Morning y'all.
Coffee and tea are ready.

'Tis 50 and sunny. High of 78.

Slim

"Buffalo Wallow" Shoot would be more appropriate since there is a shallow pond in the middle of all the buffalo targets.

WD

Grazie per la condivisione

I just finished reloading my first batch of .44-40 and thought I'd share what I did and ask some questions.

My initial goal was to replicate the 19th century black powder load, my issues were finding a historically correct mold, sourcing brass (completely out of stock when I was ordering), and getting reloading data, because most molds and reloading data seems to be geared entirely to smokeless loads, modern bullets, and SASS mouse fart loads.

I solved the brass issue by just buying some Magtech blasting ammo essentially just for the brass, I shot the ammo, had fun, and saved the brass.

Then there was the issue of the mold, after researching here and other places I learned that my best and most economic options were to find a used Lyman 427098 mold, or an antique Winchester mold on Ebay, I chose the Lyman.

Load data was the issue, lots of conflicting information, much of it completely false.  The original load was 40 grains of 2F, however those were with balloon head cases, and I have read multiple times that 19th century 2F is more like modern 3F.  So I researched it, but actual data was near impossible to find and I kept seeing people advocating, what I felt, were ridiculously low loads, which might be fine for competition, but nowhere near replicating historical performance.

My initial attempt was to use 40 grains of Swiss 3F(which DOES fit, but it is a full case load, then use a compression die before loading my bullet.  I made it work, however at least with my compression die and brass it caused the base of the cartridge to bulge just enough that they failed the drop test and could not be chambered.  I tried using less compression, but got the same result.

Next I tried 35 grains, which filled the case to about 1/8 of an inch from the case mouth, I did not use a compression die this time and got the bullets to seat without issue and they chambered.

I finished with a Lee Factory Crimp Die.

All my dies are Lee, I read that Lee's dies do not open the case mouth enough for more than a .427 bullet and can confirm that that is correct, I sized all of my bullets to .427 and they just barely were able to get started even with the die maxed out.  However they did work.

I also noticed that despite the Lyman 427098 supposedly producing 205 grain bullets it instead produced about 220 grain ones when used with pure lead, which is much heavier than I wanted.

I used a magnum primer because that was all I could find.

So my goal was a 200 grain bullet over 40 grains of Swiss 3F but ended up with a 220 grain bullet and 35 grains of 3F.

So how did I do?  And about what muzzle velocity do you expect that I will get from a 4.75 inch revolver (Pietta Great Western 2)?  My goal is to replicate the performance of a 19th century factory load, I'll consider it a success if I can meet or exceed the muzzle energy of an original 19th century load, how close do you think I got?

My loading process was to use a brass black powder powder measure, which I found was graduated dead on for weight for 3F Swiss.

I used home made lube of 50/50 beeswax and Crisco, mixed by volume melted and I pan lubed.

Any recommendations for next time?  What did I do wrong?

Any way to make 40 grains work?

Couldn't fix the tire. Got a good used one.

Slim

The first annual "Jerrys gonna have a Buffalo Gun Match and we'll figure out what to call it later" took place this weekend.  7 of us shot the match, though there were others there to have a good time and make fun of us.

Most folks showed up Saturday.  Saturday was general practice and sight setting, along with the usual liars club contest going on in the backround.  Modern weapons could be broken out, and were provided a separate range for their use.  We had a few juniors as well.  Thankfully Dad kept their muffs on most of the time, lest they be corrupted.  We hope to have a Junior Buffalo range set up in the pistol bay for them next year.

Sunday was for the Buffalo guns, lead bullets only.  7 buffalo silhouettes of 1/4" AR 500 were provided, of various sizes, including one calf, were set out at RANDOM ranges in Jerry's valley, between 200 and 600 yards, well dispersed and at different elevations.  Course of fire was you must declare a target, hit it, then declare another one, until all 7 have been hit or you run out of ammunition.  You are allowed 21 rounds.  You will have a spotter, along with a peanut gallery.  You may shoot in any fashion you choose, though everyone chose to shoot benched over cross sticks.  The 20 knot wind swirling in over your right shoulder did not  help.

There is a 200 yard target you may use for pre run sighter shots.  But once you call the target you are committed to the run.  Score is number of targets hit, broke by number of shots fired.  Ties settled by a shootoff at the farthest target.  Know your ammunition, know your sights.

1st: Drydock - 7/16 - Shiloh 1874 50-70.
2nd: Ned Neiderlander - 7/17 - Cimarron 1876 45-60
3rd: Whisky Double - 7/20 - C. Sharps 1885 40-82

Everyone else shot 6s and 5s.  Great fun watching folks spin sight settings and estimate ranges, calling overs and shorts and walking them in.  Remember, no targets at known ranges, including the even centurys.

Already planning for next year.  Jerry will post dates when he figures them out.  A trophy is in the works.  Leading name so far is "Buffalo Walls" for the little fort we have on the range. We also plan on having another target for a herd of 8 with 24 shots allowed.

The first annual "Jerrys gonna have a Buffalo Gun Match and we'll figure out what to call it later" took place this weekend.  7 of us shot the match, though there were others there to have a good time and make fun of us.

Most folks showed up Saturday.  Saturday was general practice and sight setting, along with the usual liars club contest going on in the backround.  Modern weapons could be broken out, and were provided a separate range for their use.  We had a few juniors as well.  Thankfully Dad kept their muffs on most of the time, lest they be corrupted.  We hope to have a Junior Buffalo range set up in the pistol bay for them next year.

Sunday was for the Buffalo guns, lead bullets only.  7 buffalo silhouettes of 1/4" AR 500 were provided, of various sizes, including one calf, were set out at RANDOM ranges in Jerry's valley, between 200 and 600 yards, well dispersed and at different elevations.  Course of fire was you must declare a target, hit it, then declare another one, until all 7 have been hit or you run out of ammunition.  You are allowed 21 rounds.  You will have a spotter, along with a peanut gallery.  You may shoot in any fashion you choose, though everyone chose to shoot benched over cross sticks.  The 20 knot wind swirling in over your right shoulder did not  help.

There is a 200 yard target you may use for pre run sighter shots.  But once you call the target you are committed to the run.  Score is number of targets hit, broke by number of shots fired.  Ties settled by a shootoff at the farthest target.  Know your ammunition, know your sights.

1st: Drydock - 7/16 - Shiloh 1874 50-70.
2nd: Ned Neiderlander - 7/17 - Cimarron 1876 45-60
3rd: Whisky Double - 7/20 - C. Sharps 1885 40-82

Everyone else shot 6s and 5s.  Great fun watching folks spin sight settings and estimate ranges, calling overs and shorts and walking them in.  Remember, no targets at known ranges, including the even centurys.

Already planning for next year.  Jerry will post dates when he figures them out.  A trophy is in the works.  Leading name so far is "Buffalo Walls" for the little fort we have on the range. We also plan on having another target for a herd of 8 with 24 shots allowed.

Free kitten if you can catch one!

additional pics

Side by side showing Uberti's current production .36 Navy using larger frame, on left.

Outshot by someone shorter than my rifle . . .


FWIW and for those who asked, posted a list of suppliers down in the Buffalo Rifle Forum.