Heaviest bullet feeding reliably through .45 Colt leverguns?

[AJMD429]

I was looking at the CastPerformance bullets for .45 Colt, and they have all the way up to 395 grain ones, but I'm betting they don't feed in the typical Marlin or Rossi lever action.

What are the heaviest cast bullets people are getting to consistently feed in ordinary .45 Colt leverguns...?

[william iorg]

Forum member 30-30WCF can tell us quite a bit about this.
Here is a link to the thread started by Marlin Collecotr on the use of the Lyman 457122HP bullet in the colt.
I have fed these through the Winchester as-cast without trouble. John has done the same with the Marlin 1894.
The thread starts slow but gets better.

http://www.shootersforum.com/marlin-189 ... m1894.html

[mattbowen]

I have a Rossi 92 and I feed mine 340 that I cast for my 45/70 and size them down to 452 and I have no problems with them.

[O.S.O.K.]

So long as the nose length isn't too long and "properly" shaped, you should be good.

[2ndovc]

I was shooting Cast Performance 300 gr WNGCs through my 1894S Marlin w/o a problem.

jb

[william iorg]

What surprised me was the generous throat on all of the 45 Colt rifles examined by John - 30-30WCF. All of the rifles examined would ccept a .459” bullet.

[Hobie]

I would think that if it was of the proper diameter AND would fit in the case, the COL would be the deciding factor. Now some SWCs might not feed well but they won't be the heaviest for a given length of bullet.

[AJMD429]

I would think that if it was of the proper diameter AND would fit in the case, the COL would be the deciding factor.

You're right, obviously - I am assuming the charge and seating depth are within not-blowing-the-gun-up parameters. I was just going to fiddle around with some heavy-bullet (but not really 'hot') loads in a Blackhawk, but figured I might see if I could stay in a range of weights that would feed in my leverguns too.

[hayabusa]

I have some 335grain swc cast & loaded by Robert Green of Stonewall Bullet Co. He was shooting them out of a Marlin 24 inch 1894. I bought the gun from him & it feeds & ejects flawlessly. The deer I shot a couple of years ago thought it was too much! lol. It is loaded with 13 grains of Accurate #9. I have not Chronographed this load yet. I believe Robert got this load from Accurate Arms Company. It is not a listed load in their Loading Manual. They indicated that it was safe. It shoots fine.
Man it does look like I like to ramble on. lol.
Hayabusa

[Catshooter]

It's not really the weight of the bullet, it's the configuration that protrudes from the case mouth that matters. The gun doesn't know or care how much it weighs.

All guns vary. The only way to know is to try it with yours.


Cat

[Leverluver]

I was disappointed that the pricey BB ammo I bought, stated to be loaded with LBT 325LFN would not work in my Rossi. It was ~ 1/16" too long to work through the action. I really don't have an interest in loading any. Just wanted some large critter loads for the back country.

[Hobie]

I would think that if it was of the proper diameter AND would fit in the case, the COL would be the deciding factor.

You're right, obviously - I am assuming the charge and seating depth are within not-blowing-the-gun-up parameters. I was just going to fiddle around with some heavy-bullet (but not really 'hot') loads in a Blackhawk, but figured I might see if I could stay in a range of weights that would feed in my leverguns too.

And that is for FEEDING and means nothing if the bullet won't stabilize due to the rifling twist rate.

[Old Savage]

Mine feeds 360 Keith SWC bullets fine but I think as Hobie says the OAL is the key.

[william iorg]

.[/quote]And that is for FEEDING and means nothing if the bullet won't stabilize due to the rifling twist rate. [/quote]

30-30 WCF has no trouble shooting long distance using the Gould bullet in his Marlin Cowboy. I shoot the rams with no trouble from the bench at 200-yards. I have more trouble when standing or sitting - wonder why?

[AJMD429]

And that is for FEEDING and means nothing if the bullet won't stabilize due to the rifling twist rate.

Shucks, Hobie, I figured they'd hit harder if by the time they arrived at the target, they were going sideways...

That is part of the problem though, when you go for heavier bullets - they are longer, and thus need faster twist, yet are going to be even slower, due to their weight.

Mostly, I just didn't want to waste money getting ones so heavy to play with that they wouldn't even feed.