Chrono data Henry BB 45C

[gman]

This is Tom’s 255A lever gun mold. 20 grains 4227 Fed 150 primer. Bullets pc’d. I’ll show the target tomorrow once I’m back at the shop. Shot everything today about 1 hour before front started coming through. I can say I absolutely love my Henry!

 

[Ian]

FWIW, quickload predicts 1252 fps and 12,921 psi in a 20" rifle loaded to 1.580" (assuming brass @ 1.266" trim length, mine usually runs about .010" longer than that). The PC can account for the slightly lower fps. Pretty close, eh?

 

[gman]

Not far off for sure. Just read a Brian Pearce article in rifle magazine reviewing the Henry BB in 45 Colt. States a 1 in 38 twist barrel.

 

[Ian]

I have to think that some of the BBs actually had 1 in 38" ROTs, perhaps the steel barreled ones or the carbines. Mine is a first generation and has 1 in 16". Mr. Imperato had to actually go to the shop and find out himself and revise his original response to my email inquiry since the incorrect ROT has been published for a long time in a lot of places. I'm surprised Brian didn't check it himself, but we're all guilty of assumptions sometimes and the number is, after all, the only ROT published for the .45 Colt except for the all-weather BB in that caliber only which specifically is listed at 1 in 16".

 

[gman]

As promised this is the 6 shot group I fired with my Henry when I chrono’d the loads. I need some sight adjustment but I was pretty happy. 100 yards.

 

[Ian]

What's that, about 4.5"? Not too bad for irons and plain-based bullets!

I'd still like to put a scope on one and see how well they are really doing. I still expect 1 MOA from my leverguns, even these. Most people think I'm crazy, but if revolvers can do it, why not?

 

[gman]

No reason to believe that’s not possible. I may scope it just to shoot for accuracy. That 4227 load is an accurate load for several of my 45 colt guns.

 

[freebullet]

Very nice work. Ive looked at a few Henry's & can say i wouldnt fair so well with those sights. Might be spooky with a scope. Definitely love the plain base at distance reports.

 

[gman]

Installed a skinner rear sight but still using the gold bead front that came on the rifle. I do have a black post from skinner just haven't installed yet.

 

[Ian]

Yep, Skinner rear here too, Freebullet, but in the barrel dovetail position so not much sight radius on mine. I ground about 1/16" off of the factory blade to lower it and get rid of the bead, which also gives me the elevation I need to lob those 300-grain bullets past 75 yards.

 

[fiver]

a different target will help too.
cream paper and a black bull will help hold things together better.
put another click in the rear sight and that should put the holes on top of the front sight.
I expect about 2x2 groups on a good day and 3x3 groups when everything is blurry.

 

[gman]

Oh hey guys.......no pressure!