I'm going to start a loading project for my SIL's dad who bought a steel frame Big Boy in .45 Colt. The factory rep that I talked to on the phone said it's only rated for standard loads. Buffalo Bore rates it's loads as safe in the Henry.

Does anyone have any experience loading for this rifle/cartridge? I'm going to load Hornady 250 gr. XTP bullets in Starline brass using WLP primers. I would like to load to approximately 1200 fps if safe to do it.

Different model but I have a brass 45 Mares Leg and asked the president Anthony Imperato something similar. He said +P loads are fine for my gun. I would presume they would be fine for a steel frame gun but you may want to email them to see.

The Henry Big Boy .45 Colt is fine with Ruger +P loads. Been doing it for over a year.

Bend,

Which Big Boy are you using and does it have an octagon barrel?

Model H012C, round barrel

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/henry-big-boy-steel/

My goto load:

Cartridge – 45LC
Bullet – 395 grain Cast Performance LBT, .452” gas checked
Case – Starline
Powder – BlueDot, 11 grains
Primer – CCI Large Pistol Magnum
COAL – 1.645” with heavy roll crimp

Henry Big Boy Steel lever action, 20 in barrel mean of 1050 fps. Can go higher but this is nice & mild.

Bend,

Thanks for your reply and loading data. The Henry I'm going to load for is the exact same model. Just got a reply back from the Henry technical dept. and they approved the +p .45 Colt loads.

More data:

The 395g Cast Performance bullet will start to destabilized at about 100 yards when started out at 1050 fps.

Other very good bullet choices are the 300g jacketed for big game:

The .451, 300, Sierra JSP FN – is a very tough bullet that does not expand much even when pushed hard. Most shots at game will be thru & thru.

The Speer .451 Diameter, 300 Grain Jacketed Soft Point – will start to expand at 800 fps and still have thru & thru’s on game.

Both are hard to find currently.

Either bullet can be loaded to an OAL of 1.645” with 16g of BluDot. Slower powders also work.

everybody needs a 45 Colt........lever gun

or two.........

The greatest advantage of the Henry Big Boy Steel .45 Colt lever is the 1:18 twist instead of the usual 1:30+. It will stabilize the heavier/longer bullets.

Thanks for the responses. After getting confirmation from Henry that I could use +P loads I went ahead with the loading project.

I used Unique, AA9 and Lil Gun (the powders I had on hand). The winner in terms of accuracy and velocity was 23.5 gr. Lil Gun. This was the starting loading as listed by Hodgdon. I didn't bring out the chrono but it's listed at 1300 fps from a 7.5 inch revolver. With iron sights we were getting five shots to cluster into one ragged hole at 50 yards.

knocks your hat off eh ?

snappy

Been shooting and loading the .45 for many years.

Rated or not, higher pressures create more accelerated wear.

Most of us don't shoot enough to make a difference we would notice.

If you shoot thousands of rounds, I'd shoot lighter loads. If you sight in and occasionally hunt, the BB is more than up to the task and will give you a lifetime of service.

This were loaded for my SIL's dad. I've loaded him 250 rounds. Between sighting in, some practice and hunting these will last him quite a while. He has some other factory loads to plink with.

The best powder I have found for the 45 Colt is VV 3 N 37. I can duplicate Unique velocitie and accuracy with it and it appears easier on the gun and the shooter. I use VV 3 N 37 to push 255 grain Beartooth cast and 250 grain Berry cast.