I'm not quite sure what the vote is for, but I've shot a ton of 200 & 255gr lead bullets from my 1873. I like 8gr Unique, easy shooting & fills the case well.

Fredj338, I'm not sure what the vote is eigther. What is the MV of that load and do you know the pressure it develops?

No official pressure, but the load is well within specs. for the .45colt. I never chrono it in the rifle for some reason. It makes about 850fps from a 5 1/2" Bisely, add app. 200fps for the 24"bbl. on my 73.
http://recipes.alliantpowder.com/rg.taf?_function=pisto...olt&bulletdescr=250L

Fred according to the Hodgdon information I used to load this one , it states 250gr cast LRNFP .452 dia. COL 1.600" Clays powder 5.1gr 817 FPS Velocity at 13400 CUP

The problem that exist here is that Uberti will not state the safe Pressure level for this rifle, I love the Rifle, and don't want to harm it, but at the same time, I would like for it to preform to it's best level.

Your Uberti will handle anything in the normal pressure range of the .45colt, say 15,000cup. I know guys that have run them hotter, but I see know reason to. One of the reason I stay away from really fast powders, not much room for error pressure wise.

I was thin king of around 14ooo cup load as a max but you indicate a 15000 load could be acceptable, if so great, as I plan to hunt Whitetail with this rascle and I wasn't sure of the preformance out to 100 yds. I know what a 45 ACP will do to a man at 30 ft. but it just ain't the same somehow.

I do thank you for your input and will go to the bench and set up a few loads and try em out.

I have a Cimarron (Uberti) 1873 in .45 Colt and had a Marlin 1894 CBC, too. One of the problems with .45 Colt rifles is that the chambers must be maximum or the short, fat cartridge has trouble feeding. In addition, the 1873 is a toggle-link action and was known to be a weak sister in its day. Materials are better now, but it is still a weak sister.

First--If a rifle is chambered for a cartridge, say .45 Colt, then it must be safe for SAAMI loads. That is the 14,000 psi already quoted, and standard pressure loads are all that I would care to shoot in mine.

Winchester cases are better in rifles because of the large chambers. The large chambers make it difficult to seal the breech at normal pressures and you get more blowback into the action. Dirtier shooting is the order of the day. It is especially bad with lighter bullets and lighter loads, like those used in CAS shooting. The Winchester cases have thinner walls than the Starline. Starline cases are robust. The Winchester cases seal the breech a little better than the Starline and are superior for this application.

That has been my experience, and I have had quite a bit at that. Try Winchester cases up front and you will be happier--even if they are more expensive. My Marlin 1894 now wears a .38-40 barrel because I got tired of trying to get a clean shooting load in .45 Colt.

Read this article.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/45coltlevergun.htm

Now, I have not read this in a few years but unless it's been removed it talks about loads for the toggle guns. I shoot a '66 myself and only shoot cowboy power loads in it. I wouldn't try for anything else. I've seen it put dents in a 1/8" metal plate at 100 yards. I think deer would be safe over 100 but dead at 80 yards or less.

Thanks for the tip I checked it out and after reading the portion on the 1873's I think I will follow the advice and stay under 14000CUP, I had a coup-le of loads that I want to try as soon as my dies show up fo my SDB press. I really appreciate all the help from everyone.

Hay Fred I figured out what the POLL QUESTION was all about. When I posted the question instead od Discussion I sellected POLL.

Of all the things I've lost in my life I miss my mind the most.