Dialing in a C Sharps 1885 45-70 BPCR

[Snocat]

I seem to be hitting a wall with slip fit accuracy...at least with my skills. So I called Buffalo arms and ordered a couple bullet expanders 457-460 in stock and a 456-461 on backorder and a Redding competition bullet seating die.so I can give full length resizing and neck tension a try. Also ordered .60 viggies and DGL lube for summer shooting.

[Lumpy Grits]

I size my .45-70 cases, with a .45-90 F/L die.
Less 'working' of the brass-especially the neck area.
G.

[Kurt]

Snocat I would like to make a suggestion if I may.
All your testing with different powder and bullets work with one type powder and bullet. All the trigger time is fine, great is a better word. one cannot get to much trigger time. Lord knows that I have done the same as you many many times AND STILL DO
But spend time with one powder/one bullet and change compression using the same wad stack as well as primers. You can do this shooting how many rounds of each as you like, but as few as two each will show you what has potential. I use 3 rounds each and proof test with 5-6 to see what the best average turns up.
These last few days I started developing loads with my new rifle and started using a new case of swiss 1.5 and 2F OE using my ladder loads and worked through one type PP bullet several loads changing primers after the best load turns up then started on the second and third. I found all three bullets have a slightly different favor with compression and primer used, not much but there is a slight preference.

When I finished testing using the Swiss 1.5 I started again using 2F OE and went through the process all over again. I found what works well shooting @ 200 yards using both Swiss and OE with all three different bullets in 8 days range time but all this I'm sure will need some tweaking when I have the opportunity to get on a at least 500 yard range.
To this point I have shot several three shot groups using both Swiss and OE that went at one MOA or under and they held up for 5 shot strings.
Stick with one powder and bullet till you see what you like then move on to the next. You still will get your trigger time doing it one at a time
By the way I have all of those bullets in your photos and the 560 gr Brooks out shoots the rest but not as well as the BA PP elliptical.
Kurt

[Steve Anderson]

Kurt, my discovery of some .300" compression with 2f OE and the BACO 525 gr Money bullet doesn't mean all others will do well with that compression? I been working on that premise, so please say something encouraging!

[Lumpy Grits]

Steve-I compress E, 2F about .375-.390 in both my .45-70 & .45-90.
G.

[Kurt]

Steve
No the same compression does not shoot the same with other rifles or even in the same rifle with different bullets or using Remington verses Starline cases LOL.
I see two compression levels in a couple of my rifles one rifle shoots best with .076", That is setting the compression plug on powder with out compressing then adding a OJ carton wad plus a plastic and a poster paper under the bullet those three wads come out .076" this is for the .45-90. Now my .40-65 does best with 130" compression with a 425 grain bullet and 200" with the 385 grain.
I have to wonder why anyone asks for a good load for a rifle because they usually don't work anyway.

[Kurt]

I might add: Compression with the same weight powder will very from case to case anyway because of the inside volume capacity of the same brass.

[Steve Anderson]

Damn. I was under the illusion that I was on to something. Think I'll go pout for a bit!

[Kurt]

keep at it Steve your doing good. Some of those groups look good to me and they will improve.

[Steve Anderson]

Thank you Kurt. I believe they fall in the even a blind hog finds an occasional acorn category.