Marlin / Winchester 45 Colt Strength

[kynardsj]

In the reloading manuals for a caliber like a 45-70 there are three levels of power you can load to. Trap door, lever action and modern. They get progressively heavier as you go. My question is for the lever actions chambered for 45 Colt ( 45 LC ). Can the Marlin and Winchester lever actions handle the Ruger, TC, Freedom Arms loads ? Have never seen any reloading info about this.

[kynardsj]

Did some more research on the Marlin Owners website after I posted this. Did some digging in old posts and found some links that told me what I needed to know. 30,000 cup loads and a bit more are fine in these guns.

[454Puma]

I broke my Win 94 in 45 LC using the Ruger only loads.  It was near max load, so I now limit my loads at 1.5 gr below max Ruger only loads.   The accuracy is better at these laods as well.   With 22.5 gr H110  and 300 gr WFNGC  I get 1548 fps.  Very accurate and more then enough thump to hunt just about anything I want.

[tacklebury]

Try a rifle powder like Reloader7.  I use 23 gr. RL7 under a 300 gr. XTP Magnum and get near 1800fps with no pressure signs.  I took a 4 point the last deer season at a dead run and he piled up in 10 steps.  Barrel on mine is 20".    Got the load data from Paco Kelly's article on .45 colt.  been great and no issues after nearly 2 years of use. 
 
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm
 

There is a whole world of surprises waiting the reloader using the rifle powder ReL#7 in the 45 long Colt case for rifles. (Rifle powder not #7 pistol powder) With the 260 Keith I start with 25 grains and work up. I want anybody that wants to try it...to work up slowly so I’m not giving the top load..but the top velocity from the Winchester is 1800 to top end 2000 fps. And in the Browning 1892 action it will reach nearly 2200 fps or more and a SK of 82. Go slow with mag/pistol primers, and ReL#7 and because of it’s slow burn rate, it gives great velocities. H4227 is the other really good powder, but obviously not as slow as ReL#7.

[Him]

I broke my Win 94 in 45 LC using the Ruger only loads.  It was near max load, so I now limit my loads at 1.5 gr below max Ruger only loads.   The accuracy is better at these laods as well.   With 22.5 gr H110  and 300 gr WFNGC  I get 1548 fps.  Very accurate and more then enough thump to hunt just about anything I want.

Just out of vulgar curiosity, when you say that you "broke" your Winchester 1894, exactly what happened?

[WyrTwister]

In the reloading manuals for a caliber like a 45-70 there are three levels of power you can load to. Trap door, lever action and modern. They get progressively heavier as you go. My question is for the lever actions chambered for 45 Colt ( 45 LC ). Can the Marlin and Winchester lever actions handle the Ruger, TC, Freedom Arms loads ? Have never seen any reloading info about this.

     Would not do it , even on a bet .

     If you want to hot rod .45 LC , buy a Rossi .454 .

God bless
Wyr

[muznut 54]

tacklebury what kind of rifle are you using? I have a 45c case hardend octagon barrel win 94 with Ballard rifling that I would hate to screw up. but I also have a Marlin 94 in 44mag do you know of any r7 data for the 44mag?

[dpe.ahoy]

I have run Ruger level loads in my Win. 94 Trapper for close to 10 years without any issues.  The marlin will also handle them fine.  DP

[Lloyd Smale]

I too have run thousands of ruger level loads through win 94s and marlin 94s. For the most part i try to keep them at about 30000 psi max levels. There not near as strong as a 92 which will take pressures up around 50000 but there plenty strong for that. As to breaking a marlin. Ive had them break with pipsqeak loads too. They chamber them in 44 mag which easily handles 30000 psi so theres no reason that a guy cant run 45 colts to the same pressure. theres some talk with marlins about them being weak where the barrel screws into the frame because theres not much metal there. I had a 94 marlin converted to 475 and the smith who built it is one of the most knowelable gun builders in the country and he said it would be fine as long as it didnt run it past 40000 psi. he said factory ammo which runs about 45000 could be borderline in it. So if that gun will take those pressures, and it has many thousands of times, it surely will take 30000 psi 45 colt loads.

[muznut 54]

I already run TC 45c loads in my win 94 I'm just wondering about the XTPs and the Ballard rifling with R7 but I did some research and I don't think Ill mess with it. I have some nice loads with ACC5744 and Titegroup.

[454Puma]

   Him
The lifter broke.  Snapped right in too, locked up the action.  I got lucky as I hadn't had the rifle long and Winchester was still in business and I got it fixed just before they close there doors.