1860 Henry with full-power loads

[Deadguy]

Is it a good idea to regularily shoot full-power .45 Colt loads (255 grain bullet, 40 grains BP) in a brass framed 1860 Henry, or would it be a better idea to get the iron or steel framed version for those loads?

[Fingers McGee]

Those loads wont hurt it.

Fingers (who shoots full power 44-40 BP loads in his) McGee

[Major 2]

Agreed, I don't think you can pack enough 2or 3 fff BP in a 45 Colt. to acceed the pressures
Perhaps 4ffff as well...

now full power hot smokeless loads  that is another story, it's not the Frame,  it's the toggle action that would be stressed first....

[Buck Stinson]

With all due respect to Major 2, it is NOT the toggle links that will fail.  The brass frame on a Henry or 1866 will fail long before the toggle links, if shooting stout smokeless loads.  I know from first hand experience.  Some 20 years ago, I did something I had never done previously or since.  I shot some .44-40 hand loads in a brass frame Henry, that had been given to me by a friend.  On the fifth round, the action would not open and the frame had stretched.  Both sideplates had a 16th inch gap, top to bottom at an angle.  All internal parts were fine and showed no signs of any stress what-so-ever.  I was able to make a full and complete repair to the gun and never had to replace a single part.  I still shoot the gun to this day but NEVER with smokeless. 

Adios,
Buck

[Major 2]

thanks for the clearfication, I was infact referring to the steel farme...and Max. loads
I however stand corrected...
Still say you can't load enought BP in a 44/40 or 45 case to stress either the frame or links

I have one of each (Brass & Steel) I've owned 2 Brass frames the present one and a vintage 1980-1.
neither nor the steel have ever given any issues , except the early 80's model.
I jammed and bent the magazine spring, on a snag, reenacting on Horse back.
I remove it and repaired it , I never replaced in the 9 years I owned it.

[HorsePen Henry]

With all due respect to Major 2, it is NOT the toggle links that will fail.  The brass frame on a Henry or 1866 will fail long before the toggle links, if shooting stout smokeless loads.  I know from first hand experience.  Some 20 years ago, I did something I had never done previously or since.  I shot some .44-40 hand loads in a brass frame Henry, that had been given to me by a friend.  On the fifth round, the action would not open and the frame had stretched.  Both sideplates had a 16th inch gap, top to bottom at an angle.  All internal parts were fine and showed no signs of any stress what-so-ever.  I was able to make a full and complete repair to the gun and never had to replace a single part.  I still shoot the gun to this day but NEVER with smokeless. 

Adios,
Buck

Buck, that sure is some nice engraving on that Henry. Who dunnit?

Thanks before hand,

X Horse Pen

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Hey, Deadguy!  Howdy!

The full-power BP loads you can get or load (most of us can only cram in 35-37 grs. - but I only compress 1/8" or so) shouldn't bother that "brass"-frame at all.  (Actually it's an ordnance-grade bronze, which is stouter than plain brass.)  When I was looking into buying my "brass rifle" (a '66) I was a bit worried ... until I read a report from a (then) top SASS shooter who wrote a write-up of his EMF (they're ALL Uberti) '66.  He stated that he'd fired over 75,000 full power loads with NO measurable stretch or damage.  And they were smokeyless, NOT BP.  (Full power as in Cowboy full power, which simulate a full load of BP, NOT the 45 Colt +P loads that Cor-Bon and perhaps others sell and marked as hunting loads "for Rugers, Contenders, North American Arms ONLY.") 

That really dates me, I guess, since many of the SASS champs were then still shooting full power 45 Colt loads, not the current craze of shooting the "pop - tink" loads so popular today.


Anyway, I bought my '66 right after that.  The Henry should perform the same.  Mine was fired with full-power smokeyless loads for the first 3 or 4 years of its' life and nothin' but BP for the last 5 or 6 years.  The only problem I've had was due to the lever spring and the butter-soft screws that hold the lever/lifter springs in place.

[Paladin UK]

Mines Not a Henry but a Brass framed Rossi #92 I bought new 6 yrs ago and up until 3months ago I had only shot stout smokeyless ( ) rounds out of it!!  And there are  NO signs of anything nasty !!

However now after makin my own 45-40    ALL my shootin is PURE HOLY BLACK!!!!

There now!! I confessed and feel much better

Paladin (Whats 100 % Darksider  ) UK