45LC Buff Classic

[PigBoy Crabshaw]

I got that Handi itch again. 
First the 308 and then the 357mag.
I have an idea on using the 45LC buff for iron silhouette matches at my gun club.
Is the barrel considered a heavy barrel and do you think the 20" to short for 100-200 yard work?
I'm guessing that a globe front site does not come stock?
The only thing I worry about is needing to take five shots in two minutes and
having an overheated barrel if it's a standard barrel.
I just know I'm gonna hear from the 45/70 crowd on this one.
-g

[S.E.Ak]

If you shoot something like the rem250gr you will have time to roll a smoke before the bullet hits the gong

[44 Man]

I have the .45 lc and I can tell you it is fine for 100 yd work, with sights that work for you.  I have old eyes and I had to put a Marbles bullseye rear and a Williams firesight front.  That sight blocks a lot of target at 100 yds but would be fine for hunting.  With the stock bead and rear (if you have good eyes) it will do just fine at 100 yds.  At 200 yds, the gun is capable but you may need a finer bead front and a receiver rear.  I shoot heavel load for serious social work and 9 gr Unique for fun.  There is a little less than a 1 sec lag to the target with those, but it's still a grin to shoot.  I may or may not ever hunt with this gun, but I don't think I could ever sell it because of it's 'fun factor'!  Get it, it's a real grin to shoot!  44 Man

[quickdtoo]

Gary.

Dunno what bullet you'd shoot, but mine pushed 250gr jacketed bullets over 1900fps using Ruger/TC data, the barrel is heavy enough that 5 shots won't be a problem, it's not a Superlight contour, it's standard for a big bore. CDNN still has them on sale for $229.99. 

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/

Tim

Trajectory for Speer .451 dia. 250 gr. GDHP (45 Colt) at 1925 Feet per Second
At an Elevation Angle of: 0 degrees
Ballistic Coefficients of: 0.165   0.165   0.165   0.165   0.165
Velocity Boundaries (Feet per Second) of: 800   800   800   800
Wind Direction is: 0.0 o'clock and a Wind Velocity of: 0.0 Miles per hour
Wind Components are (Miles per Hour): DownRange: 0.0   Cross Range: 0.0   Vertical: 0.0
Altitude: 0 Feet with a Standard Atmospheric Model.
Temperature: 59 F
Data Printed in English Units
Range   Velocity   Energy   Momentum   Drop   Bullet Path   Wind Drift   Time of Flight
(Yards)   (Ft/Sec)   (Ft/Lbs)   (Lb-Sec)   (inches)   (inches)   (inches)   (Seconds)
0   1925.0   2056.7   2.14   0.0   -1.7   0.0   0.000000000
25   1813.8   1825.9   2.01   -0.3   0.55   0.0   0.040139685
50   1707.1   1617.5   1.89   -1.27   2.14   0.0   0.082764991
75   1605.6   1430.8   1.78   -2.98   2.99   0.0   0.128071297
100   1509.6   1264.8   1.68   -5.54   2.99   0.0   0.176253733
125   1419.7   1118.7   1.58   -9.05   2.03   0.0   0.227496091
150   1336.7   991.8   1.48   -13.64   0.0   0.0   0.281954370
175   1261.4   883.1   1.40   -19.44   -3.25   0.0   0.339734798
200   1194.6   792.1   1.33   -26.61   -7.86   0.0   0.400862248

[Doublebass73]

I would recommend getting the Williams FP peep sight with target knobs for a rear sight and a Lyman #20 Globe for the front sight. This setup worked well for me at 100 yards.

[PigBoy Crabshaw]

Thanks for the replies guys.
Tim, I must have been looking at the pistol reloading data which showed
lead being thrown at about 1000 fps. I may need to spring for one soon.
Then again a BC 45/70 with a longer barrel could be a good thing also.
Doublebass73, I see your selling what your suggesting in this thread in classifieds.
Did you sell your 45LC or upgrading sights or platform?
 -g

[Doublebass73]

I unfortunately had to sell my 45LC and most of my other favorite guns due to getting divorced recently. I had a Lyman #20 sight on the classifieds that is SPF. I kept my Williams FP target knob for my kid's Versa Pack. Those two sights work very well together on the 45 Colt Carbine. The Williams peep sight will not work with the factory front sight unless you buy a .250" dovetail riser for it but I opted to go with the Lyman instead.

[quickdtoo]

Gary,

Here's the numbers for the 250gr FTX, the higher BC is a little flatter shooting and has more energy at 200yds.

