Duplex loads in 50-70

[PJ Hardtack]

Of my 5 Shiloh rifles, my 'go to' is my 50-70 carbine. I ordered it with a 24" barrel on the advice of Kirk Bryant and it's still shorter than my 22" barrel Trapdoor carbine. According to Sellers, carbines could be ordered with barrels up to 26". I love it's ease of handling and remarkable accuracy with the issue sights.

At our annual CAS event, I went 3/3 in our "Quigley Bucket" event on 28 oz. tomato cans at 100m. You stepped to the line, elected your bucket (five in the row) and fired - off hand.

Load was the Lyman 450 gr bullet over 60 grs FFg over 5 grs SR 4759. To say that this is a clean burning load would be an understatement.  A more comfortable load is the same duplex loading under a 375 gr bullet. There is ample powder compression with either bullet.

My normal BP charge with either bullet is 65 grs FFg. This load requires bore cleaning after a string of shots, hence my preference for the duplex load.

Oddly, at 100m, the 375 gr load hits at the same POA as my smokeless load using the same bullet over 28 grs of 5744.

To hit rams at 200m, I simply up the ladder sight and use the 200 yd setting.

At another club's annual shoot, I was spotting for a pal who spent more time fiddling with his vernier sight than shooting! Every time I gave him an indication, he adjusted his sight. Consequently, he was chasing himself all over the place.

I bought a MVA mid range tang for this carbine, but haven't mounted it as yet. If it ain't broke .....

[Coffinmaker]

Hey PJ!!

SWEET!!

Coffinmaker

[PJ Hardtack]

Something to remember when considering what calibre for a BPCR .....

the same amount of powder and lead that would rattle your teeth in a 45-70 is a pussy cat in a 50-70. Basic physics: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

It's a matter of pressure generated by the smaller bore diameter of the 45-70. The late Dave Higginbottom of Lone Star Rifles counselled me on this when we were discussing a RB rifle order I was hoping to make.

Instead, I bought an Argentine in .43 Spanish, 'sporterized' it and  and learned the truth of what he said. The .43 BN case generates a generous push when it goes bang.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Duplexing BP with smokeless is like kissing your sister. Big single shot BP ctgs. require either wiping the bore or blow tubing. Duplexing is "cheating" in the eyes of many. You're either in the game or you're not. These are 19th century weapons and not an AR15. 

[Cuts Crooked]

....and any discussion of ANY smokeless powder is verboten in the forum. Please read the stickies at the top of the forum.