Blow-tubing

[Old Jim]

At the range yesterday, I had a couple of test loads, Old E 1.5 and a new lot of 1.5 Swiss. Bullet is the BACO $ bullet, 525 gr., 0.458 in the 45/70 Shiloh.

Humidity was 50%, 6 o'clock tailwind at 4mph. Target at 200 meters.

Started with 5 blows for first 5 shots with Old E, after 5 fouling-shots. Vert. = 5", horz.= 1". Rethought first shots, cleaned bore, fired 1st 5 again, same blows, same results.

Switched over to the 1.5 Swiss loads , 5 blows again, 5" vert. again.

Tried 4 blows, 3.5" vert., well now!

Tried 2 blows, 2" vert., 1" horz., dang!

Switched back to Old E loads and got the same results!

Could the Old E and the new lot of Swiss be close in fouling control? Appears to be.

More trials and tribulations to follow later,

Jim

[Kurt]

Jim,

Load up some E with using between 230 to 280 compression once.
I have 500 rounds loaded for the .44-100 with the 2F E and a PP 500 grain bullet that is shooting very good.
I havent worked with the .45-70 yet with this powder yet but I will when I get back from the Q.

This E powder seems to like moderate compression around .250"

[Don McDowell]

Keep us posted Jim, looks like you've got point on the 45-70 and old e

[Old Jim]

Kurt,

Best groups from yesterday were with 57.5 gr of Old E 1.5, compression was 0.230. I have tried 59.0 @ 0.270 compression and groups opened right up. Have you tried heavy compression with this powder, as in 0.30 to 0.40?

I may not have enough cases to get a Quigley load ready, we'll see. If nothing else, I can take some to try on the buff !

[Kurt]

Jim.

Here is a 3 shot ladder load development I ran several times on different days to see just how consistent the groups will hold up. The conditions varied from day to day with the humidity was around the mid 20's to low 30's.
I used 2F of the olde E from no compression to a just about a full case that needed to be compressed .400" the bullet was the 525 gr Baco 430-520 PP that I worked with Jim developing this mould and I have a lighter 428490 that works very good in the .44-90bn with the slower ROT but in the 1/7 ROT it dont hold up as good.
Here is how the groups turned out at 130 yards using a scope.
80 gr 2 1/4"
82 gr 1 3/4"
84 gr 2 1/2"
86 gr 2"
88 gr 5/8" 210 compression
90 gr 1/2"
90 grains is a full case with in .060 from the case mouth and my wad stack takes up .270 plus 1/8" to seat the bullet
90 gr