reloading 40-65 wcf

[model86]

I have a great Winchester model 1886 in 40-65 and i'm looking for some reloading ideas. I've used Trailboss and i think the gun can handle a current load. I shoot a 260 gr cast bullet. Any help is appreciated.

[6pt-sika]

I have an original Marlin 1895 in 40-65 WCF that was made in 1896 !

I've been shooting a home cast Lyman #403169 plain base bullet with 24 grains of XMP5744 and a CCI200 primer .

Load has shot well for me with open sights out to about 80 yards .

Also killed a whitetail doe with it in the 2006 season at about 40 yards . Shot her behind the shoulder , she ran 20 yards and fell over !

Also of note , Barnes did or still does make their "Original" bullet in a 250 or 260 grain for the 40-65 ! I bought a box or two a couple years ago and have yet to try any of them yet !

[Bullard4075]

I would suggest that you first slug the bore and find out what you are dealing with.
There can be a wide varation of bore diameter.
Mine for example is oversize at .410 which allows me to use 41 mag bullets.
Resizing 45-70 brass can be a problem because 40-65 brass/chambers are a few thousandths
bigger just in front of the rim than 45-70 not allowing resized brass to chamber.
PMC 40-65 factory ammo brass is thicker in the web hence less case capacity so reloads
must be adjusted with that in mind.

[6pt-sika]

I see no need to resize 45-70 brass for the 40-65 WCF . Starline makes perfectly good 40-65 brass for about the same price as Winchester 45-70 brass

[model86]

For everyone, I have slugged the bore and lube & size to correct dia. My brass is Starline so i'm not resizing 45-70

[Bullard4075]

Just trying to help.

[1886]

I load for a .40-65. Starline makes great brass but one would do well to anneal that .40-65 brass as it quite hard. You will realize better results. 1886.

[Ysabel Kid]

IIRC, Trailboss has a pretty high pressure spike, and is a fast powder. I like it for revolver loads, and have tried it in my .45-70 1886 (strong action), but I'm staying away from it in my .45-60 WCF 1876 Chaparral Arms reproduction. I like Kirk's AA5744 recipe in that one!

[71fan]

model86,

I wish we could be of more help to you here. This topic came up on the old forum once or twice and I may be able to find some hard copies of the results, but they are at my office so it'll have to wait until Tuesday. I also remember a topic or two regarding 40-82 load data with smokeless and cast which should be pretty darn close in performance to 40-65 loads. I think there are more 40-82 shooters on this current forum that there are 40-65.

I am very interested in hearing the results of your loads whenever you get them together. I have an original 1886 in 40-65 born in 1894 with an excellent bore that slugs .4055. I bought a case of PMC loaded ammo mainly for the brass, but as it turns out the ammo shoots very well in my rifle, and I've used it in some silhouette shoots with good success. When it is gone I'll start reloading.

I'm new to cast/smokeless loads for the old timers, and try to gather as much info as I can. Are you buying your bullets or casting? If buying, do you mind if I ask where?