.40-65 vs .40-70 SS

[Dragoon 45]

I hope to order a C Sharps High Wall in the next couple of months. I have decided to get a .40 caliber. Currently reload .40-65 using GOEX Cartridge but the .40-70 SS is attractive to me also. I have read that it is harder to reload than the .40-65. I considered the .40-82 also, but after having shoulder surgery I ruled it out. What are your experience with the .40-70 SS?

Thank You.

[Boz330]

Mike V. always said that he thought the 40-70 was a really good choice in the 40 cal, but I don't remember why. I have several 40-65s and with the right choice of boolit I can get 75gr+ in the 40-65 case. Secretly though I have always wanted a 40-70, but just had everything for the 40-65 so just never got around to it.

Bob

[semtav]

skip them both and get a 40-72.

[41wyom]

I have a C. Sharps Model 74. It left the factory (Jan. 09) in .40-65 and I shot it two summers using 58.0 Swiss 1 ½ with a Brooks Creedmore bullet. The mv was just short of 1200 fps. I decided I wanted to be in the high 1200’s or low 1300’s. Last fall I sent it back to the factory and had it re-barreled and chambered in .40-70SS. Using a Paul Jones Money bullet and 68.0 of Swiss 1 ½ I’m at 1315 fps. Its just as accurate as the .40-65 and is easy to load for.

Left over from a long ago wildcat revolver project were (500) R-P 30-40 Krag cases. But I read in several places that after being fire-formed, the 30-40 Krag cases comes out just a bit short in the .40-70SS. So I sold those cases and bought some Hornady 405 Winch. cases. Out of the box they are too long so you can trim them just right to fit your chamber. I asked C. Sharps to use the 405 Winch. case as the basis for the chamber they cut in the barrel.

Not sure why some people say the 40-70 SS is hard to load for. EVERY gun is its own beast. You must be willing to put the time in to find “the load”. That’s why they call it a hobby!

[Boz330]

skip them both and get a 40-72.


Semtay,
What is the base case for that?
My 40-65 is running 1275 with 65gr of 2F Swiss.

Bob

[Dragoon 45]

skip them both and get a 40-72.

I will have to look that one up.

[semtav]

Its basically the Black powder version of the 405 winchester. Just a touch more capacity than the 40-70.

[Dragoon 45]

Its basically the Black powder version of the 405 winchester. Just a touch more capacity than the 40-70.

I looked it up in Cartridges of the World to make sure I knew which cartridge you were talking about. It said it was chambered only in the 1895 Lever gun orginally. It also said something about it being shorter than the .405 Win case and having a different rim. From what looking I did, the brass is pretty pricey though. Is there a good source for brass besides Betram Brass? Or can you convert from another case?

I had a bunch of bone spurs cut out of my right shoulder three months ago, so I don't think I will be shooting anything the kicks real hard for awhile. The .40 cals will probably be all I can shoot for at least the next year till this thing heals completely. My .45-70's are going to be sitting in the gun safe for the forseeable
future.

[semtav]

This is the one I'm going to have made one of these days, Can use the 405 case.
Dan claims it to be one of the most accurate cartridges he's shot.


http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/DanDeMan420/40-72Winchester-ShorterVersionwi-1.jpg

[Dragoon 45]

This is the one I'm going to have made one of these days, Can use the 405 case.
Dan claims it to be one of the most accurate cartridges he's shot.


http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j251/DanDeMan420/40-72Winchester-ShorterVersionwi-1.jpg

Is this on the list of approved cartridges for NRA BPCRS? I have never seen that list so I am curious.

[semtav]

I assume so since it was used by a guy that shoots NRA BPCRS. As long as you mark the barrel 40-72 and not 405 win.

[Red River Rick]

Technically, the .405 case is longer than the 40-70 SS by about 0.090", and therefore shouldn't chamber.

Notice I used the words "Technically", but in the real world, that could be different.

RRR