45-120-3?
I have a David Pedrasolli 45-120-3? with a 32" BBL (The one in Cabelas Catalog)
This thing is a great and accurate shooter.
The only load data I have for it is an older Lyman book, and some load data
From Accurate Arms.
The powder I am using now is XMP-5744. Are there some other good powders?
Out there or load data that I can find Books etc? I can find tons of stuff for the
45-110 and the 45-90, but I just want to try something new.
You just never know when you might see a herd of Buffalo in your back yard
Thanks!
Edited by - FrancF on 11/04/2002 19:32:57
This thing is a great and accurate shooter.
The only load data I have for it is an older Lyman book, and some load data
From Accurate Arms.
The powder I am using now is XMP-5744. Are there some other good powders?
Out there or load data that I can find Books etc? I can find tons of stuff for the
45-110 and the 45-90, but I just want to try something new.
You just never know when you might see a herd of Buffalo in your back yard
Thanks!
Edited by - FrancF on 11/04/2002 19:32:57
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The best load for the .45-120 31/4 is 115 grains of GOEX FF a bee foundation wad over the powder,a 1/8" thick grease cookie,then a milk carton wad all toped with a soft lead 550 grain bullet. Compress the powder about a 1/4 of an inch,use Federal 215GM primers and last drill the flash holes to 0.090. Iam suprised that you are getting good accuracy from 5744 in that huge case. Are you useing a filler? How much unburned powder is left in the bore? These 31/4 inch cases were never ment for smokeless powder. The above load will give about 1350 f.p.s.,with an extreme spread of 15 f.p.s. and excellent accuracy, are you doing that well? You know,of course,that none of the various Sharps companies ever chambered any of the 31/4" cartridges in any of their rifles. The 31/4" case in .38,.40,.45 and.50 caliber were brought out by Winchester between 1885 and 1890 and loaded with bullets that were light in weight for the caliber in order to increase velocity. 0 -
I am using a 300 gr cast lubed bullets, I dont remember the load amount off hand (I am work) of the XMP-5744. The point you brought up about the wad is the one I am stuck on. The people at Accurate Arms
told me that Xmp-5744 was designed for strait wall cases 45-70 50-70
etc. in place of black powder (In the newer guns such as mine).
I do get less than 1" @100 yrds and no pressure signs at all.
However lots of unburned powder. I was going to put in wading but was advised not to do it as it might increase pressure. You are right, the case is only about half full. The brass is the .45 basic from ballard.
PS THANKS for the insite!!!!!!!!0 -
Yes,Accurate Arms says that XMP-5744 is for straight walled cases, it is very close in burning rate to SR-4759 which is made by IMR. SR-4759 has been around for at least 50 years and is used to equal black powder pressures. If you want to stay with Accurate Arms,some of my friends who use smokeless powder in black powder cartridges,use XMP-2015. Other powders that can be used are IMR-4227,IMR-4198 and on the slower side IMR-3031 and IMR-4895. It is best to stay away from ball powder in these cases as it doesn't burn well. Accurate Arms says not to use fillers with their powders and Iam not going tell you to use it either,but,I know a number of people who do with very good results. Most of these people use Dacron pillow stuffing and weigh each tuft of it before putting it in the case. It's use will increase pressure,but,has three advantages,it will hold the powder back against the primer,it will take up the air space in the case and it will protect the base of the bullet. These loads work well in the smaller cases like the .45-70 and the .50-70,but,are very inefficient in the longer cases. This is why I pefer black powder in the longer cases. My 1877 Sharps long range target rifle,in caliber .45-90, with a case full of black powder and a 500 grain cast lead bullet will shoot sub minute of angle groups and hold that accuracy out to 1000 yards. If you want me to,I will ask some of the guys that I shoot with if they have any smokeless loads for this big case,but most of us are dyed in the wool black powder shooters. Best of luck, Scout 0 -
I have heard NASTY!! things about using Dacron filler in rifles. Better to use pure cotton ball tufts IMHO. 0 -
Thanks all you guys the postes have been very consistant with what I have found out thanks for the info! 0
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