35 Winchester (35 WCF)

[muskeg13]

Is anyone out there shooting a Winchester Model 1895 in 35 WCF? I recently rebarreled to this caliber, formed cases from Hornady .405 brass, and I'm ready to start working up loads. I want to develop good loads for the Ideal 358318 245gr round nose gas check and Lyman 3589692 282 gr round nose gas check. My boolits run a bit heavier than advertized, 251.5 and 296.5 respectively lubed with gas checks.

[Ben]

Lyman 3589692 . Are you certain about that number ?
A lyman mold bullet number shouldn't have that many digits in it.

Sounds like you're talking about the 358009

[muskeg13]

I think it's the same mold, but mine is stamped 3589 on top of 692. 692 is also stamped on the botton of the matching mold half, so this might be the cherry #?? It is a very blunt round nose bore riding design.

[Bent Ramrod]

I've had pretty good results with either 25 gr of VV N-130 or Reloder 7 behind the hollowpointed 358318 GC. 17 gr of SR-4759 seemed to work well, also.

[Ben]

muskeg13 :

OK, now I see. This number 692 that you're describing has nothing to do with the bullet style. It is on both sides of the mold halves, right ? This manufacturing ID number kept the mold halves together through the manufacturing process. All Lyman and Ideal molds that I've ever seen have these numbers stamped on them.

Notice the number " 868 " in the photo below, same thing........... :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/287405/IMG_8765.jpg

[Suo Gan]

Waters Pet Loads has an article in it.

[StrawHat]

I have an 1895 I reworked to handle the 405 WCF. For that cartridge I use AA 5744 and 3031. Either should work in the 35 WCF.

[muskeg13]

Shot the '95 with the newly installed 35WCF barrel today. I made up 4 rounds each using 5744, 2400 and Rx7 and the 250 gr Ideal 358318 with Alox and a second application of LLA. The first 3 shots were into the ground on the other side of a stout birch just to see if I'd gotten the headspace right. Everything was OK. Case expansion was normal, with good centered primer strikes. I then fired 3 shots with each powder at 25 yards. A load of 28 gr of 5744 was first with the 3 holes touching. Accuracy went downhill on the other two 3 shot groups, with severe leading. While not chronographed, all loads were expected to produce about 1700 fps, and recoil was minimal. After an hour of cleaning , including numerous applications of JB Bore Paste the bore looks clean, but it may be too rough for cast bullets. Anyone have luck lapping a rough bore to the point it gave acceptable cast bullet accuracy? If not, there's always the store bought bullet option.

[RJM52]

I have always admired the .35 Winchester round.... I hunt with .35s and also have a .405/95 as I also love the .41 cartridges. I hope you can post a pic of your rifle...

As to bore lapping...yes and it is very easy. Go to the automotive parts store and get some fine valve lapping compound. It usually comes in a two pack, one Fine and one Course...the Course is a little TOO course for bore lapping.

Clean and degrease the barrel right down to the bare metal then just get the proper sight fitting patch pusher and patches and start. I push the first patch through till the end of the tip is just outside the muzzle but can be pulled back down the bore...then mark the rod. I just keep the patch going up and down the bore for 10-15 strokes and then change patches. After 2-3 patches clean, degrease and check.

If you can find some, finish the bore with fine diamond lap. You can usually find it in knife makers supplies for polishing blades. Mine came from the computer industry...30 and 40 micron suspended in some thick liquid... Really puts a shine on a bore.

Once you get the feel for things you'll be able to tell how smooth the bore is getting just by the feel of the patch. How many patches of lap it takes just depends on the bore. I have done a bunch of long range .308s and it has generally cut group sizes by at least half.

I discovered this way quite by accident. For whatever reason I had two Ruger #1s, a .22-250 and a .375 H&H...the bores rusted while all the other guns in the safe were fine... Before the lapping the .22-250 would run 7/8" groups and the .375 about 3/4". After lapping the .22-250 went to 3/8" and the .375 would clover leaf three rounds... A few years ago I bought a used but what looked like unfired Remington LTR .223. I decided to see how it shot without lapping the barrel first... .75" for 3 at 100. After lapping .25". 1.9" for three shots at 600.

Back when I was shooting IPSC my load was a Lyman 158 RN in .38 Super running 1170 fps. One of the BarSto barrels I had leaded badly...lapped the barrel and the groups stayed the same size but the leading disappeared...

Bob

[muskeg13]

Thanks RJM52! Good tutorial. I'll post pics soon. I also have a Miroku 95 in 405 that does very well with cast boolits, and did so from the start.

[crash87]

" including numerous applications of JB Bore Paste the bore looks clean, but it may be too rough for cast bullets. Anyone have luck lapping a rough bore to the point it gave acceptable cast bullet accuracy?

Great rifle and an equally great cartridge. Mine is chambered in the Whelen variety. Make sure it does, actually need, lapping because of a rough bore.
If in fact it is, YES, it will smooth it up and make it a foul free shooter. I have actually done this more than just a few times, with results better than one can imagine. Crash87