Hey Guys,

Hodgdon lists the hottest data for the 300 gr. Woodleigh as follows:

H322 49.0 2150 41,200 PSI

I am shooting a .405 built on a P-14 action which has a 28" Shilen, #5 contour barrel. The chamber is long throated and I can load cartridged out to 3.412. Even with this OAL I still have free-bore. The exposed bullet length is .842".

Can anyone give me a realistic starting load using H322 and the 360 gr. North Fork bullet?

Thanks a bunch,

Smoker

Try my Encore .405 win load of 65 grs of H414 behind a woodleigh SP . My gun is long throated and you can seat a bullet out to 3.400. I use a corbin Cannelure tool to put a new cannalure on the bullet and crimp it in place. This load will easily duplicate a 450/400. I would only shoot it in a Encore, Ruger #1, a 1917 Enfield etc. I would strongly caution against shooting it in a M1895 New or old PERIOD. This load is in the 65 KPSI range .

Hey Robgunbuilder,

Thanks for the info., however, I just got a lb. of H322 and am looking for a starting load for that powder.

Thanks again for the suggestion,

Smoker

Smoker*,



With regard to your original question. I would use the Hodgdon load for the 300 Woodleigh. The extra weight of the North fork will increase pressure somewhat, probably around 20% to 25% (either way you should be between 50 and 55 ksi, IF Hodgdon's pressure data is accurate). I would suspect muzzle velocity may increase from 2150 to 2170. A warning about Hodgdon's data though, in my experience with the 405 Win Hodgdon's data is high on velocity by about 100 to 150 fps for any given pressure/powder. This has been particularly true for the 300 grain bullets loads. They seem to be closer for the 400 gr. There are reasons for this, I suspect most of them are liability drive, but they revolve around the accuracy (or lack thereof) of the pressure measuring systems employed.



Have you tried IMR3031, IMR4985, or H4895 yet?



ASS_CLOWN

Robgunbuilder,

I think I will try your load in my M1895 Winchester. Thanks for sharing it with us all.

ASS_CLOWN

Not suprising!

Ray,

I know, I am so predictable. I will chronograph the load, if I can get it to fit in the rifle, and will report what is does in a M1895.

ASS_CLOWN

Smoker,
If you haven't already, contact Mike Brady at North Fork for his recommendations. I know he has done quite a bit of pressure testing with the 360 grain .411" bullet in the Hawk and think he has with the 405 Winny as well. That's where I would start.

Hey Guys,

Thanks for all the input!

ASS_CLOWN - I will do exactly as you suggest and I will run all of the loads over my Chrony. I haven't tried IMR3031, IMR4985, or H4895 yet. I haven't even been back to the range since I posted the data on the RL7. (I've been substituting in the local elementary schools more often than I had expected.) I have 2 more load variations to cap off for the reloader 7 and then I will start with the H322.

DPhillips - I've written and spoken with Mike on several occations. I don't remember discussing H322 with him. However, discussing theoretical loads is something that I like to reserve for this BB. We are all, for the most part, nameless/faceless people. If you're lucky you can guess the knowledge of the person who is writing by the manner in which they respond to a question. Mike seems like a great source of info. but he doesn't know me from Adam. I could be an anti-gun nut with a good line of crap, looking for an excuse ...I don't want to put Mike on the spot - has a name, reputation and business. I know that Mike would not suggest anything that would be dangerous but he's putting a lot more on the line each time he suggests a load. Besides the quality of responses that you get on this BB are, more often than not, excellent and dependable as I'm sure these riflemen are the same.

Guys, thanks again,

Smoker

ASSCLOWN,

Sent you a PM.

Deke.

Ass-clown-- Assuming you have throated your M1985 to take a 3.400 long cartridge, of course you know it won't feed through the magazine. I'd be interested to know if a M1985 can survive more than one or two.-Rob Please make sure that you shake the gun smartly after firing to give the parts a chance to fall out by themselves.No sense taking any risks eh!

RObgunbuilder,

The rifle isn't throated deep, I figured I would just swage or turn the bullet OD down to 0.4" for the first 0.375" off the ogive, that is in effect the same as throating. However, it will reduce my surface bearing area, so in the interests of keeping everything "kosher", what is your muzzel velocity and barrel length? I may need to increase from the 65 gr H414 charge to get to where you are since my pressures will probably be a little lower, MAYBE.

65 grains of H414 and a COL of 3.4" seems like a MIGHTY compressed charge, is it?

I serioiusly doubt that ANYTHING will happen other than the bullets leaving the muzzle. I have shot 70,000+ psi loads in the M1895, it is a strong action, if you want to believe it or not. Actually, the strongest actions I know of are ALL rear locking lugged.

