Author Topic: 45 LC Encore Rifle Loads (Read 1771 times)

kynardsj · « **on:** November 27, 2011, 11:24:04 AM »

Couldn't find a stainless Encore rifle barrel in 45 LC so I'm having MGM build me a 20 incher. I could find 454's and 460's but wanted the correct chambering for what I hope will be better accuracy. My way of thinking is that if the bullet is closer to the rifling then, hopefully, it should be more accurate. I load some of my 45's hot to shoot in my Rugers and am hoping one of the 6 or so different loads I like for the handguns will do well in the rifle. Anyone have any 45 LC loads that are recommended for Rugers, TC's and such that shoot really well in a longgun and if you have checked the fps what was the gain ? Thanks.

Hit or Miss · « **Reply #1 on:** November 27, 2011, 12:25:45 PM »

Check out some of the loads on this site-http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm, I've been using it as a reference for some loads for a Handi BC in .45 Colt. Some of them are very hot, you're on your own there.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2011, 03:20:52 AM »

I load 12.5 grains of Hodgdon HS6 under a 255 grain hard cast flat nose bullet and get right at 1040 FPS out of my custom Ruger Blackhawk with a 5.5" barrel.
Don't know the speed out of a rifle but have not found a rifle that didn't shoot this load accurately.
I have used them in three different Win model 94s. A 16" trapper, a 20" rifle and a 24" rifle.
Also have used this load in 7 different handguns and all guns seemed to love the load.
Data from HODGDON manual # 26, Silhouette Loads, pg # 584. 2 grains below starting load.

LONGTOM

tacklebury · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2011, 03:25:27 PM »

Quote from: Hit or Miss on November 27, 2011, 12:25:45 PM

Check out some of the loads on this site-http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm, I've been using it as a reference for some loads for a Handi BC in .45 Colt. Some of them are very hot, you're on your own there.

+1 I use the Reloader7 data starting point loads in my .45LC Classic Carbine. 20" barrel. I use the 300 GR XTP Magnums though to hold up to the velocity.

gr8ful · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2011, 03:34:00 PM »

My favorite load in my 45LC BCC is a 300gr WFN LBT over H4227 loaded to Ruger levels.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2011, 03:49:07 PM »

I've had great luck with the 300 grain Sierra JSP over T/C-Ruger level data out of both a 20" H&R Carbine and a 10" Contender handgun.

kynardsj · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2011, 04:40:57 AM »

Received my barrel yesterday from MGM and got it mounted and scoped. Went this morning to my local shooting range to see what it liked. Tried five different style bullets over a couple of different powders that I use. 250 RNFP over 9.0 gr of Unique ( my goofing around load for my Rugers), 255 gr Keith style SWC over 11.0 gr Unique, 240 gr Hornady XTP magnum over 27.4 gr Lilgun, 265gr Cast Performance WFNGC over 21.0 gr of Lilgun, 250 gr Hornady XTP over 11.2 gr Unique and the same 250 gr XTP over 25.0 gr Lilgun. Found out pretty quick that this barrel didn't like any of my lead bullet loadings. 240's shot ok as well as the 250's over the Unique load. The load that really shined was the 250 gr XTP over the Lilgun load. Even off a poor rest if I did my job I could keep them in a 1 1/2 inch group at 100 yards. Scope used is a Bushnell 3x9x40 Elite 3200. Really pleased with this little carbine and am looking forward to trying it out on some of these Alabama whitetails this season.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2011, 01:57:09 PM »

That same 250 XTP Lil'Gun load shot well in my 10" Contender barrel. You're making me want an MGM 45 LC carbine barrel for my G2 now

How is the balance on your Encore?

kynardsj · « **Reply #8 on:** December 02, 2011, 02:19:38 PM »

I love it. The frame had a 20 inch 500 S&W mag barrel on it that I had a lot of fun with but sold it to help fund the MGM barrel. It feels the same as it did before but now I have a rifle chambered in my favorite caliber to go along with my two 45 LC Rugers. The 20 inch barrel is plenty long enough for good accuracy and burning all that magnum powder but is still short enough to handle well in the woods and in shoot houses or blinds. Mine has a camo thumbhole stock and I can carry it one handed with the barrel pointing down and still be well off the ground. I guess after all that, the answer to your question is the balance feels great. Will the G2 handle the pressure of hot 45 LC loads ? The load I'm using is rated at 29,900 cup from Hodgdon.

