45 Colt Reloads for 1873 Army Clone vs 1892 Winchester Clone

[Barmcd]

I've only loaded 45 Colt for my Uberti 1873 clone and use mild loads of Accurate No. 5 that gives me just over 750 FPS using 250 grain Berry's Plated bullets. I just bought a Rossi R92, with a 20" barrel, and the loads listed for it on line are much higher (see chart). I'm only going to shoot steel out to 40-45 yards with the rifle and would like to have one load for both, but don't want to shoot a a hot load out of my Uberti. Is it feasible to use my pistol load, or a slightly hotter version of it, in the Rossi?

 

[Charlie98]

If it works in your '73, it'll work in the 92... The only caveat to that would be the rifling twist, leading to poor accuracy, etc, but that's easy enough to fix.

If you ever decide to run heavier loads in the 92, I would suggest using something like nickle-plated brass for the hotter rounds, something like that, to differentiate them, and keep them out of the '73.

 

[Charlie98]

BTW... congrats on the rifle... a 92 in .45 Colt is one of my firearms on The List to get.

 

[35 Whelen]

Congrats on your Rossi! I have them same as yours except in .357 and .44 Magnum. A couple of things here regarding your .45 Colt.

First, I understand your not needing heavy loads for the shooting you're doing. But those '73 Ubertis are strong, well-built revolvers and will handle the same loads (23K psi) as the Ruger New Vaquero and New Model Blackhawk Convertible. Any "standard" 45 Colt load you choose is going to be fine in both your revolver and carbine.
Second, the powder you're using (No. 5) will work for lighter loads but is really at its best with heavier loads. For loads such as yours, that is running a 250 gr. bullet around 750 fps from your revolver, one of the faster burning powders will be far more efficient and give similar velocities using almost half as much powder. For light loads with a 250 gr. cast bullet I use powders such as Red Dot, 700-X, Bullseye, IMR-Target, Clay, Clay Dot, etc. These powders require only 5.5-6.0 gr. to achieve 750 fps with said bullet and such light charges will let a fella get 1200-1300 rounds from a pound of powder.

Have fun with your new rig!

35W

 

[Barmcd]

If it works in your '73, it'll work in the 92... The only caveat to that would be the rifling twist, leading to poor accuracy, etc, but that's easy enough to fix.

If you ever decide to run heavier loads in the 92, I would suggest using something like nickle-plated brass for the hotter rounds, something like that, to differentiate them, and keep them out of the '73.

Good idea! Thanks!

 

[Barmcd]

Congrats on your Rossi! I have them same as yours except in .357 and .44 Magnum. A couple of things here regarding your .45 Colt.

First, I understand your not needing heavy loads for the shooting you're doing. But those '73 Ubertis are strong, well-built revolvers and will handle the same loads (23K psi) as the Ruger New Vaquero and New Model Blackhawk Convertible. Any "standard" 45 Colt load you choose is going to be fine in both your revolver and carbine.
Second, the powder you're using (No. 5) will work for lighter loads but is really at its best with heavier loads. For loads such as yours, that is running a 250 gr. bullet around 750 fps from your revolver, one of the faster burning powders will be far more efficient and give similar velocities using almost half as much powder. For light loads with a 250 gr. cast bullet I use powders such as Red Dot, 700-X, Bullseye, IMR-Target, Clay, Clay Dot, etc. These powders require only 5.5-6.0 gr. to achieve 750 fps with said bullet and such light charges will let a fella get 1200-1300 rounds from a pound of powder.

Have fun with your new rig!

35W

Thanks for the info on the other powders. I loaded several different powders I had on hand, some to 900 FPS, but the recoil was more than I wanted to shoot.

 

[gwpercle]

The model 73 is in theory a weaker design than the sliding block model 92 ... if you want one load for both rifles it will have to be your best 73 load .

But why handicap yourself with the weaker load . Use a different bullet and load to the model 92's potential . The 45 Colt in the model 92 rifle can be a very formidable round ... wild hog for sure and deer with a careful placed shot .
Don't handicap yourself ... load up that Sweet Model 92 and do some shooting !
Always had a Sweet Spot for the model 92 ... My Uncle lert me shoot his 32-20 when I was a boy and it was Love at First Shot !
Gary

 

[Barmcd]

The model 73 is in theory a weaker design than the sliding block model 92 ... if you want one load for both rifles it will have to be your best 73 load .

But why handicap yourself with the weaker load . Use a different bullet and load to the model 92's potential . The 45 Colt in the model 92 rifle can be a very formidable round ... wild hog for sure and deer with a careful placed shot .
Don't handicap yourself ... load up that Sweet Model 92 and do some shooting !
Always had a Sweet Spot for the model 92 ... My Uncle lert me shoot his 32-20 when I was a boy and it was Love at First Shot !
Gary

I'm not talking about two rifles, but an 1873 Army SA pistol and an 1892 Winchester rifle.