Thanks for the concern and the information.

ASS_CLOWN

Anyone tried AA2015? The new Hornady manuals list it for their 300 grainers and thus far, in my development, it is much cleaner burning than RL-7. I have worked RL-7 up to 53 grains with the horndaddy 300's and achieved over 2100 fps in my short barrel.



After PA's deer season i am sending it off for a brake so i can continue to work toward its true potential. Currently this pistol is tryin to seperate my wrist from my arm and is creating a road block.

MSSmagnum, Thanks for the link to Specialty Pistols. I have found a place to "fit in".

Need some cheap advice on the muzzle brake? GOOD!

Do not just have the barrel ported, have screw on "oil filter" style installed! This will turn your CANNON into a pussycat! REALLY! Muzzle Blast and Noise, Hell Yes! 40% reduction in recoil, Hell Yes!

Your hearing probably isn't so good anyway! So now it is time to buy a good set of Stereo Head Phones, they will amplify your hearing and "shut down" at the BLAST!

Big Bores Rule!
BS

AC- The .405 throater I designed is available from Dave Kiff for about $65. Just unscrew the barrel and use a hand tool. It's too much work to swage already jacketed bullets much less turn them. You could then get one high powered shot off with a 3.4 inch .405. duplicating the 450/400. I have to say that If I were you I would be very concerned about the extractor cut on the m1985 that is cut directly into the top of the action. I would be very surprised if when that action blows it doesn't start there. As you are well aware there have been reports of M1895's going kaboom and grenading the action. In any event, I see no need to even try to make something out of the M1895 when a Encore at half the price will
definately achieve the goal of duplicating a 450/400. I have�built one with an auto ejector and my guess is I can reload it darn near just as fast as a neophyte can run a lever gun. By the way I used my Encore .405 on the STC hunt for some nice running shots.-Rob

Hey ASS_CLOWN,

I didn't know you needed a throat reamer! Had I known you needed one, I'd have sent you the one I bought. When my gunsmith was finished long throating the chamber I told him to keep the throater. His name is Bill Moyer, Moyer Custom Rifles "Moyer's Gun Shop" and his phone number is 717-258-6607. If you gave him a call I'm sure he'd give you a good price.

If you're interested in getting your own, here is a copy of the email I got from Clymer in October:

Allen - The .40 cal. Rifle Throater is a standard stock tool. The cost for this would be $50.00 (U.S.), plus shipping. Please let us know if you would like to place an order or if we can be of further assistance. We accept both Visa and MasterCard. You can phone or FAX your credit card information to us. Our phone number is TOLL FREE
1-877-REAMERS (732-6377). Our local number is (248) 853-5555. Our FAX number is (248) 853-1530. Thank you for your interest. -Ken -

Sorry, man! You've given me a lot of good help with my .405 - if only I had known.

Smoker

Smoker*,

Don't worry about it. If I decide to throat my rifle, and I really don't see any reason to, Clymer is local and I will just stop in during lunch and pick up a throater, factory direct, or maybe just have a friend of mine ream it out with a 10.5 mm reamer with a generous lead-in chamfer.

For a handful of experimental shots, reducing the bullet OD will suffice. Truth is I can get 450/400 tropical performance with Rel 7 (kinda hot), IMR3031, or IMR4895 with the rifle as is.

Based up performance of the 300 gr 0.416 bullets I have used up to say 120 yards, I am beginning to lean back toward the 300 gr Woodleigh at ~ 2500 fps, anyway. Without the benefits of a scope I wouldn't take any longer than 150 yard shots anyway, and would much prefer to stay below 100. The 300 gr Woodleigh at ~ 2500 fps would suffice for anything I would use a 405 Winchester for.

Still let me know what you figure out with the 360 gr Northforks. I can easily manipulate your load data for my rifle.

ASS_CLOWN

Rob,
YEP!
some damn fine shots with that encore, at MOVING game... running in fact....

damn fine shooter!! both of ya
jeffe

ah.....HELLO?? My question not qualify just cause my gun aint got a shoulder stock on it??

Anyone try AA2015??

Anyone??

MSSmagnum,

No I haven't tried AA2015. I have tried Rel7, IMR4895, IMR4064, IMR3031, can' think of any others.

ASS_CLOWN

quote:

Originally posted by ASS_CLOWN:
Robgunbuilder,<br /><br />I think I will try your load in my M1895 Winchester. Thanks for sharing it with us all.<br /><br />ASS_CLOWN

So did the "testing" ever occur??
Anyone Know, Icould not find it by search mode>