Henry Rifle Forums

I recently was able to get myself a X Model in 45 LC

I am looking to see what kind of accuracy people have had with theirs

I'm using the 225 FTX currently. Really wanting to make it as accurate as possible.

I'm handloading exclusively. Currently I am using H110 and Fed 155 primers. My groups are decent, but I want to see how tight I can get it.

Looking at trying H4227. Of course, as most handloaders want, looking for max fps and max accuracy.

Anyone have any good recipes that they have found? I want to be able to hunt deer and hog to 100+ yards with this setup.


I know the leverguns can be super accurate. My H010 45-70 loaded with the Lehigh Defense extreme penetrator are 1" groups using a 2-7 scope.

Congrats on the X model. I also recently got a .45 Colt Henry. It's a steel side gate and it was made Nov 2.That's recent. I first tried it out with a Lee 255 gr. powder coated and sized .452" over 8.8 gr of Unique. These were loads for my Ruger Bisley. There's nothing magic about .8 part of that load...it's what my #18 rotor throws on a Little Dandy powder measure. I mounted a 2moa Gen 2 UltraDot on the rifle and it will print golf ball size groups on the 50 yard swinger. Going to the next rotor size at 9.3 grain opened the groups up a little for the cast bullet but did real well with a 250 gr. XTP. Recoil and bark at this level is very mild and it's a pleasant range gun. I'd estimate velocity at about 1100 or so but haven't clocked them yet.

While I've gone to higher horsepower loads for the revolver I can't help you yet with heavies for the Henry. For deer hunting next fall I'll probably use 2400 and maybe the 300 gr. Lee RF cast soft and powder coated. The Lee will function in a Henry but a 300 gr. RCBS will be too long. For jacketed bullets at full throttle you might want to check out the XTP 240 gr which was designed for the .454 and won't require case trimming. The 250 XTP might unravel too fast for hunting.

You certainly have an outstanding dance partner with your .45/70 load. I had a Ruger #1 that would shoot that well but it prefered the heavier bullets and the best loadings kicked the daylights out of me. She's gone now.

When you find your accuracy load please share.

I own 2 45 cal. rifles, but neither is a Henry.
I played a little last Summer with the 2 and the 250xtp's over 2400.
Neither rifle is scoped and these were shot at 55 yds.
The best group in the Rossi.
And the best with the Marlin Cowboy.
RP

Well I have the 45 X and LOVE it! My results are a 255 gr. Xtreme plated bullet loaded with 6.0 gr. Red Dot gives me great accuracy with the factory sights out to 50 yds. even with a suppressor screwed on. My favorite plinking load. For other duties the 250 gr. XTP bullet is great with Unique.

Also have a Henry BB steel in .45 Colt. My prefered load is 8.0-8.5gr Unique and 250gr coated rnfp Missouri bullet. Very accurate load. I do have a Leupold 2-7x33mm shotgun scope on it, but, that rifle delivers.

Rifletom wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 11:03 am

Also have a Henry BB steel in .45 Colt. My prefered load is 8.0-8.5gr Unique and 250gr coated rnfp Missouri bullet. Very accurate load. I do have a Leupold 2-7x33mm shotgun scope on it, but, that rifle delivers.

Pretty close to this, with cast around 8.5-8.8 of Unique in either.
I thought the OP was asking about jacketed stuff only.
For some reason I don't remember, but I'm sure I tried the Red dot as it shoots well in the revolvers.

RP

I've got a number of threads on this. I've played a bit with the FTX bullets and have not found a load I like with, bullseye, long shot, clean shot, titegroup. I have some loaded with 4227 and be86 but have not printed them.

Titegroup has been the most consistent for me. Though clean shot is a near-close second.

For the rifle, my best groupings were with Matt's 265 grn fp, and cast performance 300-grain fp. With clean shot i am seeing 1.5" groups from them at 50 yds.
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=13208

I've never used any of the FTX bullets mainly because they're never on the shelf at any of the local shops. With the pointed nose it would seem like the BC would be higher than other .452" bullets but upon looking in manual that's not the case.

I've used the factory Hornady Leverevolution .45 colt ammo. It uses the 225 gr FTX bullet. According to Hodgdon the Hornady Leverevolution ammo uses Hodgdon Leverevolution powder. I got good performance. My only complaints, cost of factory ammo and reuse of the brass in reloading. The case is shorter so have to keep this brass separate from other colt 45 brass.