40-70 SS loads

[Mike]

What are some of your favorite .40-70 SS loads? I'm using bullets of 370 and 385 grains in my C. Sharps Arms 1885 Highwall. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Mike]

What I'm really looking for is a recommendation on powder, including type, granulation, and charge. Right now I'm using Olde Eynsford 1 1/2F and my loads are not grouping like they should. My next try will be one OE 2F, 60 grains by volume under the 370 or 385 grain bullets. The powder receives a little compression under a .060" veggie wad and the bullets are lubed with BPC from C. Sharps Arms.

[Kurt]

Mike.

I haven't shot my .40-70 for several years but I used to load it with a 420 gr GG or a 400 PP using 72 gr of the old 2F goex exp powder that had a 1/16 ROT barrel.
I haven't loaded and of the O-E powder yet in the .40's but I'm finding the 3F O-E powder is shooting quite well in my .45-2.4 and the .44's I been working with lately. It is a very fast powder, cant tell you just what the velocity is but judging by the dust kicking up down range it is mighty fast.
The 3F O-E is showing a pattern of low to no compression so far from the results I been getting. Between .100" and .150" has been proving out well.

[Kurt]

I might add with this 3F O-E. I see the groups getting erratic fast with different compression levels.

[Mike]

Kurt, Thanks for the come-back. I will try some 3f OE after giving the 2f a shot. And I'll report my findings. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Mike]

Here's my first report. I snuck to the range today to try 5 shots with my .40/70 using 60 grains by volume of Olde Eynsford 2F under the Lyman 385 grain pointed bullet and comparing the group with another five shots fired with 60 grains of OE 1 1/2F. The 1 1/2F group was fired first and then the 2F group was fired, without cleaning the bore. A blow tube was used between all shots. The group with the 2F was certainly tighter but at this point I'll just say it was a better looking group. More shooting with the 2F will be done.

[Kurt]

Mike I would work up a 3 shot ladder test load. Starting with no compression and increase it 2 grains per 3 shot groups. 6 three shot groups, 18 to 21 shots fired will give you a pretty good indication what will work.

[Mike]

Kurt, Thanks for the tip. I'll try to get that done pretty soon. Right now I'm kind'a scrambling to get enough loads ready for some silly-wets coming in 9 days. Maybe I'll get a few of those things tried. Too much stuff to do!! Shoot sharp, Mike

Mike I would work up a 3 shot ladder test load. Starting with no compression and increase it 2 grains per 3 shot groups. 6 three shot groups, 18 to 21 shots fired will give you a pretty good indication what will work.

[J.B.]

Mike.. I've been using Swiss 2f with my sons 40/70 SS and it seems to be giving a more consistent result than the 1.5 I had been using initially. Using the Lyman Snover bullet ..at about 408 grns with 64 grns of 2f and 1/10" compression. I've managed as high as 70 grns of 2f with an Accurate bullet I had Tom make up for me but to date the 64 grn load seems to be producing better results. I'm always getting leading with the Lyman bullet though and the miniscule lube grooves dont help. Velocity with 64 and the Snover hovers around 1300 fps while the 70 grn load with the Accurate bullet produces 1380-1390 fps. A Snover / Money style design with reduced forward bands & decent lube grooves may solve this. The 40 is a delight to shoot but is the most fussy when it comes to fouling. The 50 battles on as does the 44 but not the 40. Likes very soft...or non existent fouling. More homework needed here ..so I'll be watching with interest.

[Mike]

J.B., Thanks for the help. I'm enjoying the .40 quite a bit and maybe I'm expecting too much all at once. More homework is needed, for sure. I have the Snover mould but for now I want to keep trying with the Lyman 410660 bullet. No leading has been experienced. I also have a 370 grain Saeco mold which performs real well with Cartridge powder but I'm thinking that might be on the light side for 500M rams. In addition to those numbers I want to get a good 330 grain bullet, maybe for hunting for just fun shooting. That could easily be a paper patch bullet. Anyway, I'll keep plugging at it, one bullet at a time. Of course, if you have more recommendations, please keep them coming.