new henry 1860

[yotesmoker]

Since i got my henry biiig boy the other day my friends are telling me that my standard 45 colt load of 8.5gr of unique it to hot for the rifle.Have been checking the net to get a definate answer but all i get are opinions all over the place.Is my load to hot or not?

 

[25cschaefer]

The guns are built for factory ammunition, stay within modern SAAMI pressure limitations and you will be fine. If the load is in a reloading manual, under the normal 45 LC section, not "Marlin only, Ruger only, ect." it should be safe if you do everything on your end correctly.

 

[highlander 5]

IMHO if the load is safe for a Colt SAA it should be safe for your rifle.

 

[35 Whelen]

What the others have said is correct. If you handload, stick with slower burning powders such as AL2400, IMR4227, etc. and you'll realize some fairly substantial velocity gains out of that long barrel. 1200 - 1300 fps with a 250-ish cast SWC is possible while staying within SAAMI pressure specs.

35W

 

[VA27]

8.5 grs of Unique is a pretty standard load for the Colt round. No worries.

 

[DPris]

You're talking about two totally different rifles.
Which one do you have- the 1860 or a Big Boy?

The 1860 uses the older toggle action & isn't quite as strong as the Big Boy.
The BB can handle .44 Mag pressures, the 1860 can't.

Your load should be OK in the 1860, if that's what you actually have, but don't try to hot rod the gun.
Denis

 

[yotesmoker]

I have the henry big boy {45 colt}I had thought that was the 1860 but it does not have the toggle setup.

 

[DPris]

If you've got the .45 Colt Big Boy, no worries whatever about your load.
It can easily handle that & more.

Whoever told you a Big Boy couldn't was greatly mistaken.
Denis