45-70 and 38-55 cast loads, lots of unburnt powder in the barrel, why?

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Question#1:
I'm loading for my Pedersoli Sharps 45-70 34" barrel. I'm using Bullet Barn cast 450gr RNFP 4LG .459 and 45gr Varget. There seems to be quit a bit of unburnt powder and crap left in the barrel, I'm wondering if this is normal. I also noticed the bullets seem to keyhole just the slightest bit at 100 yards, is this also normal for such a large bullet? I dont bother to clean the barrel very often because I'm not concerned with pinpoint accuracy, I'm wondering if lead is building up and starting some slight keyhole issues??

Question #2:
I'm loading for my Pedersoli Highwall 38-55 30" barrel. I'm using Bullet Barn cast 245gr RNFP .379 and 26gr IMR4198. This load hits the target sideways at 50yards and accuracy is non-existent. Barrel fouling is bad as well. Am I tryin to push them to fast with a fast burning powder, I think the bullet must not be gripping the rifling? Any advice?

Bryan
 
Sounds normal for Varget with low pressure loads. Apparently a heavy crimp and heavier loads helps somewhat.

Question: do these bullets have gas checks? If not, there is likely Lead buildup to some extent, and that can definitely effect accuracy / stability.

I had / have a similar issue with cast in my 44 S&W; the chamber mouths are .427, bore is .429: with medium-heavy loads the leading is horrendous (rounds 4-6 are tumbling within 10 yards), mild loads okay (but still bad, with the 3rd cylinder pretty much all over), but cases stuffed full of H110 results in only the slightest bit of lead buildup, even after 24 rounds.

So I would suggest either a) running them much slower, b) putting gas checks on them, or c) running them as hot as possible (and still remain safe).
 
Im new to the cast bullets. How do the gas checks help with these issues, what is the science behind this? How do you go about cleaning "lead" from the barrel, what is the best procedure to clean out the rifling? Im not competitive shooting, so it sounds like slowing them down might help the most. Is it normal for a big bullet like this to "wobble" around when in flight, the holes at 100yards look to be just slightly keyhole?

Thanks so much for all the info, makes lots of sense.

Bryan
 
Bryan,

Try XMP-5744 in both the 38-55 and 45-70. Burns really clean, great accuracy and fills case reasonably well to ensure no double charges. I use in both those calibers PLUS 45-110 with superb results using the Bullet Barn products. If you cannot find XMP-5744 locally we have in stock and can ship no problem to you.
Cheers, Peter
 
Non gas check boolits have been shooting well and with no or minimal leading in rifles like yours for 140 years. Bullet sizing, lead, lube and powder charge would be far ahead of gas checks for loading in these rifles. Ruger Number 1 .45-70 loads would likely benefit from a gas checked mold/bullet design though.

I use IMR 4198 in both calibres.
 
Look for Accurate 5744 powder...It was formerly known as XMP5744. Works very well but a small amount of unburnt powder is a characteristic of this powder. I really like it in the heavier loads but works fine with the lighter 300 and 350g loads in the BFR as well.
dB
 
I've been using Reloader 7 in 45-70 for years, and I like it (Pedersoli Sharps). I've been sticking with lighter 350-400gr cast bullets for the most part, and I don't load them hot (somewhere in the middle of the Lyman data range for Trapdoor rifles, AFAIR). 5744 is on my list to try, but I can't find it here and I'm not sure if it'd be worth the price to ship in what is already not a cheap powder.

I've tried 4198, and in the cool weather I was getting poor ignition, lots of unburnt powder, and squibs galore. I expect a magnum primer would have helped. Stuff meters with difficulty anyway, so I like to avoid it.

I don't have a 38-55. I load for .375 Winchester, but that's a different animal, especially since I've only just bought a mould for it a few weeks ago and have been shooting jacketed stuff in it up until now using H335, RL7, or 748 in it.
 
I load cast for my 38-55, and prefer Reloder 7 or Norma 200 for the cast offerings.
Be sure your cast bullet is at least .002" larger than your groove diameter for best results.
Some 38-55 rifles have groove diameters as large as .380"
Regards, Eagleye.
 
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