Grass Range Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 I have read not to use .408 dia bullets for the 40-65. Handloaders manual show dia of case mouth as .406. And, the 40-70 Sharps BN case mouth as .403. I use .408 bullets in my 40-70BN with no problems and no recoil. No, I cannot remember where I read no .408 in the 40-65. Any experiences either way? Thanks for your comments. GR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rip Snorter Posted December 9, 2022 Share Posted December 9, 2022 Happened to have Handloaders Book of Cartridge conversions on my desk .403 for Ballard Everlasting and Sharps Straight .406 for Winchester. Will check other books later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earl Brasse, SASS #3562 Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 If any of this is "old news" just ignore it. To be really warm & fuzzy best to make a chamber cast & slug the bore or the rifle you will be reloading for. For example, some old Marlin 1893's in .38-55 according to the bore would really like a bullet larger than will chamber. They are much larger in some cases than the "newer" .38-55 guns. Hopefully measuring different brands of brass will help, neck reaming cases is just a chore. Then there is the "what size does my loaded round come out of my die at?" I have heard some folks have to work on their dies. Best of luck with your project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dane, SASS#5536 Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 Slug the barrel-then .001-.002 over groove diameter. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish ike, SASS #43615 Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 I shoot .410 in my 40-65 C-Sharps Highwall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper Agate Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 (edited) 40 minutes ago, irish ike, SASS #43615 said: I shoot .410 in my 40-65 C-Sharps Highwall. Me too but in a CPA!! Edited December 10, 2022 by Jasper Agate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted December 10, 2022 Share Posted December 10, 2022 5 hours ago, Mad Dane, SASS#5536 said: Slug the barrel-then .001-.002 over groove diameter. THIS IS THE CORRECT ANSWER! Everything is is "by gosh & by golly: ain't I lucky? ... or not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grass Range Posted December 10, 2022 Author Share Posted December 10, 2022 Yep. I will slug both barrels which I should have taken the time to do before. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider #896 Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 I would definitely make a chamber cast (Cerro Safe from Brownell or Dixie Gun Works) to see if the chamber will accept a larger bullet. Don't know if your rifle is an original or a modern copy. Winchester .40 calibers were all over the place as to groove diameter! Generally, however, the oft-listed .403" bullet diameter was not correct, with .406" being most often encountered. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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