Cast boolits, .405 Winchester, Model 1895?

[Bill in Oregon]

I have never owned an 1895, but always wanted to. This combination's reputation for recoil (admittedly ehanced with the punishment of the early crescent buttplate) has cooled my jets somewhat, but I got to thinking that a guy doesn't always have to run lion loads -- and that these rifles might be very satisfying with cast bullets. Anyone out there put a 95 in .405 through the cast bullet ringer?

[piller]

CRS has an 1895 in .405 that he used in Africa. Maybe he can help you out with what you are asking.

[Blaine]

I've shot mine with the 300gr Hornady.....If I keep this one, and that's doubtful, I'll have the butt trimmed and a good P'Pad put on.....

[Leverluver]

Having tried to tame it down some, I would recommend some sort of rear sight that gives more elevation than the standard buckhorn. I run a 320 grain and the buckhorn runs out of elevation pretty fast as in trying to even stay on the bull at 100 yds if trying for the mid teens on velocity. I like the theory of the M21 sight but have lots of projects ahead of 405 and I realy don't like more holes. Right now I run a pretty darn stiff load of 3031 to make the load usable out to 200yds. Maybe a lighter bullet (~275) would be better for lighter loads and still stay on target. Maybe that guy from Hells Gap will chime in with more info.

[Shasta]

I've messed with the Lyman 412263 300 grain cast bullet quite a bit in my 1895 Winchester reproduction, and it really does help take the bite out of that big cartridge. As already stated, the rear barrel sight runs out of elevation quickly. I'm shooting five or six inches low at 100 yards with the rear barrel sight fully elevated. The cast lead bullets are not nearly as accurate as jacketed either. My rifle's bore slugs .412" and the Lyman bullets cast at .412", so I probably should be using a slightly bigger bullet. I do have some 50 yard targets that show five rounds grouping into an inch and a half or so. I have even shot black powder in my .405, and while it is great fun, accuracy is not real good.

The rifle definitely performs best with the Hornady 300 grain jacketed bullets, but firing a box of full power jacketed loads is not fun. I'm finding that I have little use for this rifle, so it is going to be traded off for something I can use.

SHASTA

[Bill in Oregon]

Blaine, Shasta, keep me in mind if you decide to get rid of your 1895s.
Not terribly flush this minute, but will be. Also have some trading stock.

[Blaine]

Blaine, Shasta, keep me in mind if you decide to get rid of your 1895s.
Not terribly flush this minute, but will be. Also have some trading stock.

Vance has first refusal, but sure....you're second.

[1886]

Frank at Mt. Baldy Bullets had a 350gr GC .416 bullet that he would size to.411 or .412. It shot well in two repro .405s that I had. I believe the powder I used was H4198. I do not know if Mt. Baldy is still in biz. He cast nice stuff. 1886.

[457121]

I shoot a 350gr. LBT LFN @ .414" through mine. I have not found the 405 WCF picky about powder choice in my 1895. I've used RL-7, RL-12, RL-15, IMR 3031 & 4895, and H322 with excellent accuracy.

[Leverluver]

There are slighly different barrel groove diameters on the different shipments/models of the Miroku replicas. Mine measured .4131" but others said theirs were as low as near .412. My bullets come out sized at .4135 (polished sizer die) so they work well as far as accuracy but with the larger bores anyway, the 413+ to .414 cast bullets have a greater chance of success so I am not surprised by 417121"s results. Others have had luck with 412 bullets but not I.

[Sixgun]

I cast for the NEI 300 gr gc bullet designed for the 405 but use it in the 40-82. Pushing this bullet 1400 is a pleasure to shoot all day. In the 405 case I would use 23-25 grs. of 5744.---------6

[Bill in Oregon]

Glad to hear you boys are having some fun with your 95s and cast. I'm thinking a .412-.413 boolit loafing along at 1400 would ruin most critters' day in a hurry.

[Sixgun]

Glad to hear you boys are having some fun with your 95s and cast. I'm thinking a .412-.413 boolit loafing along at 1400 would ruin most critters' day in a hurry.

Bill,
Heres the problem with a 95 in .405.........most have groove diameters at 413-414..........read fat. This is because the 405 was always intended to be a high pressure cartridge with jacketed bullets.....so........slug your bore, you will most likely need a bullet at .414...use a gas check also.------6

[Bill in Oregon]

Sixgun, will do, when I can find a rifle.

[Bill in Oregon]

Leverluver, you got me to thinking about that Lyman M21 sight now being produced by Providence Tool. Anyone mount one of these on their 1895? How is quality and durability? I like doing stuff the old way ...

[Leverluver]

Don down in Ft Laramie is the only one I am familiar with that shoots cast AND has one of the sights you speak of. I'm surprised that he hasn't got in on this one. If there is a black powder shoot somewhere he puts his cattle on autopilot and takes off for the shoot. I'll email him and let him know about the thread. I do believe that that sight or one similar with lots of elevation would be slick for long range p-dogging, otherwise with anything other than a hot load, the sights won't reach far enough.

Another nice sight. Personally not interested in the hollow front but like the receiver sight. Pricey

https://www.dwbattlesight.com/

[Bill in Oregon]

Had not seen that Battle Sight. Wow, what a nice one. Spendy too.
You talking about Don McDowell?

