Gould HP in Encore 45-70

[Wayne Smith]

I think I've found my load. The target was shot at 50yds, 10 rounds. The load is 33.5 gr of IMR3031. No leading. No unburned powder, and no crimp. This barrel does not like a crimped boolit.

[leftiye]

Nuff said?

[dk17hmr]

Nuff said?

Yep...

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Yep, Wayne, I think you got er done. Nice and with no leading great. The no crimp option is probably the key to what your BBL likes
Good Shooting

[StrawHat]

Nice shooting Wayne,

One of the older writers wrote about the Gould boolit, something like... if your rifle is not accurate with the Gould bullet, it probably won't shoot anything well...

I use Goulds over a case full of blackpowder and they work great!

[Wayne Smith]

Slow Elk, I think you are right. I've only used 3031 in this so far but the same load crimped was spreading them over more than six inches. In fact all the uncrimped groups were smaller than the comparable crimped loads.

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Hullo Wayne, yes sometimes it does make all the difference, glad it's working for you, other powders 4198 or reloader 7 have worked for me also, but your 3031 load is looking good you may have hit on the sweet spot....Good shooting

[Wayne Smith]

I strongly believe that "if it aint broke, don't fix it!". I plan to buy up a lot of 3031 'cause I use it in the 30-30 as well. I haven't chronographed this load, but by the Serria manual I should be getting in the area of 1700fps out of it. That's more than adequate.

Now to find a load with one or two Collar Button boolits that hits the same spot!

[218bee]

Never thought about the "no crimp" option. Might be another variable to play with...Nice shootin, looks like you found a winner. I like 3031 in my 35Rem

[35remington]

That velocity estimate (1700) seems rather high considering it takes over 53 grains of 3031 to get ~1800-1850 fps with a 405 grain bullet in my 22 inch Marlin 45-70 rifle.

I don't think 20 fewer grains of 3031 is gonna get you there. Even given the 45-50 grain weight discrepancy. If anything, the heavier bullet builds more pressure and gets the same or higher velocity in a straight case than a lighter bullet does with a given powder charge.

I think Sierra is somewhat off here, or something's extrapolated that doesn't apply.

I suspect the reason you're getting such superb accuracy is lower velocity and pressure. Sure looks like a keeper though.

[bearcove]

That whole series of molds 290HP -405 are what I'm going to work up in my Encore.

[Wayne Smith]

That velocity estimate (1700) seems rather high considering it takes over 53 grains of 3031 to get ~1800-1850 fps with a 405 grain bullet in my 22 inch Marlin 45-70 rifle.

I don't think 20 fewer grains of 3031 is gonna get you there. Even given the 45-50 grain weight discrepancy. If anything, the heavier bullet builds more pressure and gets the same or higher velocity in a straight case than a lighter bullet does with a given powder charge.

I think Sierra is somewhat off here, or something's extrapolated that doesn't apply.

I suspect the reason you're getting such superb accuracy is lower velocity and pressure. Sure looks like a keeper though.

I wouldn't be suprised if Serria is off with velocity estimates, it won't be the first time. However, with the 330gr boolit and up, anything over 1100fps is excessive! I'm on the East coast, anything over 100yds is very unusual.

[Nrut]

Wayne...what alloy and lube are you using?...

[Wayne Smith]

This is 50/50 Pb/ww, air dropped and lubed with my variation of Emmerts.

[Nrut]

This is 50/50 Pb/ww, air dropped and lubed with my variation of Emmerts.
Thanks Wayne...Great shooting BTW!..:drinks:

[Glen]

Based on the loading data in the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook for the Gould bullet in the .45-70, your load should be going about 1250 fps or so. The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook really is a great resource, and anybody who shoots cast bullets should have one.

[Typecaster]

I wouldn't be suprised if Serria is off with velocity estimates, it won't be the first time. However, with the 330gr boolit and up, anything over 1100fps is excessive! I'm on the East coast, anything over 100yds is very unusual.

Wayne—
Maybe it's BECAUSE you're on the East coast. If you have an older Sierra manual, maybe it was from when Sierra was here in SoCal. Everybody knows "things" are different here.

Richard

[Wayne Smith]

Based on the loading data in the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook for the Gould bullet in the .45-70, your load should be going about 1250 fps or so. The Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook really is a great resource, and anybody who shoots cast bullets should have one.

Glen, you are close. I measured 1150-1170 today with that load. The short barrel probably makes up the difference. Somewhat larger group at 100yds. I think I will try pushing the velocity up areound 1300 and see if the boolit stabilizes better.