Loading Data for the 50/95WCF

[wymanwinn]

ok now...

received my .515" sizing die and fabricated a punch....sized and lubed up 20 Moose Moulds 516375 Spencer bullets, sized 20 primed JBL .50-95 cases, neck sized to .514", filled 10 cases with 75gr (by weight) of Goex FFFg and 10 cases with 75gr (by weight) of Goex FFG, all powder was measured with a Belding & Mull powder thrower and a 24" drop tube, compressed the loads about .150" or just slightly shorter (about .020") than the distance from the base of the bullet to the crimp groove....seated and roll crimped the bullet to a COL of 2.280"...

saturday will be the chrony/sight in day....stay tuned!!!!

ok, just back from the range and cleaned the 50-95....

with the above FFg load i sighted the rifle at 100 yards off of a rest with these results...

5 shots with rear sight at lowest position on the ramp, 1st sighter was low, moved rear sight up one notch on the ramp, better on 2nd shot but still low, moved sight to middle notch of the ramp and the next three danced on a 8" swinging plate....pretty good IMO...ran a boresnake/windex through the barrel
recoil was pretty mild and quite manageable
5 shots through the CED M2 chrony, 1299, 1303, 1314, 1320, 1308...1308fps avg, 21 extreme spread
ran boresnake/windex through the barrel



with the above FFFg load i again sighted the rifle at 100 yards off of a rest with these results...

5 shots with rear sight at lowest position on the ramp, 1st sighter was slightly low, moved rear sight up one notch on the ramp and bingo....danced around and on the 8" swinging plate....VERY good IMO....liking this as it shoots slightly flatter..ran boresnake/windex through the barrel
recoil was more robust but not overly so, i could probably run 50 rounds through the rifle and feel good...
5 shots through the CED M2 chrony, 1425, 1444, 1439, 1438, 1410...1431 avg, 34 extreme spread...
ran boresnake/windex through the barrel

packed up my gear and headed for the garage to clean the gun thoroughly....not too bad, windex w/vinegar and a couple of passes with a bronze bore brush and 6 windex soaked flannel patches, two dry follow-ups and finally a patch soaked in TriFlow and the barrel was gleaming...!!!

i should also note the the Moose Moiulds 516375 "big lube groove" bullet left a nice lube star on the muzzle....just enough lube for this beauty of a forearm i would say...

overall, i will be loading Goex FFFg 75gr by weight, thrown from a Belding & Mull powder thrower!!!!

Great gun, and a VERY good load i would say....love it when it all comes together like this...

wyman

ps...had a few "spectators" too....and they too were impressed.....))))

[ndnchf]

Thanks for the detailed report. What alloy and weight are the Moose bullets? That 3F load really moves along, a true express load. Sure glad to hear your first outing was successful.

[wymanwinn]

Thanks for the detailed report. What alloy and weight are the Moose bullets? That 3F load really moves along, a true express load. Sure glad to hear your first outing was successful.

~20:1 alloy and 375gr lubed bullet...

[ndnchf]

Ok - thanks. Keep us appraised of your progress!

[wymanwinn]

Ok - thanks. Keep us appraised of your progress!

well, i was so excited about my successes with the .50-95 loads that i went out to my "Cave" and cast up about 200 bullets and lubed/sized them this morning....they are in the wine cooler waiting for another 75 JMB5095 cases....

now i just need a little brighter front sight instead of that skinny black sliver....LOL   maybe i will solder a brass bit to the back of the sight blade....!

dang this is fun, can't wait to shoot the beast again...))))

[ndnchf]

How about a Beach combination front sight. I've thought about getting one several times, but not followed through.

https://montanavintagearms.com/product/sights/mva/mva-combination-front-sight/

[King Medallion]

I've given thought to those sights as well. Not being a mathematician, which is the 3/8th dovetail?

[ndnchf]

I have not measured the front sight dovetail myself, but 3/8" = .375".

[King Medallion]

Thanks, that's what I thought.

[ndnchf]

I finally got to the range today and tried out a couple loads at 50 yards.

The .515" swaged out 300gr bullet shot pretty well with swiss 2Ff, about 2.4". Not a target load, but a lot better than they shot at the original .512" diameter.

I tried 36gr of Accurate 5744 under a Lyman 515139. That shot about 2.4" also.

Over the years I've tried APP in various cartridges with so so results. It always seemed inconsistent. So decided to try it with a magnum primer rather than the usual LR primer. That really seemed to make a difference. I loaded 63gr by weight of APP 2F under a Lyman 515139. That put 4 shots under 1.5". It sounded strong with no noticeable difference between shots.

While I like shooting real black and will continue to do so, this was an interesting and unexpected display of what a difference a magnum primer can make with APP. I'm going to explore this further.

[buckheart]

Some of the reading I have done about cartridge loading BP has said that magnum primers are the best way to go with black, black substitutes too. I have been shooting Blackhorn 209 in a 45 colt SAA with good results. It makes great smoke and flame and accuracy is acceptable for shooting steel at 25 yards. Cleaning has been easy too. I may have to try some 209 in the 76.
 
So far I have only shot Trailboss loads in my 1876. Accuracy was 3 to 4 inches offhand at 50yds. I did shoot some of these loads over my chrony. Will have to get the notebook in hand to get the specifics. Finally got some 5744 powder in at my local supplier. Haven't tried that yet. I will be loading some up for the 1876 with it later today.

Ndnchf- I like that front sight you posted a link to. Some where on here you posted something about a rear sight for the 76. A ladder type I believe, maybe Smith industries?

[ndnchf]

Yes, I added a riflesmith ladder sight. It's an exact copy of the original 1876 Winchester sight. Unfortunately they are no longer in business.

[King Medallion]

Can I have yours then? 

[ndnchf]

Gee, I'd love to but I can't find a screwdriver to remove it  . Fortunately, there are other tang sight options that will serve quite well.

[wymanwinn]

Yes, I added a riflesmith ladder sight. It's an exact copy of the original 1876 Winchester sight. Unfortunately they are no longer in business.

i found and ordered this...

http://www.buffaloarms.com/winchester-reproduction_rear_sight_it-1170333.aspx?TERM=wrrs

Happy New Year!!!

[ndnchf]

i found and ordered this...

http://www.buffaloarms.com/winchester-reproduction_rear_sight_it-1170333.aspx?TERM=wrrs

Happy New Year!!!

That's a nice sight, but I thought you were looking for a tang sight  My original 1873 carbine wears the same original sight on its barrel. Let us know how it works out for you.

[wymanwinn]

That's a nice sight, but I thought you were looking for a tang sight  My original 1873 carbine wears the same original sight on its barrel. Let us know how it works out for you.

you are correct ndnchf, i was looking for a tang sight....but on recollection, decided that the Hoke tang sight on my Pedersoli Sharps would be enough for long distance....and figuring that the 50-95 is prolly only decent to 125-150 yards that the ladder would suffice...

i know...you say "the guy is out to lunch" on this....but i do like to play about...

Happy New Year to you and yours!

wyman

[King Medallion]

That looks exactly like the sight that WAS on my Browning 1886. Sporting a Buckhorn now, much better. The ad says exactly like every model EXCEPT the 76? Well, good luck with it.

[ndnchf]

Ok got it. I hope it works out for you. My original '73 shoots pretty good with that sight.


:

[wymanwinn]

Ok got it. I hope it works out for you. My original '73 shoots pretty good with that sight.


:

VERY nice....your 73 is a 44wcf i assume...!!!

i have an original in 44scf and 38wcf....both very nice pieces, but i rarely if ever shoot them....