.40 cal short mould

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Randy Bohannon
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.40 cal short mould

Post by Randy Bohannon »

I want to order another Steve Brooks .40 cal. mould for a 330 grain bullet mould to be used in my 40-70 SS and a future 40-50 SBN . I have a S.B. 40 cal 400 grain M.B. that has proven very good @1300 FPS, that will be to long for the 40-50 SBN . If I buy a mould in 330 grain version of the M.B. would that be stable bullet with that nose design at expected ranges for the cartridge ? Is their a better design for the short bullets ? Would like a greaser mould for this application and have it usable in both cartridges.
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Don McDowell
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by Don McDowell »

I get good results with the BACO .400360 in the 40-65,40-70 and 40-90bn
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SSShooter
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by SSShooter »

Have 335gr bullet from Boomer molds that I load with 56gr of powder that is quite accurate in my 16" twist barrel for 200yd & chickens. I usually shoot between 97 & 100 with several X's at 200yd and knocked over 10-pigs with it the one time I used it on them. My chicken scores are not the bullet's fault :oops: .
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kenny sd
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by kenny sd »

I'm using a 330 BA and 395 BA GG bullet in my 40 70 Sharps Straight.
I use 63 1 1/2 swiss and one card two paper.

It seems the 395 may be a little more accurate, but I've noticed the 'hold' makes a big difference.
A tight hold and pull back is better for my 100 y d. range.

how do you get 56 grains in the case, that seems low and the bullet would sit too far back. especially the 330.
thanks..Ken
Randy Bohannon
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by Randy Bohannon »

56 grains in which cartridge ? I do 78-80 grs. of O.E. 1.5 or Swiss 1.5 in my Shiloh 40-70 SS 400 gr. Steve Brooks M.B. Which is where I found my accuracy with that rifle and consistent Jamison brass. The stretched R.P. 32/40 brass is a crap shoot and could not get consistent accuracy with them,RMC was a little better but expensive . Last time used light loads was with some .41 Magnum 230 gr. bullets 60 grs. Of powder some wool felt wads they shot OK . Never saw any kind of consistent accuracy with anything less than 69 grs. in my 40-70 SS .it was all I could get in the case with a Lyman Snover mould it shot OK on silhouettes ,earned my first Pig 10 pin with that . I have more moulds for this rifle than any other rifle, always going for more powder things got better. The 330 gr. Mould will be primarily for the 40-50 SBN, not putting 56 grs. of anything in that cartridge that’s B/P.
beltfed
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by beltfed »

Randy,
It can be very helpful if we know what is the twist of the barrels of the 40-70SS and the 40-50 SBN.
AND the Length of bullets you are using or want to use can be determined, moreso than weight of bullets.
beltfed/arnie
Ray Newman
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by Ray Newman »

Maybe call Steve Brooks of Brooks Moulds about an adjustable mould?

Have no idea if he can or will cut and adjustable grease groove mould. I belive at one time he did. He cut me adjustable .45 and .50 caliber paper patch moulds and they are the cat's meow as you can "dial in" the bullet length and weight for several rifles with one mould.

https://brooksmoulds.com/index.html
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SSShooter
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by SSShooter »

kenny sd wrote: Tue Jul 26, 2022 8:52 amhow do you get 56 grains in the case, that seems low and the bullet would sit too far back. especially the 330.
thanks..Ken
If you are asking me it is easy. Measure out 56gr and drop-tube into the case. :wink:
Seriously, I use two (2) 0.060" fiber wads and a single 0.060" poly wad so the bullet has a grease groove proud of the case mouth.
Here's a pic of two of the 335gr loads next to a 430gr Creedmoor bullet with 64gr of powder.
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Randy Bohannon
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by Randy Bohannon »

Arnie,

Both Shiloh 40 cal. barrels @ 1:16 ,looking at BACO 40 cal moulds 330 grs. @ .410” the length is about 1.25” thereabouts. That’s about what I know about length.

I have a Steve Brooks adjustable .40 cal P.P. mould with the original Sharps nose design @ .395” and have played with and dismal results , the M.B. and Postell nose designs have worked well for me @ 400 grs. Now I want a good short 330-350 gr. mould of a good design for the short bullet. Is simply shortening a 400 gr. bullet to get to 330-350 gr.how to get it right ?
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Don McDowell
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by Don McDowell »

The rcbs 300 csa bullet isn’t bad if you can find one
Not sure if it’s one they discontinued or not
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Don McDowell
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by Don McDowell »

The rcbs 300 csa bullet isn’t bad if you can find one
Not sure if it’s one they discontinued or not
AKA Donny Ray Rockslinger :?
mike herth
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by mike herth »

The “original” Sharps bullet nose design: what is it? Were they all the same? Elliptical, prolate, something else? Ogive vs shank length? Is any mold maker marketing the “original” Sharps bullet by caliber? I’m thinking of 45 caliber paper patch. Bob Watts, Orville, anyone?
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Don McDowell
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by Don McDowell »

Randy ir it's a Brooks bullet you want, then have him build you a bullet to drop the diameter you want, at the 330 gr weight and use his original postel nose.
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Randy Bohannon
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by Randy Bohannon »

Thank you Don,

Please excuse my simple questions , does the ogive change length when you shorten a bullet designed as a longer bullet ? Or is just the base shortened and everything else stays the same ? Am I overthinking this ? I have read that the RCBS mould is really good in the 40-50 SBN and have been on prowl for one. RCBS ,I don’t think does half of what they used to do.
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Don McDowell
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Re: .40 cal short mould

Post by Don McDowell »

The main thing especially in greasers is to keep the thing balanced. Steve can figure that out pretty close. If you simply shorten the nose/ogive then you end up with something like a pistol bullet, lots of base and not a lot of nose.
I've shot the RCBS 300- 350 and the 400 CSA bullets, Have a 400 mould around here some place. Montana bullet works used to offer all of them but haven't looked to see what they offer in a very long time.
Haven't looked at BACO's 40 cal greasers for many years, but their creedmoor nose 396 gr bullet is a good one in the 40-65.
AKA Donny Ray Rockslinger :?
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