350 grain Speer hot-cors in the new winchester extra light

Finger Toes

Finger Toes

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Has anyone successfully loaded and fired the Speer 350 grain hot-cors in a new model 1886 extra light rifle (45/70 of course)? They worked well in an 1886 made in the 90's that I don't have any more. I think I remember having COL issues with a different extra light a 4-5 years ago. Crimping in the forward cannalure made the bullet jam into the rifling before the lever was closed. Anyone else have this problem? I know they don't work well through Marlins and the bullet was designed for 458 mags.

Thanx
 
A bullet with a long nose section that is designed to be used in a .458 will have COAL issues in a .45/70 lever action, unless you seat it with the cannelure well below the case mouth. Cast bullets work so well in the .45/70 that I wouldn't bother with jacketed, and for that matter, cast seems to work pretty well in the .458, compared to shooting jacketed bullets at a dollar and a half each, to get the same performance.
 
Boomer said:
A bullet with a long nose section that is designed to be used in a .458 will have COAL issues in a .45/70 lever action, unless you seat it with the cannelure well below the case mouth. Cast bullets work so well in the .45/70 that I wouldn't bother with jacketed, and for that matter, cast seems to work pretty well in the .458, compared to shooting jacketed bullets at a dollar and a half each, to get the same performance.
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Boomer, these 350 grain speers worked excellently in my older 26" octagonal barreled 1886 repro. The bullet has 2 crimping cannalures and crimping in the forward groove gave the desired results. The COL is not a problem for cycling through the 1886 action but a function of the throat length that causes a jam by prematurely engaging the lands (in my 1st xtra light not the 26").These are fairly tough and cheap bullets with better weight retention and penetration than the hornadys. Some folks like the bullets enough to slightly over trim brass and use them in the marlin actions. I'd rather not over trim my brass for a few reasons. As you can imagine they are just barely too long for a marlin and just right for 1886 actions if the throat allows for them. I guess I'll have to buy a box and see if the problem exists with this new rifle. What weights of cast seems to be working for you?
 
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