 

[35 Whelen]

The model 73 is in theory a weaker design than the sliding block model 92 ... if you want one load for both rifles it will have to be your best 73 load .

But why handicap yourself with the weaker load . Use a different bullet and load to the model 92's potential . The 45 Colt in the model 92 rifle can be a very formidable round ... wild hog for sure and deer with a careful placed shot .
Don't handicap yourself ... load up that Sweet Model 92 and do some shooting !
Always had a Sweet Spot for the model 92 ... My Uncle lert me shoot his 32-20 when I was a boy and it was Love at First Shot !
Gary

I think his '73 is a revolver, not a rifle.

35W

 

[Art30/30]

I use 8.5 grains of Unique in my Uberti, Vaquero and Henry 45 Colt with 255 grain lead cast bullets. It’s a handful in the Uberti! I like to use the same loads so as not to confuse myself. Especially in your application. You’re going to have a lot of fun with that rifle!

 

[Mostly Lead]

I've only loaded 45 Colt for my Uberti 1873 clone and use mild loads of Accurate No. 5 that gives me just over 750 FPS using 250 grain Berry's Plated bullets. I just bought a Rossi R92, with a 20" barrel, and the loads listed for it on line are much higher (see chart). I'm only going to shoot steel out to 40-45 yards with the rifle and would like to have one load for both, but don't want to shoot a a hot load out of my Uberti. Is it feasible to use my pistol load, or a slightly hotter version of it, in the Rossi?

Nothing to lose with trying that mild load. If it's accurate enough for your purposes - great! There's a sweet spot somewhere for "good" performance, but those two guns deserve their own loads for "best" performance...

But again - try the mild load and see if you like it.

 

[Charlie98]

I'm not talking about two rifles, but an 1873 Army SA pistol and an 1892 Winchester rifle.

Ha! I just assumed it was a '73 rifle... so you see what you get when you assume.

Circling back around, I would agree that anything over that 900fps mark quickly becomes 'unfun' in a SA revolver. I had a Ruger Vaquero for a while, and while it could certainly handle the stout loads, it wasn't something I pursued. My normal load was 9.5grn Unique under a 250-255grn cast bullet, for 800fps or thereabouts. That same load in the H&R (Classic Hunter) ran 1100fps... which is no slouch, either... which makes me think your pistol load should work well enough in a rifle, at least for general shooting. It's nice, however, to have the potential of the rifle... and the fact that they are just a hoot to shoot.

If you ever decide to go faster in the rifle, IMR4227 or 2400 would be a good candidate.

 

[Barmcd]

I use 8.5 grains of Unique in my Uberti, Vaquero and Henry 45 Colt with 255 grain lead cast bullets. It’s a handful in the Uberti! I like to use the same loads so as not to confuse myself. Especially in your application. You’re going to have a lot of fun with that rifle!

Yeah, that hand-full is what I'm trying to avoid!

 

[Barmcd]

Ha! I just assumed it was a '73 rifle... so you see what you get when you assume.

Circling back around, I would agree that anything over that 900fps mark quickly becomes 'unfun' in a SA revolver. I had a Ruger Vaquero for a while, and while it could certainly handle the stout loads, it wasn't something I pursued. My normal load was 9.5grn Unique under a 250-255grn cast bullet, for 800fps or thereabouts. That same load in the H&R (Classic Hunter) ran 1100fps... which is no slouch, either... which makes me think your pistol load should work well enough in a rifle, at least for general shooting. It's nice, however, to have the potential of the rifle... and the fact that they are just a hoot to shoot.

If you ever decide to go faster in the rifle, IMR4227 or 2400 would be a good candidate.

I agree that I'm probably going to need two different loads to maximize the potential of the rifle without making the Uberti too uncomfortable to shoot, but I also want a load I can shoot in both accurately and comfortably.

 

[Art30/30]

My 12 and 14 year old shoot it. I didn’t mean handful as in obnoxious to shoot but at about 850 fps it closely imitates the original BP load. If you remember old Skeeter Skeleton, his standard was 9.0 Unique.

I guess I should rephrase that. It is not a popcorn cowboy load, but a reasonable load that lets you take full advantage of the 45 Colt.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I've only loaded 45 Colt for my Uberti 1873 clone and use mild loads of Accurate No. 5 that gives me just over 750 FPS using 250 grain Berry's Plated bullets. I just bought a Rossi R92, with a 20" barrel, and the loads listed for it on line are much higher (see chart). I'm only going to shoot steel out to 40-45 yards with the rifle and would like to have one load for both, but don't want to shoot a a hot load out of my Uberti. Is it feasible to use my pistol load, or a slightly hotter version of it, in the Rossi?

