Thinking on a new rifle

[mustanggt]

I read a post Kurt made a year and a half ago about revisiting the 40/70. It was brought up that you have to use Hornady 405 Winchester and then trim to length, rims needed to be trimmed etc. Converting Krag brass. I looked at BACO and they have properly head stamped brass. Does this work like it should? I'd like to not have to mess with making due if the BACO brass does the job.

[Mike]

Mustang, The new brass you mentioned is from Jamison, properly head-stamped and properly rimmed. This new brass was introduced just a month or so ago by Jamison, after a long wait, and Kurt's good comments were much older than that. I have some of the new Jamison .40/70 SS brass and it flows through my CSA '74 Hunter's Rifle just "like it was made for it." It was made for it!! Let me suggest that you drop down to Publications and read The American Sharps Shooters, 2015-4. (Maybe you'll like it.) Take a peek in the Outstanding Products column. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Don McDowell]

Just a second note here, the CSA 40-70 chamber was specifically crafted to use the Jamison/Captec Int. brass. The two do go together quite nice. A 405 shell holder works wonderfully with the new JBA brass.

[mustanggt]

Thank you fellas your help has been very much appreciated. I think I'm going the way of the 40/70. I am even toying with getting the Hepburn.

[Don McDowell]

I'm torn between the long barreled gun, the hunters carbine or maybe something in between... That hunters carbine would make a pretty good do most of it rifle, should work great for sillouettes, midrange or (gasp) hunting, but the longer barrel and less drop in the stock of a Bridgeport,,,,
Can't quite get warmed up to the Hepburns, but a hiwall might be good if I didn't already have 2 of em...

[mustanggt]

Another question. What weight bullet is the most optimal for long range in 40cal?

[mustanggt]

I will say the Hepburn is kind of fugly but she's the kinda gal you bring home to Mom and Dad!!!

[Mike]

I got to field test a Hepburn in 40/50 SS and I really liked it. Those are very nice rifles and to me that gun felt especially nice while shooting offhand. A .40/70 Hepburn could really tempt me for an iron sight silhouette rifle. I do have a highwall in .40/70 SS but that one is scoped. Also, I more recently got the .40/70 Hunter's Carbine and right now that gun still has the open sight on the barrel. I have given it just a couple of tries at the range, shooting the 330 grain paper patch loads with 65 grains of Olde Eynsford 1 1/2F powder. My idea was to use it for hunting but I realize that peep sights are needed if I'm going to hit anything. I will say that the 26" barrel doesn't seem to slow the .40/70 down much at all. Of course, a chronograph should show the truth. I still feel that my highwall will be used on the range mostly while the carbine gets taken to the field.

[Mike]

Mustang, For long range in a .40/70 you'll want the 400 grain bullets or heavier. I use a small variety of bullet weight in my highwall, mostly the 370 grain Saeco for silhouettes out to the turkeys, at 385 meters. The heavier rams at 500 meters usually call for a 400 grain slug just for the extra punch. (I have hit one ram that didn't topple over and that was with a 385 grain bullet, so no score.) The 400 grain bullet I'm trying now is from RCBS and they have two such bullets, I'm trying the pointed one with the wide lube grooves. RCBS also as some .40 caliber bullets designed by C. Sharps Arms and those are noted, to give an example, as the .40-400 CSA. There really is no shortage of bullet styles for the .40 caliber guns.

[bruce moulds]

mustanggt,
the right 40 cal can mix it with a 45 at 1000 yds.
to do this the 40 needs at least a 400 gn bullet and a min of 80 gns of powder.
400 gn bullets will be suited to a 14" twist.
better still is a 440 to 460 gn bullet out of a 13" or even a 12" twist.
the 40/72 or 40/82 cases can deliver this with pp bullets seated 1/8" in the case, for a heavier bullet, and can handle 400 gn greasers similarly.
a better case might be the 40/85 ballard which can easily be formed from 9.3 x 74 brass.
the 40/70/2.5 will not have the capacity for a serious 1000 yd gun, as it is really only a 40/65.
it would be fun trying and learning with one however.
the 2 advantages of a 40 over a 45 are reduced recoil and reduced alloy cost.
ballistic coefficient of a 450 gn elliptical 40 cal is similar to the best 45 cal bullets available, so given the same muzzle velocity they will have the same trajectory and wind deflection.
I have been shooting a 40/72 using 405 brass for some years, and it has similar comeups to a 540 gn money bullet driven by 100 gns of powder from a 45.
I have been accused of being a gamer using this case, but Jamison now seems to do 40/72 headstamped.
whether csa will oblige special requirements with regards twist and chamber dimensions would need to be investigated.
ultimately it is good to have your own reamer, and another reamer to make a fls die for that chamber.
keep safe,
bruce.