Chapparal 1876 50/95

[Bob Busetti]

After a long spell of not shooting my 50/95 I contacted Accurate Arms about using their 5744 powder in the 50/95. I received their listings of loads using 5744. So I decided to try 5744 with the Lyman 340 gr. cast boolit. Groups were only fair, then I decided to hollow point the boolits. With boolits weighting 330 gr, groups became much better. I did not go to their max loads. However, I was able to get the 1550 fps. I was looking for using 40.0 grs of 5744. I didn't go any higher because the recoil, while not real bad was an attention getter. My rifle has the 22" barrel, glad it doesn't have the 28" barrel.
The most accurate load I found was 36.0 grs. VN133, but velocity was around 1250 fps. It shot 10 shots at 100 yds. into 2.5 ", making one big hole, again using the hollow point boolit.
Bob

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Just was looking at old last year PM's and there we were communicating about the 50-95 !

What a fine old caliber. When I started shooting mine last summer I had no idea what fun and a good time I would have.
About a year ago I ran range reports on shooting my Chappi 50-95.
My best accuracy was with 3F with a Lyman 515139. I had considered hollowpointing also. But wanted to stay with a heavier boolit for far better penetration. Mine were dropping close to 345 grains. The 3F loads were chrono'd at 1465. I do not recommend 2F as it was near 200 FPS slower.
My most accurate no smoke load was with 5744 that duplicated the 1465 fps. Must be the magic harmonic of that barrel.
Something else I did was to remove my ladder sight and go with a good full buckhorn rear sight. It made a world of difference in sighting producing better groups for me off crossticks.
Mike in Peru

[Bob Busetti]

I replaced both sights. A Marble on the rear & a Lyman on the front. Both sight dovetails were cut crooked. I also have some Lee 450 gr boolits, but they don't seem to stabilize at anything over 1300 fps. I hollow point the boolits before I seat them. The forster collet won't accept the case into the collet. I tried 53.5 grs. of triple seven. Seems to shoot good, a lot of smoke. I was going to try 3f black powder. A book on Winchester head stamps quotes the factory loads. They used 90 grs. 2f, later went to 3f. They also state their factory smokeless load was hard on the action & stopped loading smokeless after 2 years.
Its fun to shot at a steel gong at 100 yds. Bullet actually leaves a small dent in the gong.
Bob

[ndnchf]

My Uberti does pretty good with Swiss 2F. Not match accuracy, but its fun.

http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y493/ndnchf/BPCR/Swiss2F_zps5abf7115.jpg (http://s1277.photobucket.com/user/ndnchf/media/BPCR/Swiss2F_zps5abf7115.jpg.html)

[Bob Busetti]

Good group! They are fun to shoot, I get a lot of positive feed back from those accept my offer to shoot mine. People who watch me shoot it say the noise from the shot is impressive to. I guess I need to get an elk with it next fall.
Bob

[Bob Busetti]

I was looking through some books on Winchester head stamps. The author states that Winchester started loading the 50/95 with 90 grs ffg, then several years later they started using 95 grs fffg. Then offered a smokeless version that was causing some 76's to come a part & dropped the load after 2 years never to offer a smokeless again. Having used Triple Seven in my rifle I was impressed with the amount of smoke and recoil. I liked that load of 53.5 grs with the 340 Lyman bullet.
Bob

[missionary5155]

Greetings
I figure if I load 3F I will never have to be concerened. My cases all expand in the chamber and there is no powder fouling into the chamber or action.
I also shoot a 5744 load that duplicates the same velocity as 3F (chrono'd) and I feel comfortable with it as it "feels" the same on the shoulder, primers look and measure the same, and the brass ejects with no effort. ACCurate people told me on the phone I could go to a heavier load (according to thier computer model) of 5744 to duplicaste 3F pressure. I have no need. My sights are set for either load and I will not have any concern about stressing a "moderate strength" action.
A 350 grainer caliber .50 at 1465fps is going to put a big hurt on anything it encounters..at least that I can foresee me seeing in East ILLinois river bottoms and woods.
Now if the chance ever pops up to help someone with a horse or a cow....
Mike in Peru

[Bob Busetti]

I agree with you on your load. I have a steel gong that I shoot at 100 yards, the 340/350 gr bullet rings the gong with great authority. It even does very well at 200 yards. Like wise I would feel comfortable using it on out to 200 yards on elk. Now if I could just draw that Colorado elk permit!
Bob