Has Anyone Used the Big Lube DD/PRS 400 in a 45-75?

Dalion · November 16, 2009, 12:40:03 PM

Howdy Pards,

Has anyone used the Big Lube DD/PRS 400 in a 45-75 76'?

http://www.biglube.com/BulletMolds.aspx?ItemID=5357fe2d-b75b-4f72-8f4e-b72d17327741

According to the diagram the crimp groove is in the right place to fit in a 45-75 case and have it work through the magazine.

Thanks,

Shootist Dan

will52100 · November 21, 2009, 11:03:39 AM

I haven't yet, but as soon as I get home I plan to try them out. Definatly not a long range bullet with the blunt nose and huge lube groves, but the longest posible shot on my place is 300 yards, most deer I take are under a 100. I havne't gotten the mould yet, but will lube and size and load a few I got from D.D. and see how they work out.

Suposed to actualy wieght rite about 385 grains as cast. Can't wait to try them out.

Dalion · November 23, 2009, 01:38:24 AM

Please let us know your results. I am having very good results with BACO 350gr and GOEX Pinnacle but I am sure when I shoot more rounds using BP things will be different.

will52100 · November 23, 2009, 07:32:22 AM

I think I've got the same mould, it's the one from Buffalow arms? It works great and cast the best bullet I've ever casted from an iron mould. It shoots great too, but about every 5-10 rounds with Graf's 2F I have to swab the bore. I can get great accuracy if I blow tube and swab, ect., but this is a repeater and I can run through ammo quickly. The bullet doesn't seem to cary enough lube for rapid shooting, even though clean up isn't hard. Will compare the two and see what accuracy differances I get at practicle hunting ranges, say a max of 200 yards.

Dalion · November 24, 2009, 02:24:39 PM

If you care to use something other than real BP, try Pinnacle. I used 49.0 grains of Pinnacle 3f powder, by weight, in Jameson brass and a .030 card wad under the Buffalo Arms bullet to get some really impressive groups. My smallest are 1 ½ at 100 yards. And with this load I have shot over 40 rounds at one sitting with no decrease in accuracy and squeaky clean barrel in 5 patches.

I got to tell you, Pinnacle took some getting use to. If you don't watch it, it has a tendency to throw a big charge after throwing 10 to 12 good ones. It did this in 3 different powder measures. I think that the very fine powder dust accumulates and after a few throws it will throw one way out of range. Now that I weight my charges I have no problem because I catch the over charges. And for accuracy, Pinnacle does not like to be compressed. The charge, noted above, has .050 compression after going through a 30 inch drop tube.

You probably did not want to know that much about the Pinnacle, but what the hell, apparently I felt a need to write it. I wouldn't be using it if I did get a great deal on the stuff and happen to have 12 pounds of it sitting around. As soon as that is gone I'll go back to BP. Right now it is fun to use it in this rifle.

will52100 · November 25, 2009, 09:27:10 AM

I~m going to stick with real black powder, got tons of it, well only pounds, but you get the idea. I do plan on working up a smokless load though.

Thanks

J.D. Yellowhammer · November 25, 2009, 10:08:04 AM

Quote from: will52100 on November 23, 2009, 07:32:22 AM
I think I've got the same mould, it's the one from Buffalow arms? It works great and cast the best bullet I've ever casted from an iron mould.

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,7077.html

Is this the mould?

JD

will52100 · November 25, 2009, 07:25:51 PM

That's the one. I was a little hesitant about the price, but the mould casted nearly perfectly rite out the gate. It has to be the best casting iron mould I have. Now if it'd just bee a six cavity I'd be in love!

larryo_1 · November 25, 2009, 09:47:26 PM

Wil52100:
That looks very similiar to the mold that I had Dave Farmer make for me at Hoch bullets. I took a photo copy of the original bullet out of an old Lyman manual and sent that to him and he made my mold to look like it and it seems that it is about the same as in your sketch. I use both 20:1 and 16:1 which the later is what was on the original factory ammo boxes as being recommended. I really can't tell much difference in their performance. A "for what its worth" comment.

will52100 · December 05, 2009, 07:09:46 PM

Well I finaly made it in, haven't tried loading the 400 grainers yet, but looks like it's going to cut the powder capacity back to probably 60-65 grains, with a 350 grain bullet I'm loading 70 grains of swiss 2F. On the other hand it looks like it's got more than enough lube for the longest barrel and should flat out bury Bambv. It's about an 1/8" longer than the standard 350 grain bullet. I did try some 300 grain big lube bullets that I got from Springfield Slim and they looked promising, but realy want to stick to around 350 grains with the 45-75. Worst case I'll stick with the Baco bullet and just run a couple wet patches through every 8 rounds or so.

john boy · December 05, 2009, 10:47:10 PM

Here's the same bullet from Lee Precision 457-340-F, 10gr lighter but cast near 350gr and $100 cheaper.
And here's how it shoots:
100yds

200 & 300yds: 300 are the X's. 200 yds it was windy as all get out

300yds:
1 x center
2 x 10 ring
6 x 9 ring

will52100 · December 07, 2009, 06:02:03 PM

Well I loaded a few up, it cut the powder capacity down to 61 grains slightly compressed. The thing that bothers me is that the base of the bullet extends past the bottle neck taper into the main body about 1/8" to 3/32". Would this cause a pressure problem? I imagine that it could cause an accuracy issue.