them, the Lady that answered said they all will take modern lever action loads like the Marlin and Winchester.. Most manuals have 3 sections, trapdoor, levergun, and Ruger/contender only loads. I stayed away from the Ruger only loads, because top levergun loads kicked as much as I could shoot comfortably. If it could indeed take the Ruger loads, why stress the gun to it's max pressure?

I also have one in .357 magnum. The main reason was to have a combination sidearm/rifle that fires the same ammo. Worked up a 168 grain SWC load pretty stiff that shoots well in both guns.

The other option was to get a 45 colt handgun to complete that combo. I may still do that. (If I win the lotto)!

 

[wiiawiwb]

I went out this afternoon and shot 25 rounds of the MBC 255 gr SWC with 9.5 gr of HS-6. Every round chambered and ejected like a champ. It was super accurate and not nearly as dirty as Unique which I've been using exclusively until now. I've become an HS-6 fan as it meters/pours more more easily, has a snappier, faster-out-the-box punch to it, and is cleaner.

I just loaded some more rounds of the same bullet with 10 gr of HS-6. We'll ladder this and see what grain level it prefers.

I feel a lot better too using the SWC profile and, if it feeds and ejects without incident, there's no reason not to use it since I already have a supply.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I went out this afternoon and shot 25 rounds of the MBC 255 gr SWC with 9.5 gr of HS-6. Every round chambered and ejected like a champ. It was super accurate and not nearly as dirty as Unique which I've been using exclusively until now. I've become an HS-6 fan as it meters/pours more more easily, has a snappier, faster-out-the-box punch to it, and is cleaner.

I just loaded some more rounds of the same bullet with 10 gr of HS-6. We'll ladder this and see what grain level it prefers.

I feel a lot better too using the SWC profile and, if it feeds and ejects without incident, there's no reason not to use it since I already have a supply.

Using a 250/255gr lead bullet in the 45 Colt my favorite HS-6 load is 10.2gr using a Winchester LPP. You can go to 10.5gr according to Hodgdon and many manuals say even higher but in my pistols 10.2gr HS-6 is most accurate. I used to use W231 in the 45 Colt until I tried HS-6, now it's nothing but HS-6 for me!

 

[oldpapps]

I see two concerns. Both are as of a direct results of the tubular magazine. Feeding being the most compelling. Over all length of the loading round and bullet shape has a direct relationship on feeding. Only trying your load in your weapon will settle this concern. I don't think you will have any/much to worry about with the described bullet combination. The other concern is little more than a continuation only backward to firing heavy loads in a revolver, bullet walk. In a tubular magazine, there is the possibility of spring pressure seating the bullets a little deeper. Again, I find this a minimal concern. I like to put a light 'Factory Crimp' on most of my pistol type loading for greater consistency. This would/should eliminate any walk, out or deeper.

Now to the use of coated bullets. I like coated bullets, I coat my own. Depending upon the fit, alloy and velocities, leading could become a factor. I don't think a reasonable loading in a .45 Colt would have a leading problem. Unless you are also wanting to reduce smoke from burning off lube, I don't think coated bullets are needed. But, again, only trying your load/s in your weapon will tell.

Velocity may, most likely will, increase a little with the longer barrel and loss of cylinder gap. How much? Too many variables to make a blanket statement on this. Clock them and see.

The Rossi M92/R92 is a very strong action and is capable of some very heavy loadings. But why? The old black powder loadings with 255ish lead bullets are good for most everything on this continent. My view is for simplicity, find a loading that works well in both your long gun and short gun and only load that one. OK, if you find a need for some special loading, go for it.

Load with care,

 

[dh1633pm]

Good advice oldpapps! I always load a dummy round for my Rossi before a try a new bullet shape. That way I can test feeding without accidentally creating a new ventilation hole in the basement. I have a dummy round for about every caliber that I reload. I usually leave the primer out so I know its not a working cartridge.