New here got a loading question cowboy load 1860 Henry

[Waco kid]

Hello I am new here and this is my first post.
I am just starting out in sass shooting and I am now picking up equipment. I have been loading my own ammunition for over 20 years. I presently shoot uspsa, idpa and other action pistol competition. I use to shoot bullseye pistol and benchrest rifle.
I just scored a once in a lifetime deal on a Uberti 1860 Henry in 45 long colt.  The past owner gave me some brass and the loads he was using.  Anyhow he said that this gun is finicky on ammo. He was loading 250 gr loaded at 1.600 OAL. I was thinking on shooting a lighter bullet. I was planning on loading the same ammo in my Pietta pistols.

With that all said what bullet weight do you all recommend? 

Thank you. 

[Abilene]

Howdy Kid.
A 200gr bullet would be a nice compromise for both Pistol and Rifle.  Lighter means less recoil in pistol, but more blowby in rifle, which isn't too much problem with smokeless but can lock up the gun with BP.

1.600 OAL is right at the absolute maximum to feed in a Henry.  Let one get another thousandth over and it will lock up the rifle.  Standard 200 and 250gr smokeless bullets, crimped in the crimp groove, usually measure closer to about 1.58"

[Coffinmaker]

Well Humpff.  Sounds too me like the previous owner was loading Big and Heavy in an attempt to mitigate Blow-By.  Short primer .... 45 Colt (no such thing as a "Long Colt") cases WILL NOT expand (Obturate) to seal the rifle chamber.  Especially in Uberti built rifles hence you get Gun Gas Blow-By.  Mostly you get the Blow-By in the face.  Unfun.

You can well reduce the load and bullet size and at the same time eliminate Blow-By.  Easiest way is to run 44-40 brass thru your 44-40 dies (carefully) and fire form them to 45 Colt.  The 44-40 cases will expand to seal the chamber.  Method number two is to anneal your 45 Colt brass.  Annealed brass will also seal the chamber.  With either method, the chamber will seal well enough to shoot as clean as an actual 44-40.

With cases that will seal the chamber, no reason you can't go clear down to 160Gr bullets.  The lighter the combined powder charge and bullet weight, the less the felt recoil which is only important in your handguns.  The Henry won't move enough under recoil to actually call it recoil regardless of your load.  Henrys be some heavy.

[kwilliams1876]

I also shoot heavy lead (255 gr. big lube style) in my Uberti Henry and '66 with black powder. I am not a CAS shooter, but still shoot alot. I have been using a wad under the bullet and compressing the 3f a little. Seems to shoot fairly clean and crazy accurate. My Uberti chambers are over size which does annoy me, and every so often cases split. If I had a proper 200 gr mold I would give that a try too. Loading the wad and using a compression die is tedious, but I like the accuracy i got going here at 50+ yds. This load works real well in my Bisley 5 1/2" and is stout in it.
kw

[King Medallion]

Or... Trade it off for a proper 44-40. 

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I have had both .45 and .44-40 Henry rifles.  While I like my .45 Scofield "44 Henry duplication round" the blowback from the short 45 case in the long 45 Colt chamber was awful.  I switched back to a .44-40 Henry, which is MUCH better as far as blow back.  The thin 44-40 case mouth seals very well, even with BP loads.  If you stick with smokeless loads in the 45, the blow back will be not too bad with clean burning powder.

[Waco kid]

Thank you for the replies, maybe I need to rephrase my question. I am asking a question about feeding in the rifle. I am not concerned about blowback, and no I am not trading or selling this gun it?s what I gotI am looking to make it work. Like I said before I am looking for one ammo to shoot in this gun and my hand guns for cas, sonI don?t need to get fancy with loading it. The past owner was shooting light loads as I have his loads he only used a 255 hornady.

With that said before I order bullets to start loading will I have issues with feeding in this rifle using a lighter bullet like ab180 or 200.
Thank you.

[Abilene]

Howdy Kid.  As long as the OAL is kept under 1.600" the ammo will feed. Measure the carrier opening in the bottom of the frame.  This measurement is your max OAL. There is a lower limit as well around 1.4 or so, but you don't have to worry about that with 45 Colt.  Bullet shape will affect chambering.  Generally, avoid semiwadcutters or anything with a sharp shoulder.  RNFP or TC are good. There are very common 200gr RNFP bullets sold by bullet makers that are the exact same OAL as the 250gr, just less bullet inside the case.  Be sure you have a flat nose, larger than a primer.  Anything that will fit and feed in the Henry will chamber in a handgun. You probably know about the rules for safely loading the magazine, right?

[Coffinmaker]

PLUS ONE too Abilene.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Plus 2!  Also I recommend a 200 grain RNFP bullet over 5.5 to 6.0 grains of Trail Boss.  Not a mouse f@rt load, but won't beat you up in you handgun, either.  Missouri Bullet Company makes a 200 grain that presents from the case about the same as a 250.

[Waco kid]

Howdy Kid.  As long as the OAL is kept under 1.600" the ammo will feed. Measure the carrier opening in the bottom of the frame.  This measurement is your max OAL. There is a lower limit as well around 1.4 or so, but you don't have to worry about that with 45 Colt.  Bullet shape will affect chambering.  Generally, avoid semiwadcutters or anything with a sharp shoulder.  RNFP or TC are good. There are very common 200gr RNFP bullets sold by bullet makers that are the exact same OAL as the 250gr, just less bullet inside the case.  Be sure you have a flat nose, larger than a primer.  Anything that will fit and feed in the Henry will chamber in a handgun. You probably know about the rules for safely loading the magazine, right?

Yes I know about safe loading thank you for the wonderful post.

[Waco kid]

Plus 2!  Also I recommend a 200 grain RNFP bullet over 5.5 to 6.0 grains of Trail Boss.  Not a mouse f@rt load, but won't beat you up in you handgun, either.  Missouri Bullet Company makes a 200 grain that presents from the case about the same as a 250.

Exactly what I was looking for. I have shot thousands of Missouri bullets and that was what I was looking at buying