.40-60 WCF

[Rafe Covington]

Is anybody shooting a 300 gr. bullet in there .40-60 WCF, right now I am shooting a 240 gr bullet. I am not really sure the twist [ pretty sure it is 1 in 40] in the Uberti 1876 will stabilize a 300 gr bullet. Just wanted to ask before I ordered some.

Rafe

[dusty texian]

Rafe ,I have picked up another 40-60 wcf with an exceptional bore circa 1884. The barrel has been cut to 21-1/2 .So I'm gettin ready to start load development for thisun. Have never tried any bullet's that weighed more than 210. Have just loaded some 280 grn. but have not tried them in either of the 40-60'S yet. Have you tried the 300'S ,if so howd they do.I dont think my originals will stabelize the 300 ,I have my doubt's about the 280 working also. After some range time I'll post result's. Here are my two, 40-60'S.....Dusty

[Grapeshot]

The original bullet for the .45-60WCF was a 300 grain flat nose soft lead that was stabilized quite well in the Winchesters.  I have 2 1876's.  One is a Chappy, the other is a Uberty Carbine.  The will both keep a 405 grain bullet within three inches at 100 yard.  That being said, the 300 and 350 grain bullets I shoot also are quite accurate at 100 yards.  I kept them all in the center of an 11 inch frying pan my wife was going to throw out.

[Rafe Covington]

Rafe ,I have picked up another 40-60 wcf with an exceptional bore circa 1884. The barrel has been cut to 21-1/2 .So I'm gettin ready to start load development for thisun. Have never tried any bullet's that weighed more than 210. Have just loaded some 280 grn. but have not tried them in either of the 40-60'S yet. Have you tried the 300'S ,if so howd they do.I dont think my originals will stabelize the 300 ,I have my doubt's about the 280 working also. After some range time I'll post result's. Here are my two, 40-60'S.....Dusty

Hey Dusty, I haven't used any 300 gr. bullets in my 40-60 WCF yet, was asking if anybody else had before I ordered any. I went ahead and ordered a 150 300 grain bullets, 50 each at .406, .408, .410. I will let you know the results after doing some shooting. I have been shooting 240 gr bullets lately, I am very happy with the results of those bullets.

Nice looking 40-60 rifles Dusty, would like an original myself maybe sometime in the future.

Rafe

[dusty texian]

Thank's Rafe, I'm gonna try some 280 grn . bullet's I have loaded up/Would like to know how the 300's do in your rifle. Have you measured the twist rate on your Uberti. I have read for yr's that the original Winchester 40-60 's have 1 in 40" twist. And some may ,but the two original 40-60 wcf  Wiinchester's that I have measure 1 turn in 20". I have only used the 210 grn. bullets in the past, and never gave the longer ,heavier bullet's a try. Will post what kind of accuracy I get with the 280 RNFP. A 280 or 300 grn 40-60 is a whole different critter than the 40-60, 210 ........Dusty

[dusty texian]

Howdy,had a chance to shoot two of my old Winchester 76's today.The one I call the Wolfers gun ,I lapped the bore with Clover extra fine polish since the last range trip.It helped this old gun out in a big way.I shot the same load I have been useing in this rifle a 210 grn. lead bullet lubed with SPG,and a case full light compression of 2ff Swiss bp. This gun would shoot 3" to 4 " groups at 50 yd. before lapping . Today it shot the same load into 1-1/2 to 2" groups. Very happy with the lapping job.The Other 40/60wcf 76 has a near mint bore ,is cut to 21-1/2" barrel. Today I shot it at 50yd. with the 210 grn. load It would shoot this load into about 1" at 50yd. The same rifle I used to test some new 40/60wcf load's useing .407 280 grn. lead SPG lube and a case full of 2ff Swiss light compression. This load shot 1-1/2" at 50 yd. and 2-1/2" at 100 yd's. I was very happy with the accuracy of both rifles .  The 280 grn. RNFP bullet feed's through these 1876 action's very slick, think the 280 grn. bullet would be a very good choice for a hunting bullet,.Well Rafe I'm gonna nudge it up ta 300 grn. next.

[Oregon Bill]

Texian, you are one fortunate amigo to be shooting two ORIGINAL 76s. Glad the Clover extra fine put some accuracy back in your barrel. Any idea of velocity with the 280?

[dusty texian]

Hey Oregon Bill, I do not know what the velocity is with the 280 grn. bullet's. Guess I need to buy a cronograph. I would like to cronograph this load and the load using the 210 grn. bullet ,The rifle's had a little more muzzel jump when fireing the 280's, but still very light recoil.The 210's are very light on recoil. A lot different than shooting my 45-75 wcf. That one buck's a little . How long before your's come's in? Lookin to hear a range report .........Dusty

[Oregon Bill]

Dusty, it should be here Friday or Monday. Dies should be here today. Cases will be a temporary problem, as I may have to form them from some .348 or .50-90 brass I have on hand. I have ordered 20 from Rocky Mountain cartridge, but they won't be done til the end of June.

