Lever Actions

[Good Cheer]

Does anybody use a patch with the leading edge tucked into a groove to help functioning through a lever action without tearing up?
If not, what have you found to work best for your lever gun?

[2ndAmendmentNut]

In Paul Matthew's book he sites a 1988 article by Raymond Page. To paraphrase, Page claims that as long as the patch below the crimp is undamaged everything should work fine.

Personally I have not been able to test this claim, but I do have a few 45-70 loads waiting to be tested in my 1886 at the next range trip. I patched the boolit normally and lightly crimped in the crimp groove as though it were a grease groove boolit.

[dromia]

Which Paul Mathews Book?

The Paper Jacket?

[Dan Cash]

I PP for an 1895 Winchester and a Marlin 336. The patch is run to the start of the ogive and the loaded round is lightly crimped as with a grease groove bullet. The loads are full house loads and accuracy is comparable with jacketed ammo. A tubular magazine does not require an enormous crimp to hold the bullet.

[2ndAmendmentNut]

Which Paul Mathews Book?

The Paper Jacket?

Yes, The Paper Jacket. I'll have to reread to find exactly where, but I believe it was within the chapter discussing proper loading of PPs into cases.

[Good Cheer]

Didn't remember seeing that. Will look it up when I get home.
Something was speculating on was having a groove to end the front edge of the patch in to shield it from getting scarfed up when loading and cycling through the action. Sounds like maybe I'm over thinking it.

Meanwhile, there's a 180 grain .351 Winchester mold that I'm gonna dig out and see if it's conducive to patching. And got a .350 diameter sizer to try running some .357's through, though I'm thinking the distortion is gonna be way too much.

Thanks for the info fellas.

[2ndAmendmentNut]

Just following up on this thread with a range report.

My go to 45-70 load is a 405gr hollow base boolit on top of 39gr of Reloader 7.

Today I tested the exact same 405gr boolit sized to .452" and wrapped with notebook paper. I did not size after wrapping. Finished diameter was .461". I lubed the paper as Mr. Matthews recommends with 50-50 beeswax and Vaseline. I loaded them into the case with the same charge of reloader 7 and same COL as I would normally. In fact I didn't even adjust my seating die. Just seated and crimped right into the groove.

Results were about 1" better groups than with standard grease groove boolits. Best of all the rifle bore was left bright and shiny. No paper rings, no issues cycling through the 1886 action. All in all a good range day.

[Digital Dan]

Overthinking is only a misdemeanor.