looking for help

Bunk Stagnerg · January 13, 2015, 04:32:53 PM

A little help here would be appreciated.

I am loading .45-70 with 4.0c/c of FFg Graf powder through a 36"drop tube. I inherited the drop tube from a BP silhouette shooter along with some other tools and am not sure about that length.

The load needs to be compressed just a little when used with a DD/PRS 400 grain Big Lube® boolet. I have not checked the volume in grains, but it would appear to be around 55 grains.

I am new to this BP cartridge business, so any comments or advice would be appreciated. I understand to leave no voids and a compressed load seems to burn cleaner so anything else would be a help.

Respectfully submitted,
Bunk

Dick Dastardly · January 13, 2015, 04:39:39 PM

Ho Buck,

What distance and what rifle? Your bullet was designed for the tube magazine rifles but it also shoots very well in some single rifles. Yes, it wants a compressed, not solid, powder charge. Also, a 1/8" over powder card prevents deforming of the flat bullet base.

Standing by,

DD-MDA

Bunk Stagnerg · January 13, 2015, 05:26:46 PM

The rifle is a"Winchester" 1886 made by Mirikou (sp?) and the ranges of 90 to 125 yards in Cory Dixon competition. The targets vary but are mostly 24"X24".

If I can get some feral hogs to come to my feeder in the daytime i might whack one at 107 yards laser measured.

sorry i dd not include this information, I have been splitting wood the keep the home fires burning.
Thanks
Bunk

Blackpowder Burn · January 13, 2015, 07:25:16 PM

That load, with the addition of a 0.030" overpowder fiber or poly wad, should be perfect for Cody Dixon. That's exactly what I shoot in my Marlin 1895 45-70 for the same purpose. My Marlin will group about 1.5 MOA with it.

Bunk Stagnerg · January 13, 2015, 09:31:49 PM

thanks Back Powder Burns for that encouragement. I still wonder about that unhandy long drop tube.
As soon as the weather permits here in central Texas i will give this receipt a try out.

again thanks
Bunk

Navy Six · January 16, 2015, 08:33:41 AM

Bunk, the exact length of the drop tube is not as important as the consistency with which you use it. A good rule of thumb is to take one second to pour each 10 grains of powder. So your 55 gr charge should take 5-6 seconds to pour. That 36 in. tube does seem like quite a stretch. A lot of people use a 24 in. tube with equal success.

Dick Dastardly · January 16, 2015, 05:34:18 PM

Drop tube? Music? Why not? My drop tube has a musical origin. Actually, were I more talented, it might yet make sweet music. As it is, it makes sweet shooting long distance ammo. . .

Blackpowder Burn · January 16, 2015, 09:52:06 PM

Heck of a drop tube there, Dick!

Bunk Stagnerg · January 19, 2015, 08:35:33 AM

Finally, a couple of days without rain and cold got me out the door to shoot.

The 405 grain boolet and 55 grains of Goex FFg works well as did 55 grains of Olde Eynsford FFg makes what appears to be a sufficiently accurate combination for Cory/Dixon shooting. It left a good grease ring around the muzzle and a swipe with the bore snake did a good job of starting the cleanup process. Two more Ballistol wet patches and everything is clean and put away

Over the weekend I did manage to get off about 40 rounds of .45-70 and my shoulder knows it, but it was fun.

Feral hogs are coming to the feeder, so I might use this on them. If it worked for the buffalo hunters it will surely lay a big hog on the ground, wouldn't you think?
Bunk