40 Cal Kidwell

[Jim Kidwell]

It is so much easier to pan lube, let cool, wiggle the bullet and pull them straight out. No mess and no wasted lube. Put new bullets in the empty holes and reheat for the next batch. Try it: you'll like it. .........

[MAH]

Now ain't he smart!!

Mah

[SSShooter]

It is so much easier to pan lube, let cool, wiggle the bullet and pull them straight out. No mess and no wasted lube. Put new bullets in the empty holes and reheat for the next batch. Try it: you'll like it. .........

Wiggle and pull? That sounds like work. Just use your thumbs to push the bullets out the bottom of the cake. Quick and easy. Almost like texting.

IIFC, Rhoades shot the Kidwell bullet in his 40-82 to 1000yd. Probably not the only one.

[Shadow 4]

Shadow, does that Kidwell bullet normally stick out of the case that far in your rifle or do you have a long freebore in it? I'm trying to get another 5grs in the Starline case as my rifle must have a small chamber. I can only get 54 grs. of 1 1/2 in it now. Do you find that the rifle shoots the same if you have to cam an occasional round in now and then. Thanks.

Sorry guys, been out of town, (still), DR. appointments lining up some knee surgery.

Old Win
That's what the first three bands reduced is for, it's a bit out into the rifling, yes, it's normal, for me anyway.
Asked about chamber/dies. Was told if I used the RCBS ones labeled 40-65 Shiloh, it'd be perfect. So, nothing about a long freebore here.
This is why I asked DanT about a bullet for this rifle when Savannah was campaigning it, He told me from my chamber cast it would be perfect.
I believe, however, my version carries more lube

I stopped using 1 1/2 Old E in my 40-65. I use 2F Old E. I found my spot to stop was at 66grs 2F.
45-70 1 1/2 Old E
38-55 3F Old E

Build a dummy round with that bullet seated to far out, start it in there & see if it'll go with light thumb pressure the last bit, (around the thickness of the rim), if it won't, seat it a little deeper, & try again until it does. If it should go to easy, make it a little longer until you like it. You now have your bullet seating depth, fill your case up to the bottom of the bullet base with 2F whatever, slap a 0.060 walters wad on top of it, run it through a chronograph on it's way to paper, you will NOT go wrong once you get the fps at 1300+, adjust your powder compression from there untill you like the group on paper. I believe this is averaging 1342 ish, yes, it bellars, It gained the nickname "Thunderstick" by a guy in the shooting group still shootable all day long in a t shirt
Now, as far as that lead you see just above the case mouth, "THEY" say you like that to be a LUBE groove, if at all possible, it hasn't shown to be a problem at this time.

As far as caming rounds, one would say, how can it shoot to the same spot, we've experienced hits & misses like everybody else. One of these days I'll set aside the ones that won't go with normal light thumb pressure, shoot'em with ones that will go & see what kind of a shotgun pattern they shoot.

Shadow4

How do you lube a reduced band bullet to look like that? I picked up a PJ 45 cal reduced band “money bullet” mold a while back but to date have done nothing with it. In part due to lubing. I normally run greasers through the ole line-a-manic but I know the reduced bands would make that an unholy mess.

I understand pan lubing (never done it so probably only THINK I understand it!) but even with pan lubing how do you address the reduced bands issue? My mind says using a fired cartridge as a cookie cutter will leave excess line on the smaller bands, and doesn’t seem like you could just pull em out either.

What’s the secret o-wise one? Want my bullets as purty as yours! Thanks

Cheers!

Wade

Wade,
Show no care about those reduced bands, it leaves a little extra lube out front, is extra lube a bad thing? You just might need it in July at 95*, no shade, no breeze.
I happen to know a guy that lubed a tapered bullet for his 45-70 with the "extra" lube left on after running it through a Saeco lubrisizer, won the 2012 Montana 1000 yd title, he did. Still does it today in HOT weather, just because.
I've also got this Tapered 45 cal in a mini groove & just blow tubed it without the "extra" lube on it. Didn't do it in July, June & September works fine

It is so much easier to pan lube, let cool, wiggle the bullet and pull them straight out. No mess and no wasted lube. Put new bullets in the empty holes and reheat for the next batch. Try it: you'll like it. .........

