No. 21 is the Lyman designation, this was the receiver sight that has a locking lever you release to move it for elevation. Presume Buffalo copied it, I am not familiar with the Buff sight. Windage is by friction, the peep slides right and left, fits tight you have to tap it. The Lyman 38 is the same but with screw adjustment for the windage. Don't know if this is also made by Buffalo, I am too lazy to look at their website. I have a 38 on an original 95 .405, it is a good sight but the screw turns too easily, the 21 is arguably preferable as the peep will stay put, but it is harder to adjust.

I just bought a new 1895 in 405 Winchester. Need help with load data and real life hunting loads.

I want to use this rifle on Elk this fall here in Montana.

What powder is the best?

4X4SNEAK

Looks like you and I may the only orphans here using the 405.
I just got mine this spring also. I found two hundred once fired cases on Ebay, had Mountain Molds make me a 350 grain gas checked mold, bought some IMR 4198, IMR 4895, and had some IMR 4064 on hand.
I started out with the 4198 and have worked my way nearly to max, with pretty good results. Next series of loads will be the 4895, then on to the 4064.
It's my belief that anything the jacketed bullets can do a cast bullet can do it just as well, in this caliber, plus they are one heck of a lot cheaper.
I got my starting loads from Hodgen's data.
Jim

IMR4895 seems to work well. Be sure and trim your cases and don't fire anything that is even remotely stiff to chamber. A friend had a bad KB with one of the new Winchesters and finally worked it down to a combination of tight chamber and untrimmed brass with a "warm" load. The bullet was already in the rifling when the round was chambered. He and Winchester reached an accomodation. He didn't blame them(not in so many words anyway) but they eventually replaced the gun. It was a mutually advantageous solution.

What bullets do you want to use.

I have load data for the Hornady 300gr and the Woodleigh 400gr that I would be willing to share.

To use the Woodleigh you must recut the cannelure or go without a crimp. I strongly recommend against the later.

The overall best powder seems to be IMR3031, as it will work for both the 300gr and 400gr pills (but you can still load enough in a case to hurt yourself). Rel 7 works too but you can get yourself into trouble real quick with Rel 7 when loading the 400 gr pills.

For instance 50 grains of Rel 7 and a 400 grain Woodleigh will rupture a primer, directing some very hot gas right into you eye! A VERY BAD BAD thing. Muzzle velocity is 2190 fps though. I was wearing a face shield, probably would have a bad right eye if I hadn't.

The 300 grain Hornady bullets seem to fragment on impact velocities over 2330 fps, so there is little need to load them to potential. 54 grains of Rel 7 and a 300 gr Hornady will go 2420 fps with a chamber pressure of 62,000 psi. Believe me the rifle will handle more than this, but the bullets cannot.

A better load is 54 grains of IMR3031 and the 300gr Hornady for a muzzle velocity of 2330 fps and a touching load (~ 100% case fill).

62 grains of IMR4895 and a 300 grain Hornady will do 2310 fps.

60 grains of IMR4895 and a 300 grain Hornady will do 2260 fps

55 grains of IMR4895 and a 400 grain Woodleigh will do 2040 fps. This is a VERY HEAVILY COMPRESSED LOAD.

46 gr of Rel 7 and a 400 grain Woodleigh will do 2015 fps
(and is a max safe load above this primers crater)

50.5 grains of IMR3031 and a 400 grain Woodleigh will do 2030 fps (and is a max safe load above this primers crater)

All the loads I have provided were what I said they were in MY RIFLE. I have provided safe, margin, and unsafe loads, from the perspective of my rifle. I STRONGLY recommend that you load down and work you way up. In my experience the primers will begin to crater at least 1 grain below the ruptured primer mark, but I would not count my eyes on it.

With most bullets the magazine well length is the limiting factor for COL (at least in my rifle). The Hornady bullet hits the lands at 3.172", it is the one exception. The Woodleigh bullet does not, nor does a certain 350 grain bullet I swaged down to shoot, with these the magazine was the COL limiting factor.

The simple truth is the 405 Win will safely propel 300 grain bullets aroung 2350fps - 2420 fps.

It will also safely propel 400 grain bullets between 1950fps and 2040 fps.

If you want more detailed information, send me a PM.

ASS_CLOWN