The Accurate Reloading Forums
Need help, caliber choice for Highwall
26 November 2008, 02:01
900 SSNeed help, caliber choice for Highwall
I recently found out that I need a Highwall.
The gun will be used for fun and moose at closer ranges, hunting with a dog.
Help me a bit with the best caliber options, it should be a classic rimmed cartridge. But it donesnt need to be one originally delivered in the 1885 winchesters. With iron sights it obviously wont be a long range gun but I want reasonable trajectory to the far side of 200 meters/220 yards.
My favourite so far is the 35 Winchester with 30-40 Krag and 405 Winchester as nice alternatives. 30-40 AI is probably a very good performer but doesnt sound that classic. The 30-40 Krag can be loaded to 308 win performance in a C.Sharps Highwall, but how about the 35 Winchester? If I can get 35 Whelen performance I would be very happy about that since that is my "longrange" moosekiller. I fear that the 405 win will be to much for my shoulder with a checkered iron buttplate and I dont want a recoilpad. Barrel length will be either 20 or 22 inch.
26 November 2008, 02:05
RaySendero405 Winchester

________
Ray
26 November 2008, 04:38
loud-n-boomerEither .35 Winchester or .348 Winchester will get it there and have killed their fair share of moose sized game out to 200 meters. It won't be a .35 Whelen, but it won't be too far behind.
Dave
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I'll never know. - Groucho Marx
26 November 2008, 11:55
900 SSHow about recoil from the 405? Will it be to much in a lightish rifle like this with a 22" standard profile octacon barrel?
26 November 2008, 16:38
CARNEI have a 30/40 in a Ruger #3. Nice gun carrys well and does well with deer. Also have a 1885 Browning in 3006 that I want to rebore and rechamber to 9.3x62. 9.3x62 a classic that will do whatever want at 200 yds. The Whelen will do nearly the same.
I have gone through the AI thing, on paper, and don't beleive it's worth the trouble. If the need is speed there is always differient cartridges. My personal choice has been to use large bullets at a moderate speed, usable out past 200 yds.
03 December 2008, 11:13
RonESome seldom thought of rimmed cartridges that offer some preformance without being too brutal on the shooter are the 7.62X54R and the .307 Winchester.
Don't ask me what happened, when I left Viet Nam, we were winning.
03 December 2008, 21:49
Idaho SharpshooterDo you reload? If so, the 38-90 is probably the best choice. At the end of the 19th century the germans took the 38-90 and necked it down .013" to create the 9,3x74R cartridge. It is known for killing power without the massive recoil of the 405. Norma makes the brass, CH4D has dies in stock, and there are a plethora of .375 bullets. Another suggestion: Pedersoli has a 38-55 with a 1:12" twist that will stabilize any bullet out there. Rechamber and load down to 38-55 levels or sneak up on 375H&H power.
Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...
Eight Days!!
03 December 2008, 23:01
900 SSVery good input! 7.62X54R and the .307 Winchester doesnt offer anything over the 30-40 Krag, the 38-90 sounds just like what I'm after. Bigger mediumbores is good stuff for my hunting.
I dont shoot factory ammo very often so thats not a problem.
The gun will be a C.Sharps and not a Pedersoli for sure, so if they dont have tooling to make a 38-90 chamber it will either be 150$ extra or a different caliber. I'll check it out. I know that if I had one I'd do the sneak up on 375H&H thing. C.Sharps seem very confident in that their Highwalls can take modern pressurelevels without a problem.
I'd also be a happy boy with the 30-40 Krag that made me want one in the first place. I'll try to find a picture of it.
04 December 2008, 11:12
900 SS
09 December 2008, 11:26
SingleshotloverWell you could take 405 winchester and reform them into 375 2.5 flanged nitro express and shoot .375 bullets from 220 grains up to 300 grains. Then use cast bullets for the off season for practice. I fired exactly one full power load in an origional 1895 winchester and that is all I care to fire. Course you can also fire cast bullets out of the 405 winchester. Should be no problem to get 300 grain cast bullet to 1800-1900 fet per second. Frank
09 December 2008, 13:20
Gerry900,
Similar to what CARNE has suggested my vote wold be for the vanilla-flavored 9.3x74R. All you need for a Moose out to 200 meters and certainly would fit into thwe Highwall without a huge doe of pressure.
