40-82 WCF Questions

Last Spike · Post by **Last Spike** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:32 am

I'm in the middle of buying a restored 1886 Winchester in 40-82 WCF from one of the Leverguns members - Kirk D, who I can't thank enough.

Kirk has kindly provided me with some loads for the 40-82 and I have gleaned more from Mike Venturino's writings (Big Bore book article, Shooting Leverguns of the Old West). I'll be sticking with 260 grain plain base cast boolits for now at speeds of 1350 to 1600 fps.

Does anyone have any recipes to share with this 40-82 WCF newbie, please? Any smokeless powders that would achieve close to 100% load density? I'd prefer not using black powder if I can help it.

Brass can be made by case forming from Starline 45-90 brass or Bell basic .45 brass; or one can get Bertram brass in 40-82 with the correct headstamp. Any issues with the Bertram brass? Any concerns I should keep in mind with the case formed brass?

Venturino mentions using cornmeal to fill up the void between the bullet and the powder to ensure complete and consistent powder ignition. I am considering using Puff-lon or closed foam caulk backer rod in a similar fashion.

Aside from Lyman's 403169 mould, what other bullet offerings are there available?

Thank you for your advice!

Post by **Hobie** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:42 pm

I'm agin fillers but of the lot Pufflon is the best. Other than that I can't say a thing except that I think you'll find IMR SR4759 or AA5744 is what you're going to need in that big case.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:31 pm

Hobie wrote:I'm agin fillers but of the lot Pufflon is the best. Other than that I can't say a thing except that I think you'll find IMR SR4759 or AA5744 is what you're going to need in that big case.

Ditto on the powders. You're a lucky man, owning a Kirk D. rifle!!!

win40-82 · Post by **win40-82** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:04 pm

Can't speak for anyone else but I use from 25.5 to 26.5 of AA5744 with 1/2 sheet of TP for a filler. I top this with a 260 gr bullet from an orginal Winchester mold. Bullet is cast at 30-1. Depending on the bullet and brass, if you have a hard time chambering the round, simply remove the decap pin pin from your sizing die and run the loaded round gently into it until you feel it get tight. Apply a little pressure, remove from die and try in chamber. This if best done with caution to avoid an AD. If still to tight repeat process. You ask Kirk if this is a tight chamber or not. As always, this what I use in my rifle and it works very well but use with caution on yours. By the way I don't get anywhere near 1600 fps nor do I wish to.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 7:22 am

Harry, you will have no problem chambering a .407 bullet in this particular gun. I've had problems chambering a .410 bullet and had to thin the case neck walls down to .010 which is what the original necks were, but in sizing 45-90 brass down to .40-82, the case necks thickened up somewhat. a .407 bullet should slide in just nicely.

If you want a near capacity load, you will have to use a powder much slower than even IMR 4198. I'm not sure I'd go that route. For large cases like the .45-90 and .40-82 and even the .45-70, I prefer to use IMR 4198 with some toilet paper filler. I'm in Calgary for a week next month. If we are able to get together, I'll show you how to roll, fold, and insert toilet paper filler. I taught Matt last weekend when he was over here and he got the hang of it right away. Both his .40-65 and .45-70 loads used one full sheet of single ply toilet paper to keep the powder back against the primer, and to enhance accuracy. The toilet paper made a huge difference with his .40-65. Unfortunately, I've no experience shooting the 260 grain cast bullet, but if you start with my load for the 310 grain bullet, you'll be very safe. Pressures always decrease for a significantly lighter bullet, powder amounts being equal.

Last Spike · Post by **Last Spike** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 11:50 am

Sounds good, Kirk. I'll talk to you more in the days ahead.

Harry

Kansas Ed · Post by **Kansas Ed** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:31 pm

Harry,

We've been working with 2 different 40-82's as of late. Both have tight chambers, and I have to take the case neck walls to .008 to chamber smoothly with the bullets we use. We have been using the Forster hand neck turning tool to do this, and their .405 dia. pilot is perfect. Just size the brass (Redding dies) and use the turner.

We are shooting Leadheads 265gr GC bullets sized to .4085 (originally .412, but we sized them through a Lee sizer).

Brass was ordered from Buffalo Arms as 45-90, and is actually stretched 45-70 brass. (Keeps the necks thinner this way.. less trimming). Case trim length was set at 2.400 inches.

We do same as Kirk, and use a single sheet of 1 ply TP folded over the powder, and pushed down against the powder as a filler.

One rifle likes:
28.0 gr of IMR-4198 over a CCI-BR primer...vel=1489 fps with SD of 8.

The other rifle likes:
42.0 gr of IMR-3031 over a CCI-BR primer...vel=1753 with a SD of 20.

For what it's worth, Aardvark custom ammo uses a plain base bullet with a cream of wheat filler that chronies at 1399 fps with a SD of 14 and it groups pretty well too.

The rifle that likes the higher velocity load has a perfect like new bore, while the one that likes the slower velocity has a very minor amount of light pitting.

The original factory load was a 260gr bullet at 1490 fps.

Ed

Last Spike · Post by **Last Spike** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:45 am

Ed,

I'm hoping with the .407 diameter bullets that things will work out, but I'll see how it goes once I get everything together.

I like that load of 28.0 gr IMR4198 - very good SD.

Not sure though I will be able to get CCI-BR primers, but will see how Fed GM210 primers do.