Range Report No2 for 45-75 Uberti

[pinto beans]

Evening All,
After hiatus due to family demands, I finally had a chance to do a second range session today with the Uberti 1876 in .45-75 WCF.  This second range session tested a new load using a 350 grain flat nosed bullet from Meister Bullets.  These new bullets were the result of the supplier for the 330 grain Lyman hollow point bullet having to suspend operations for a while.  Using the same format as for the first report, here is what I found in today's session.

The following is posted for information only and I assume NO responsibility for its use.  The information here is the results of reloading and use in my rifle and is Not intended for use beyond information only.
Here are the basics of the components and materials used:
Caliber: 45-75 WCF
Case: Rocky Mountain Cartridge
Primer: Winchester Large Rifle
Powder: Accurate Arms 5744
Bullet: Meister Bullet 350grain flat nose
Filler: Puff-Lon ballistic filler and lubricant
Rifle: Uberti 1876 with 28" barrel
Chronograph: Chronoy brand with remote LCD readout – readings taken 10 foot from muzzle
Weather Conditions:  Overcast right after rain, humid with calm winds and temperature around 80 F

As before I set the loading series up using 2 rounds for each powder charge and increased by .5 grains for the next two rounds until the upper limit of the load range was reached.  With this in mind and the goal of the original load, that of 1380fps or there about, I resolved to stop short of the top load for the 330grain bullet.  The following is what I recorded from the chronograph today:

Load of 5744 in grains      Chronograph Reading (FPS)
23.5                  Error
                        1232

24.0                  Error
                        1266

24.5                  1286
                        1286

25.0                  1318
                        1309

25.5                  1357
                        1363
25.5 grains is .5 grains below the upper limits for the 330grain bullet and is showing right at the 1380fps, close enough I am tickled and calling it good.  This is the same the 330grain bullet achieved right at the 1380fps level.  The new bullets shot good from the big Uberti, as good as the Lyman bullets.  They are not what you would call streamlined, they are downright blunt.  Reminds me of the old moniker "flying ashtray", but they shot good at the close range we were using.    Now with only 30 rounds down range total so far, I don't have enough to report on leading but can say I saw none in either of the bullets tested over the last two sessions.

The two errors on the chronograph readings were my fault.  Turns out the instrument sent an error code at the same time, the battery was dying!!  Lucky we were close to the shop and a quick visit to the spare parts solved the problem.

As before, my Dad was helping with the testing.  He has taught me everything and there is nothing better than spending an afternoon with him.  We both had a great time.  We have managed to put a total of 30 rounds through the new rifle so are just getting started, but it has lived up to every hope I had for the rifle.  As we work through more range testing I will post up what we find.  Next up will hopefully be accuracy test at longer range for both bullets.  It may be some time between sessions.  Family members been sick and you got to take care of family first, but as the good Lord grants some spare time we will be back at it.

I took a few pictures this time and will see if I can get a few attached.  Their names hold the description of what was going on when taken. 

Want to say thanks to the good folks here on the forum for all their hard work in bringing these rifles and the new replicas back to life.  Another thanks for letting an old farmer join in, this thing is just plain fun!  Be safe and keep your powder dry.

PB

[dusty texian]

VERY, VERY, VERY ,WELL DONE ,,,,,,,Dusty=  What I would give ,for one range day ,again with my Dad,Best Friend.

[larryo_1]

Good stuff.  Looks like you will be doing what I did a few years ago.  By the way, is that an original box or a new one?  If it is a new one, where did you pick it up at?

[pinto beans]

Dusty, thanks for the kind words.  Yep, my Dad and I are best friends.  He is 81 and I value every second with him.   The next thing with the 1876 will be for him, he says it is to heavy for him to hold up for much shooting.  I am going to try and pick up some of the extended shooting sticks so he can rest it on them as he really enjoys the rifle. 

Larryo I am afraid the box is a very poor homemade effort on my part.  Like so many folks here I have tried my hand at making them as the thought of plastic aftermarket ammo boxes for this rifle are like a side saddle for a sow!  I have wondered if a custom box maker would consider an order for a run of reproduction boxes with no labels so no copyright issues.  Just plain, vanilla color and you can decorate it however you want, but I have not looked into it yet.  I am afraid they would say sure but ya got to order several thousand for us to tool up for it!!  That would be a bit more than is needed by a few folks.  Guess we will still keep looking and hoping.  If ever I do run across a custom box company that would consider it without breaking the bank, will let everyone here know. 

PB

[larryo_1]

PB:
The only outfit that I am aware of is Cheyenne Cartridge company and they do not make any boxes for the 45-60 or 45-75.  Other thn that don't know of any.

