Shooting the 45-60 and a few bumps in the road

[Roosterman]

Been out shooting my Uberti 45-60. Great fun to shoot, not so much fun to clean. My load is 60gr 2ff compressed about 1/8" a .030 veggie card and a 300gr Big lube bullet. My accuracy is as good as it's going to get untill I get some sights I can see....I can get them all in the target rings off hand  at 100 yards. But, The fouling is HORRIBLE! I had a lead mine about 1/2 way down the barrel...I mean a real pile of lead! Must have taken 25 patches to get the gun clean. I shot the first 10 rounds with Shutzen, cleaned it (fouling wasn't too bad and no lead at all). Then 15 rounds loaded with elephant and that's where I got into trouble. Maybe I have figured out my own problem, maybe it's just the elephant powder that is the problem? Any input from you fellows that have been shooting these with real BP?
Elephant works well in my 45-90, of course I'm using a blow tube with it.....

[larryo_1]

I have good luck using Swiss 1½ BP.  With regards to the leading, try different alloys.  I haave had no leading problems with either 16:1 or 20:1.  The 16:1 alloy was what the old timers used.  This is all in my 45-75 which is a different sort of cat than the 45-60 but you might give it a try and see what happens. 

[ndnchf]

FWIW - For the .45-60, my 1880s era Ideal loading handbook specifies FG grade powder and 1:16 hardness bullet. 
For bullet lubricant it recommends:

"3 parts beeswax to 2 parts common cylinder oil" or
"beef tallow with enough vaseline mixed with it to soften it as desired" or
"pure vaseline with enough paraffine to harden it as required"

(makes you wonder about the modern notion that petroleum based products like vaseline are not good for bullet lubes)

These old boys knew far more about loading for these rifles than we do.  Seems to me their recommendations would be a pretty good starting point.   

[larryo_1]

I have used this mix since 1960 when I got it from an old-timer in Darby, MT.  It is a mix of 50/50 Bees Wax and Water Pump grease.  I would think that grease could be got at any NAPA store but don't know as still have a bunch.  It has worked for me in cartridge rifles and cap and ball weapons as well.  Don't see no need to change.   

[Ground Hog]

I'm new here but I have been shooting BPCR's for over 20 years. I have allways had the best luck using 50/50 allox and beeswax in the lube groves and 20 to 1 alloy when shooting lubed bullets. I prefer paper-patched because they don't lead and intend to try some in my Chappy when it warms up ( its been sub-zero all this week) I will post the results. My other preferance is to place a dental base plate wax wad over the powder before compressing it and a 1/8" wad of 2 parts beeswax 1 part Crisco and 1 part Wesson oil between that and the bullet. I like WLRM and Cartridge GOEX. This worked well enough in my original 76 to win several "Trail-walk" style matches and would consistantly knock over 500 meter rams with my C-Sharps 1885 Highwall in 40-65. That gun averages 1.25 MOA at 100yd. I was using 55 gr and the 300 gr Lyman in the 76. Neither of these leaded much and the 76 had a pitted bore.

Hope this helps

Ground Hog

[Honest Henry]

Howdy all
I have an original 76 in 45-60 and started out loading with 23.5gr 5744 and a 300gr bullet. I have since switched to Goex Pinnacle full case with about 1/8" of compression and a 300gr bullet.  I shot a 6 stage match requiring 35 rounds for us rifle caliber shooters.  Shot the match clean, rifle targets from 25 to 100+ yards.   No need to clean the bore between stages. Goex Pinnacle gives lots of smoke, great sound and BP pressures that are needed for an old gun like mine.  Mine was made in 1882.  Two or three patches soaked with windex w/vinegar and she is clean, a few dry patches and then an oiled patch and it's all over for cleaning.

Hope this helps out your shooting pleasure.  Sure works for me.

Honest Henry

[ndnchf]

Honest Henry
Welcome aboard.  It always nice to hear shooting reports, especially using an original.  I have no recent experience with either of the powders you mention, but am glad to hear you've gone to the Goex Sub.  The use of smokless in an original seems a little scary to me. 

What kind of accuarcy are you getting at 100 yards with this load?  Enquiring minds want to know

[Honest Henry]

Honest Henry
Welcome aboard.  It always nice to hear shooting reports, especially using an original.  I have no recent experience with either of the powders you mention, but am glad to hear you've gone to the Goex Sub.  The use of smokless in an original seems a little scary to me. 

What kind of accuarcy are you getting at 100 yards with this load?  Enquiring minds want to know

ndnchf
I have not put it on paper but I did hit the 12" plate at 100 yards offhand all three times in the string for one of the stages I wrote about above.  When I paper it I will post results.
Thanks for the welcome.
Honest Henry

[Grizzly Adams]

Howdy all
I have an original 76 in 45-60 and started out loading with 23.5gr 5744 and a 300gr bullet. I have since switched to Goex Pinnacle full case with about 1/8" of compression and a 300gr bullet.  I shot a 6 stage match requiring 35 rounds for us rifle caliber shooters.  Shot the match clean, rifle targets from 25 to 100+ yards.   No need to clean the bore between stages. Goex Pinnacle gives lots of smoke, great sound and BP pressures that are needed for an old gun like mine.  Mine was made in 1882.  Two or three patches soaked with windex w/vinegar and she is clean, a few dry patches and then an oiled patch and it's all over for cleaning.

Hope this helps out your shooting pleasure.  Sure works for me.

Honest Henry

A +1 on Goex Pinnacle!  An excellent BP sub that you can shoot all day without worries, or having to clean the bore.  Another plus is that you can use bullets lubed for smokeless with it. 

+1 on the Windex with vinegar for all cleanup.