Loading Data for the 45-60 WCF

[Silver_Rings]

Hi Dave,

If you are using a light load, you will probably get more consistent burn of the powder if you use a filler to hold the powder near the primer.  I use polyfilling, like for filling pillows.  Others use about a 1/4 sheet of toilet paper, others user different things.

Silver Rings

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Teddy Bear Guts.   Free or at a nominal price at thrift stores

Another option is to go to a slower powder. My favorite is 4895. I works in many rifle cases and can be loaded down to 60% of a max listed load with great results.

[hammer1]

Thought I would add to the list. Silver Rings gave me some guidance on a load, it was 325 gr fp from buffalo bore, started with 41 grs. Of varget. Stopped at 42, chronographed at 1440, rounded edges still on primers. Thanks, Silver Rings, with the guidance. These loads worked in my rifle, use caution.

[hammer1]

Ive been experimenting more, with 325 and 350 grs. Ive settled on 40.5 grs of  varget for the 350s it gave me 1356 fps, I also tried 42 grs with the 325 grs. Unfortunately, the chrono zoned out and wouldnt give me a velocity. I tried up to 42 grs with the 350s, lazercasts, the strange thing, the velocity started to drop for me over 40.5 gr. I also had unburned powder grains over 40.5.

[hammer1]

My last two posts were using fed 210m primers, in jamison 45-60 brass. All the loads were from a uberti 1876, with a 28 inch barrel.

[Gabriel Law]

What OAL are you guys using for your 45-60 cartridges?  I'm using BACo 459300 bullets, and if they are crimped in the groove provided for the purpose, the OAL is ~ 2.187".  Today, I loaded some out to 2.290" - in the top of the upper grease groove - and they ;cycle fine in my Uberti rifle.

[hammer1]

Gabriel, ive been running 2.290 overall, its been working fine in mine

[Gabriel Law]

Hammer, that's encouraging.  I was thinking that the closer I can get that bullet to the rifling, without having to travel through space to get there, the better for accuracy.  I just spent $613 for a new MVA tang sight to improve my shooting, and every little bit helps.

[Palatine Tom]

Dear all,

with respect to the subject "bullet travel through space to the rifling..."

I know this is relevant for long range modern cartrige shooting like .308 and so on.

My question: Is this travel through space topic for our old 45-60//45-70 or 44-40 Cartridges as relevant for precission?


Greetings

Tom

Hammer, that's encouraging.  I was thinking that the closer I can get that bullet to the rifling, without having to travel through space to get there, the better for accuracy.  I just spent $613 for a new MVA tang sight to improve my shooting, and every little bit helps.

[Gabriel Law]

Tom:  it might not make any difference in accuracy at all, but i think it has to.  I know that in my 50-90 Sharps, I get best accuracy if I seat the bullet to just touch the bore.  To be honest, right now I cannot remember if it's the throat or the rifling that makes contact.  I am not too excited about the accuracy I'm getting in my Uberti 45-60 (yet), so I'm doing the best to make accurate ammo.

[matt45]

When you refer to the Lee crimp die, I presuming you mean that collet die that can be used for any bullet.  Where can I get such a beast?  Thanks ahead of time.

[Silver_Rings]

The easy way to get the Lee factory crimp die is to contact Lee.  The die is a custom item and I think will run about $80.  You can buy a 45-70 Lee factory crimp die and modify it by filing / grinding.  This modification is discribed in a post here a number of years ago.

Silver Rings

[matt45]

     As it sits, the cost is still pretty reasonable- $25 w/ a six buck tooling fee.  The guy I spoke w/ yesterday said there is about a 6 week lead time.  They had some 45-90's on hand, but as you've pointed out, grinding would be necessary.
     My thought is that a 45-60 die would work on any of the 45 straight wall cases, and a factory crimp die would hold the bullets in the tubular magazine better than a roll crimp.  From reading this thread, it sounds like the best loads fill the case anyway.  Am I wrong on my assumptions?

[matt45]

Here is another question for the board- The factory brass for the 45-60 (jameison, I presume) has a rim slightly larger than my 45-70 stuff- my shellholder for the 45-70 is a little tight.  Has anyone else encountered this, and what were their solutions

[rbertalotto]

Bullets next to lands....

The folks that really get the most accuracy out of lead bullets and cartridges, "breech seat" the bullet. They force a bullet into the lands without a cartridge. Then they take a cartridge full of powder and chamber it behind the bullet......BANG!

This is the best way to get the best accuracy out of a BPCR. So I'd suggest that getting the bullet as close to the lands as possible will have merit.

[matt45]

Hello the Camp
     I am a newbie to the board, but have found in the past several days that the 45-60 responds amazingly well to uniforming the flash holes and uniforming the primer pockets.  My rifle (Uberti) also likes Federal primers in both Black and Smokeless loads.  I am using the JBL brass, so such might not be a universal.
 

[matt45]

Paying tribute to Silver Rings, and his format:
    Firing from a Uberti w/ 28" barrel, Altitude 5975, Temp 17.9 F, barometer 29.56
    38.0 grs. IMR 4895, Jamison cases, Fed 210 primers, 300gr Meistercast bullets
                                                             Hi- 1337
                                                             Lo- 1258
                                                            Avg.- 1295
                                                            SD- 27.3
    Grp size 1" to 1 1/2" (5 shot groups) @ 50 yards, 15 rds fired  

... and as always, not tested for pressure, use @ your own risk

[Gabriel Law]

Matt 45:  what sights are you using on your rifle?

[matt45]

Still waiting on the base for the MVA sight- same as yours.  These groups were shot w/ the stock buckhorn.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Paying tribute to Silver Rings, and his format:
    Firing from a Uberti w/ 28" barrel, Altitude 5975, Temp 17.9 F, barometer 29.56
    38.0 grs. IMR 4895, Jamison cases, Fed 210 primers, 300gr Meistercast bullets
                                                             Hi- 1337
                                                             Lo- 1258
                                                            Avg.- 1295
                                                            SD- 27.3
    Grp size 1" to 1 1/2" (5 shot groups) @ 50 yards, 15 rds fired  

... and as always, not tested for pressure, use @ your own risk

Matt; I'm glad it worked out for you. In my .45-70 BLR/src I stopped at the same load as the recoil in a carbine is quite stout.