Dialing in a C Sharps 1885 45-70 BPCR

[Snocat]

Hi everyone I'm trying to work up loads for my C Sharps 1885
To shoot at Ridgeway rifle club bpcr matches. There's some amazing shooters at there matches! I would like to at least have my equipment capable of the task .
I thought I was a good shot.Then went to my first match a quite few yrs back at Ridgeway and set up next to Brian Chilson and his Wonderful wife who is his Spotter. He was very helpful all through the match giving me tips as he mowed everything in sight down. I realized I have room for serious improvement..lots!! After seeing his C Sharps 85 in action I wanted one ! He recommended the 45-70 but if your shooting out west in the wind then the 45-90 might be a better choice.
So I had one built 3 yrs ago and finally have a little more free time figure out what She likes.
This is where I'm at so far.
I've annealed all my brass
I shoot as cast and pan lube with SPG
casting mix 20 to 1
Fed 210m primers with coffee filter under the powder using 30'' drop tube.
.30 veg wad with tracing paper between the wad and bullet.
Slip fit because it's Kool [emoji16]
Just engraving the rifling
Nylon brush with One 3x3 patch just damp with 5 to 1 Napa cutting then dry the chamber.

These are the molds I have


For powder I have 3f GX .. 2f GX.. and Swiss 1 1/2.
I keep a scrap book of all the recipes I try
My targets at 200yds

One of my best groups so far were my 74 Shiloh fire formed slip fit Swiss 70 gr 560 Brooks . Don't know what to make of that . Shiloh mojo I'm thinking.[emoji41]
She does seem to be smitten with
Swiss 1 1/2 70 71 72
Some wisdom said I should look at 16 to 1
After seeing the .11 thousandth slump on my hotter loads.
I'm thinking that makes sense .. thanks guys.
Here's something interesting at 250 yds where the bullet first hits the snow are a bunch of the tracing paper I put between the bullet and veggie wad.
So far I can't break the 3 in groups at 200yds .But it's been pretty breezey .
I'm going to load a few more of the best loads and see how the do at 300 and 500.
I also want to see what the Brooks 450 chicken bullet likes.
Please feel free to comment on anything!!
Pretty much everything I've learned has been from researching you guys post on these forums .Thanks Guys

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[Old Jim]

Before seating the greased bullet into the case, I spray a little bore-cleaner on a paper-towel I lay on the bench, and always wipe the bullet-base on it, making sure NOTHING can/will stick to the base. The only thing I want to find on the ground at the target is a spent lead bullet, just sayin',

Oh yeah, nice rifle!

Jim

[Gunlaker]

If you are going to wipe between shots, I'd seriously consider taking your best load and trying it again but wiping with 2 damp patches per shot.

I spend a lot of time shooting with a chronograph and always see lower velocity variation with 2 patches rather than just one. This will translate into less vertical dispersion.

When it's hot and dry I use 3 damp between shots. Hard fouling will make an excellent load look poor.

Chris.

[Don McDowell]

Just out of curiosity have you tried a lesser amount of that Swiss 1 1/2. One year I had the honor of spotting for the guy that won the midrange BPTR nationals. When the dust was all settled and we were tallying up all those x's , I asked him what his load was. He replied the same as my silhouette load 62 gr. Swiss 1 1/2 and the lyman postel cast from 20-1.
If I were to make a suggestion, it would be to try that 62 gr charge with the PJ bullet. ( I know another fella that uses 68 gr with a bullet similar to your BACO) go with a standard primer, Swiss really gets along well with br-2's, and seat the bullet short of the lands.
If you're low on Swiss grab a can of Olde Eynsford 1 1/2 and look at charges of 68-69 gr with all your 500 and heavier bullets, again seated just off the lands.

[Hanz]

Nice rifle!

It seems a lot of the loads give close to the same result.

What's the theory with using a coffee filter between the primer and charge?

[Snocat]

Before seating the greased bullet into the case, I spray a little bore-cleaner on a paper-towel I lay on the bench, and always wipe the bullet-base on it, making sure NOTHING can/will stick to the base. The only thing I want to find on the ground at the target is a spent lead bullet, just sayin',

Oh yeah, nice rifle!

Jim

I will give the bore cleaner a try ,I thought I got all the lube off guess not. Funny I was thinking maybe not putting the light paper between the veggie wad and bullet to save a step probably the veggie tagging along would really affect thing .

[Snocat]

If you are going to wipe between shots, I'd seriously consider taking your best load and trying it again but wiping with 2 damp patches per shot.

I spend a lot of time shooting with a chronograph and always see lower velocity variation with 2 patches rather than just one. This will translate into less vertical dispersion.

When it's hot and dry I use 3 damp between shots. Hard fouling will make an excellent load look poor.

Chris.

I haven't seen even a trace of leading after 15 shot string . If I run two Napa patches it's cleaned every trace of lube from the previous shot . Don't you need some leftover lube in the bore ?

[Snocat]

Just out of curiosity have you tried a lesser amount of that Swiss 1 1/2. One year I had the honor of spotting for the guy that won the midrange BPTR nationals. When the dust was all settled and we were tallying up all those x's , I asked him what his load was. He replied the same as my silhouette load 62 gr. Swiss 1 1/2 and the lyman postel cast from 20-1.
If I were to make a suggestion, it would be to try that 62 gr charge with the PJ bullet. ( I know another fella that uses 68 gr with a bullet similar to your BACO) go with a standard primer, Swiss really gets along well with br-2's, and seat the bullet short of the lands.
If you're low on Swiss grab a can of Olde Eynsford 1 1/2 and look at charges of 68-69 gr with all your 500 and heavier bullets, again seated just off the lands.

No sir I have not ,my starting point was 69 grs. It definitely seems like 70 + grs over the 69 grs. I will give that 62 swiss a try . Probably a few grs of powder won't change the flat shooting there known for .
I'm using fed 210 match primers not mag . Hopefully I can make them work I have a boat load of them . I do have a stash of br 2s however and need trigger time
My next order to Powder Inc will definitely include some Olde Eynsford 1 1/2 I don't think it was around the last time I ordered powder . Wow time Flys !

[Snocat]

Nice rifle!

It seems a lot of the loads give close to the same result.

What's the theory with using a coffee filter between the primer and charge?

I read about it on one of the forums, he had a lot of other post on different topics that made a lot of sense . So I gave it a try and my ES improved enough to keep doing it . Not sure maybe it holds the powder grains out of the flash hole helps with ignition maybe ?

[Snocat]

Good morning!

Its sunny pretty crisp 12 degree morning but finally calm ! Going to try 62 grs Swiss 1 1/2 & BR 2s with both the 510 baco and the 540 PJs a try . After my neighbor's and the temp get up . Shooting bench is 25 feet from the wood stove .[emoji6]
will share later

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