What would you go through

[rdnck]

What would you go through and how much would you spend to get your rifle to shoot MOA? Just curious, that's all. Shoot straight, rdnck.

[Randy Bohannon]

I have a bit over $1K in moulds for a 40-70 SS. No cartridge has challenged me like this one. I think it was you who said the 40-70 SS can shoot good one day and ‘lay down on you the next) My experience exactly, I love the rifle and it’s not going anywhere . I have come look at the rifle as the beautiful tyrant rifle.

[rdnck]

Randy-- Have you tried a Lyman 410655 or a Saeco 640? These are about the only greasers that my 40-70 will shoot without tumbling. Shoot straight, rdnck.

[beltfed]

Randy,
What is twist of that 40-70SS?
beltfed/arnie

[Kurt]

My first Shiloh was a .40-70 and it has shot well since day one but you need to use bullets that work in that 16 ROT. I haven't shot it much in the last 8-10 years but just a couple weeks ago I took it along to the range and shot up some old loads from 2015 and they shot just as good as the last time out. Even the sights were still own center. I find if my groups open up from the last time out it's either me or I changed the load, like different powder lot or bullet.
You can't make it shoot well if the bullet is not right for it.

[bruce m]

as kurt says, you have to match bullet to twist.
bruce.

[Kenny Wasserburger]

My 40-70 has a 1-14 twist and it shoots several bullets very well just needs lots of powder.

Hint: Load it like a 45-110 and it shoots well, 2 wad stack. White lightning lube 400 gr money and 450 gr money. And LR primers Fed 210. It’s fast too.


Kenny Wasserburger

[bruce m]

some guys seem to have trouble with the 40/70, yet i have found the 40/72 (same case but a bit longer) to be easy to load for and quite accurate.
other guys can get it to shoot well.
in the day it was THE mid range cartridge, often also referred to as the 40/65, depending on who loaded it.
bruce.

[bruce m]

in reference to the op question, my answer must be taken in accordance to my main interest which is longer range shooting and a little scheutzen type shooting.
firstly i would have to say that single shots are harder to shoot seriously accurately than modern bolt action target rifles.
the shooting setup is basically part of the bedding with a single shot, and few single shots have the trigger quality of a modern target rifle.
that said, single shots with the right load can shoot moa using iron sights.
i need a shooting lens to aim well enough to do this.
and wiping must be done absolutely religiously the same, as well as resting and holding.
much effort is required to have the consistency to shoot moa.
analysing my long range plots shows many more points lost left and right compared to up and down.
the bull is 2 moa, so moa is not absolutely necessary, although tighter grouping does give you a bigger target.
reading the wind is a big part of the equation.
bruce.

[Glen Ring]

Several pounds of Powder and about a ton of lead.

[kenny sd]

IMG_0299.jpg

Shiloh 40 70 SS 1 /16 twist

63 Swiss 1/8 comp
395 BA money bullet 1 16 lead
spg hand lubed
one veggie two newspaper wads
slight fac crimp to hold bullet.
no sizing on brass,
tight hold to shoulder,
gun on wood cross bench sticks,
sweet spot 5 inches from muzzle

under 2 inches always at 100, some 1 1/4 5 shot groups
this is 4 out of 5 in 1 1 2 inches. flyer was me being Me...

[DAVE ROELLE]

Interesting question

I stop load/rifle testing when it's no longer "fun"

Which for me is usually around 2 MOA, after I get things working around 2 MOA I seem to reach a point of diminishing returns on my efforts and time

Sorry this doesn't answer the question exactly (:

Dave

[kenny sd]

one more for the 40 70 ss

IMG_2964 (2).JPG

this one is PP with BA paper. mold is custom two diameter BA, 74 grains full load,

[martinibelgian]

That's the ultimate quest, it never ends - whatever it takes, but within reason. One of the reasons I built a 32-20 for BP, And I even make it harder for myself: all shooting prone, sling only, irons. Getting close, but not consistently, there's an X-factor I still need to ID and solve.

[mdeland]

Looks to me like consistent 1 moa guns and loads are rare and temporary at best as the next batch of what ever powder is used will be different to some extent anyway. The truth is usually something more like this, the gun , load and riflemen will on occasion get a 1moa group at a given distance but it is usually not happening more often than not. Now a ten shot 1 moa is something special and almost non existent on a regular basis, even a five shot more often than not is very good but 3 shot groups don't mean much even if consistent. One mans opinion.