[dusty texian]

Hey Oregon Bill, Gonna be a long week ,aint it .I am using cases made from 50-90 Sharps. I did not form them myself, bought them from Buffalo Arm's. If you have 50-90 brass shouldnt be a big deal to trim and neck down. I have only loaded bp. in my 76 's they are all original,dont want to chance it. Have been gettin good accuracy with the bp. Can tell ya now, ya gonna like the 45-75. It's a real blast. My cousin was shootin a Uberti 50-95 wcf yesterday at the range and I was shootin my two 40-60's. He was shootin smokless load's in the 50-95. they were weak compared to a full charge of black  in that cal.But still fun ......Dusty

[Oregon Bill]

Dusty, don't you worry, amigo, I'll be runnin' the holy black in my 76.

[dusty texian]

Loading for the 40-60 wcf today. The last trip with the 40-60 wcf, I was shooting some 280 grn. rnfp cast lead bullet's ,over a case full of 2ff Swiss . About 1/8" compression. The two Winchester 1876 40-60's shot this load very well. Sunday Morning will try the same load at 100 yd. and 200 yd. May have a chance to cronograph this load. Have no idea what the velocity is ,The bullet drop at two hundred yd. from a 100 yd. zero may tell me something. Kinda getting to be a .40-60 wcf fan. This cartridge is very handy to shoot, and packs a perty good punch ,but is kind on the shoulder. Will post result's upon return, from the range........Dusty

[Rafe Covington]

Hey Dusty, sorry about the delay in writing about the 300 gr bullets in my Uberti '76 in 40-60. I been working my ass off and haven't had alot of time to do much shooting. The only powder used has been 5744, have about 15 pounds of that. My rifle was shooting the 240 gr .408 dia. bullets into 2.25 to 2.5 inches at 50 yds off a rest using 23.0 grs of 5744 [Fed 210 primer, Jamison virgin brass and my cast bullets].

I shot the .406, .408 and .410 in 300 gr bullets using 5744, in my rifle the .408 bullets with 19.0 grs of 5744 seemed to shoot best. I was getting 2.5 in groups at 50 yards off a rest, again using Fed 210 primer, Jamison brass and my home cast bullet. I would almost bet the rifle would get better groups with a better shooter, eyes aint what they used to be.

I have some Swiss 2F, want to try that with both bullets sometime in the future, gonna be retiring to Tenn. pretty soon and will have more time.

Later
Rafe

[dusty texian]

You Gotta( make hay while the sun is shineing) Rafe. Bet your looking forward to that retirement. Glad for Ya. I did get to shoot the 40-60 wcf rifles on Sun. They both shot very good at 100 yd. I got the same accuracy as before with the 280 rnfp and a full case of Swiss 2ff. Did not get to shoot at 200 ,had some bench rest guy's useing the 200 yd. Was so Hot I'd didnt much care to stay any longer than I did. Still cant believe the improvment in accuracy on my first 40-60 wcf AKA the Wolfers Gun. That old rifle has done great after the bore lapping.Had a couple feller's on here say stay with it dont give up on the old girl to soon. Have to admit, was about to say that's it, and rebarrel . Matter a fact already have bought the replacement barrel and reamer. Well I'll use that on another project.Good luck with your shootin and your retirement . The second  one takes some gettin used to ........Dusty

[dusty texian]

Out at the range this morning. Had the .40-60 wcf  in the old 76 set up at 100 yd. on sand bag's Fired 9 round's of the 280 grn. RNFP over a case full of 2ff Swiss  and  CCI LG. pistol primers . Was very good shooting condition's light North wind, 86 deg. and low humidity for the coast. All 9 shot's went into a  2-1/2 in. cluster @ 100 yd. Came home reloaded the 9 and 11 more , and put a Lyman tang sight on . If condition's are good Gonna try the same rifle load combo @ 200 yd. on Fri . morning.Dang that felt good! .........Dusty

[Black River Smith]

Dusty Texian,

I am bringing this topic up to ask you what 210 grn bullet you are using in the 40/60's.  I am looking at getting a Chappy 40/60 but cannot find an appropriate bullet mold (Lyman or Lee).  I do find a lyman 240 grn but are you using an original Win or some other bought bullet?

Also what is the length of the bullet you are using?  This will help me understand the OAL when loaded.

[dusty texian]

Howdy Black River Smith,The 40-60 wcf is a fine cartridge choice in a 76. I have found them to be very easy to reload and very accurate . They do pack plenty of punch for med. game and are very mild to shoot. When shooting the 210 gr. bullet in my 40-60 wcf rifles. I have been loading the Lyman 403168 .A very good choice for the 40-60. If you do not cast you can purchase these bullet's lubed and ready to go from Dave at Buffalo Arm's. The 210 he sell's is a very high quality bullet. If you get a 40-60 I would recomend you slug your bore and then order the bullet one or two thou. over bore. Think you will be Happy with the 40-60wcf. If I can help Ya in any way ,jest give me a Holler ,,,,,,,Dusty

[Black River Smith]

Thanks for the information that does help.

[dusty texian]

Had the old 1876 Winchester 40-60wcf out at the range this morning. Was one of those rare day's in Jan. 50 deg. no wind to speak of and very brite and sunny. Set up the old rifle on the 200 yd. bench ,on sand bag's. used the Lyman tang ,a fine bead and fired 9 shot's back to back ,no wipeing . 280 gr. bullet @ .407 rnfp over a case full of 2ff Swiss. The 9 shot's went into a cluster of less than 2-1/2" . Was very happy to say the leaste.Rifle circa 1884 Dusty circa 1959, Dang that felt good,,,,,,,Dusty