Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Henry 45 Colt range day

I recently bought a Henry X rifle in 45 Colt. I loaded up test loads and got to the range today for testing. I was happy with how it performed.

The gun is scoped with a Leupold 1-4x20 shotgun scope. All loads were in Starline brass with WLP primers. Hornady 250gr. XTP bullets were used. Groups were at 100 yards.

I believe the AA#9 load was the most accurate, but I've got more H110 powder. Any one of these loads will work.

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Good job!

I'd be happy with any of those.

Excellent work. All those loads will work great at the distances you'd use that rifle at. That's great shooting for any pistol caliber lever gun.

Mine is just as accurate with a Burris Fastfire installed. It's a shame, I haven't shot that rifle in over a year and it doesn't look like I'll shoot it this year either.

I literally just finished loading 500 rounds with the AA#9 load. I'll go to the range Monday and center up the zero.

I had not planned on taking it to Mississippi, but I had so much fun shooting it, I can't leave it behind. I've got several stands that are well within the Colt's range.

Well done sir. FYI Starline had .45 Colt brass in stock the last time I looked

https://www.starlinebrass.com/45-colt-brass

Looks like it's now on back order status again. 90% of the time they ship within a few weeks though.

Thanks for the info and link. Fortunately, I've been building my supply for awhile and am well stocked.

Very nice, your Henry is a real shooter!

That's some great shooting. Those would be great groups at 50 yards.

Went to the range today and finished sighting in. I didn't shoot as tight a group as the first one, but it's still good. I'm very happy the Leupold scope adjusted accurately. The gun is ready.

An update on the 45 Colt load. I used it this past weekend to take a doe in Mississippi. The shot was at 78 paces. I had a quartering shot. Hit it at the base of the neck and exited the right rib cage. Dropped where it stood.

About 12 inches of penetration with about a one inch exit hole. I am very pleased with the accuracy of the handload for the Henry and the performance of the bullet on my one example.

aboltfan, a friend has one of these and it is a real deer killing machine with those 250s at 1800 fps.

Have you checked the speed of any of your loads?

Based on my example of one, it is a deer killer.

I did not chronograph any of these loads. Based on load data, they should all be doing 1700-1800 fps.

Friends long shot calculated by bullet drop was about 180 yards, the 250 broke both shoulders and made an exit. Heavily bloodied 30 yard recovery.

I wouldn't shoot that far, just wanted to let you know the results.

They are short but Mighty!