Now Wade, if you want your bullets to come out smooth & as clean as a baby's ass, what this guy says. They'll look just like the one in the picture
For a little tip for the pan lubing virgins. (learned from a guy that's pan lubed an ass ton of bullets) Again, for you virgins, "Ass ton" = A bunch
DON'T let it cool to long, you will be pissed like I was. The lube has to "firm" up, pull them out from the top with a needle nose pliers, (Oh, shut up, some of you, use the common sense God gave a goat on this), when you get this right you'll love it. When you're doing it right, it'll make a "POP", when pulled out of the lube cake

I haven't used my Saeco lubrisizer in a couple of seasons Next thing you know, I'll be putting diapers on

IIFC, Rhoades shot the Kidwell bullet in his 40-82 to 1000yd. Probably not the only one.

Kurt's was spotting one evening when we were shooting 1023 yds, said he liked it's vert
A few years back at my World Championship, IIRC, the high hit count at 1023 yds was a 17 year old girl with that very round, at 7/10 There was lots better shooters, with lots bigger guns that didn't mark a 7 or better down
Put the money on the line, I'll bring out my 45

[DeadEye]

Shadow,

"Put the money on the line, I'll bring out my 45" See that big smile on Spot.

Glad to see 'the Gimp' is looking after that knee.

Paul

[Kurt]

Ya but Shadow I didn't see the hits that were covered by the long grass covering the iron

All joking aside that little .40 shoots pretty good. It was the deciding factor for me to build one.

[Shadow 4]

Shadow,

"Put the money on the line, I'll bring out my 45" See that big smile on Spot.

Glad to see 'the Gimp' is looking after that knee.

Paul

There's a method to my madness

[Shadow 4]

Ya but Shadow I didn't see the hits that were covered by the long grass covering the iron

All joking aside that little .40 shoots pretty good. It was the deciding factor for me to build one.

IIRC, we had A LOT of rain that spring, maybe 14" in May, Our annual amount in a month.

[Trigger1212]

Jim,

Would appreciate a little input on how you pan lube.

Jim,
From the sounds of it you use some sort of flat bottomed pan, initially you must have melted the lube in a double boiler then poured it into the pan to the level you wanted. Once cooled you wiggle and pull out. Once this is done you press in new bullets and start again.

Question: Since you put the bullets into the same holes you obviously do not double heat them to liquify the lube. What is your procedure? Do you just put the pan in the oven then turn it up until the lube melts then turn off till cool? What temp do you set the oven for (if this is what you do?)?

Shadow, same question for you, do you remelt it in the pan with bullets in it or do you scrape it out and use a double boiler to re-liquify? Like the idea of the extra lube on the nose too.

Cheers!

Wade

[Shadow 4]

Shadow,

"Put the money on the line, I'll bring out my 45" See that big smile on Spot.

Glad to see 'the Gimp' is looking after that knee.

Paul

Paul,
You do remember this don't you? The guy holding that 2nd place plaque was shooting that 40-65, a lot of 45's trailing behind
He's done it a couple other times too.
I'll never shy away from using it at gong matches or silhouette matches, even shoot it at an 8, 9 or 1000 yd, but put the 1000yd title & bragging rights on the line & I'ma go get my 45
You never know tho, I may use that .40 at the 1000yrd just outta spite
Brian 2nd high overall 36,(40-65), Alissah 3rd high overall 35, Ladys Champion(38-55), Savannah 4th high overall 34, Scope Champion(my 45)
2017 BIG GUN by Brian Hickey, on Flickr

[Jim Kidwell]

Wade,
If you send your email address to me at jekidwell at live.com, I'll send you a Power Point seminar I did four or five years ago. If you scroll through the pictures, you will see pictures of my process. BTW, some info is outdated...............

[Shadow 4]

Jim,

Would appreciate a little input on how you pan lube.

Jim,
From the sounds of it you use some sort of flat bottomed pan, initially you must have melted the lube in a double boiler then poured it into the pan to the level you wanted. Once cooled you wiggle and pull out. Once this is done you press in new bullets and start again.

