40-70 and the dd patched

[Don McDowell]

Finally got a chance to run the Hepburn with the dual diameter bullet I had Brooks build. Think the thing is going to work alright. This rifle does not like Swiss 1 1/2 at all...
Shot this target at 600 69 grain of OE 1 1/2 , Jamison brass, rp primers. Wiped between shots with the bore wipers from BACO wet with 7-1 water/napa oil followed by a 2 inch flannel patch.

   

[Gunlaker]

Looks good Don!

Chris.

[Don McDowell]

That's the best this rifle has done since it was new. 40 rounds, and not one misfire, and the triggers worked the same all the way thru.
The one thing that has me completely baffled, this thing absolutely detests Swiss. No matter the bullet , primer or charge weight, it just spray's and prays. My other rifles that will shoot the stuff, won't shoot it any better than OE, but this thing just hates it..

[beltfed]

Don,
Looking good.
Looks like you are holding elevation really well.
How big is that white center gong?

I am now working on a DDEPP 440 gr bullet for my 12 twist 40-72. Just got in one time at the 200 yds
range before weather and fall busies. Showing some promise. A couple groups: 2 3/8(4 in 1 9/16, 5th out to 2 3/8) and the other just under 3"(4 of 5 in 1 3/4",first shot stray).
Those darned strays...
Looking forward to warmer weather. Probably in about two more months....
beltfed/arnie

[Don McDowell]

Arnie that center plate is 20 inches diameter. The whole target is 4 x 8 ft.

It did hold elevation really well. The wind was sort of squirrely so the horizontal spread was a bit more than would be ideal, but still not bad considering. I was shooting that off the wrist rest , and I hadn't shot from that thing for a while. This rifle has a pretty light barrel on it, so it doesn't do well from xsticks when the barrel starts heating up, strings vertical from the sticks.

[Kurt]

Don,
With my .40-70 I could never find a load that would hold 3 MOA total size groups with the 1F or 1.5 with a lot of those shots in that group would be under 1 MOA at 200 with 3-4 out of 10 going out to 3 MOA with the last powder I was using was the express. The best loads I shot in the .40-70 was 2 and 3F EXP.
When the OE powder came out I went back through load development for this rifle and again the 2 and 3 F OE out performed the 1.5 OE. I think the .40-70 just needs a little harder push. Also the old Cartridge powder did not do well in this Shiloh.
I mostly just use 2F and 3F in all of my rifles anymore. Just lately for the CPA .40-65 getting it ready for Midrange and Silhouette matches from what little I have had time to work up loads for it I ordered Swiss 1.5, 2 and 3F and again the 2 and 3F does the best over 1.5. I think the .40,s in my case just shoot best with a faster powder, but this might change down the road when I get done with load tests for the .40.

[Kurt]

Here are two test loads with the .40-65, One was shot at 200 and the other at 180 yards (pit was full of water ) The 2F Swiss and 2F swiss are very close in size and the 1.5 Swiss is the best I have ever shot solar, not bad but not as good as the 2 and 3F.
The proof for 600 what this rifle was build for will have to wait till I shoot a match at that range to see if those loads will hold up.

       

[Don McDowell]

Kurt in the 40-65 OE 2f works better than anything I've tried since the 3f Express ran out.
This 40-70 hates Swiss with a passion, and has been real particular about the bullets. Up until I tried this dual diameter bullet, the only bullet it would consistently shoot well is the .400 360 gr creedmoor patched bullet from the BACO mould. But this dual diameter bullet made a very good showing.They don't show up well in this picture but there's a number of double ups on that bullseye. Now to see what it will do in a hard crosswind, that's what's been the undoing of most of the other bullets.

[Kurt]

What twist is that .40?
For years I been looking at the DZ Hep's but I keep putting them back because the drop of the stock. Not long ago I passed on a original takedown chambered in the .44-100 Straight and the change barrel was a .40 complete with heal sight base and sight, tools and wood box. The bores looked like new. I have a friend that had a Texas .22 Hep build I been trying to get from him
The prices of the Remingtons/Heps are dropping at a good pace these last few years and I think this why a lot of collectors are getting rid of some of these old pieces. Even the 74's are dropping in price.
As far as the Swiss and OE I treat them both the same and I personally don't see that there is a difference in performance between them.

[Don McDowell]

The twist is supposed to be 16, but I haven't checked it to see.