Trying to up my 45-70 game UPDATE

[Rook 6]

Installed a 30 in Krieger 1-16 twist SS barrel on my 1885 High Wall silhouette rifle and Cerakoted the barrel black to make it look more traditional. Fire formed three cases to send off to Whidden for a custom FLS die. Hope to have in June. In the meantime, Redding sizing and seating dies. Hope to test first loads next weekend. Starline brass, Fed 210M primer. Tracing paper over the flash hole allegedly helps with uniform ignition. 58.5 gr Swiss 1.5 black powder. .03 vegetable fiber wad and newspaper to help ensure separation from the bullet on firing. Finally a pan lubed 20-1 lead-tin mix 540gr 45 cal. bullet out of a Paul Jones Creedmoor bullet mould. Hope it shoots!

 

[Adam in WI]

Galdamn those look sexy

 

[Rook 6]

Galdamn those look sexy

Thanks! Shot a similar load, but not with this tight a twist. Others shoot this rate fine. Just need to find the sweet spot. Good to 600 yards!

 

[Bc'z]

And I thought I made pretty ammo, almost a shame to shoot em .

 

[Lone Hunter]

Installed a 30 in Krieger 1-16 twist SS barrel on my 1885 High Wall silhouette rifle and Cerakoted the barrel black to make it look more traditional. Fire formed three cases to send off to Whidden for a custom FLS die. Hope to have in June. In the meantime, Redding sizing and seating dies. Hope to test first loads next weekend. Starline brass, Fed 210M primer. Tracing paper over the flash hole allegedly helps with uniform ignition. 58.5 gr Swiss 1.5 black powder. .03 vegetable fiber wad and newspaper to help ensure separation from the bullet on firing. Finally a pan lubed 20-1 lead-tin mix 540gr 45 cal. bullet out of a Paul Jones Creedmoor bullet mould. Hope it shoots!
View attachment 1322593

Let’s see pictures of the Hi-Wall. I sure miss mine. Was too pretty to shoot and hunt with for fear of scratching it. If I couldn’t do that no need in keeping it.

 

[nakneker]

Installed a 30 in Krieger 1-16 twist SS barrel on my 1885 High Wall silhouette rifle and Cerakoted the barrel black to make it look more traditional. Fire formed three cases to send off to Whidden for a custom FLS die. Hope to have in June. In the meantime, Redding sizing and seating dies. Hope to test first loads next weekend. Starline brass, Fed 210M primer. Tracing paper over the flash hole allegedly helps with uniform ignition. 58.5 gr Swiss 1.5 black powder. .03 vegetable fiber wad and newspaper to help ensure separation from the bullet on firing. Finally a pan lubed 20-1 lead-tin mix 540gr 45 cal. bullet out of a Paul Jones Creedmoor bullet mould. Hope it shoots!
View attachment 1322593

Wow! Those look great!

 

[Rook 6]

Let’s see pictures of the Hi-Wall. I sure miss mine. Was too pretty to shoot and hunt with for fear of scratching it. If I couldn’t do that no need in keeping it.

I had similar concerns. It is a competition rifle only and while I intend to take as good care of it as I can, I know it was meant to be shot, so I am going to shoot the heck out of it. Not like I need to worry about barrel wear very much! I will be installing my period correct 3/4 inch tube 8x scope with Unertl type mounts for testing. I also have a vernier tang sight to use with the front globe with spirit level.

 

[hoz53]

I had similar concerns. It is a competition rifle only and while I intend to take as good care of it as I can, I know it was meant to be shot, so I am going to shoot the heck out of it. Not like I need to worry about barrel wear very much! I will be installing my period correct 3/4 inch tube 8x scope with Unertl type mounts for testing. I also have a vernier tang sight to use with the front globe with spirit level.

that is one gorgeous gun and some purdy bullets for sure. seems like 540s would kick you a little though?? I only have a marlin 1895 for my 45/70 escapades so i am jealous.
good shooting

 

[Rook 6]

Yep. It’s quite manageable with a strap on shoulder pad.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Man thats awesome- gun and ammo. Those bullets are amazing

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I guess you did up your 45-70 game. Since you got a new barrel maybe a 45-90 or 45-110?

