Well, since that last posted target (last year) I had a summer of time to play with load development. I tired powder charges from 75 to 86 grains (of Goex Cartridge) and kept returning to the 83 grain charge.
It seems to be reliable in that it gives about the same performance every time out, and it has also given me my best 100 yard group.
I didn't play much with other 'variables', but I did switch back and forth between patching dry and wrapping wet. I couldn't get a clear picture if one is better than the other, but wrapping wet is easier for me to do quickly.
So, all of my final test sessions were done with wet wrapped bullets.
In the end, the particulars of my loaded cartridges goes like this ...
.454" Money-nosed bullet, wrapped with 'unobtainable' 25% rag onionskin paper to a diameter of .459" (groove diameter).
Bullets seated .700" deep on a single .030 veggie wad, in Bell 45/90 cases stretched and trimmed to perfectly fit the chamber depth. Cartridge OAL is 3.155".
Bullets exit the bore in pristine condition, with no cupped bases or wasp waists, and leave no paper rings behind.
I have been wiping between shots with two wet (damp) patches, then drying the chamber.
I would like to know if a lube cookie would allow shooting dirty, but I have not done any of that, so far.
Anyway, patching to groove is viable, and (to my mind) more appropriate for modern chambers intended for shooting groove diameter bullets.
It works well enough to produce this five-shot group back in September, when we still had some warm, windless days.
It's about a half inch high and three quarters wide.
http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/v...Sept212011.jpg
CM