45 Colt loads from Rossi 92

[KMAX]

My computerless friend just bought a Rossi 92 rifle in 45 Colt with a 24" barrel. He is asking me for a good full power (not hot, not Cowboy) load using 250gr LRN bullets. I figure someone here will have experience applicable to this issue. Please include any velocity numbers you may have. Any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[Clark]

I would not shoot hot loads with cast bullets in that rifle.
Leading can get stuck in the bore.

I have been shooting 250 gr JHP XTP bullets with 24 gr H110 , 1.6" OAL, heavy roll crimp into cannelure, ~ 20kpsi, 1525 fps from a 16" barrel. That will kick you into next week. Must get a big soft recoil pad.

[KMAX]

I will probably suggest he use XTP bullets for hot loads and use lead only with the cowboy loads. Any experience with XTP and Win296 (what I have on hand)? Also, I have Unique, Win231, & IMR800X on hand if there are any good suggestions for them.

[zxcvbob]

You should at least try the lead bullets and Unique -- about 8.5 to 10 grains.

[mehavey]

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^^^
(This)

If he uses ordinary grooved/lubed bullets at standard velocities there's little chance of leading.
(At least that's my experience w/ a `94 Marlin in 45 Colt)

(Make sure whatever bullet he uses are at least groove diameter or 1-2 thou larger)

[AlaskaMike]

My Rossi 92 in .44 mag loves cast bullets. It does seem to like gas checked designs a little better, but I've shot a lot of Lasercast 200 grain RNFP and 240 grain SWC, both over 10 grains of Unique.

That said, it also does very well with JHPs as well.

[GeauxTide]

I've shot 255gr Cast Missouri Bullets at about 1200fps and they've shot fine.

[snuffy]

I would not shoot hot loads with cast bullets in that rifle.
Leading can get stuck in the bore.

Hogwash! Leading would be no worse in the Rossi 92 than any other levergun. I suppose that warning also applies to 30-30 rifles and lead bullets?

I do have one. In fact another one is on order, I'm picking it up on the 26th, a Rossi 92 in .357 magnum.

I mainly shoot lead in my 45 colt, but have tried jacketed as well. The lead I shoot I cast myself, from 200 RNFPHP, 200 SWC, 250 SWC, and 310 RNFP. All shoot really well, with zero leading.

The Rossi is capable of handling anything that any other lever gun could handle, as far as pressure goes. That does NOT include Ruger only loads!

[Ritz]

The 92 must be reasonably stout since they also offer it in .454 casull.

[ATPBULLETS]

I will probably suggest he use XTP bullets for hot loads and use lead only with the cowboy loads. Any experience with XTP and Win296 (what I have on hand)? Also, I have Unique, Win231, & IMR800X on hand if there are any good suggestions for them.

the post above yours referenced h110 which is another brand of Win296 your referring to...
Try your Win231 with 7- 8gr of Win 231 and a 250-255gr lead..8gr works good in my rossi 92...u did say not cowboy however... I think this load I've detailed is considered just that...to move to full power may require a gas check designed bullet or as others have said a jacketed or plated bullet..
just have to try his bullets in his rifle to see if leading occurs above standard velocities.

[mehavey]

The Rossi is capable of handling anything that any other lever gun could handle

Do I assume correctly that the Rossi is a `92 Winchester clone? If so the dual vertical locking lugs
[sh]ould give it a pressure advantage over the `94 Marlin lock-up. (BTW: I shoot very heavy Ruger-Only
45 Colt loads in the Marlin without even a hiccup. So the Marlin's plenty strong.)

On the other hand, it appears that the entrance to the `92 Win chamber is chamfered on the
bottom for easier feeding from the angled feed-ramp of the Winchester design. When shooting
high-pressure 357 loads in that design, my `92 tends to 'bulge the case' a bit at that chamfer point.

Thoughts?

[Doc.Holliday]

Well I got 2 of those Rossi 92's in 45 Colt. A trapper length and a Ranch Hand.
I shoot only lead in mine and all my loads are what I call mid-range.
All the usual warnings apply to these loads my guns etc etc.

250 gr RNFP; Fed 150; 6.5 gr Red Dot ; 7.2 gr Green Dot; 11.1 gr Power
Pistol; 21.0 gr IMR 4227
have run all these powders hotter but these are my most accurate with these powders.
No leading just some cornmeal when using the 4227 left in the barrel.

regards
Doc

[Doc.Holliday]

I forgot to add that my bullets are PB not BB and no GC's. When using a cast bullet it is of utmost importance to use a bullet of correct hardness and diameter to negate leading

Thanks
Doc

[Clark]

snuffy
Quote:
I would not shoot hot loads with cast bullets in that rifle.
Leading can get stuck in the bore.
Hogwash! Leading would be no worse in the Rossi 92 than any other levergun. I suppose that warning also applies to 30-30 rifles and lead bullets?

In May 2003 I was shooting Liberty cast 310 gr cast bullets in my old 44 Ruger carbine, and then shot jacketed. The Leading split the muzzle back like a peeled banana. A Ruger 44 mag collector told me that his was a common problem and there are no barrels left. I found a new old stock 444 Marlin barrel, had Randy Ketchum cut the rear of the chamber off, drilled a gas hole, TIG welded on a gas block, and now I have the world's heaviest and most accurate 44 carbine.

My best load for my angle eject Win 94 30-30 is 25 gr [bulk 4895, H322 equivalent] 170 gr Lyman 311291 .309" bullet round nose 3 lube bands and a gas check at 1815 fps.
http://www.westernbullet.com/ly3gr2.html



I think both the man at Liberty bullets and Randy have since passed on.

[mehavey]

Leading [then shooting jacketed] split the muzzle back like a peeled banana...

That just blows my logical mind. (Note that I don't doubt that your barrel split as you described.
It just doesn't compute in my head.) It sounds like it action as a barrel obstruction, but way forward of where overpressure due to constinuous leading would start. Any thoughts as to the mechanical physics of the event?