490gr Paper Patch

[UPEgger]

This afternoon I tried my lst batch of paper patched bullets. My rifle is a new(bought it two weeks go) Marlin 1895XLR in 45/70 cal. Because of the 7.75lb trigger I installed a "Happy Trigger " kit and that brought it down to 3lbs and no creep.

Very happy with my lst paper patch outing. 490gr pure lead. swaged .448" and patched with two wraps of 9# onionskin(25% cotton) Total bullet size is miking .457". Bullet shape is cup base and 1E flat nose, using Corbin dies.

I wrapped 12 bullets wet and let them dry overnight. This morning I loaded them up using 26gr of SR4759 & WLR primer, Winchester cases. The four three shot groups were 2.0" 2.25" 2.25" and 3.75"(flier) at 100yds. I also lightly rubbed the front half of the paper patch(on the bullet) with 100% neats foot oil. This is a Paul Matthews recommendation so I tried it.

Optics was a 1.5x6 Swarovski scope at 6 power. I used a Harris bipod on a piece of carpet and a butt bag rear rest, shooting off a fairly stable wooden shooting bench.

I had been shooting Red line Hard Cast bullets, the standard 405gr flat nose flat base. This also was with 26gr/SR4759 powder. I have shot round 40 of these and groups measured in the 1.5" to 2.5" @ 100yds for three shots ea. These bullets have a Brn of 15. 92% lead, 6% ant, and 2% tin. Their accuracy seemed pretty good for off the shelf cast bullets, packed 250 loose in a box.

This rifle will be using ONLY lead bullets, cast and swaged.

[firefly1957]

Are you putting them in the magazine ? I would worry that might A). damage the paper patch B). push bullets in case during recoil.

[UPEgger]

No, I m loading them one at a time directly into the loading/ejection port. I am taper crimping the rounds. I did try, twice, two in the magazine and fed the rifle from the magazine. I did scruff up the paper patch a little, but it shot in with the rest of the group. Go figger. Lots of playing around to do yet. For actual hunting I will probably use the 405gr Red Line bullets heavily crimped. Got lots of free time.

[redneckdan]

where ya at in the yoop? I'm over near houghton.

[UPEgger]

White Pine. From your post it sounds like you leave 320" of snow for a winter somewhere else??????

[zuke]

I paper patch the same way but I use my new NOE 330grn HP HP.
Squeeze'em down to .451 then patch'em back up.
But I do use the mag, and fine the occasional paper will get caught in the loading gate if I'm not careful.

[UPEgger]

Z: I tell myself that I bought the Marlin because I had all the "stuff" to make paper patch bullets in 45 cal, and no 45 cal rifle. Time will tell. My medium cal go to gun has been a Ruger #1, in 375 Winchester (1:12" twist). I have been shooting Speer 235s and 37/RL7. It is accurate enough. I will say that the 2nd round into the chamber, with the Marlin, is quicker than any bolt gun I have ever owned. Just a natural movement.

[Clinebo]

The only paper patch I shoot is my 50-90 Sharps.........

[UPEgger]

I will be out tomorrow with some more loads for the Marlin. This is starting to be fun.

[Seth Hawkins]

Have you had any problems with damaging the paper when putting a crimp on the brass? Whenever I've tried to crimp mine, the paper gets damaged. For this reason, I use a neck sizing die by CH-4D that has a replaceable bushing. This allows me to adjust neck tension (crimp) in 0.001" increments and thus made it much easier to find the sweet spot with an amount of neck tension that gives good results with black powder. It might work well for smokeless powder, too. I can still seat the bullet by hand this way, and not damage the paper.

Just something to think about.

[zuke]

I just use LEE dies and crimp with them.
I have a factory crimp die but have never used it.

[UPEgger]

I just got back from the range with the Marlin 45/70. My loads were 490gr paper patched pure lead. 27.0gr of SR 4759. I fed all rounds from the magazine into the chamber. Then I ejected the round to see if I had any damage. Then put them directly back into the chamber. A couple of them were scruffed a little. I also checked to see if there was any bullet movement in the cases while in the magazine. Two were in the mag while I fired the one in the chamber. No problem there. I only have about 1/16th" of paper out of the case neck. I am crimping with q 45Colt taper crimp die. Case OAL is 2.520" It seems to be working. I fired three groups of 3 shots and the groups were 1 1/8", 1 5/8", and 1 1/2". I have a Harris bipod on the front and a rabbit ear leather sand bag for a rear rest. Works great.

The last few rounds I hand held the rifle with my fore hand resting on a bag and no butt support. That was 5 shots and it went into 4 1/2". Also, the point of impact was almost 5" lower than the other groups. Gotta think about this for awhile. I was out of ammo so i could not shoot anymore to figure out why the point of impact change. This was all @ 100 yards.

[redneckdan]

White Pine. From your post it sounds like you leave 320" of snow for a winter somewhere else??????

Nope I stay up here year around. I was working for the summer up in copper harbor. Don't get much norther in michigan and still cast bullets.

[UPEgger]

Yep, You don't get much more north than than Copper Harbor and do anything except swim.