After getting a couple of 40 cal PPB molds and finding that I more than like casting/patching/shooting them, I figure I may as well dust off my 45/70 and see what the larger bore can do. The answer to my question may be try it and see, but you may help me get somewhat ahead of the learning curve like I did with the 40/65 and not waste money.
I really don't care for heavy recoil anymore so I don't know if buying a 525 or heavier grain mold is where I want to go. My GG molds in 45 caliber are 525 grain and above, and while I don't consider their recoil punishing, I just shoot better without getting beat up. Will a 500ish grain bullet give me enough BC for 600 yards (my range's limit)?
While I am whining about recoil, I want to mention something I read, doubted, and found to be true (or at least seems to be true even though physics say it can't be true). I find shooting PPB that weigh the same as a GGB recoil less even though I have 8 grains more of the the exact same powder in the same cases. Recoil in this rifle (40/65 Crossno Hepburn) has always been a non issue, but shooting a Brooks 390 grain elliptical PPB is even milder to shoot than a 400 grain Money GGB. Crazy?
So, will a 500 grain bullet shoot as well as a 525-540 grain PPB. Should I stay with an Elliptical nose, or a Money nose and why?
Rifle specifics: CSA 1885, 45/70, 32" 1/18" twist Badger heavy octagonal, SST, Heilman Soule, XX fancy wood. I have no idea of throat angle or freebore, but my Paul Jones molds have their first driving bands undersized and I can and do seat them out quite a ways. This rifle has always been very accurate with GGB's and if it acts like my 40/65, it will shoot even better.
Not to blow smoke up your butts, but most of you helped me start out with very accurate ammo in my 40/65. In my other threads I mentioned that the PPB's are more accurate than any GGB's from the very beginning.
Thanks