Heaviest commercial cartridges for 45C Spencer carbine

[BrianC]

I purchased a Spencer carbine in 45 Colt from Taylor's about a year ago. I've shot it a little and have had no problems with it so far. I searched the threads last night for about an hour to see if anyone had already asked this question, and I've already tried looking at the literature that came with the gun. No success either way, so I'm wondering if someone here can tell me: What's the heaviest bullet, commercially available, that I can shoot in my gun? I'm asking because I chose the caliber for greater availability of ammo, but I'd like a bullet that would imitate the larger caliber's power as closely as possible. Thanks!

[Blair]

Brian,

The original Colt .45 came with a 255 gr bullet at .454 dia. and a 40 gr powder charge. This proved to be a bit HOT! for most people shooting revolver at the time.
S&W's .45 (what became the Schofield) was identified as a better option, and what most of the US Armories manufacture for their service revolver, even into the early 20th Century.

Rate of twist (ROT) of the rifling is the next consideration. A fast ROT and heavy bullet go well together for longer range shooting.
What distances are you wanting to shoot at with a CARBINE?
My best,
Blair

[BrianC]

Oh, I can't really imagine trying it seriously beyond 200-300 yards. And even that might be a bit far for both rifle and me.

[Cholla Hill Tirador]

When you say commercially available bullet, are you talking about a component bullets or commercially loaded ammunition?
  If you handload, there's a litany of heavy bullets available for the handloader.

  CHT

[BrianC]

Commercially available cartridges.

[Cholla Hill Tirador]

Commercially available cartridges.

The original  .56-56 Spencer cartridge and the 45 Colt are not all that dissimilar in that they both use a relatively light-for-caliber weight bullet (respectively- 350 gr. @ .55 caliber and 250-255 gr. @ .45 caliber). Also, both calibers will achieve similar velocities out of carbine length barrels.

  My suggestion would be to brush up on available 45 Colt factory loads and choose one whose ballistics are close to the original, that is  a 250-255 gr. lead bullet at 850-900 fps from a revolver. Out of the carbine you should get another 150-200 fps which should put you really close to the ballistics of the .56-56 and hopefully allow you to use the rifles sights without much fiddling or adjustment. Remington and Winchester would be a good start. Regardless of the brand, avoid the "Cowboy Action" type loads which are generally reduced.

If you want a sure enough powerful load, Buffalo Bore loads a standard pressure 45 Colt load that features a 255 gr. lead SWC at 1000 fps out of a revolver, so it'd certainly be running around 1200 fps out of a carbine. The only fly in the ointment is, they cost nearly $2 apiece. (See why so many people handload??)

  I've done quite a bit of 200 yd., and even some 300 yd. shooting with my 38-40's and one .44-40. Once the sight settings are figured out, shooting at these ranges really is no big deal as long as you're not shooting in much wind.

  CHT

[BrianC]

Now that's what I was looking for. Thank you, amigo!

[Blair]

Just a suggestion on my part.

Don't expect a Carbine to do what a Rifle length firearm can do.
Don't expect a revolver cartridge to what a Rifle cartridge can do in a Carbine.

2 to 300 yards is not at all unreal.
However, it takes a great deal of research and study on your part to get any satisfactory results. Commercial ammo will most likely not do this for you.
Why? Because it is designed for revolvers, not Carbines or Rifle length arms.
I hope this helps?
My best,
Blair

[Cholla Hill Tirador]

 The only real advantage a rifle will have over a carbine is sight radius. The 4" - 5" difference in barrel length won't amount to much velocity difference, especially considering the relatively fast burning powder used in factory loads.

   These 200 yd. groups were fired with a couple of 38-40's whose cartridges were loaded with what is considered handgun powder (Unique & Herco). Velocity was 1200-1300 fps, depending on the exact load.







  CHT