Ranch13 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 02, 2011, 02:40:27 PM »

I found with lilgun and H110 the velocity gain in a long gun was something at or about 300 fps. With 2400 the gain was around 250fps, and with unique it was only 150 fps.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 02, 2011, 05:40:37 PM »

Quote

Will the G2 handle the pressure of hot 45 LC loads ? The load I'm using is rated at 29,900 cup from Hodgdon.

Yes, every reloading manual I have specifies either Ruger or T/C and they usually call out the Contender itself which isn't as strong as the Encore obviously. Hodgdon calls out the Contender on their website:
The data is intended for 45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk, Freedom Arms, and Thompson Center Contender/Encore Handguns. Max pressure, 30,000 CUP. Do not use these data in any other make or model of firearm.

I've shot plenty of heavy 45 Colt loads out of my G2 from both the Lyman book data and Hodgdon with no issues.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** December 02, 2011, 06:48:01 PM »

In one of my reloading manuals I was reading about the 45 Colt in the T/C section and they said that the 45 can be loaded hot but at certain speeds and bullet configurations the 45 case is weaker and the 44 mag or 454 Casull would be a better choice for those pressures.
You may want to take 454 Cas cases and trim them to 45 colt length if you intend on hot loading your 45 Colt to 44 Mag pressures
The Book is Speer reolading manual 13 on Page 584
I think you may be better off reaming to 454 and loading 45 colt power in the longer cases.
I do this with my 44 Mag and load a hot special in the Mag case. The mild loads would be accurate and there would be no problems with your hot loads.
Good luck.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2011, 04:58:28 PM »

Here's a good read on the subject of 45 Colt case strength:

http://www.customsixguns.com/writings/dissolving_the_myth.htm

I wouldn't worry about hot loaded 45 Colt cases wearing out early if you're following published book data.

yooper77 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2011, 05:13:50 PM »

First off I have to correct the 45 Colt name, sometimes called the inappropriate name of 45 Long Colt. This 45 Long Colt misnomer is one of my pet peeves and I couldn't help it.

I choose H-110 powder and .452 diameter hard cast LBT designed bullets with or without gas checks for my 45 Colt in Ruger Blackhawk and 454 Casull in T/C 12" Encore barrel.

Both are very accurate and are near maximum load data according to data.hodgdon.com and would work well in rifle length barrels.

yooper77

anachronism · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2011, 09:15:32 AM »

The "45 Long Colt" title came from the cavalry days, and was used to help soldiers understand the differences between the 45 S&W Schofield (short) loading, and the 45 (long) Colt loading. You could fire the Schofield load in the S&W Schofields, or the Colt SAA, but you couldn't shoot the Colt loading in Schofields. Since both revolvers were in use during the same period, often times Schofield ammunition was issued to troops because you could use it in either revolver. "Long" is also a commonly used term for Colt ammunition during that era, witness the 38 Long & Short Colt, and the 41 Long & Short Colt. 45 "Long" Colt may not be technically accurate, since Colt certainly didn't officially name their cartridge thusly, but it certainly served a real purpose.

yooper77 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 05, 2011, 11:00:21 AM »

Quote from: anachronism on December 05, 2011, 09:15:32 AM

The "45 Long Colt" title came from the cavalry days, and was used to help soldiers understand the differences between the 45 S&W Schofield (short) loading, and the 45 (long) Colt loading. You could fire the Schofield load in the S&W Schofields, or the Colt SAA, but you couldn't shoot the Colt loading in Schofields. Since both revolvers were in use during the same period, often times Schofield ammunition was issued to troops because you could use it in either revolver. "Long" is also a commonly used term for Colt ammunition during that era, witness the 38 Long & Short Colt, and the 41 Long & Short Colt. 45 "Long" Colt may not be technically accurate, since Colt certainly didn't officially name their cartridge thusly, but it certainly served a real purpose.