[will52100]

Have you tried the 5744 without the pufflon?  I've got some and the few rounds I tried with it I didn't like messing with it during loading.  I'm wondering if it makes a big difference accuracy wise, and how much?

Any event, good report, sounds like you had fun.  Good that your father is able to be there with you, enjoy every moment you can with him.

[pinto beans]

Will52100,

I haven't tried the 5744 without puff-lon. Did a good bit of reading and research before getting the rifle and setting up.  I read of advantages in the big case holding the powder in place for good ignition from the primer.  The thought of fillers like daycron didn't appeal to me, so when I read about puff-lon and it being designed specifically for this use I decided to try it.  It can be a little vexing to fill the rest of the case with it, no question.  What I did was to sit down with a note pad sheet and cut a small wedge shape to use as a one side of a funnel. Works well with the big mouth of the .45-75.  A little more time consuming but not that much and seems if I take my time it ain't very messy.  With all that, figure the trouble was worth it!!  I have been very pleased with how it performs.



PB

[will52100]

Cool, I may have to give it another try.  This has been a frustrating rifle to get to shoot accurately.  I'm thinking I'm going to fire lap the bore and see if that does anything.  The rest of my rifles shoot better than I can, so it's not me, or at least not all the time.

Thanks

[Mike]

My Uberti 45-60 would not shoot when I first got it, I gave the bore a good polishing out and it shoots now. I have not tried the Holly Black in it again since the polish but should do.

[larryo_1]

For what its worth,  I use and have used for many years  Kapok on the powder.  Mainly on the loads of 2400 that I like.  As for the rifle shooting.  It does a damn site better than I can as one of my cousins has consistently put 4 or 5 in about the same hole when he shoots.  So I know that it is not my rifle.  I did break with tradition ( shame on me) and put a fibre optic front sight on and for me that really helped.  My 75 year old eyes ain't what they used to be!

[Mean Bob Mean]

VERY, VERY, VERY ,WELL DONE ,,,,,,,Dusty=  What I would give ,for one range day ,again with my Dad,Best Friend.

Right on man.  My dad was a bastard but I loved to hunt, fish and swap lies with him.

[will52100]

Just out of curiosity, any issues using puff lon in the bottle necked 45-75?  I've done it before, but now starting to wonder after doing a little research online.  Could this cause a blown up rifle, say with a 350 grain slug and 25 grains of 5744?

[pinto beans]

Will52100

I can't give an answer on could it cause a blow up in the rifle.  From what research I have done, I read a couple of reviews where writers for the gun magazines tested Puff-Lon in some modern bottle necked rounds with no issues reported.  I have also read other reports where folks claimed it 'clumped up' after being loaded in the case.  This is just repeating what I read.  So far I feel safe using it from what I have seen, your milage may vary.

What I can report is that the stuff does seem to bunch up but when you touch it the clump turns back to powder.  I figured if it worked in modern bottle necked rounds it would work here.  A feller did some tests on this and other 'fillers' in the Double Gun Journal using some of the old Nitro Express British cases that have bottle necks as well.  He was putting a system on the barrel that measured the pressure, can't recall all the details but the Puff-Lon didn't do any ills in the tests.  This feller did come to the conclusion it was no better or worse than the pillow fillers daycron or kapok.

What I like about it is that it does fill the airspace completely and is designed to be compressed.  Unlike other fillers, I believe it is less likely to become what they called a 'secondary projectile' and causing pressure spikes or other ills.  Does this mean it won't cause a problem?  I can't say.  Myself I do not like using fillers but in this case the product claims it is designed for what it is being used for and so far so good.  Afraid this is long way around the barn, all I can say it is working for me, but that is just for me!!!  What I wish for is a powder that would fill the case like the old black powder did, but still be a modern smokeless product.  Alas and alack that is not on the market that I know of so I use the Puff-Lon.  If I do hit any problems I will report it here.  Keep ya powder dry!!!

PB

[will52100]

Thanks, put my mind at least at a little ease.  According to a post from a rep from pufflon on a forum where someone showed pics of it plugging up, it's supposed to do that.  Some of the pics I saw showed a dud round that the primer fired but not the powder charge.  In it the pufflon bunched up to near solid at the bullet base, and the rest in the main part of the case was still loose.  According to the pufflon rep it does that and acts like a wad protecting the bullet base and turns back to dust once exiting the barrel.  The photo's also showed some bad brass stretching, I've never seen anything like that on my brass.  I'm thinking the guy had more wrong than just putting pufflon on top of his powder.

I'm with you on the powder, I'm not even wanting to fill the entire case, just one that would overflow the case if double charged.  That way you've got one more safety, not to mention better ignition.  I'm looking into varget, it fills a good bit of the case, just haven't tested it in this caliber yet.