I was researching some loads for my .405 Winchester and noticed that the advertised velocities on the Hodgdon data site seem quite fast for the caliber. It also seems that I read somewhere that one of the AR members was consistently 100 FPS of the published velocities. Has anyone chronographed these loads for the .405?

I worked up to Hodgdon's max. load of 59 gr of Benchmark with the Hornady 300gr SP, new Hornady brass, and WLR primer. I use the Redding bullet seating die crimp. It is advertised at 2404 fps and I got 2381fps from a clean barrel and then 2388, 2403 and 2405 on shots 2, 3, and 4. So from a fouled barrel my model 1885 winchester did just what they advertise. (Chornograph was about 10' from barrel.) I have shot this load twice and excluding the 1st shot I am getting 1.5' groups at 100yds (group of 6 shots). Include the 1st shot and the group is about 2.25'. (1st shot is about .75 inch low.)I wish I had lighter bullets so better velocity, but I haven't found anything yet.

31/2, I can't speak specifically for the .405 Winchester, but on average, I find the Hodgdon's data to be some of the most accurate.

Bmash that sounds like quite a good load by itself. As a matter of fact, that is 200 FPS faster that the advertised Hornady factory velocities. I too have an 1885 Winchester. It has the 22" barrel and I am hoping that it will prove a versatile big game rifle.


I've never been to Africa but by looking at the published velocities of the 400 gr. Woodleighs I don't see why the .405 considered so anemic for buffalo.

Hornady and others seem to be way below what Hodgdon published. From Hodgdon's webpage:
"300 GR. HDY FP Hodgdon Benchmark .411" 3.085" 53.0 2206 (min. load) 34,100 PSI 59.0 2404 (max load) 42,200 PSI " -- 2404 is what they say and I got 2403 and 2405fps. ( I substituted a soft point vs. a flat point.) Either way, I saw no presssure signs.

I also see no reason to push this anymore since the recoil is enough for a whitetail deer!!

quote:

Originally posted by bmash:
I also see no reason to push this anymore since the recoil is enough for a whitetail deer!!

Agreed. The factory Hornady loads aren't pleasant off the bench with a crescent steel butt. However, they are not bad in any field position. I made a pair of leather-wrapped shooting sticks specifically for this rifle and it is a breeze to shoot off of them.