405 Win Cast Load

[GuzziRider]

Holy Moley, its going to get all the way up to 40 degrees tomorrow afternoon. I will finnally get out to do some casting. Need to cast up about 200 boolits for my 45-70 BPCR and another 200 for the 40-70 SS. Most likley will only get the 45s done but its a start.
Last night I loaded up my quick and easy cast bullet load for the 95 Win in 405 WCF. Got to thinking that I might share it will those of you who would be interested in a cheaper alturnitive to using the high dollar Hornady jacketed slugs but are not set up to cast your own for the 405. These 300 grain hard cast jacketed gas checked boolits are available from Huntingtons for $15 per 50. I use my own cast boolits for some things but these are quickly ordered and will do just about anything from target work to deer hunting loaded with IMR-4198. My do it all load is 36.8 grains over CCI 200 LR Primers. In my gun they run at 1825 fps and group around 2" at 100 yards. Not to hard on the shoulder, accurate enough for target or hunting and cheaper to shoot.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/GuzziRider/DSCN0211.jpg

[Cheshire Dave]

I like 4198 in my 45-70 too. I just saw a Win.95 in .405 with a PO Ackley barrel sell on Gunbroker for 1225.00. Would have loved to buy it but was to steep for me. I'm saving up for a Ruger#1 in 450-400. The bullets you mention would work in that also.

[451whitworth]

it's been so long since i purchased any bullets i think $15 for 50 is too much.:p

[mpmarty]

Yeah, that's .... lets see, $15 for 50 = $30 for 100 and 30/100 Holy moly Batman that's thirty cents a boolit!

That's more than it costs for an entire 45/70 reloaded with my cast including primer powder and amortization (ya like that word?) of the brass cost.

Guzzirider you're a spendthrift. I ride my BMW R1200RT and won't waste money like that.

[GuzziRider]

Yeah, that's .... lets see, $15 for 50 = $30 for 100 and 30/100 Holy moly Batman that's thirty cents a boolit!

That's more than it costs for an entire 45/70 reloaded with my cast including primer powder and amortization (ya like that word?) of the brass cost.

Guzzirider you're a spendthrift. I ride my BMW R1200RT and won't waste money like that.

Now let me get this straight, a Beemer rider talkin about saving money?[smilie=1:
I have saved enough money by buying Guzzis over the years as opposed to them there uber high doller german rollers to buy a life time supply of 30 cent boolits.8-)
Anyway, kidding aside I just use the Huntington GCs for lever gun specialty matches and hunting deer. For plinking and fun I cast WW using a Lyman mould and down load em with Trail Boss. With all the casting I do for Creedmore, silhouette and buffalo gong matches in my BPCR guns time gets to be more of an issue than money. Well at least with shooting it does. Motos is an other stroy.

[trk]

Any more loads?

[onesonek]

I have always wanted a .405 Win.. I think it would make a fun Paper Patching project for the TC Encore.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

The 405WCF is the most powerful cartridge ever produced and used in a lever action. (commercially) It was loaded with a 300 grain bullet to about 2250 fps and delivered ME of around 3200 ft. pounds. That is well over a ton and one half and is more than adequate for anything you might run into in North (and South) America. Teddy Roosevelt thought it was wonderful for hunting lion, but a few big name African hunters disagreed with him. With the curved buttplates and stock design on the 95 it had the reputation for punishing recoil. Original bullet design claimed by Lyman is their # 412263 which is still available from either Midway or Midsouth. Its a 300 grainer that casts at around .413-.414. Cases have been available from Hornady. You can make your own out of 30-40 Krags, by fireforming, but they will be 1/4 inch short. RCBS/Huntington may still also have basic brass that can be cut down. In older Lyman manuals...40 grains of 4198 will give you 2125 fps, 60 grains of 4895 will get you 2260fps, 57 grains of 3031 will yield 2250 fps, 59 grains of 4064 will go at 2260 fps. and 62 grains of 4320 will produce 2220 fps. Its probably better to start any of those loadings at significantly lower charges and work up. Undoubtedly there are other powders that will work too. LLS

[Wayne Smith]

I buy mine from The BullShop. He has an LBT 350gr mold that I load. I figured I'd shoot it so seldom (buttstock issues) that a couple hundred would last a lifetime. I did take a boar with it. One shot kill. I use Benchmark, basically a touch faster than 3031.

[onesonek]

The 405WCF is the most powerful cartridge ever produced and used in a lever action. (commercially)

That would be in it's time, or was. There are current offerings in the BLR, that subjectively speaking, have more power when considering raw FPE. ( not meaning to open a can of worms, with high speed energy vs large caliber momentum arguement)

It was loaded with a 300 grain bullet to about 2250 fps and delivered ME of around 3200 ft. pounds. That is well over a ton and one half and is more than adequate for anything you might run into in North (and South) America.

I would agree to a point, but I personally would rather have a 350 gr. for up to and including large moose, and or 400 gr. for the big bears.

Teddy Roosevelt thought it was wonderful for hunting lion, but a few big name African hunters disagreed with him. LLS

I don't know, as I never hunted lion. My thinking is, maybe for a broadside with the 300 gr.. But my gut instinct tells me if a big cat is comming head on, looking to inflict some damage of his own, I want enough weight to shoot through lengthwise, without a great deal of momentum loss. So I might would tend to agree with his peers of the time. I again, would rather have 400 gr. FP at 1800-2000 fps.
None the less, it is a great round in my mind ! I would settle for a cast 350 gr. for all-around use in North America. But then it has been my nature with most, to shoot heavier for caliber, so I would also have a 400 gr. mold as well,,,just in case.

[tommygirlMT]

My favorite way to load for my 405 Winny is with Reloader 17 powder --- Just filler up so that it is a compressed load of powder --- My favorite is WFN 400 grain plain base boolits --- but have several molds in that caliber size

[Andrew Mason]

for those of you using lyman mold # 412263 for the .405 winchester

what overall lenghth are you loading your cartridges to?

i am hoping to build a sporterized bolt action in this caliber and
load my own cast boolits for this rifle.

however, i have to keep the overall length at 3.10" inches at a maximum.

is is feasable for me to be able to load this cartridge this short with this bullet?

[StrawHat]

...i am hoping to build a sporterized bolt action in this caliber and load my own cast boolits for this rifle...

What rifle action are you using? I am aware of a Ruger M77 in 405 WCF and am intrigued with the concept.