Yes, I already knew the reason for the incorrect naming of 45 "Long" Colt.

I was stating it isn't and never was officially 45 (Long) Colt, but simply 45 Colt.

Thank you,
yooper77

243dave · « **Reply #16 on:** December 05, 2011, 01:16:37 PM »

Did you guys know there was a short 45 Colt cartridge? So if you walked into your local store-front in the late 1800's and asked for a box of 45 Colts would you just take the ones the man handed you, heck no!! You would indicate one way or the other the cartridge you wanted.

Heres a article I ran across lately that tells of the short 45 Colt, couldn't resist stirring the pot a little, I'll shut-up now.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/taylor/45_short_colt.htm

My hunting rifle load for my trapper is a 300gr XTP MAG (not the regular 300gr xtps, doesn't hold up well to the higher velocity) and 23gr of H-110. This is a max load that was worked up in my winchester 94 and is approaching 44mag pressures so start lower/always consult a loading manuel. This combo gives great accuracy and killing power in the 45 Colt.
Dave

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #17 on:** December 05, 2011, 01:25:39 PM »

Quote from: yooper77 on December 04, 2011, 05:13:50 PM

First off I have to correct the 45 Colt name, sometimes called the inappropriate name of 45 Long Colt. This 45 Long Colt misnomer is one of my pet peeves and I couldn't help it.

I choose H-110 powder and .452 diameter hard cast LBT designed bullets with or without gas checks for my 45 Colt in Ruger Blackhawk and 454 Casull in T/C 12" Encore barrel.

Both are very accurate and are near maximum load data according to data.hodgdon.com and would work well in rifle length barrels.

yooper77

Doesn't that have more to do with the 45 ACP than the S&W Schofield? The 45 S&W and the 45 Colt are easy to keep strait, you add the 45ACP (Auto Colt Pistol) 32 years later and the need to tell the difference between the two 45 colt rounds used my the Army at the time and adding the LONG makes sense. Both handguns were made by colt and in 45 caliber. " Sgt, give me a box of 45's for my Colt" could get confussing.
As far as I can tell the early colt revolvers did not have a long in the ctg name on the barrels just 45 Colt. I would like to see old Colt catalongs and see when they started to call the 45 Colt, 45 Long Colt.
But the question still remains.
If you are going to load rounds from wild to mild, why not chamber for 454 Cas and just load mild rounds (45 Colt power) in the Cas case? Like many of us do with 44 mag and 357 mag. Load mild to warm special loads in the Mag case.

yooper77 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 05, 2011, 05:46:11 PM »

I feel all cartridges are easy too keep straight as long as people refer to them with the correct name.

45 A.C.P. is another cartridge sometimes improperly called the 45 Auto, but there is a 45 Auto Rim also.

Yes I know about the shorter 45 Colt.

I also heard about the Cowboy 45 Special.
http://www.cowboy45special.com/cowboy45brass.html

yooper77

kynardsj · « **Reply #19 on:** December 05, 2011, 11:54:18 PM »

I also know that "45 Long Colt" is what I would call slang for the 45 Colt. I've called it 45 Long Colt for as long as I can remember but know that if you buy some then 45 Colt would be on the label. I did think it was pretty interesting that since I ordered the barrel from MGM and told them I wanted it in a 45 Long Colt, that's what they put on the outside of the barrel. MGM 45 Long Colt. Suited me just fine.

yooper77 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 06, 2011, 01:42:43 AM »

Quote from: kynardsj on December 05, 2011, 11:54:18 PM

I also know that "45 Long Colt" is what I would call slang for the 45 Colt. I've called it 45 Long Colt for as long as I can remember but know that if you buy some then 45 Colt would be on the label. I did think it was pretty interesting that since I ordered the barrel from MGM and told them I wanted it in a 45 Long Colt, that's what they put on the outside of the barrel. MGM 45 Long Colt. Suited me just fine.

Well the paying customer is always right!

yooper77

anachronism · « **Reply #21 on:** December 06, 2011, 01:45:21 PM »

Whew! I was a bit concerned that I might start a war with my "long colt" post. It's so nice to converse with adults.