.45 Colt trajectory question.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed May 07, 2008 11:39 am

OK, here is an on topic question.

Can any of those who have .45 Colt carbines (20" barrels) tell me what the trajectory of their loads are?

For instance, I don't get to the 100 yard range too often because of how far it is from me, so I want to set my Marlin 1894 to hit at 25 yards where it would hit IF it were actually sighted in at 100 yards.

Now, I think that should be about 3" above point of aim with a standard pressure load. Say 9.0grs Unique and a 265gr Keith bullet. But I'm not positive.
And, where should it hit at 50 yards, or 75 yards?

Can anybody help with this?

Someday I'll get it done for myself, but for now some help would save me a bucket of ammo.

Joe

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Wed May 07, 2008 11:57 am

Hornaday 43rd
1100 fps 250gr 100 yd zero
25 3.2
50 4.7
75 3.7
125 -6.6

Rod WMG · Post by **Rod WMG** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:00 pm

Hummm...nearly five inches high at 50. I wouldn't have thunk it.
Thanks.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:43 pm

Ben,
Thanks.
You sure that was Hornady? I thought they was only up to about 7.

Rod,
Yes the almost 5 inches does seem right. When JD45 and I were out shooting a couple weeks ago I fired only one group at 50 yds. And the POI was about 5 or 6 inches high. With the severely gusting wind I wasn't sure weather it was me or not.

Joe

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:12 pm

You're right Joe... It's from the 3rd edition..Hadn't drunk all maw coffee!..Numbers other than the edition are right tho..

Paul Jenkins · Post by **Paul Jenkins** » Wed May 07, 2008 4:02 pm

Joe,
I have the Load From A Disk software. Send me the specifics, bullet weight, BC, velocity, ht. of sights above brl., I'll E-Mail you a chart.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed May 07, 2008 4:37 pm

Paul,

I'm not sure I can come up with all that information. I have no chronograph so I'm only guessing about the velocity.

I'll try to come up with the information.

Joe

oldgerboy · Post by **oldgerboy** » Wed May 07, 2008 7:20 pm

Ben's numbers are about what my buddy's Marlin does with factory ammo.

Pisgah · Post by **Pisgah** » Wed May 07, 2008 7:49 pm

All the numbers fairly closely match with the experience I've had with my 16" Rossi M92. You'd think it would make for problems in field shooting, but it's pretty easy once you get used to the fact that you'll hit high all the way to 100 yards. The accuracy is good the full distance, and the round is comfortable to shoot and easy to hit with.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:52 am

I've been shooting my 94AE Trapper .45 Colt since 1986. I knew it had quite a bit of trajectory, but never really measured it. I sighted it in at 100 yards and just shot it. As you mentioned it was/is easy to hit with.
Now that I have learned more, and have two .45 Colt lever guns, I want to get more involved and detailed in my load development and record keeping.

Joe

gary rice · Post by **gary rice** » Thu May 08, 2008 5:54 pm

Paul Jenkins wrote:Joe,
I have the Load From A Disk software. Send me the specifics, bullet weight, BC, velocity, ht. of sights above brl., I'll E-Mail you a chart.

i have one for you if you dont mind and have time. im interested in the load from a disk data. what does the program come up with this for the 45-70? 40 grains of h-4895, 405 grain bullet.. chrono says 1365 fps.

Whit Spurzon · Post by **Whit Spurzon** » Thu May 08, 2008 11:30 pm

I sight mine in to print just on top of the bead at 50 yards. At 100 yards I cover the bullseye with the bead. 255 grain cast bullet chugging down range at 1150 fps out of a Marlin 1894CB.

I have a chance to test that this weekend on some rams. Hopefully it works.

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:37 pm

My 44-40 73 SRC has similar trajectory w/200grainers..Open V rear sight POA @ 50..Folding Tanger 2" high @ 100..

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:54 pm

Here is a question....

Since the 250gr bullet at 1100 fps is 4.7" high at 50 yards, how fast would that bullet have to move to reduce this to 2" high at 50 yds?
I know, there are programs that can calculate this but I don't have one handy.

Whit,
I use a 6:00 hold on everything. I just can't hit with the front bead covering the target. I've tried this many times over the last 40 years and finally gave up.
I've shot so much with military rifles, and lever guns that have apertures and posts that it's been hammered into my brain to use the 6:00 hold and have the bullet hit right at the top of the front sight. So I do this with my bead sights too.

Joe

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri May 09, 2008 12:58 pm

Paul Jenkins wrote:Joe,
I have the Load From A Disk software. Send me the specifics, bullet weight, BC, velocity, ht. of sights above brl., I'll E-Mail you a chart.

Paul,
Couple more questions.

Sight height above the barrel; is this the height above the OD of the barrel, or the center of the bore?

How would I find the BC of a bullet cast from a mid 1970s mold that weights about 13 grains more than Lyman says it should? ( Lyman quotes 255grs, but used #2 Alloy, Mine weigh 268grs but I had them cast from wheel weights. )

Still trying to get the info you ask for.

Joe

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Fri May 09, 2008 1:08 pm

a 250 with BC .138 @ 1400fps goes 3.1" high @ 50 with a 100yd zero acording to Horns 3rd ed. A 44 240gr w/BC .141 @ 1800fps is 1.8" high @ 50 with 100yd zero... Hope this helps..

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri May 09, 2008 1:14 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:a 250 with BC .138 @ 1400fps goes 3.1" high @ 50 with a 100yd zero acording to Horns 3rd ed. A 44 240gr w/BC .141 @ 1800fps is 1.8" high @ 50 with 100yd zero... Hope this helps..

Ben,
It sure does. What it tells me is that I've got to increase the velocity quite a bit for it to be of any benefit. Probably more than I really want to. At this time anyway.

Joe

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Fri May 09, 2008 1:17 pm

Yeah Joe.. I kinda figured the same thing....No fun in getting thumped from that Vel

.45 Colt trajectory question.

.45 Colt trajectory question.

.45C traj. out of a 20" brl.

Re: .45C traj. out of a 20" brl.

Re: .45C traj. out of a 20" brl.