View attachment 1189164

I’m surprised Blue Dot didn’t make their list. I had a Uberti 7-1/2” SAA 7th Cavalry commemorative and 11gr of BD under a 250gr cast was good for 900fps and it was a good long push, not a hard snap. I never tried it in a rifle but my neighbor did and he said it made his ’94AE shoot like a real rifle. I have seen BD available recently but it weren’t cheap. If you want a stout load that’s good in both guns that’s another option to consider.

 

[Charlie98]

I agree that I'm probably going to need two different loads to maximize the potential of the rifle without making the Uberti too uncomfortable to shoot, but I also want a load I can shoot in both accurately and comfortably.

It all depends on what you want out of it. FWIW, I have my standard 8grn Unique load for my .41MAG pistols... that shoots just as good out of the rifle. The paper or steel can't tell it's not going 1700fps, I save powder, and it's fun. I DO have loads that maximize the longer barrel of the Marlin... using IMR4227. Those loads are intended to ring steel at distances... I've shot it out to 600yds before with good success... something the Unique load can't do.

I have seen BD available recently but it weren’t cheap.

IMR4227 is nearly it's equivalent... or even Alliant 2400... but the last 8# of IMR4227 was only $279, although I suspect that will change in the next few weeks if it hasn't already.

 

[Art30/30]

It all depends on what you want out of it. FWIW, I have my standard 8grn Unique load for my .41MAG pistols... that shoots just as good out of the rifle. The paper or steel can't tell it's not going 1700fps, I save powder, and it's fun. I DO have loads that maximize the longer barrel of the Marlin... using IMR4227. Those loads are intended to ring steel at distances... I've shot it out to 600yds before with good success... something the Unique load can't do.



IMR4227 is nearly it's equivalent... or even Alliant 2400... but the last 8# of IMR4227 was only $279, although I suspect that will change in the next few weeks if it hasn't already.

You have a Marlin 41 mag!! Awesome! I have the 44mag/and a Ruger super Blackhawk combo. I’ve looked for a 41 mag for awhile now but I would have to pawn a kidney to buy it. That is a gem

 

[SNfoilhat]

I have the Rossi 92 & a Ruger Blackhawk both in 45 Colt. For fun plinking rounds I use 6.0 gr of Red Dot over a Federal LPP and a 250 RNFP cast bullet. It is very accurate in both rifle & revolver for me. YMMV

 

[Charlie98]

I sold both kidneys... I have a Marlin .41 AND a Dan Wesson .41...

 

[Barmcd]

I like to buy powder locally to avoid shipping and hazmat fees and the places close to me stock mostly Hogdon and Accurate powders. I rarely see Alliant powders on the shelf so getting something like 2400 is difficult. That's why I end up using CFE Pistol, HP-38 and Accurate No. 5 instead.

 

[Charlie98]

That is a shame... Alliant makes some really, really good pistol powders... but it's true that many of them have been, largely, Unobtanium, and when found, rather expensive. Sometimes you have to make choices! AA#5 has a similar burn rate as Universal and Unique... I'll bet it'll work well in the rifle.

 

[gwpercle]

I'm not talking about two rifles, but an 1873 Army SA pistol and an 1892 Winchester rifle.

Sorry ... My Mistake ... Please disreguard all my comments ...

I went off Half-Cocked ... Again !
Gary

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I like to buy powder locally to avoid shipping and hazmat fees and the places close to me stock mostly Hogdon and Accurate powders. I rarely see Alliant powders on the shelf so getting something like 2400 is difficult. That's why I end up using CFE Pistol, HP-38 and Accurate No. 5 instead.

Local is nice if it’s an option but I suggest not letting what’s on the shelf dictate your loading. Here’s my “local” Bass Pro powder aisle today:

One 12 ounce bottle of Ramshot Competition, a pound of W244, and two of CFE BLK. If I relied on just local supply I would probably stop reloading.

 

[Barmcd]

Local is nice if it’s an option but I suggest not letting what’s on the shelf dictate your loading. Here’s my “local” Bass Pro powder aisle today:
View attachment 1189401
One 12 ounce bottle of Ramshot Competition, a pound of W244, and two of CFE BLK. If I relied on just local supply I would probably stop reloading.

I have a great selection locally, just not many Alliant powders on the shelf. I can buy just about any Hogdon, Accurate or Winchester powder within an hour of my house. Right now I can buy a lb. of Alliant 2400 on line, but with shipping and hazmat its over $100. I can buy Hogdon 110 or Accurate No. 9 locally for $40. I'm not using 2400 at that price.