Author Topic: 45 Colt Trajectory.......  (Read 1544 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Steve E

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 413
  • Gender: Male
45 Colt Trajectory.......
« on: December 11, 2004, 06:41:54 PM »
Just out of curiosity what would the 50 yd point of impact be for a 255 gr lead bullet going about 1025 fps at the muzzle out of a 24 inch barrel 45 Colt Lever Action rifle, assuming a 100 yd zero? Thanks for any info.

                                              Steve E........
NRA Endowment Life Member
GOA Life Member
North American Hunting Club Life Member

Offline TNrifleman

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 542
  • Gender: Male
45 Colt Trajectory.......
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2004, 07:00:29 PM »
Just out of curiosity, do you have such a rifle?  
 
Shoot it at 50 yards and you will have the answer that best fits both your particular rifle and your specific ammunition. Generally, "practical" is much more useful than "theoretical" when it comes to firearms. Besides, shooting is fun.

Offline leverfan

  • Trade Count: (8)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 823
Re: 45 Colt Trajectory.......
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2004, 07:08:21 PM »
Quote from: Steve E
Just out of curiosity what would the 50 yd point of impact be for a 255 gr lead bullet going about 1025 fps at the muzzle out of a 24 inch barrel 45 Colt Lever Action rifle, assuming a 100 yd zero?


I make no promises about this info, because you really have to shoot it to be sure, but Hornady says you'll be 4.5" high at 50 yards if you're dead on at 100 with their 255 grain LFP "cowboy" bullet.  If you get out there and shoot it, and chronograph the shots to be sure of the velocity, let us know what your real world experiment shows.
NRA life member

Offline Steve E

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 413
  • Gender: Male
45 Colt Trajectory.......
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2004, 10:17:07 AM »
Thanks Leverfan that's the info I wanted, just a guesstimation. So far I have only been able to shoot out to 50 yds. My loads are going a little over 1000 fps Chronied about 12 ft from the muzzle. I plan on a 75 or 100 yd zero for my reloads of the 255 gr rnfp, the rifle won't feed the 255 swc's. I want to get a deer back home in Ms with it and it would be great in some of the thick creek bottoms. Most deer I have killed back here have been about 85 yds or less.
TNrifleman, It is a Uberti 1860 Henry(Steel frame). Thanks guys for the info, one day I'll make it out to the range again and actually get to shoot it again.

                                              Steve E........
NRA Endowment Life Member
GOA Life Member
North American Hunting Club Life Member

Offline leverfan

  • Trade Count: (8)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 823
45 Colt Trajectory.......
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2004, 10:26:17 AM »
Quote from: Steve E
the rifle won't feed the 255 swc's.........


It's tough to get SWC bullets to feed in a rifle, but crimping at or near the shoulder, rather than in the crimping groove, might solve the problem.  Of course, your rifle will have to be willing to feed a slightly shorter round, so it still might not work. :)

Lots of SWCs have gone through my Marlin 444, and I use a Lee factory crimp die to crimp about .05" down from the shoulder of the wadcutter.  If I use the crimp groove, the shoulder jams into the lands and the round won't chamber.  If the bullet is seated on a heavily compressed charge, like is common with blackpowder loads, then you can just crimp over the top of the shoulder to prevent bullet pull.  Sitting on top of all that compressed powder keeps the bullet from going any deeper, as does the neck tension of the case.

It also sounds like a 75 yard zero might make more sense for the ranges you'll be hunting at.  That will put you about 2" high at 50 yards, and about 4.75" low at 100 yards.  By the time you get out to 150 yards, bullet drop will be 16" for a 100 yard zero, or 23" for a 75 yard zero, so you'll be wanting to keep the shots closer rather than farther, regardless of your chosen zero range.  If you sighted in for an ambitious 150 yards, you'd be shooting dang near a foot high at 75 yards, so that seems like a bad choice, too.  

How do you like that Henry?  Taking a deer with that rifle should be a hoot.  Good luck, and good shooting.
NRA life member

Offline Castaway

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1105
  • Gender: Male
45 Colt Trajectory.......
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2004, 11:05:57 AM »
I shoot a Lee 255 Gr RNFP out of my Trapper at 1520 f/s.  Using a dead-on zero at 50, I'm 8" low at 100 yards

Offline Steve E

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 413
  • Gender: Male
45 Colt Trajectory.......
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2004, 02:25:03 PM »
It would be nicw if I could get that kind of velocity out of my rifle but it's the "toggle action" and can't take the higher pressure.

leverfan

 I really love the Henry(steel), I wouldn't trade it for an 1873 rifle(same action) even with the so called improvements. Can't wait to take a deer or pig with it, maybe even a yote.

                                               Steve E...........
NRA Endowment Life Member
GOA Life Member
North American Hunting Club Life Member

Offline Castaway

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1105
  • Gender: Male
45 Colt Trajectory.......
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2004, 12:50:58 AM »
a 255 grainer at 1000 f/s is plenty for a deer or pig, you don't need to feel undergunned.

Offline darrell8937

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 471
45 Colt Trajectory.......
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2005, 02:04:04 AM »
go to remingtoncountry.com..        remingtons website.. ther is a program called Remington shoot .. It is free and has benn pretty accurate for me. they are of course for their ammo. Shooting is the best way but this help with the theroy. You can vier the data in diffrent ways such as charty, graphs etc. It is useful.. Still you must shoot in the end. I am spoiled as I have a 100 yard range in the back yard as well as a Caldwell Lead sled rest.