Cheers,
Number 10
09 December 2008, 17:53
CARNEIdaho & Gerry both have suggested 9.3x74r which would work well with your intended use and fits with your gun.
This isn't with a Hiwall but I want a 30/40 Krag in a gun thats nice to carry. So I am going to get a Thompson Center Contender and have a 30/40 barrel made and Viola a 5 1/2 pound 30/40 with an exposed hammer that will carry well.
http://www.matchgrademachine.c...16437&cat=287&page=110 December 2008, 00:07
900 SSquote:
Originally posted by CARNE:
This isn't with a Hiwall but I want a 30/40 Krag in a gun thats nice to carry. So I am going to get a Thompson Center Contender and have a 30/40 barrel made and Viola a 5 1/2 pound 30/40 with an exposed hammer that will carry well.
I'm leaning to the gun in the picture for your reasons. Its a heavy barrel but since its short its not that heavy and carries well. The chamber is original 30-40 spec so it should perform nicely with long/heavy bullets, and its very pleasant to shoot. Its easy to reload and bullets are plentiful and cheap.
10 December 2008, 05:15
giI have the Winchester "hunter" model, no sights and factory recoil pad. Shoots great in 405 winchester.
10 December 2008, 07:49
CARNE900ss
So you've settled on a gun and a cartridge. What kind of dog? We aren't allowed to hunt with dogs except for rabbits or bears. Tried to find Bardu on a map. But I may be able to book a flight.
Jon
Ann Arbor, Michigan
10 December 2008, 14:02
900 SSquote:
Originally posted by CARNE:
900ss
So you've settled on a gun and a cartridge. What kind of dog? We aren't allowed to hunt with dogs except for rabbits or bears. Tried to find Bardu on a map. But I may be able to book a flight.
Jon
Ann Arbor, Michigan
http://forums.accuratereloadin.../9021043/m/499108829The clue with these dogs is that they make the moose stop and they keep them standing by barking. When the hunter hear the dog he can sneak up directed by it. My dog made several moose stand for her this year but I didnt get to shoot one for her since they either were the wrong kind of moose or they got spooked before I got a shot. She got several from tracking so its all good, her first birthday is only next week so we'll hopefully get more chances.
http://i252.photobucket.com/al...esmodue904/Bardu.jpgI live under the pin in the middle of the picture.
10 December 2008, 15:01
CARNEThanks, got interested in how to hunt moose with a dog.
10 December 2008, 20:37
watermanI have a Uberti High Wall in .30-40. It has a long barrel, but I put on a buttstock with a solid rubber pad and put the buttstock with the crescent in the closet. The Uberti does well with 220-grain bullets loaded to original Krag velocity. Powerful enough and sufficiently accurate to hit a moose in a vital spot at 100 yards. Is the old 8x60R Krag ammunition still available to you? That was certainly moose medicine.
13 December 2008, 08:55
steve whitingGreetings, I have a deluxe srporter in 405 on order from Ballard Rifle. It will have a half round barrel 28" in length. I'll be able to use a tang or scope. I have a Shiloh Deluxe Sporter in 30-40 Krag. Bought it in late 80s. Shoots very good and can be loaded faster than standard info. I'll be sure to let you people know how the 405 shoots. Unfortunately I've had it on order since August 2007, should be here for the spring thaw. If anyone has information on 210 grain pistol bullets please post them. Thanks, Steve Whiting
13 December 2008, 16:20
Big Bore Fanquote:
210 grain pistol bullets please
I have a old double rifle in .405WCF and I reloaded the Remington SP and the Hornady XTP/HP with 210grs. My powder charge was 52grs of N200
Martin