Question: Since you put the bullets into the same holes you obviously do not double heat them to liquify the lube. What is your procedure? Do you just put the pan in the oven then turn it up until the lube melts then turn off till cool? What temp do you set the oven for (if this is what you do?)?

Shadow, same question for you, do you remelt it in the pan with bullets in it or do you scrape it out and use a double boiler to re-liquify? Like the idea of the extra lube on the nose too.

Cheers!

Wade

Wade,
Flat bottomed pan, yes, 9"ish pie pan. Stand them up like little soldiers, a little space ina twixt them, I think I get 100 rds in a pan.
Lube is always double boiled, It takes to much effort in making lube to ruin it.
Pour lube into pan up to above the top lube groove, set aside, pour lube into 2nd & 3rd pans.
Let cool.

You want your lube to "firm" up, NOT runny. You need to be able to press your finger into the middle of the pan & leave an imprint, but, not break down thru the top of the lube. If your SPG is a darker color in the center of the pan than the outer edge, it's too soft in there.
You can actually start pulling lubed bullets from around the outside edge as it cools faster than the center.
Reach down from the top with your needle nose, latch on & give it a little twist,(Oh, shut up, some of you, use the common sense God gave a goat on this), this will free them up so you can simply lift them out of the lube cake. They should "POP" when you pull them out, you're just about perfect
As far as after that I do a pan, take the lube out into another double boiler & remelt, return to the 2nd pie pan & hopefully start pulling those, wash, rinse, repeat

The reinserting bullets back into the cake is a great idea, I just don't have the old stove in my office in my shop hooked up yet, or I'd be trying that too I'm not going to test the wife on that one, I like to eat once in a while

[DeadEye]

Shadow,

So you had to buy a new hat cause your head swelled up so much after that picture. And who was #1 and what was he shooting and his spotter wouldn't have been Sweet Mary would it have? And who was the guy that beat you in #1 spot at that same match the year before with a 37/40 with his 45-90 and Spot doing her thing. Sorry to make you look bad in front of the girls but you forced me to. I may be an OLG (that's the opposite to a ODG) but that don't mean my memory is gone. You behave now.

Happy Easter.

Paul

[SSShooter]

Would appreciate a little input on how you pan lube.
Wade

I use a cheapo electric skillet or fondue pot so don't need the stove or gas burner, etc. Can set it about anywhere. Think I paid $9.99. You don't care how nice the finish is as (got mine at Goodwill?) as long as the temp controller works. That's the bottom of the double-boiler. I also got a small rack to place in it so the actual lube pan doesn't set on the bottom of same, allowing water to be under the next pan, as well. I then got a 9" (IIRC) teflon coated flat bottom aluminum 'camp pot' (Cabela's or Amazon - forget which). Has a swivel handle. Set the bullets upright and melt the lube as deep as needed to be about 1/8" above the top grease-groove. Place the flat bottom pan on the rack in the electric skillet, put in 2-3" of water and turn on the heat to just above boiling. Once all the lube has melted I remove the pan with lube & bullets and set aside to cool (faster than letting it slowly cool in the water). Once the lube fully solidifies I put on a pair of old leather casting gloves, turn the pot upside down to catch the lube-cake with bullets and tap its edge on the bench and the whole thing falls into my hand. Then use my thumbs on their noses to push the lubed bullets out onto the same towel I drop the bullets onto when casting. Put the lube-cake back in the pot, put fresh bullets in the existing holes and repeat. No need to butcher the bullet nose with pliers or try to work them loose to pull out with your fingers. Just push them out the bottom of the lube-cake with your thumbs while wearing a cheapo pair of leather gloves. No fuss, no mess.

[BJB]

I use a 40-65 for BPCR Silhoutte shooting, and would like to try this bullet in my Sharps. However, I am a little confused if this particular bullet will work for someone who only blow tubes and does not clean after every shot? I would hate to get 3/4 of the way through a bank 2 to find that I cannot chamber a round. Perhaps there is a better bullet design suited for blow tubing? Feel free to enlighten me. Thanks.