Vertical stringing, decrease powder, horizontal stringing, increase powder.
Vertical stringing, decrease powder, horizontal stringing, increase powder.
The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
John Taylor - "African Rifles and Cartridges"
Forget everything you know about loading jacketed bullets. This is a whole new ball game!
Heat issue the barrel is walking so to speak. Check your fore arm screw. Take the forearm off do the same shooting resting the barrel on the sandbag the same. Difference ? Barrel and forearm related no difference? Maybe load related.
Had a savage one time ran all consecutive shoots high. Fore arm screw was to long putting upward pressure on the barrel. The fact you say this is consistent my suggestion as the barrel gets warmer the the shots are stringing. Try the above let’s see if there is any difference?
Today I took it out with the same three loads to try again. Did not even clean the barrel since yesterday. First group in center, second group on right, third group on left which is the same load as yesterday that was terrible, is terrible today. Bottom line, bad load. I think I was starting each time before with this load, and it made it appear that it was another problem. Today I ran that load last and it still opened up. Will do some more with these two loads. Would like to tighten them up some. The barrel slugs at .458. I am shooting .460 bullets. Wallace
So, what was the bad load, and what was the better load?
The bad group is 13 gr of Green Dot. The other two groups, 13 gr of Unique in middle and 35.3 gr of 3031 on right.
I would try 5744 or Shooters World Buffalo.
I’d sure try some red dot, blue dot and 700x. If you keep your barrel clean make sure you shoot 2 shots before you take it hunting. You’ve received lots of good ideas. Might try starting with loads at 1000 fps or less and see what happens. I just use published data to get 1000 fps.
Never trade luck for skill.
Forget the green dot load. try increasing the unique load another grain, and the 3031 upto 38gr in 1/2 grain increments. Groups may tighten up.
3031 is a bit slow of a powder. Depending on lube and bullet, 34gr of imr4198 would be better.
Your current unique load should be shooting better than what you are getting.
If your bullets are plain based lead, they should be good up to 1350fps, again depending on lube and bullet.
One other thing not mentioned is powder position. A 45-70 case is large and the volume of 13 grains of Unique is small in comparison. Try leveling the powder by holding the cartridges horizontally and gently sliding them back and forth so the powder is evenly distributed.
Try sizing to .459, my handi-rifle is a tack driver. When I first bought it at the time all i used was the Hornaday lever revolution with the 325 ftx. After handloading for a few years now, Hornaday brass is shorter, some cast bullets in standard size brass will not fully chamber, but will with Hornady brass. I also own a Marlin 1895 the chamber is slightly longer in it. Both like bullets sized to .459 and powder coat.
Retired: school of hard knocks
NRA Lifer
Just a thought. Are you crimping the case to bullet when loading? It could be that it takes two shots to build up a little crude to hold the bullet a micro second so you get a consistent powder ignition.
Another thing to try is to keep your hand between the forend and the front sandbag.
Like a natural rested field position. I shoot all two piece stocked rifles like that.
I dont think that I'm alone, either.
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BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |