Original paper patched bullet designs?

[Kurt]

Jim your right. If you cant see them you just wont hit them reliably.

I have a .396 diameter bullet for the .40-65 and the bore is a shallow .003" deep and the bore is .3992" and this calls for a thin 55Y patch but even with it the finished bullet is to tight even for the camming action the 441/2 Stevens action. It will chamber but it is a firm pull on the lever to get is seated past thumb pressure and I have extracted the case and drove the bullet out of the bore and even with the bore wiped and the long 4 degree transition into a 1.5 degree lead the front of the patch was wrinkled some. The 55Y is a little fragile for a tight fit so I ordered a custom .400" push through die from Lee that just fits the bore a little snug the way I like it and still seat the round with thumb pressure and not having the breach block put unwanted pressure on the bullet that will change the compression of the powder. I like the 55W paper better and running it through the die irons the paper on smooth and also folds the under lap tight.
I always refrained sizing a bullet but I see just squeezing it down 0015-8" does not change the ogive length enough to see it with the eye. But I imagine you probably have a 45 degree chamber end that would push that thin paper back some.
I like this 429 gr for this .40-65 with the 1/14 ROT and it does very good at the 1026 yard target at Baker when I ran some test rounds down range there is some good winds. I haven't desided yet if I will use it for the 1000 yard match at Harris MN on the 18'th and 19th or the .45-90.