Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Plinking with my 20" 45 Colt

I hadn't shot my Rossi 92 for awhile and decided to rectify that this afternoon. I used my standard 45 Colt load (8.5 grains of Universal under a Lee 454-255-RF) which does 1180 fps from the 20" Rossi. I figure if I shoot anything with this rifle it'll be right quick, standing with no rest, so that's the way I shot it. I also wanted to see what the useful range was for this combination so I shot on the big diamond plate. I sprayed a little circle in the middle for an aiming point. One shot from 50 yards (center shot) and two from 100 (on top of each other, left edge of the black).



I connected with a couple from about 150 yards, about 7" lower and a little right. So I fired three from 200 yards, one of which hit the post about a foot below the plate. I swear I could hear Judy Garland singing 'Somewhere, OVER the rainbow...' as I repainted the plate and pushed the sight elevator up a notch.

Five more shots from 200 yards. I'm calling it 3 1/2 hits, with the one that just caught the edge of the plate next to the other one.



Couple of thoughts. This was done with a Rossi OEM front sight about the size of a '78 Buick hubcap, which nearly covers that big plate from 200 yards. The rifle will get a proper 1/16 brass bead on it soon. Also, I ran the numbers for this particular load and bullet through a ballistic calculator. At 200 yards, this load is still hitting as hard from the rifle as it does from my single action at the muzzle. These bullets are pretty soft at 11 BHN. From the revolver, this load smashed a beef rib and expanded a bit on its way through two water jugs and stopped just buried in an old catalog behind them. So it's not something I'd want to catch on the 3rd button of my shirt, even at two football fields.

Nice shooting!

looks like you did some good shootin !

I love those .45's in a 92 action

I've got a Navy Arms 92 in .45 that I had cut back to "trapper" length of 16.5"

Also put a receiver peep sight on it.

Sure makes a handy little rifle for woods walking.

I agree with you, I wouldn't want to get hit by it even out at two football fields away!

Virgil B.

luv my 45 Colt's......

couple older Marlin Cowboys....

20" & one chopped to 16"

nice shootin' !

Nice!!!!

Guess what I will be doing this weekend. Getting an itch. Nice shooting.

Love my 45 Colt's too. I've got a few Ubertis; a SA Army pistol, a 19" '66 Yellowboy carbine, and a 24" '73 Special Sporting rifle. Great shooters with 255gr lead or plated shoot at standard pressure (14,000psi) limit. Nice heft to all and fun to shoot.