.45 Colt Henry for 100 yards shooting with black powder

[Sean Thornton]

Will the Henry in .45 Colt loaded with black powder be competitive for 100 yard side matches hitting gongs of 10 inch diameter. I would like to hear from those that have experience with loading the .45 Colt with BP and shooting at 100 yards.
Thanks
Brez

[major]

Brez
I have not shot the 45 with black powder but I have shot my 44-40 Henry with black powder and once sited in it can be very accurate at 50 & 100 yards.  Most of the people in N-SSA that shoot the Henry shoot 44-40 because the 45 is harder to get to group at 50 & 100 yards.  If you have a choice in getting a Henry I feel that you would be better off with one in 44-40.  Either way after about 10 rounds of BP the accuracy takes a sharp drop.  Your mileage may vary.
Terry

[Long Johns Wolf]

Mine is .44 Special but is fed with .44 Colt only.
No problem with BP at 100 Yards if I do my part.
Long Johns Wolf

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[matt45]

I've never participated in any matches, but have shot my 45lc @ 100 w/ B.P. (200gr. bullets) quite a bit.  Generally, I can expect 4" to 6" groups.

[Coffinmaker]

Use to shoot a side match at 100+ yards with all 4 of my 45 Colt Henry Rifles.  I had great success keeping groups inside a Pie Plate at 100 yards.  Off a shot bag rest.  Not off-hand.  Not since my eyes went south.
Like others, I found accuracy went away after 10 - 15 rounds.  Still within "minute of Man" but not in the Pie Plate any more.  Had to run a swab thru the bore about every 11 rounds.
Oh, forgot, my 16 inch barrel Trapper.  Not so much.  Meh.  Deadly at 50 though.

Coffinmaker

[w44wcf]

Will the Henry in .45 Colt loaded with black powder be competitive for 100 yard side matches hitting gongs of 10 inch diameter. I would like to hear from those that have experience with loading the .45 Colt with BP and shooting at 100 yards.
Thanks
Brez

Yes, with the right bullet / black powder.  I have fired 10 shot groups @ 100 that are in the 2 1/2" range from my Marlin Cowboy Rifle.  It is as accurate as my Marlin Cowboy .44-40.

For me the best grouping combinations are:
Lyman 454190 or RCBS 45-250 FN or Accurate 45-260B / SPG / 36 FFG / Swiss or Olde Enysford    
Accurate 45-260F / SPG / 36 FFG / Goex, Kik, or Schuetzen[/size]



w44wcf

[Fox Creek Kid]

Does the Marlin have the same rifling ROT as the Uberti however? 

[w44wcf]

Don't know the twist rate of the Uberti, but my Marlin Cowboy (1997) has a 1/38 twist.

w44wcf

[will52100]

It's been a few years, say about 12, so not sure if I can still do it.  I was at an in formal 1000 meter range and between the single shots I was knocking steel chickens down at 200 meters with the Henry in 45 colt loaded with BP and big lube bullets.  Biggest issue I had was the ladder site wouldn't stay put.  Had to reset after every shot.  I've since added a marbels peep site to help out my aging eyes.  My personal range goes out to 200 yards, I'll have to try it some time.  I've shot it at 100 yards recently and had no issues hitting 6" steel targets.