Velocity gains in .45 colt in long guns?

[rjwinz]

Curious as to the average gain in velocity of the .45 colt in a long gun? I know the hotter .357 magnum cartridge benefits greatly from being shot from a Marlin or Winchester levergun, usually about 500-600 fps. Is there a similar gain with a stout .45 colt?

 

[Sagebrush Burns]

Using the same load (260 grain lead bullet, 7.0 W-231) in 7 1/2" revolvers and 20" rifles, my velocities are running 850 fps in the revolvers and 1025 fps in the rifles.

 

[SweetWilliam]

Not sure but if using a slower burning powder like H110/296 you would probably see a bigger jump in velocity then when using 231.

 

[tsubaki]

I tested some factory 250gr cast through the chronograph with a Colt replica and a 24" Winchester 1892.
The published factory velocity was 725fps, which the replica almost matched perfectly. The rifle spit them out at 980fps.

I'm reloading some 250gr XTP's with 18.0gr of 2400 and am averaging 1440fps in the 24" barrel. I can only hazard to guess what the pistol velocity would be, being this load is beyond the replica data.
Depending on what data you look at it should run between 1000-1100fps for a revolver.

 

[DGW1949]

Curious as to the average gain in velocity of the .45 colt in a long gun? I know the hotter .357 magnum cartridge benefits greatly from being shot from a Marlin or Winchester levergun, usually about 500-600 fps. Is there a similar gain with a stout .45 colt?

I would guess that due to the .45 cal bore having a larger barrel displacement per inch of length, that the gains you'll see with pistol ammo will be somewhat less than is commonly seen with a similar rifle which has a .36 cal bore.
Still though, it is worth pursuing......meaning that my experience with using a .45LC Rossi '92 Carbine with SAAMI-spec ammo has shown it's heavier/fatter/slower bullet to have the same effect on deer/hogs as my 30-30's lighter/skinnier/faster bullet when used at similar distances. In other words, ithe .45LC works perty-dern good in a rifle......and much moreso than it's "paper ballistics" suggest.

Then again, one can shift powders 'n loadings around and come up with enough differences in the two (.36 VS .45) to utterly cloud the issue relative to direct comparisons.....so I guess, it "all depends".

Confused yet? :lol: .

DGW

 

[stevemb]

There is not a similar gain. But a gain none the less. In .357 seems AA#9 amongst others the way to go. In .44mag., my manuals say to expect 2-300 fps gain. In .44mag, slightly different bore size ans SAAMI specs. handgun vs longgun, caution ! When going to .45 Colt, am not sure where this leaves you. I have no knowledge of "Ruger only" for lever gun data, and would not play that game without firm data. Paco Kelley(Kelly ?) would be the place to querry.Others here with info and data.

 

[rjwinz]

Thanks all. It does seem like the .357 magnum round gains the most from use in a long gun, followed by the .41 magnum and .44 magnum. I have a Winchester 94 in .357 with a Williams receiver sight; helps the old eyes some.

 

[cherokeetracker]

rjwinz The 357 gains the most from a rifle or carbine. Not sure about the 41 or 44 , or 45 because I did not chronograph them. But they are certainly a lot of fun to shoot out of the rifles. I'll bet that 500 mag is faster too. It is easier to hit 100 yds with the carbine, than holding the Big S&W .... LOL

 

[Bucks Owin]

Not sure but if using a slower burning powder like H110/296 you would probably see a bigger jump in velocity then when using 231.

Absolutely! No doubt about it... :wink:

 

[Laserbait]

Curious as to the average gain in velocity of the .45 colt in a long gun? I know the hotter .357 magnum cartridge benefits greatly from being shot from a Marlin or Winchester levergun, usually about 500-600 fps. Is there a similar gain with a stout .45 colt?

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/45colt.html

 

[tsubaki]

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/45colt.html

Thanks for posting that link!
I've had a couple of people argue that comparisons with the same round will show an increased velocity of "X" feet per second per inch with the rifle barrel compared to the pistol.
Well, it depends.
Looking at the 45acp chart, my differences were almost identical.

A batch of 230gr FMJ and 10.0gr of Blue Dot produced these velocities with 4 different barrels.

A Colt 1911 with a 5" barrel (probably shot out) kept producing a wild string from 785-865fps.
The same 1911 with a 7" barrel nice averages of 980fps.
A 5" XD Tactical nice averages of 880fps.
And a 16 1/2" carbine nice averages of 1063fps.

 

[rjwinz]

Thanks for that link. Looking at the Muzzle Energy chart for .357 magnum and .41 magnum out of the longer guns. Impressive.

 

[Laserbait]

A Colt 1911 with a 5" barrel (probably shot out) kept producing a wild string from 785-865fps.
The same 1911 with a 7" barrel nice averages of 980fps.

7" Barrel 1911? You have an AMT Hardballer Longslide too? 8)

 

[tsubaki]

7" Barrel 1911? You have an AMT Hardballer Longslide too? 8)

Nah, It's a rusty, rebuilt, restamped serial number, Colt Government Model.

 

[Laserbait]

7" Barrel 1911? You have an AMT Hardballer Longslide too? 8)

Nah, It's a rusty, rebuilt, restamped serial number, Colt Government Model.

Ahhh, that's still cool though!

 

[okie44]

A Colt 1911 with a 5" barrel (probably shot out) kept producing a wild string from 785-865fps.
The same 1911 with a 7" barrel nice averages of 980fps.

7" Barrel 1911? You have an AMT Hardballer Longslide too? 8)

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[tsubaki]

Much much cooler okie!!

 

[sliclee]

ANY pistol cartridge when fired in a rifle will usually increase velocity of about 30 ish feet per second every inch. Lee

 

[Laserbait]

A Colt 1911 with a 5" barrel (probably shot out) kept producing a wild string from 785-865fps.
The same 1911 with a 7" barrel nice averages of 980fps.

7" Barrel 1911? You have an AMT Hardballer Longslide too? 8)

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

That is a fine one! Mine is almost exactly the same, with a few scuffs, and the Hogue wrap around grips!