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Joined: Aug 2016
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vern21 Offline OP
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As the title says; has anybody tried a 250 grain bullet in a .450 BPE? I know the reccomended bullet is the 300 grn Hornaday bullets, but curious about the 250s since the original load was a 270 grn bullet.

Jim

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One of the original loads was a 270 grain bullet - the lightest.

If you are talking about a double rifle your bullet weight will need to correspond to the bullet weight for which the rifle was originally regulated. Otherwise, it's going to cross or spread.

In a single shot rifle you can get away with various bullet weights, but you want to find a load that shoots to the sights.

To answer your question: No I haven't tried a 250 grain bullet in any of my various .450BPE rifles.

I can say I am having good results generally from the RCBS 45-300 FN GC bullet. Although it is labeled 300 it casts about 325 to 330 grains. It's a really fine bullet from a current commercial mould that's readily available. Just a suggestion.
Here's a typical target from my single shot Henry:



Curl

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Vern,
Unless you are using black powder and soft bullets, diameter may be more important than a small difference in weight. Depending on the specific mold numbers, 45 pistol bullets may drop from the mold at .452-.456", 45 rifle bullets may drop at .457-.460", Older 45 nominal cal. rifles may "want" bullets .462-.464"( or larger).
Mike

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vern21 Offline OP
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I have had good groups with 300 and 325 grain lead and 300 grain Hornady jhp and IMR 4198. From what Ive read and what little experementing Ive done, the key to regulation of a double is matching the velocity of the original load. I would assume a lighter bullet would require a lighter charge. While the above loads are fun for me to shoot, I was thinking about some novice shooters I introduce to shooting from time to time.

Jim

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Jim,
I have been looking into recreating that load for a Henry I have coming my way soon. I sure can not find any 270 gr bullets. I am leaning towards reloader 7 and a 300 grain hard cast bullet. Really looking forward to getting this one up and going before next season. Nice shooting Curl! And with all the smoke too wink


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Curl, have you gotten away from NfB loads altogether?
Coruous if you needed to swab between any of your shots using black and a full .458 bullet?

I have swaging dies to make paper patch .458 (patched dia.) of any weight I desire but have only used them in NfB loads and reduced nitro loads (much the same I guess)
I am going to send some 283grs to Steve Bertram to try in his Henry.
I dont recall why I ended up making that weight but iirc that is where the core mold was at when I bought it so swaged up a few.
Of course I can make them any weight and if 300-330 is where they shoot I should do that anyway.

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Originally Posted By: Huvius
Curl, have you gotten away from NfB loads altogether?
Coruous if you needed to swab between any of your shots using black and a full .458 bullet?

I have swaging dies to make paper patch .458 (patched dia.) of any weight I desire but have only used them in NfB loads and reduced nitro loads (much the same I guess)
I am going to send some 283grs to Steve Bertram to try in his Henry.
I dont recall why I ended up making that weight but iirc that is where the core mold was at when I bought it so swaged up a few.
Of course I can make them any weight and if 300-330 is where they shoot I should do that anyway.



I wouldn't say I have abandoned NfB loads entirely. However, the past several years I have shot mostly BP. The Olde Eynsford powders are so wonderful it's like a new world for these antique rifles.

Recently I bought a pristine Winchester M1886 chambered in .45-90 (made 1891). It just loves my BP loads also. It chronos 1616 fps using the same RCBS bullet pushed by 80 grains of OE 2F with no leading at all and no accumulation of fouling.

No I don't swab between shots. I use grease cookies and have found this prevents fouling buildup. I can shoot 20 to 30 rounds and the bore looks like only one round has been fired. There's no loss of accuracy.

The cleanup is no problem. I do it at the range and come home with an entirely clean rifle. The only real draw-back is washing the brass. And also the fact that the loads require more time and effort to assemble.

There's real satisfaction when you get all the smoke and flame and you know the rifle is shooting what it was originally made to shoot.

You need to get on with that nice single shot Henry .500 you just bought. It should be a peach to shoot. Can't wait for a report.

Curl

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vern21 Offline OP
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Curl,

I dont cast or plan to, but I did order some of the bullets you recommended. I have not yet tried a GC bullet, so Ill load some up when they arrive. I chronod the 300 gr Hornady/IMR 4198 at 1950 fps. Left and right groups of a hair over 1.5 inches just touch at 50 yards. This is my first double rifle and it is a blast (pun intended) to shoot.

Jim

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Thats it...
Jims hooked. Its all over now!


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