Further to my senseless quest for maximum velocity in my Ruger 45/70, I tried using gas checks backwards. Stupid, I know.
I could not get more than around 1700 fps with my CBE 460-500 plain base bullets before accuracy went out the window. They drop at nearly 520 gns made from ww plus 2% Sn and shoot really well at realistic levels.
Wanting more, I tried loading them with a gas check inserted into the case backwards between the powder and the boolit. I maxed out with 53 gns of H4895 averaging 1880 fps. Accuracy is around 1 1/2" at 55 yds, below what the gun is capable of, but certainly adequate for hunting. This is a compressed load and I cannot actually fit any more powder in the case. I checked the barrel after each shot to make sure the GC did not hang up.
In the pic you can see a gas check that I picked up about 10 feet in from the target. Don't know how it got there. I figured the gas check would separate from the boolit straight away, in fact I was worried about the chrony. I now plan to make some of Bruce B's soft noses.
Now my question is, what is going on with the gas check in flight? The one I found certainly does not look like what I expected. And am I flirting with danger?
Nardoo