Gas checks for the .40-82

[KirkD]

This topic came up in the thread on the Big Stick. I didn't want to hijack the thread, so I'm moving the topic to this new thread. I have a Winchester 1886 rifle in .40-82. The groove diameter is .409. The gun will chamber a cartridge with a .410 bullet, provided the neck wall thickness is no greater than standard, .010". I would like to shoot gas check bullets in this rifle.

It has been suggested that I can use Gator or Hornady .416 gas checks. I will be getting a Lee custom sizer to size the bullets down to .409 and plan to install the gas checks at that time.

Question:

1. Can I size a Hornady .416 all the way down to .409 in the Lee Sizer?
2. Where can I find Gator gas checks that are at least .410 in size?
3. Do these gas checks have an inside diameter small enough to grab any particular bullet? ... say, the Lyman 265 grain bullet made for the .40-series Winchesters?

[felix]

Kirk, measure the smallest diameter of the shank at the place where the check is to be placed, and post back. ... felix

[KirkD]

Felix, the only bullets I have on hand to measure right now are 315 grain, .410" cast FP from Hunters Supply. The shank where the gas check goes on measures .390". My bore has a 1:18 twist, so it should be able to handle those 315 grain bullets.

I would also like to shoot a 260 grain gas check bullet, but have not yet found a mould, so I have no idea what the shank diameter will be for that one.

[felix]

Use the 416, Hdy or Gator, check for the 390. ... felix

[Boz330]

Kirk,
I have an 86 in 40-82 and had the barrel relined with a 1-18 twist and didn't have much luck getting 250gr bullets to shoot in it. You might try some before you spend money on a mold. My 350 that I use in my 40-65 works really well though.

Bob

[KirkD]

Bob, what kind of mould are you using for the 350 grain bullet?

[Bullshop]

The 40/82 was an express cartridge with slow twist for light for cal bullets. I didnt like the one I had because it didnt want to shoot anything over 265gn. The 40/72 was the same case but with a faster twist that would handle heavier bullets.
While I had one I had a mold made for it. As I recall its a 4 cav. 265gn FNGC that dropd WW at about .409". I may be persuaeded to part with it but not for cash. If it leaves here it will be replaced by something I can add to my inventory.
BIC/BS

[KirkD]

Bullshop, I sent you a PM.

[Jon K]

Kirk,

Maybe the Group Buy Honchos will do a 41GC buy.

NEI also has some GC molds that can work, catalog pg 8-9.

http://www.neihandtools.com/

Saeco makes a .411 220 grain TCGC, it's lighter than you mentioned.

Jon

[9.3X62AL]

Kirk--

The 9.3mm boolit use the .375" gas check, and they sie down to .367" just fine. I think the critical issue is matching gas check shank to cup inside diameter--and having sufficient diameter in the first place, as you alluded to. Good luck, sir.

[Jon K]

Kirk,

.390-.393 shank boolits .410-.411 will size down to .409 no problem.
When I first got my Shiloh 40-65, I had a 3-4 week wait for Paul Jones mold. Of course, I got the itch to shoot the gun, so I sized some of my .41 mag boolits down to .408, just to test fire the gun.

Jon:coffee:

[Win86]

Hello Kirk,
This thread is an oldie however, I would like to ask how your choices of GC's came out for the 40-82?
At this time, I am working on a new mould also in GC design and for my Browning 86 in 40-65 chambering. So far, have decided to use the BSS 380-GC unless something better comes along. For the 250-260gr, bullet mould in .407 dia larry Blackmon suggested the .380 base diameter.

Win86

(Ric)

[Last Spike]

If the rifle in question is the one I purchased from Kirk just over a year ago, it is a dead issue at the moment.

The barrel slugged at .406 inch so will not be using gas checked cast bullets at the present time. Will be going hunting with it next week or so and will be using either a Magma 260 grain .408 diameter sized plain base bullet or a Barnes Original .406 jacketed 250 grain bullet using Mike Venturino's handloading recipes for this cartridge. Further experimentation with Lyman 403169 cast bullets, BlackHorn 209, Puff-Lon to happen after hunting season or earlier if I tag out sooner.

[KirkD]

Last Spike is the owner of the beautiful 40-82 I once had (sob). Hope that rifle brings home some meat next week! Keep us posted.

[Win86]

Don't ya just hate parting with any 86? - Sold one in 45-90 that although rifling was little to none, made a nice wall hanger.

For the fellow getting Kirk's 40-82; hope your meat hunt is a good one!
BTW- Spike, what Venturino load are you using with the jacketed bullet from Barns? Is that a round nose bullet cut flat or what?

I have two 86's in this same 40-82 caliber; one octagon, the other round. Both shoot very well using original Win .406 molds dropping soft lead at .4065 - The only hunting I've done with either is shooting a few prairie dogs at 100 yards.

My current project; replacing the 45-70 barrel on the Browning carbine with one in 40-65 is about finished less making the GC mould I want in .407 and 250-60 grain weight - I had planned on hunting the rifle this year but now it will be next year!

Win86

[Last Spike]

Win86, the Barnes Original is a 250 grain exposed lead flatnose jacketed bullet (#40611) that was originally for the .40-65 WCF, but I saw no reason not to try them out in the 40-82. I managed to get several boxes of them so will try and work up a good load fairly soon so I can use it as an alternative to cast bullets

I decided to go with a slightly higher load of XMP 5744 -> 25.3 grains than Mike listed in his book (25.0 grains). I suspect performance will be in the 1350-1400 fps range, but will know for sure when I have time to chronograph it.

As I mentioned, I will be trying Western Powder's BlackHorn 209 with both jacketed and cast bullets. Being able to achieve 100% load density with original factory speed loads is a real possibility. Another avenue I want to explore is using Puff-Lon as a filler for less than full density smokeless powder loads - again with both jacketed and cast bullets.

Indeed, I will post pictures and the whole story should deer hunting be successful.

[Win86]

Are those Barns bullets still available? Sounds like something I would like to try as well...

Win86

[Last Spike]

Doesn't appear to be , but have 4 boxes of bullets which should last me.

[Win86]

Be happy you have those; not shown on the Barns website so perhaps they were discontinued.

Mostly shoot my own cast boolits but would like trying jacketed in this new high pressure barrel.

Buffalo Arms shows a jacketed .406 FP but call results were negative. They said, not yet available due to lack of copper jackets.

Win86