 

[Rook 6]

I guess you did up your 45-70 game. Since you got a new barrel maybe a 45-90 or 45-110?

For silhouette, 45-70 is plenty. But, I plan on shooting to 1000 yds on occasion with it, hence a tighter twist. I’ll have to use paper patch bullets and duplex loads to achieve adequate velocity (45-90) powder charges), at that distance. My grease groove bullets won’t seat far enough out to allow room for the bigger powder charge and Swiss powder apparently does not shoot as accurately when compressed. So paper patch load development will be a sequel to grease groove load development.

 

[Bc'z]

Freakin speechless!!
Couldn't help but notice the actions on the bench, I'd sure like seeing those as you get them built.

 

[1shot]

Now that is one sexy looking rifle! Love the figure in the wood.

Lloyd

 

[Rook 6]

Freakin speechless!!
Couldn't help but notice the actions on the bench, I'd sure like seeing those as you get them built.

The pictures were taken at Wyoming Armory where the rifle was built. Unfortunately, the actions aren’t mine. I will have to provide another pic with the scope mounted sometime today. Thanks for the praise though! That’s mighty high coming from a craftsman such as yourself!

 

[XTR]

Beautiful rifle. Who made the action? My searches don't show anything for Wyoming Armory for 10 yrs or so.

You should spend some time on the Shiloh forums. There are guys there who can and do make BPCRs shoot well out to 1000. Though it can be hard to sort through from time to time. There is a week or two of reading and researching there, and there is information is from guys who are willing to experiment. One thing though because they all kind of know each other it's sometimes hard to drill back to the specs on something they are talking about that's tribal knowledge to everyone else in the conversation.

One note. I think most, or at least a whole lot of long range BPCR shooters skip sizing all together and slip fit their bullets. I've seen guys with loaded cases with wads on the top slip the bullets in just before they chamber them.

For shorter distances your load is probably fine, if you want to stretch it out I think you're going to need to go to 65 to 70 gr of 1.5F. I quit playing with my BPCR several yrs ago. Lack of time and too many shooting hobbies. One thing I've noticed in recent visits to some of my BPCR forums is mention of finer powders than have been traditional. There are some folks shooting FFFg these days.

 

[JSH]

Pure raw gun porn, almost disgusting;-)

 

[Rook 6]

Beautiful rifle. Who made the action? My searches don't show anything for Wyoming Armory for 10 yrs or so.

You should spend some time on the Shiloh forums. There are guys there who can and do make BPCRs shoot well out to 1000. Though it can be hard to sort through from time to time. There is a week or two of reading and researching there, and there is information is from guys who are willing to experiment. One thing though because they all kind of know each other it's sometimes hard to drill back to the specs on something they are talking about that's tribal knowledge to everyone else in the conversation.

One note. I think most, or at least a whole lot of long range BPCR shooters skip sizing all together and slip fit their bullets. I've seen guys with loaded cases with wads on the top slip the bullets in just before they chamber them.

For shorter distances your load is probably fine, if you want to stretch it out I think you're going to need to go to 65 to 70 gr of 1.5F. I quit playing with my BPCR several yrs ago. Lack of time and too many shooting hobbies. One thing I've noticed in recent visits to some of my BPCR forums is mention of finer powders than have been traditional. There are some folks shooting FFFg these days.

Wyoming Armory is busier than ever. They really know Winchesters. They restored my .22 Lowall also. I’ve had great success with an almost identical load out to 500M in a Shiloh. I sold it to help fund this rifle. You are quite correct about the increased powder charge for long distance past 500M. That’s where paper patch will come in. I will be experimenting with slip fit seating also. The action is from Montana Vintage Arms. They started making them a few years ago. It is an exact replica of the original, made with modern steel and tolerances. The action is an absolute jewel.

 

[joshb]

That is one beautiful gun! It doesn’t get much better than that! Fantastic wood!

 

[CharlieNC]

That's a beautiful classic!