I'm new around here (got to start somewhere) and was wondering if others might to able to help me....

I want to reload for my Henry 45 Colt (Big Boy X model), and had a few questions;
1. Does anyone here have experience reloading with the Hornady 225gr FTX?
2. Regarding the 225gr bullet do you think Accurate No 5 would work (because I have it)? If No 5 would work, what charge for the Big Boy X?
3. Would another powder be better?

Looking to develop a light/fun load and a hunting load. Would like the 225gr TFX to be my hunting load and yes I'm a little recoil sensitive - LOL.

Thoughts from this group would be appreciated.

I just ordered a box of the same bullets from Midway as blems so I'll be working up a load as well.
Go to the Western Powders site and download their load manual for free, Accurate #5 will do fine in a 45 Colt.
You might want to pull your bullet seater and see how the bullets line up. The Hornady dies will work with any bullet shape made but other die sets might not.

Welcome to the "fire!!

Thanks for the input, I just pulled the target on a RCBS die set I'll make sure to review the seater. Now I just need to find a shell holder! Keep me posted on your results....

Don’t forget to trim your brass. The FTX requires shorter than spec brass. Hornady reloading manual will help you out.

I read the trim requirements, just curious if that's a requirement for a lever action rifle specifically the Henry Big Boy X model. Any experience with this?

It is suggested by Hornady for all firearms loading the FTX bullets.

Cast boolit plinker load ?

Get some Trailboss........never a double charge

Fun tin can plinker load !

I cast and load for my Henry 45 Colt. AA 5 works well.

I would think that any bullet up to 260 grains or so will work well in a Henry Big Boy Brass or Steel at standard .45 Colt velocities. With the 1:16 twist, it should stabilize even heavier bullets well.

Henry Big Boys have a reputation for fine accuracy, and the one that I examined appeared to have deeper cut rifling than my Marlin .45 Colt 1894CB in .45 Colt. The deeper rifling and faster twist should increase accuracy.

The Marlin 1894C in .45 Colt has a slow 1:38 twist and seems to prefer the Federal/American Eagle 225 grain JSP load for accuracy, which isn't surprising when you consider that this twist was intended for the original .44-40 / 205 grain loading at around 1250 FPS. (Standard .45 Colt loads only run around 1100 FPS from a 20 inch barrel.)

Personally, I would stick with a standard JSP or JHP bullet for hunting with .45 Colt.
The FTX bullets seem to be all about spitzer bullet accuracy at higher velocities, which is exactly the opposite of what .45 Colt is all about.

For a plinking load, you would want cast lead bullets for economy.

AA#5 loads listed in Lyman 48th Reloading manual under .45 Colt rifle
225 grain JHP / 11.2 grains at 1170 FPS / 11.8 grains at 1258 FPS.
250 grain XTP/HP / 10.9 grains at 1124 FPS / 11.5 grains at 1217 FPS.
250 grain Lyman 452664 cast / 10.5 grains at 1133 FPS.

The AA#5 loads seem to be listed for every .45 Colt bullet type and weight, so I would think that it is a pretty versatile powder for this, but I have never used it. The burning rate chart lists it between HS-6 and UNIQUE, so it is in good company.

My preference is for Hodgdon UNIVERSAL, which is very similar to Alliant UNIQUE, which was and is the standard .45 Colt powder for many many years. But, I would think that AA#5 will work very well.

I want to just check back in and say thanks for everyone's input. All the parts have finally come in, time to load some and see the performance. I'm going to be working with #5 with 225 FTX (sized) and 250 JHP to start with. I'll let you know how things progress.

I have a Chaparral arms 1866 in 45 colt that requires standard loads. My latest load is a 255gr cast swc in front of 7.2grs of Winchester 231. We'll see how it does. It's kinda top end for a standard loading. Hodgdon Titegroup performed well also