Rolling block reloading question

[awp101]

I ran across a .40-65 WCF Rem RB on consignment and the ad states:

1875 Egyptian Remington Rolling Block chambered on 40-65 WCF. Owner claims dies marked for C. Sharps are necessary. Round Douglas barrel with a 1-18" twist.

What difference would those specific dies make?

Thanks!

[Chuck 100 yd]

There are more than one configuration of the .40-65 cartridge.
Origional chambers were a straight taper from rim to mouth of the cartridge. The loaded round was sized to have a neck to support the bullet and the case fireformed to the chambers dimentions on firing.

The new target versions of the .40-65 has a chamber that HAS a straight neck area and is much more accurate than the origional. RCBS sells proper dies. I went through this when I bought my Browning BPCR high wall. I used RCBS form and reloading dies.

Starline has the brass now with proper head stamp. I made mine from .45-70 brass.
Have fun!

[awp101]

Thanks Chuck!

I wonder which the Douglas barrel has? I'd hate to lay out the cash only to find out the dies are made from unobtainium or out of my price range...

[Chuck 100 yd]

Sounds like it was built for BP silleywet. Using the Ron Long chamber
(C.Sharps).
I believe you can fire the new dimentioned brass in an antique chamber but not the reverse. The idea of the target chamber was to tighten up clearences to gain presision and accuracy.
The barrel was most likely fitted and chambered after it left Douglas and the C.Sharps chamber reamer would be the one of choice.
I woulden`t fret it. If you get it just take a chamber cast and send it to RCBS to make sure of the proper dies.

[awp101]

Sounds like it was built for BP silleywet. Using the Ron Long chamber
(C.Sharps).

a-HA! I've seen some of the die sets listed as "Ron Long Chamber" so that 'splains that!

Many thanks!

[Don McDowell]

On the Egyptian action its going to be advisable to load it bp only.
You can go to Midway and look up the specs on the Douglas barrel, or just go to Douglas's web.

If its got a Ron Long chamber , the best part of it will be you can size 45-70 brass and not need to trim to length. It won't have much throat or lead in it so you'll need a tapered bullet to take full advantage of the case capacity.

If you buy the rifle I'ld suggest having a chamber cast done on it before ordering stuff for it.

[awp101]

On the Egyptian action its going to be advisable to load it bp only.
You can go to Midway and look up the specs on the Douglas barrel, or just go to Douglas's web.

If its got a Ron Long chamber , the best part of it will be you can size 45-70 brass and not need to trim to length. It won't have much throat or lead in it so you'll need a tapered bullet to take full advantage of the case capacity.

If you buy the rifle I'ld suggest having a chamber cast done on it before ordering stuff for it.

Yeah BP only was my plan. Neither Midway nor Douglas list the .40-65 specifically, just blanks.

OTOH my plan was to order everything all at once but I can see that may not be the best idea.

[Don McDowell]

I seem to recall Douglas used the .406 diameter, the same as Winchester used, but I could have that wrong.
Good luck with it, the 40-65 is a pretty good cartridge for 90% of the bpcr games.
Goex 3f express really makes the one we have here sit up and pay attention.

[awp101]

Don't know if I'm going to get it or not yet. Doing my due diligence before calling and asking tomorrow.

Goex 3f express really makes the one we have here sit up and pay attention.

Intresting...3f instead of Cartridge? I was under the impression Cartidge was for, well, cartidges and the others for loose powder applications. I wonder how that 3f would do in the .45-120?

I have a can of 2f and 3f on the way from a buddy but I don't think any of it is the Express version. If I understand GOEX's explination, the Express is just better regulated for more consistencey?

I gotta learn this BP stuff sometime besides just stuffing the cylinders in a revolver.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I found Goex FFG to be more accurate than Goex Cartridge in my .40-65. YMMV . I only fired Goex in it, there was no Swiss available then.
Now I would try Swiss 1 1/2 also.
have fun!
PS the old timers used mostly 1F for target shooting in the smaller calibers like the .32-40 ,.38-55 and .40-65. That stuff is like gravel!! I use it in my 12ga ML shotgun.

[adirondakjack]

Honestly, I don't know that ya NEED dies if yer gonna load it for BP. I have a .50-70 original roller, and I simply decap and prime fired cases, slightly bell em as needed (heck, ya could do that with a tapered punch held in the hand), and after drop tube charging and compressing a card atop the powder with a cobbled together compression die, I thumb seat the bullets. Note no sizing, no proper case mouth expansion, just a bell as needed to facilitate thumb seating, and I leave the bell to aid in centering the bullet in the throat.

Yer rifle WILL make proper cases when fire formed.

[Don McDowell]

Cartridge works ok in this 40-65, velocity isn't anything to get excited about. It's also prooven very accurate in my 45-70's.Cartridge was a predecessor to the Express line, and is a pretty good powder.
Express leaves a softer fouling than regular grade powders.
While you certainly could shoot 3f in a 120 I doubt your shoulder would want to do it more than once. Best to stick with 1 or 2f in that long ol bugger. I've ran as much a 85 grs of 3f behind a 520 gr paper patch in my 45-70's , but recoil gets to be a bit on the stout side, and limbsavers shooting shirt is a much appreciated accessory.

[awp101]

Cartridge was a predecessor to the Express line, and is a pretty good powder. Express leaves a softer fouling than regular grade powders.

Ah, that's the difference!

While you certainly could shoot 3f in a 120 I doubt your shoulder would want to do it more than once. Best to stick with 1 or 2f in that long ol bugger. I've ran as much a 85 grs of 3f behind a 520 gr paper patch in my 45-70's , but recoil gets to be a bit on the stout side, and limbsavers shooting shirt is a much appreciated accessory.

BTDT! Sort of. The buddy I got the rifle from had loaded 20rds of full house 120s using Cartridge. The PAST pad got a real work out. I can't believe no one else wanted to fire it...

[Don McDowell]

Yup one of the most spectacular antelope kills I ever witnessed was a young buck that got caught by a 550 gr paper patch fired out of a 120 with a case full of 2f. It just sort of picked him up shoved him back about 10 ft,and dumped him in a pile of antelope colored rubble.