45 LC target load for Marlin 1894 - Lyman # 454190

[swifty]

My question is about working up a target load for Lyman # .454190 250 grains cast with Linotype and lubed with liquid Alox,and sized .454.
Most of the load information is for a Pistol with a 1 in 12 twist. My 1894 Marlin cowboy 24 inch barrel has a 1 in 38 twist. Somewhere in my files I have a copy- I can't find it.-of the "Greenhill Forumla" which addresses the question.
A friend gave me a bar of linotype cast a pretty bullet but was hard to run through my Lyman 4500 lube-a-sizer, so I lubed with liquid alox.
I am leaning toward Winchester 296 or H110. Comments or suggestions on amount of powder for a range target load.

[O.S.O.K.]

Your Marlin has a twist rate of 1:38? That would not be stock. Their 44 Magnum barrels have that twist but the 45 LC is 1:18 IIRC.

My Marlin Cowboy .45 LC shoots 300 grain bullets the best - it has the faster twist.

A good target load for them is 7.0 Grains of W231 with the 250 grain bullets - about 1000 fps from the rifle.

Red Dot, Unique, Universal Clays, Trail Boss, etc. are all good target powders.

I've gotten the best consistency with W231 though.

Try 6.8 - 7.2 grains and see how your rifle likes em.

When you say "target" load - I think mild and accurate.

W296/H110 will give excellent accuracy but velocity and recoil go way up. I've found that the most accurate loads with those powders (26 - 26.5 gr.) are near maximum and will give 1700 +/- fps.

[swifty]

You are correct that the Marlin Web site list the twist as 1 in 18 inches.
I ran a tight patch from muzzle to breech with a cleaning rod that revolves,and marked with a piece tape. It only revolved about 3/4 of a turn from muzzle to chamber.
My guess is it must be the old 1 in 38. I could repeat if necessary?
I previously tried 5.5 grains of red dot with a LBT 255 grain LFN bullet and was not impressed at 50 yards.

[meanc]

296/ H-110 are generally used for higher velocity loadings. But everyone has a different idea of what a "target" load is.

I've got one of the older 24" Cowboys and my "target" load is 21gr of 2400 under a 250gr XTP. I can shoot it into an inch at 100yds fairly regularly.

But if you're looking for lower velocity then I'd go with what OSOK said.

[adirondakjack]

In my 24" Marlin, a 250 cast hard runs very nicely with 10 grains of Unique. That's a fairly snappy load at around 1350 fps, but they run right where ya point em.

[J Miller]

My question is about working up a target load for Lyman # .454190 250 grains cast with Linotype and lubed with liquid Alox,and sized .454.
Most of the load information is for a Pistol with a 1 in 12 twist. My 1894 Marlin cowboy 24 inch barrel has a 1 in 38 twist. Somewhere in my files I have a copy- I can't find it.-of the "Greenhill Forumla" which addresses the question.
A friend gave me a bar of linotype cast a pretty bullet but was hard to run through my Lyman 4500 lube-a-sizer, so I lubed with liquid alox.
I am leaning toward Winchester 296 or H110. Comments or suggestions on amount of powder for a range target load.

The Lyman 454190 is the original cast .45 Colt factory duplication bullet. It's been around since just after God created dirt. Linotype is way too hard, and it has two honkin big lube groves that beg for lube.
Drop that alloy down to 20-1 or wheel weights, fill them groves with real bullet lube (the ole NRA 50-50 mix of beeswax and alox works great) and then set it over 7.1grs of 231 and you got a dandy load.

Skip that Greenhill formula you don't need it. That load will shoot great in any .45 Colt that's capable of shooting.

Now, ask J Miller how he knows this .... aw come on, just ask.

OK, I just reread your post. About the friend who gave you the Linotype and you lubesizer. Next batch use the softer alloy. But 7.1grs of 231 will still work great.

You really won't have a target load with 296/H110. With those powders you'll have a full house romper stomper load.

Joe

[O.S.O.K.]

I would agree that this bullet does not need linotype, but at .454", I don't see why it wouldn't shoot very well regardless - the primary thing with cast bullets is attaining a gas seal and a .454" bullet in a .451" bore will do that.

But Joe is right that the traditional recipe is for #2 alloy.

As for the twist rate - could it be that your tip was rotating too? I've never heard of a Marlin cowboy 45LC with 1:38" twist barrel...

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’m thinking about loading some of these sized to .454 for my Marlin Cowboy. But over 8 gr of Unique.

[samsi]

That'll probably work out. Cast from WW and loaded over 8.5 of Power Pistol they were good from my Rossi, was consistently banging on a 200 yard plate with it. Of course the elevator was up in the fourth notch to get there.

[TomF]

I tried the 454190 in my 45 Cowboy but it came nowhere close to the Lee255RF!! Cast of COWW+ 2% Sn, my double cavity Lee 452255RF drops them at .453. I lube with a candle wax/Vaseline mix and load with 10 grs Unique.
This combination is clay target monotony out to the 100 yard backstop. I've taken more than a few axis and wtd with it. Shot a turkey at 85 yards.
I changed the sights to a Marlin Rear Folding and a Skinner up front. All my leverguns have similar sights.
The Lee RF design works equally as well in my 357 Cowboy, 125RF cast of COWW sized at 358, same lube.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I have that mold but I’ve never tried it. It’s a great looking bullet.