OK so I am buying a Shiloh 40-70BN Montana Roughrider with a 30 inch med half octagon barrel with RCBS dies, 80 + brass and about 200 400 gr bullets. I still have some SPG lube and a crap load of Goex FFG powder. I know I need some 40 cal wads (I think). I have a 45-70 blow tube, can I cut that down and use it? Is the FFG OK to use? What would be a good mould for a hunting bullet for deer and pigs? In the event I ever go Buffalo hunting will this round be big enough?

40-70 is kind of small for bison. Go to the Shiloh site and ask your questions.

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OK so I am buying a Shiloh 40-70BN Montana Roughrider with a 30 inch med half octagon barrel with RCBS dies, 80 + brass and about 200 400 gr bullets. I still have some SPG lube and a crap load of Goex FFG powder. I know I need some 40 cal wads (I think). I have a 45-70 blow tube, can I cut that down and use it? Is the FFG OK to use? What would be a good mould for a hunting bullet for deer and pigs? In the event I ever go Buffalo hunting will this round be big enough?

First, congratulation to your Shiloh Sharps. I´m dreaming about a Shiloh since ~1992, but in Germany it´s too rare and expensive.
I have the SPG Reloading book, there´s a loading data listed, with a 380grs Hoch bullet and 65grs FFg. Oal: 2,85" and Fed. 215Magnum primers. Fired from a Shiloh with 26" it should bring about 1284fps.
In the book of Mike Venturino is listed, a 377grs SAECO bullet, Fed 215 Magnum primers, fired from 28" barrel with 70grs of:
Goex FFg 1334fps
Swiss 1 1/2 FG 1292fps
Elephant FFg 1264fps
Wano FFg 1283fps


Martin

The SPG lube and Goex 2f are good choices. If you are going to use a blow tube it's important that it fit perfectly so moisture does not get into the cartridge case area of the chamber. You will probably have to make one out of a fired case to get a good fit. You can buy .30" and .60" thickness card wads or get an arch punch and make them yourself. There are a number of good 40 cal. bullet molds available but be certain of your barrels dimensions as some are .408" and some .410". I've never shot anything as large as a bison but I'll bet a 400g 40 cal. bullet going 1300fps would go clear through one.

Ok here is my second Shiloh and my first used one. It is a Montana Roughrider with 30 inch half octagon barrel, military buttstock, full buckhorn rear sight and standard grade wood. It has a cheap tang sight on i at the moment. It was received in 1996 and has only had a few rounds through it. It is chambered for .40-70 BN and it came with dies, cases and bullets. I have already loaded up som 405 gr and some 373 gr loads. It looks a lot better in person than my poor photos.

Boy, those folks in Big Timber sure know how to fit wood to metal don't they?

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Ok here is my second Shiloh

What´s your first Shiloh?


Martin

Call MVA and order one of their blow tubes. They fit well and are a quality piece. While you are on the phone ask for a sights catalog.
You can kill Bison with them. Just stick the sights on the crease about 1/3rd the way up and take out the lungs. Just don't expect them to acknowledge bullet impact. They are worse than moose that way.

Good Buy!

Rich