I have a friend who recently purchased a reproduction Henry rifle in .45 Colt. He would like to use it to hunt deer next season, but Colorado requires a minimum of 1000 ft lbs of impact energy at 100 yards for rifle. All the data we are finding is for pistols and doesn't even come close to that kind of energy. Is it possible to get that kind of energy out of this rifle or is his hunting with it going to be just a pipe dream. He doesn't have a pistol in this caliber, so no problem about getting the ammo screwed up.

FWIW....... When I crono'd .45 Colt pistol loads in a 16" M94 I found that my pistol loads averaged +300 fps faster. So add 300 fps and see how the data looks at 100 yds.

I'm not familiar with the strength of the Henry rifle if it's comparable to a M94 you can hotrod the .45 Colt quite a bit. Your NOT going to turn it into a .454 Cassull though.

FN in MT

Unfortunately, my hunch is the state will require this to be a published production loading.

I don't know that for certain so please check on me, but that is usually how most states operate.

I've used both my .45 Colt Ruger and my .45 Colt carbine for deer (grandkids love them with light practice loads). If your friend can call "Henry" on Tuesday and see if the rifle will accept the Cor-Bon or one of the other .45 Colt +P loads, you're all set. Handloads for my guns DO get a little warm and definitely exceed the Colorado minimums.

Mark, I agree with what you are saying and I'm trying to help my friend. I've got emails into ammo manufactures to see if they have done any test data with carbine style rifles in .45 Colt but none have responded to me yet. Even the +P rounds out there barely have muzzle energy over 1000-ft lbs. I think trying to find ammo the will make the 1000-ft lb mark at 100 yards is going to be difficult but if I can find one then my friend is good to go.

My friend thinks that he can reach this mark by reloading his cartridges. Unfortunately most of the data he is finding is for pistols and cowboy action shooting which is anemic at best for rifle season. He was hoping I could find some data using slower burning powders than the normal pistol powders to take advantage of his longer barrel.

I wont post my loads here, but do a web search for 45 colt loads using H-110 and 300 grain bullets. If that wont get it done at 100 yards it can't be done.

25+ years ago, I worked up a load for a '73 Winchester (Modern mfg[Uberti]/smokeless proofed) in 44-40 using 200 gr Rem .426 @ 2000 fps. You do things like this CAREFULLY and at your own risk! However, as already mentioned, most of the loads for which data is provided is safe to shoot in "original" guns and is quite anemic!

I was advised by a G&F Commissioner not to try to get by with doing this. He said even if you could prove a handload capability, the court would most likely only accept "Published" figures by ammo manufacturers. This was just personal advice and not meant to be a legal ruling, but it discouraged me from testing the SYSTEM!

Taylorce,

Try this site www.buffalobore.com

Item 3A: 325 gr. L.B.T.- L.F.N. (1325 fps / M.E. 1267 ft. lbs.)
(Big game up to 1000 lbs.)

I believe this was clocked out of a 7.5" ruger blackhawk, so you can count on more from your henry.

I shoot a 250 gr Hornady XTP HP from my Win 94 16.25" barrel at 1536 fps with 24 gr H110. I consider this a stout load at 22kpsi.

The muzzle energy from that load is 1308 foot pounds
At 100 yards, the energy is down to 775 foot pounds.

In order to get 1000 foot pounds at 100 yards with that bullet, I would need 1766 fps muzzle velocity with that bullet. To get that, I would have to load 27.4 gr H110, 33.9 kpsi.

Someone with a 26" barrel would only need 25.5 gr H110 26.8 kpsi for 1766 fps.

There is no current factory load that I know of that can get you 1000ft# @ 100yds. I wouldn't try & make your HEnry into a Casulle, the frame (brass?) & locking system isn't designed to take the pressure or pounding. If he wants to hunt w/ a 4caliber lever gun, a Marlin in .45-70 would be my choice.

I think the State of Colorado's hunting commission has it's head where the sun won't shine.

There's not a beast that lives on this continant that hasn't been killed with one shot from a .45 Colt.

If I was looking to get as much energy as possible, I'd look at a 300 grain hard cast lead bullet and see how fast I could make it go. There are too many powders available to offer an opinion on that, but I'd go for case density.

My opinion.

Regards,

Eric

I'm not sure where the Colorado DOW has their head but I'm pretty sure the sun still shines on it. We just have to play by their rules, which is definably better than not getting to play at all.

I got a reply from Mike at Cor-Bon and the best that their +P load would do from a carbine style rife was 800-ft lbs at 100 yards. I just need to hear from Buffalo Bore but I'm sure we will get the same results. I think my friend will understand and not push the issue.

We were out calling coyotes the other day and he shot one at about 40 yards with his Henry. I guess that is where he got the idea to hunt deer with it. I got him some data using H110 like everyone suggested and he is already planning to try some new loads. I think he will still be happy with his rifle even if all he can hunt with it is predators and varmints.

Mike over at Cor-Bon responded very quickly to my question. I sent it in on Saturday and got it first thing Tuesday morning. I've never used their product but he gave me some great data and I don't think I'd hesitate to try some of their loads.