.513 bullets for the .50-95 Win.???

evodude · November 13, 2008, 12:53:17 PM

Need your help, pardners! Where can I buy cast .513 caliber bullets for my .50-95? Thanks for any info.

ndnchf · November 14, 2008, 06:58:43 AM

I can't answer your question, but I'm curious about your need for a .513" bullet. I thought the new rifles have a groove size of around .509"-.510". Do you have one with an oversize barrel or is yours original?

evodude · November 15, 2008, 07:18:27 PM

Howdy! .513 's what Chaparral recommends for its .50-95.

ndnchf · November 15, 2008, 08:28:23 PM

Oh, I didn't realize there was a difference between the Uberti and Chappy groove size. How about this bullet from Buffalo Arms:
http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,4447.html

I'd be interested in hearing hopw your shoots.

evodude · November 16, 2008, 03:49:25 AM

As luck would have it, they were out of stock! Sooo, I bought a mould from Lyman and will start casting my own. Found some at Montana Cast and after figuring out costs with shipping, decided to go this way instead. Bullets come out at .515, so I ordered a .513 custom sizing die from Lee. Ill keep y'all posted- this otta be fun!

Grizzly Adams · November 16, 2008, 12:26:07 PM

An Amigo of mine has an old mold for the 50-95 Winchester. The bullets drop at .513 FWIW.

evodude · November 16, 2008, 04:15:54 PM

Well, I hope Im as lucky!! Mines a new Lyman 340 grain .515 mould, do you know if his is a .515? Perhaps they loose .002 when they cool.

evodude · November 16, 2008, 04:21:51 PM

By the way, Griz, your bud ever use wheel weight lead for his castings? Ive got quite a bit of it here- was told it may be too hard for black powder, but Ill be loading Triple 7 and H4198 mostly, so I wonder if it'll work. Thanks for any help!

Grizzly Adams · November 16, 2008, 09:28:28 PM

Quote from: evodude on November 16, 2008, 04:21:51 PM
By the way, Griz, your bud ever use wheel weight lead for his castings? Ive got quite a bit of it here- was told it may be too hard for black powder, but Ill be loading Triple 7 and H4198 mostly, so I wonder if it'll work. Thanks for any help!

Hi evodude.

I check with him next time I go to town, and try to get more details. I'll get back to ya on this, Amigo.

evodude · November 20, 2008, 08:59:50 PM

Well, went out shooting today. Ended up with the bullets coming out of the mould at .515. Loaded one and chambered it- chambered just fine, and upon seating the bullet, there wasnt any bulging. Had two loads to both put on paper and fireform at the same time. Bec ause the case is so close to the fireformed one, dont think there is all that much movement to grow it. Started with the brass cut to 1.975 hoping for a length after fireing close to 1.94, but ended up with 1.905. dang thing shrank a tad bit more than I expected! First 7 shots were loaded with 23 grains of IMR 4198, CCI 200 primer, and the #515 139 340 grain cast bullet. Had a problem with three of the seven- they stuck in the barrel 3" out, primer ignited, but the powder didnt. 4198 isnt supposed to be position sensative, so whats up with this? Maybe need a mag primer? Ill bet the ones that did go off left the muzzle under 900 fps. Didnt form the shoulder on the case, causing blackening clear back to the rim and beyond- had to close the dust shield every shot. Second load was 40 grains of Hodgdon triple 7, same bullet and primer. Great load- shot a 2" group at 50 yds with two of the 5 shots touching, and that was with that shitty step ladder sight! Changed it out for a Winchester buckhorn tonight- dont think this .50-95 was meant to shoot more than a couple hundred yards anyways... Cases fireformed beautifully, NO smoking the cases- healthy recoil, and LOTS of smoke! I will cronograph in the next day or so. Anybody had problems like I experienced with the 4198? Be curious to see if you were able to correct it. Damnest thing I ever saw- I cant believe it didnt ignite with the primer going off. After tapping the bullet out, there was 23 grains of unburned powder trying to get into my action!!

Roosterman · November 21, 2008, 06:54:33 AM

40 grains of triple seven is a pretty light load. I shoot 58 grains in my 45-60.

evodude · November 21, 2008, 07:59:05 PM

Im using the 40 grains fff more as a fireform load than as the final load. Havent chronographed it yet, Ill do that tomorrow. My goal is around 1500 fps. Used 250 mag primers behind the 23 grains of IMR 4198- still shot like crap, 2 stuck in barrel out of 4 shots. May have to pass on that powder in the .50-95. Got some AA5744 Ill try next time I load up.

evodude · November 25, 2008, 06:45:19 AM

Went to the range a few more times since my last post, and heres what I came up with. Bear in mind these were results in my .50-95 Chappy 28" barrel, and use at your own risk!! Im shooting these in the mountains at 8500 feet, and who knows what results youd get at sea level, Im sure they would vary. I worked up a load in 1 grain increments with AA 5744 up to 38 grains shooting that 330 grain Lyman #515139 slug. Gave me velocities of 1495 fps. I backed it down to 36 grains as my load, 1455 fps, and a 30 fps spread with three shots, paying attention to temps AND the 40% margin Ive read about in these 76 posts. 90x40%=36, seems to hold true here as well! In working a load up with Hodgdon FFF Triple 7, ended up with 46 grains of powder by weight, not volume, behind that 330 grain Lyman. This load gives me 1435 fps to 1475 fps, which is just a tad bit under the posted black powder velocitied Ive read. Hope this gives all you .50-95 Win. enthusiasts a little more fodder to work with!

Chuck 100 yd · November 29, 2008, 09:29:56 PM

evodude , I had the same problem when using 26 gr. Imr 4198 in my Chappy .50-95.
If the muzzle was elivated to place the powder near the primer all was ok and 2" 50yd groups resulted but if the muzzle was not elivated, incomplete burn and stuck bullets were the result.
The Chaparral web site lists 28 gr. IMR 4198. I am going to up the powder charge and go to a mag.primer.
When 26 gr. did fire it grouped fine but 4" below where a BP load hits so I am sure the pressure is low.

evodude · November 30, 2008, 07:15:46 AM

These .50-95's are a real HOOT to shoot! Im realy pleased with my Chappy's accuracy. I started carrying a 3/8" wooden dowel while I was playing with 4198 to knock stuck bullets out!! I personally think Chaparral's listed load is way mild. Sitting in front of the chronograph I worked up 36 grains of AA5744 to produce 1450 fps. with acceptable accuracy. Ill bet that you can take 4198 to that level as well, but I wouldnt do it without a chronograph to clock the loads- you want to stay below that 1500 fps. level to match their BP load. I took it up to 26 grains as well, and had the same results you described, if my memory serves me it was only doing 500 or 600 fps. I also have Chappy's .40-60, and my smokless load is with IMR 4198, so Ill quit wasting it on experimenting with the .50 and just use it for the .40. I'd love to put a scope on the .50 to find its true potential at 100 yds. I wonder if you removed that dust cover you could fit a set of rings to that groove. Im thinking that you could modify a set of cheapie Tascos to fit and hold a scope on there temporarily just to shoot a few groups. I sure wouldnt want to ruin the super looks of the gun! Theres a guy on another post that claims he gets 1/2" (.500!) 1 shot groups at 200 yds with the .50! Heck, Ill bet I can do that out to 400yds.- that is if I can hit the paper!!! Just have to hit it once....