Tim

Trajectory for Custom .452 Hornady FTX 250gr at 1925 Feet per Second
At an Elevation Angle of: 0 degrees
Ballistic Coefficients of: 0.21   0.21   0.21   0.21   0.21
Velocity Boundaries (Feet per Second) of: 1925   1925   1925   1925
Wind Direction is: 0.0 o'clock and a Wind Velocity of: 0.0 Miles per hour
Wind Components are (Miles per Hour): DownRange: 0.0   Cross Range: 0.0   Vertical: 0.0
Altitude: 0 Feet with a Standard Atmospheric Model.
Temperature: 59 F
Data Printed in English Units
Range   Velocity   Energy   Momentum   Drop   Bullet Path   Wind Drift   Time of Flight
(Yards)   (Ft/Sec)   (Ft/Lbs)   (Lb-Sec)   (inches)   (inches)   (inches)   (Seconds)
0   1925.0   2056.7   2.14   0.0   -1.7   0.0   0.000000000
25   1837.2   1873.4   2.04   -0.3   0.43   0.0   0.039881766
50   1752.3   1704.1   1.95   -1.25   1.91   0.0   0.081683768
75   1670.3   1548.4   1.85   -2.9   2.68   0.0   0.125526225
100   1591.5   1405.8   1.77   -5.34   2.67   0.0   0.171530223
125   1516.2   1276.0   1.68   -8.63   1.81   0.0   0.219815983
150   1444.7   1158.5   1.60   -12.86   0.0   0.0   0.270496914
175   1377.3   1052.9   1.53   -18.14   -2.85   0.0   0.323673666
200   1314.4   958.9   1.46   -24.57   -6.85   0.0   0.379427038
225   1256.4   876.1   1.39   -32.25   -12.1   0.0   0.437806563
250   1203.6   804.1   1.34   -41.3   -18.73   0.0   0.498816949

[PigBoy Crabshaw]

So is the issue of oversized 45LC BC bore a thing of the past or still an on going issue as Tacklebury was having?
I'm looking for a pistol cartridge to shoot hard cast. Saving money on powder and lead, while maxxing the life of low pressure
brass. I love my 357mag, but it takes a while to get there. I need a little more punch.
Gonna need to get brave and Maxi it. -g

[quickdtoo]

Bore size isn't an issue with the Colt Carbine, some have been reported to have chambers that are on the large size tho, but a bunch of us that have rechambered them to Casull or 460S&W have had no problems, if you want more punch, that will get you there, mine pushes the 460 200gr Hornady factory ammo to just shy of 2900fps. 

Tim

[PigBoy Crabshaw]

Thanks Tim. I think we need to keep the speed limit under 2k fps with lead or jacked sp stuff.
There is 40 shots per match on the iron chickens-pigs-turkey-rams. So I'm looking open sighted
with recoil in the 30/30 range that won't break the bank to reload.
I got a few of the old timers asking what I was shooting and they were suprised at my 357mag with
158gr JSP's knocking down some of the heavy rams at about 100yards.
The 45LC just looks so Handi!
I need a heavier slug for this game.
So many Handi's in different calibers
-g

[quickdtoo]

Max the Mag and shoot 200gr or bigger bullets, that's what the 357 Max was made for, only in a revolver, I have the reamer, $25 and you're good to go, see the sticky. 

Tim

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.357_Remington_Maximum

Intended primarily as a silhouette cartridge, such high velocity and energy levels have obvious hunting applications. SAAMI pressure level for this cartridge is set at 48,000 CUP.

[PigBoy Crabshaw]

I've read a few posts and looked at the stickies. I'd have no clue on how to max the mag. I pretty handy with tools, but firearms and mess'n with
the chamber or bore is something I don't want to tempt fate with. I may ship it off to Wayne. It needs trigger work also and I'm worried I'll ruin it.
Tim, Your not trying to talk me out of buying a new Handi are you?
-g

[tacklebury]

I was hitting fist sized dirt clods today at 100 yards testing my new one.  I finally got a good chamber and it's accurate to boot.  I think you should really look at the FTX bullets though to improve trajectory.  They are jacketed and using 25 gr. Reloader7 powder, I think you'll love it.  25gr. isn't max either, just what I settled on.  The 250 gr. XTP would be a good runner up also.  The FTX's I've tested so far were in my .45-70, but I'm going to load some up for deer season with the load mentioned in .45 Colt.  I'm hoping to extend the usable point blank range to 150 or so.  Good luck to ya.  

[quickdtoo]

I've read a few posts and looked at the stickies. I'd have no clue on how to max the mag. I pretty handy with tools, but firearms and mess'n with
the chamber or bore is something I don't want to tempt fate with. I may ship it off to Wayne. It needs trigger work also and I'm worried I'll ruin it.
Tim, Your not trying to talk me out of buying a new Handi are you?
-g

Read the sticky, most everyone that's done it has never done a rechamber before, it's real simple, even a caveman can do it!! 

Tim

[tacklebury]

Lol! Look out Geico, Tim's in town...

