Designing the 2-diameter paper patch bullet.

[Don McDowell]

I've been using the Seth Cole 55w, which is an 8 lb paper for most things.
But then I got to messing with the SC 55Y, a 7 lb paper, and it seems to be working better with the bullets that are closer to bore diameter. It did take a bit of learning curve to wet patch with it, but once I got that down it hasn't been any more trouble than the 55w or the paper mill 9 lb cotton rag paper. When I wet patch I set the bullets on one of those cup/candle warmer's you plug in. By the time I get a line of bullets all the way around the thing, the first half dozen are dry enough to load directly into a case if need be. By using that warmer it really shrinks the paper evenly and you don't get paper slump on the base or the nose, makes a nice tight paper jacket.

I had one of my Shiloh's rebarreled and chambered to a 44-90 st, using a Green Mountain barrel I got in a drawing someplace. The reamer is one that Dan T designed, and it shoots paper patch really well. Sadly (or not?) it has shown a definite preference for the .434 470 BACO bullet cast from 16-1 over the dual diameter. Hope to have it all rung out and planning on taking it to Phoenix this March. Big push now is to get sight settings to 1000 without having to cast to many more bullets before time to pack and go. I do think that loading the dd's for a silhouette match would be fine.
Interesting thing with my 45 dd most rifles shoot it really well, but I do have one that absolutely hates the thing..
Still haven't had time to work with the dd 40 I had Brooks make, but I'm thinking that 7 lb paper may be just the ticket with it.. Have about 20 rounds loaded for the 40-70 and maybe if the weather holds I can get those shot before Phoenix. Also thinking that bullet might really shine in the 40-90 bn.