.45 Long Colt in Trapper Carbine...

S

swifter...

New member
I'm seriously contemplating one of these, and while I have loads and lots of data for my 25-5, there is a dearth of info on loads for a '94 Winchester with a 16" tube.
Anyone got any data they'd share? Any thoughts on the subject?

Also, if I go this route, I'm going to put an Ashley ghost ring on it. Any experiences there would be appreciated!:D

TIA,
Tom
 
Being completely bias on the subject, I would say the Trapper is a great little carbine. I've had mine for about 4 years and bought it to keep my Blackhawk company.

I'm still working on a load for both the Blackhawk and the Trapper. I'm presently using Unique powder, a 250 gr. Hornady XTP/JHP, Fed. 150 primers in Win. cases. The last load was 8.5 gr. of Unique which appeared to be starting to push the pressure envelope in the Blackhawk. It was pushing that 250 grainer at an average 1233fps out of the Blackhawk's 4 5/8" barrel but a couple of the primers backed out a little and the case heads showed some flattening. I think I'll back off to 8.0 gr. and see what happens. According to Lyman's 47th, the max. load of Unique should be 9.3 gr. but I'm now a little leary of going more than maybe 8.3. For my peace of mind, do not use this load info without working up to it.

BTW, you might want to take that 1233fps with a grain of salt. It is an average of 12 shots over a Shooting Chrony Beta but that 8.5gr should not produce that velocity. It should be somewhere around 800fps.

Were I you, I would stick with one load for both the Trapper and 25-5 so as to not have one load too stout for one or the other. Mix-ups are bound to happen to the best of us.

Can't comment on the Ashley, don't have one.
 
Well, I don't post loads on the web. But considering the limitations of the 25-5, I'd just stick with whatever max load you use in the 25-5 and let it go at that. Watch out for jams when using Keith syle semi-wadcutters. I have the 94 full length carbine in .45LC, and they will jam. Look at one of the LBT style flat nose bullets. I have one for the .44 mag. at 240 gr. It's the most accurate bullet I have in the .44. The same style bullet should work well in a Mod. 94.
Paul B.
 
swifter,

Most any good load for the handguns will work OK in the Trapper, just experiment to find one it likes. I use 8.5 grains of Universal Clays with 250 cast lead for a Trapper, and Blackhawk, good standard velocity load, per Speer and others. If you are looking for hotter loads, go to the Blackhawk / Contender section of various loading manuals, and it will handle those fine. DO NOT use Blackhawk only loads in your Smith!!

John Marshall,

You might want to check that Unique charge weight. I have loaded all the way up to 10.5 grains behind 260 grain Speer JHP (Max load for Blackhawk / TC ONLY in Speer manual), and have had absolutly no pressure signs at all. Also, as you said, velocity is WAY high. (874fps@8.5gr. Unique w/260 gr. per Speer #11) Sounds like the scale is off, or powder is mis-labeled. :eek:

Happy Shootin'... Mac
 
swifter:

I would encourage you to heed Mac's advice about loading for the 25-5.

Mac:

You're absolutely right about the velocity. I originally suspected the Chrony but it performed properly with some Fed. GMM .308 I also shot that day so I ruled it out.

When I got home, I did put the scale (a Dillon electronic) through a test with the check weight and it was right on. The next test was for the powder measure, a Redding 3BR. I reset the micrometer to the charge setting I had used, or thought I had, during the original loading session. It was throwing 8.5 gr +/- 0.1 gr over 25 throws.

That left the powder. It is in the original cannister and is also the powder I use for my .45ACP practice rounds and they perform exactly as they should, so that's not the problem.

I am left with the almost inescapable conclusion that I mis-set the 3BR to start with and must have been throwing somewhere around 11.5 gr. I come to this because I have seen a published load of 11.3 gr. of Unique producing 1160fps with a 250 gr XTP.
 
I also have a Winchester 94 in 45LC that I've begun to reload for. I am using a standard load that is safe in all modern revolvers. The loading is a 255 gr. SWC over 7.2 grs. of WW 231 at about 875-900fps. I've looked all over for information on loading a hotter round for the 94 carbine but have only come across data for the TC Contender. Before trying any of that data in my 94 I would rather hear from someone who has tried a hotter load in the Winchester 94. I guess I'd be happy with about 1050 fps or so since my present load and all commercial loadings seem rather wimpy. BTW, I've got the Williams FP-94SE adjustable aperture sights and am quite pleased with them.
 
tuc22,

I have been using the loads listed for Blackhawk & Contender only in my Trapper. These are 30,000 CUP loads listed in some of the loading manuals. I have found no signs of excess pressure, and have also seen the same loads listed for the Win 94, and Marlin 94. I also am using the FP94, but in the older version (all they made back in '85), and it is an excellent sight.

glockten,

You might want to contact Cor-Bon about compatability of their loads.
http://www.cor-bon.com
 
Ditto Rogermac's comments regarding the Unique load in .45 Colt. I load with about 9.5 grains of Unique in new brass, a little less in older brass. I've never had any pressure signs and I don't get velocities that high with a 255 gr. bullet. I'd say you've got a problem with your scales. You can get away with a lot of cheap reloading equipment, but the advice I've had is spend to as much as possible on the scales.

BTW, I use my loads in both my Ruger and my Winchester '94. No problems at all so far. Recoil on the '94 is minimal, and it shows no signs of stress. Reloading manuals may be worried about the modern vs. original '94 problem. A weapon made in the 19th century is going to be a *very* different beast than one made in the 21st, even if the designs are identical.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top