The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - 40

Jim Watson · August 24, 2011, 04:28 PM

If you load it with black powder like it is supposed to be, you will not have problems overdriving bullets.

There are two .40-65s.
The original .40-65-260 is a Winchester 1886 hunting round. It would do ok at 125 yards.
The "modern" .40-65 is kind of a substitute for .40-70 Sharps with common (.45-70 head and length) brass. It is normally loaded with a 400-425 grain bullet.

What is your rifling twist? The single shot version needs a 16" twist for its long bullets.

I have a Browning BPCR .40-65 with Badger barrel. I use the Lyman Snover 410663 bullet as cast by Montana Custom Casting (different from Montana Precision Swaging and I think better.)
http://www.montanabulletworks.com/BB_40_caliber.html

I get best accuracy with them at .411" fair at .410" and not much at .409". Bullet should fit the chamber throat and be oversize for the grooves.
If you have a slow twist, you will have to load a shorter/lighter bullet, they also make 240-300 gr "lever action" bullets.

I disagree with Scorch, if you just must shoot nitro, you do not have to change bullet lubes, SPG or DGL are very good lubes for all moderate velocity cast bullet shooting. Or Mr Jennings at Montana Custom Casting will apply a hard smokeless lube if you are sure you will not use black.

Lyman says the .40-65 with 400 gr Snover 410663 will do 1236 fps with 21 grains of IMR 4198. My low end black powder load does 1207 fps and shot 3/4" at 100 yards the last time out.

Edit to add: There is a recommendation on the Shiloh board for Cheycast bullets. But I have not tried them.
http://www.cheycast.com/

August 24, 2011, 04:28 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,163	If you load it with black powder like it is supposed to be, you will not have problems overdriving bullets. There are two .40-65s. The original .40-65-260 is a Winchester 1886 hunting round. It would do ok at 125 yards. The "modern" .40-65 is kind of a substitute for .40-70 Sharps with common (.45-70 head and length) brass. It is normally loaded with a 400-425 grain bullet. What is your rifling twist? The single shot version needs a 16" twist for its long bullets. I have a Browning BPCR .40-65 with Badger barrel. I use the Lyman Snover 410663 bullet as cast by Montana Custom Casting (different from Montana Precision Swaging and I think better.) http://www.montanabulletworks.com/BB_40_caliber.html I get best accuracy with them at .411" fair at .410" and not much at .409". Bullet should fit the chamber throat and be oversize for the grooves. If you have a slow twist, you will have to load a shorter/lighter bullet, they also make 240-300 gr "lever action" bullets. I disagree with Scorch, if you just must shoot nitro, you do not have to change bullet lubes, SPG or DGL are very good lubes for all moderate velocity cast bullet shooting. Or Mr Jennings at Montana Custom Casting will apply a hard smokeless lube if you are sure you will not use black. Lyman says the .40-65 with 400 gr Snover 410663 will do 1236 fps with 21 grains of IMR 4198. My low end black powder load does 1207 fps and shot 3/4" at 100 yards the last time out. Edit to add: There is a recommendation on the Shiloh board for Cheycast bullets. But I have not tried them. http://www.cheycast.com/ Last edited by Jim Watson; August 24, 2011 at 04:34 PM.