18 January 2004, 02:06
courtney platerRe: Cast bullets for .405 Win
I have some Hornady data that is reasonalbly fresh.
Hornady .405 load data My light plinking load is a 270 grain GC Leadhead .411 over 45 grains of H4895. I'm still working on getting a couple more molds, NEI has some and will probably get a Mountain Molds custom one in the 350-400 grain range.
16 January 2004, 15:18
trkI'm seriously looking into getting a .405 Win. Either rebarrel something or a Ruger #1.
What are the options of cast bullets?
I noticed one barrel maker making 1:14 twist - for what range of bullet weights would this be suitable?
17 January 2004, 15:33
trkGot to looking for loading data - tough to find in books just a few years old.
Then I found my copy of the Complete Guide to Handloading by Phillip Sharpe.
Bullets for the .405 come in .4105, .411, and (most common) .412 diamter.
Loads included powders: 2400, Unique, Sharp-shooter, Lightin'g, Hi Vel 2 & 3, 3031, Pyro 15, 16, and GR75.
Other cartridges on the same page included the .400 Wheelen (straight case), .401 Win Self Loading, .404 H&H Magnum and 11mm Gras.
The .405 Win (1937) was described "as still a popular number".
300 grain velocities were running on both sides of 2200 fps with presures at most 48,000 cup.
What a book! It even had solved examples of how to do the math calculations (for alloys, bullet volumes, energy etc.) using your slide rule! (I can remember the slide rule course I took in college too.)
The .400 Wheelen looked comprable in balistics. Certainly an option if I go the rebarrel route on a Mauser.