Finally got to take my Pedretti & Sons .45-70 Sharps replica to the range with my first attempts at bullet casting loaded over 61grs of black powder. Rifle and ammo seemed to perform OK, considering my old eyes had trouble seeing the target @ 100 yds. I'll try a different target next time, has worked well in the recent past.
Here's the interesting part: I've been advised to seat the bullet out to touch the rifling. I tried to accomplish this by dropping one of my shiny new 405gr boolits into the chamber and measured from the base of the bullet to the end of the chamber. Distance was 2.1", same as the length of the case! Engaging the rifling was simply not possible. I seated the bullets to the driving band past the top grease groove over a slightly compressed load and a .060 veggie wad. It's been a few weeks since I loaded them and something has been bothering me. Could this be a sloppy chamber or was it chambered for something else like a .45-90 (2.4") or even .45-100 (2.6")? I don't have any cerro-safe on hand so at this point I'm speculating. I even tried a few .45-90's @ the range today. Chambered and fired just fine! I inspected the chamber and it is smooth and well-cut with a nice shoulder just before the rifling begins.
Here's my question: Do I make the cast and load the longest cartridge that will fit in the chamber or just try to make do as a .45-70? I can use the cases and dies for my Marlin Guide Gun so they won't go to waste. I don't really want a .45-100 or even a.45-90 but will buy the cases if that's what it takes to make this rifle shoot.
Here's the interesting part: I've been advised to seat the bullet out to touch the rifling. I tried to accomplish this by dropping one of my shiny new 405gr boolits into the chamber and measured from the base of the bullet to the end of the chamber. Distance was 2.1", same as the length of the case! Engaging the rifling was simply not possible. I seated the bullets to the driving band past the top grease groove over a slightly compressed load and a .060 veggie wad. It's been a few weeks since I loaded them and something has been bothering me. Could this be a sloppy chamber or was it chambered for something else like a .45-90 (2.4") or even .45-100 (2.6")? I don't have any cerro-safe on hand so at this point I'm speculating. I even tried a few .45-90's @ the range today. Chambered and fired just fine! I inspected the chamber and it is smooth and well-cut with a nice shoulder just before the rifling begins.
Here's my question: Do I make the cast and load the longest cartridge that will fit in the chamber or just try to make do as a .45-70? I can use the cases and dies for my Marlin Guide Gun so they won't go to waste. I don't really want a .45-100 or even a.45-90 but will buy the cases if that's what it takes to make this rifle shoot.