[Leverluver]

Yup

[Bill in Oregon]

Well, fellas, I found a NIB takedown 95 in .405 on Gunbroker. First thing I'll do is slug the bore to see what direction I need to take for cast bullets.
Debating between the Providence M21 and the Williams 71 aperture rear. I'll also be mounting a sissy pad as I haven't been made of steel for decades! Anyone know if there is a Limbsaver or Pachmayr Decelerator that fits these rifles?

[Sixgun]

Well, fellas, I found a NIB takedown 95 in .405 on Gunbroker. First thing I'll do is slug the bore to see what direction I need to take for cast bullets.
Debating between the Providence M21 and the Williams 71 aperture rear. I'll also be mounting a sissy pad as I haven't been made of steel for decades! Anyone know if there is a Limbsaver or Pachmayr Decelerator that fits these rifles?

Bill,
I would not alter the rifle. When testing hard recoiling rifles, I like to wear just a T-shirt. Sometimes I'll put some small pebbles and shards of glass between the buttplate and my shoulder. After shooting several hundred rounds I feel like I went a couple of bouts with Mike Tyson.

OK, on to business. Just wear one of those PAST recoil pads that strap to your shoulder. For the most part, you will not be shooting the heavy loads on a regular basis, so why alter the rifle. Like I said earlier, loads in the 1400-1700 fps range really can be shot all day with no bruises.......with just a T-shirt. --------6

[Bill in Oregon]

Six, I have not one but two of those PAST recoil shields. I'll give them their chance before mucking up the rifle.
Was just looking at hard cast gas-checked 350-grain .413 bullets at Buffalo Arms. They are a dollar more per 50 than the Hornady jacketed 300s!
Might just have a machinist friend make me a .414 push-through size die and use the RCBS .416 GC mold, depending on how my bore slugs. That boolit was sure accurate in a .416 Rigby No. 1 that I played with years ago. Fifty grains of XMP5744 in Norma brass pushed it right at 2,000.

[457121]

Bill in Oregon,
The RCBS 416-350-FN shoots great in the 405WCF. My only complaint is it's a single cavity mould.

[Bill in Oregon]

457121: Are you sizing it down? Are you shooting an 1895? Ruger No. 1?

[vancelw]

I've never had a rifle that the PAST recoil shield wouldn't tame for me.....except, with the crescent butt plate it's tough to keep the PAST in place while you try to aim and shoot. I'm sure something could be rigged to help if you thought ahead before going to the range.

I currently have 1895s in .30-40 and .35 Whelen (grrrr) and have had a modern Win TD .30-'06. The TD is the one I wish I had converted to .35 Whelen since it was already D&T'd for a receiver. I am about to put a Providence pattern 21 sight on my .35 Whelen that the "gunsmith" butchered. It will hide the holes that are in the wrong spot. Frank with Providence is so helpful and friendly that it's unbelievable. That alone is enough to make me try his sight. He did say I may have to change my front sight to a taller one for up close zero.

I'm gonna trade Blaine a rubber snake for his .405 Don't tell him.

[hfcable]

Well, fellas, I found a NIB takedown 95 in .405 on Gunbroker. First thing I'll do is slug the bore to see what direction I need to take for cast bullets.
Debating between the Providence M21 and the Williams 71 aperture rear. I'll also be mounting a sissy pad as I haven't been made of steel for decades! Anyone know if there is a Limbsaver or Pachmayr Decelerator that fits these rifles?

Bill,
I would not alter the rifle. When testing hard recoiling rifles, I like to wear just a T-shirt. Sometimes I'll put some small pebbles and shards of glass between the buttplate and my shoulder. After shooting several hundred rounds I feel like I went a couple of bouts with Mike Tyson.

OK, on to business. Just wear one of those PAST recoil pads that strap to your shoulder. For the most part, you will not be shooting the heavy loads on a regular basis, so why alter the rifle. Like I said earlier, loads in the 1400-1700 fps range really can be shot all day with no bruises.......with just a T-shirt. --------6

Sixgun has it right. i dont find the 95 405 recoil all that bad, just like a 12 gauge to me. but i do use a lace on recoil pad, on this gun and on 45/70s etc:

here they are http://www.buffaloarms.com/Recoil_Pads_ ... ?TERM=LACE O N RECOIL PAD

with a crescent butt plate, just cut a filler shaped to fill the crescent, and put it in the lace on pad before putting it on the rifle.

these protect the gun butt, look authentic [ they are ], dont alter the gun, and can be used on multiple guns. i also use the shoulder pad, the PAST recoil pad, when shooting from the bench.

[JFE]

I have a 1895 repro in 405 and my barrel slugs 4125. I use the RCBS 416-350GC mould and size to 414/415. It works fine - the crimp groove is in the right place and the bullet fits the throat well. Weight is closer to 370 gr with GC and lube.

The buttplate on my repro is pretty slippery. Brownells have rubber recoil pads with "Winchester" embossed into the base if you want that period look. You need to grind to fit.

[457121]

457121: Are you sizing it down? Are you shooting an 1895? Ruger No. 1?

yes, sizing the RCBS 416-350-FN down to .414" in an 1895. My rifle's groove diameter is .412" and a .414" bullet is the largest that will chamber.

[AJMD429]

Another nice sight. Personally not interested in the hollow front but like the receiver sight. Pricey

https://www.dwbattlesight.com/

I just made this one by soldering a small roll-pin I'd filed a flat on to the top of the factory patridge sight...had to file the front to square it with the bore axis, but it turned out well and is easy to use in 'fast' or 'precision' mode, and in bright light or dusk.