[PigBoy Crabshaw]

The FTX's look great, but there kinda   pricey compared to hard cast if I going to shooting 40 - 80 every weekend. -g

[tacklebury]

That's true.  Perhaps one of these already gas checked bullets:

http://www.westernbullet.com/ly4gr16.html

or

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/details.php?id=62 This one at Beartooth is supposed to be quite accurate and has a somewhat smaller meplat of .34"

[tobster]

Bore size isn't an issue with the Colt Carbine, some have been reported to have chambers that are on the large size tho, but a bunch of us that have rechambered them to Casull or 460S&W have had no problems, if you want more punch, that will get you there, mine pushes the 460 200gr Hornady factory ammo to just shy of 2900fps. 

Tim
[
Do you shoot those with the standared carbine stock with the cresent buttplate?

[quickdtoo]

No, it's in a set of gray lams.

Tim

[450mar]

 mine pushes the 460 200gr Hornady factory ammo to just shy of 2900fps. 
Tim
[/quote]

Wow, that's flat smokin Tim, how much and what kind of powder you stuffin in that thing,thats right around a hot handload 30/06 velocity with 180 gr. boolit...bet you dont shoot to many of those,..

[quickdtoo]

That's not a handload, the short, fat bullet has a heck of a lot less bearing surface, so at 60+kpsi, it can gains some velocity over a .30 cal bullet at the same pressure. 

460 200gr Hornady factory ammo

http://www.hornady.com/store/460-SW-200-gr-FTX-LEVERevolution/

Tim

[450mar]

 
Yeah I figured it fell on its face pretty fast,but that is still impressive.

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

I've read a few posts and looked at the stickies. I'd have no clue on how to max the mag. I pretty handy with tools, but firearms and mess'n with
the chamber or bore is something I don't want to tempt fate with. I may ship it off to Wayne. It needs trigger work also and I'm worried I'll ruin it.
Tim, Your not trying to talk me out of buying a new Handi are you?
-g

Gary, I'm in no way trying to take business away from Wayne (pretty sure he's always busy anyway) or turning you away for the 45 LC, as that too is one on my bucket list BUT...
I too was hesitant, at first, about both the reaming to .357 Max. and the trigger job. In fact, my feeling of maybe messing something up in the trigger adjustment led me to buy spare parts, just in case.
The reaming job is SO simple, you'll laugh at yourself when you are finished.
The trigger job is a breeze. Once you get the trigger group out and can actually see the inner workings, it all becomes clear. The pictures in the FAQ sticky, could be better but they are what they are.
The most important things, IMO, are the slave pin and the Fred Wedge in disassembly and reasembly. Take your time, and you'll be doing it yourself, like so many others here have done.

AND, the money saved will have you that much closer to the 45 LC! 

Bill

[petemi]

Bill, you said a mouthful.  As far as I'm concerned, I have to hunt with warm gloves on and a stiffer trigger pull works better for me.  Most of my Handis seem to have what I like in pull.

Pete

[tacklebury]

Bill, you said a mouthful.  As far as I'm concerned, I have to hunt with warm gloves on and a stiffer trigger pull works better for me.  Most of my Handis seem to have what I like in pull.

Pete

+1 I don't have any issues with my factory triggers and as Pete stated, having gloves on, it's a very good thing not to have them too touchy.  I want to do the throat ream on my .45-70 BC, but just cannot bring my self to do it. 8(  I cannot afford to replace it at this time, if I botch something.

[OR-E-Gun Bill]

Sorry guys, but I don't remember saying anything about making the trigger light. Just explaining to Gary how easy it is to take the Handi frame apart and reassemble it. Just polishing the friction points makes the trigger pull smoother without even touching anything else.

Bill

[PigBoy Crabshaw]

Bill, Thanks for the push. I'm having Tim send me the Maxi reamer. I'll also try and square and clean up the trigger. -g

[petemi]

Pigboy, welcome to the Maxi Club....yer gonna love it   I've gotta get off my dead a$$ and get down to the bench and reload a bunch of mine.  My two get a lot of rounds through them, 38s, .357s and Maxis.  The things are so versatile I can't leave them alone.

I nailed a chuck a while back at only about 30 yards.  I happened to have a Maxi in the chamber and didn't have time to switch to .38, so I nailed him.  That chuck was skinned cleaned and half cooked by that bullet.

Pete

[PigBoy Crabshaw]

With all of the issues I'm reading the lil Buff having, I'm gonna lay off for now. I just love the size and receiver color.  A project for another time.
I always knew a year ago when I bought my 357 Mag it was going to grow up one day to be a Maxi.
No thanks to all the post about it here.
Heading out today to get some cutting oil, in anticipation of a weekend arrival of the reamer from Tim.
I've gone over the faq's and it appears that a plexi 2x6" plexi glass for the receiver side pin removal and a trigger wedge is in order.
Suggestions on a stone or other method for deburring trigger/pins/contact points.
Any other suggestions are welcome, as this is my first time knocking pins out and have an uneasy feeling while venturing into the unknown. -gary