Originally Posted by
tangsight
Thanks for everyone's responses. I will take them in the order they arrived.
I began with a blow tube, and later tried wiping. The wiping got better results (but still disappointing), but the blow tube was faster. I have always either wet wiped after each shot or used a blow tube after each shot. There is always a lube star on the muzzle whenever I check.This is good.
As to varying the powder charge, I fashioned a set of eleven shortened 45-70 cases, the shortest of which is 1.78". The next is 1.79", and so on in increments of 0.01". I got the best results from the "1.83" tall "short case measure". I load volumetrically, and the weight of the charge from that measure is always between 67 and 68 grains when I check, which is random. So rather than add two grains by weight, I am adding 0.01" by volume. A powder scale is the accurate (match shooter) loads friend. Loading by volume is close to wissing in the wind.
As to the diameter of my case neck expander, I use a three die set made by RCBS, in a Rock Chucker press. I size down the necks with the die marked "RCBS 45-70 size R", with the depriming pin removed, then use the next die, the one with the cylindrical insert that has two diameters, an upper and a lower. The diameter of the lower section is 0.456", the upper is 0.463", near as I can tell. I go down about half an inch. The bell is just at the lip of the case, maybe 1/64", to allow me to start the bullet without shaving off any lead. The nine thousand (of an inch) delta between the fired case and the sized expanded after firing is crazy. You at the very least need a larger expander die. Don't size the bullets either. Cast softer bullets.
I have not tried any alloy softer than 30 to 1.30-1 WW-tin is not the same as 30-1 Pb-Sn. The former has a hardness of about 13 or 14 BHN after aging a week. The Pb-Sn alloy will be softer at 9 or so BHN
I have used both one and two drop tubes, and I have loaded like a muzzle loader. But I have always compressed the charge, having been taught that Goex requires a fair amount of compression for consistent performance. I have never tried Goex Cartridge or Olde Eynsford.Contrary to most of what is passed as truth, compression is incidental with good powder. You are looking for the accuracy node in the barrel.
The nose of my bullet slides freely to the first driving band into the rifle muzzle. Seat then out like Bent Ramrod said, until you lightly feel the rifling.
I tried seating the bullets out far enough that they were engraved below the ogive (did not go as far as the first driving band), but my rifle seems to prefer to jump a little. I believe I am about 0.01" short of the rifling when I seat the bullet 0.51" deep.
Country gent, thanks for all your secrets. I agree this could take forever. That's OK with me.
My cases are trimmed to 2.07". I was taught too long was no good, but a little short was OK. I am pretty confident in the smoothness of the bullet bases.
Sights... Well, I had a long range Pedersoli Soule (nice sight, comes in a case as a package with a matching front globe with spirit level), but it had a lot of play in the windage adjustment. So I ordered a Hoke sight, which gets around the play because it isn't a Soule. But the wait is a year for one of them, so I mounted a Marbles sight, equipped with a Merit adjustable eyepiece, in the interim. They seem pretty solid. I almost always shoot off a bench.
If the burnt residue on the outside of the extracted spent case can be explained by brass which is sized down too far, or the like, I will be the happiest guy. I am afraid it is a signal that something is way out of whack, whether I did it or not. What could be causing that?