Hello,

I acquired a pair of lever guns recently, both new. A Winchester 1886 carbine and a M94 trapper in .44 magnum.

Today I was able to go to the range and chrono a few loads. Thought it might be interesting.

Temp. 76 deg., chrono 12 feet from muzzle. 10 shots.

1886 Carbine, 22 in. Bbl. .45-70 Government

Case- W-W
Primer- CCI LR
Powder- H322
Charge- 49.0 grs.
Bullet- Laser-Cast 405 gr. BB

Vel- 1780, 1773, 1784, 1768, 1811, 1773, 1799, 1766, 1782, 1814. ES- 48, SD- 17, Avg Vel- 1785

M94 Trapper Carbine, 16 in. Bbl. .44 Magnum

Case- Win.
Primer- Win. LP
Powder- H110
Charge- 21.0 grs.
Bullet- Horn. XTP HP, 300 gr.

Vel- 1438, 1449, 1444, 1446, 1449, 1450, 1454, 1454, 1471, 1473. ES- 35, SD- 11, Avg Vel- 1452

Case- Win.
Primer- Win. LP
Powder- H110
Charge- 24.0 grs.
Bullet- Hor. XTP HP, 240 grs.

Vel- 1670, 1642, 1668, 1656, 1658, 1656, 1672, 1670, 1656, 1633. ES- 33, SD- 12, Avg Vel- 1658

Remington Factory load, 180 gr. JSP

Vel- 2129, 2140, 2168, 2140, 2157, 2103, 2143, 2123, 2126, 2129. ES-65, SD- 18, Avg Vel- 2135

Colt Commander, just curious do you prefer the Combat Commander, ie the steel frame or the original Colt Commander with the aluminium frame, what most people now call the light Weight Commander?


Also, in the 44 Mag rifle. My first centerefire rifle was a ruger 44 Mag Deerstalker. I killed a bunch of deer with that gun.

Back in the day 240gr bullets were all that was avialable. I killed several deer with the Winchester, Remington, and later the Federal 240gr factory loads, and with the same bullets, including the Sierra and Speer 240gr bullets over wither 22.5gr of [old 2400], or 24gr of
H-110.

I found that the 44 Mag rifle with those loads kills deer [and the few pigs I have recently shot and seen shot], way better than its paper ballistics would suggest.

A 44 Mag rifle is BAD to the Bone.

N E 450 No1,

Steel. All my handguns are steel.

The trapper is a joy to shoot.Went thru 200 rounds and didn't even realize it.

The 45-70, Wow, recoil is brutal with the steel butt plate. I ordered a new butt and forearm that I will fit with a limbsaver.

I know what you mean about the recoil w/ your 45/70. Had a Browning '86 w/ 22" barrel and no question w/ stout loads it was a bear. Ended up w/ Browning '86 26" heavy octagon barrel and extra weight helped, but that crescent butt can be brutal if not held correctly. Have to say that it is one of my favorite rifles to shoot and when you consider all that energy available in one firearm, a lot of gun!

Commander you. sound like you know what your doing, Those velocities are prety high for hollow point bullets, though.
great for plinking and small stuff, but I would,not shoot a black bear with a hollow point moving that fast.
A good hard cast bullet would be more to my liking...tj3006

tjroberts,
I agree with you about the hollow points in 240 being fast. I have been looking at Speers 240&270gr. DCSP bonded core bullets. Might order some and give them a try. The 270gr. looks like it might be an excellent all around bullet for the .44 in a rifle.