405 Winchester loads w/ 230 gr cast

oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Anybody shooting a 405 Winchester load with a ~230 grn cast bullet? I picked up about 250 of them (1/2-1/2 PB/GC). It is basically a Keith Style bullet weighing about 230 grn. I found 210 and 255 jacket loads. Figure the 4895 255 load reduced a bit should work to start (it is 255 grn w/ 40 grn I-4895 for 1525 fps). But thought I would ask. TIA
 
J

JustJim

Well-Known Member
I was thinking OAL, but I guess that wouldn't matter with a bullet this light. My notes just say "22.0 2400" using a 240 grain bullet. Not sure of the source for that (maybe an old Ideal manual?), so you might want to double-check it with other sources. No mention of velocity, it shot to the sights at 100 yards but the barrel was cut down to ~20".
 
Missionary

Missionary

Well-Known Member
If you want to load such light weight cast Unique or any of the powders in that are burn area will get you there. But 4895 will sure do it also but you will be using 3x the powder. If I had a good supply of 4895 then it would get put to use. But I would think getting it to burn good may be an issue.
A 240 grainer is near the same as using a 240 in the 444 Marlin except you have a longer but slightly narrower case to work with.
Sure will make for a mild recoil corn cruncher popper.

A 41 mag carbine can push a 240 cast to that velocity without much effort.
We have a Marlin 336 chambered in 414 Supermag that easily moves a 265 grain cast to 1550 fps.
Then there is a 405 JES that also launches the same 265 cast easily to 1750 fps.
We also have the Winchester 1895 Repro and never thought about any cast under 280 grains or so. But then that is the fun of having the capability of doing so. 3F Goex will get it done also. Burns clean and can easily shoot 10 rounds with out needing to swab out the bore. But the barrel will get hot.
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Appreciate it guys. I was thinking ~20 gr or 2400 (and have a bunch). I do have the older manuals and remembered they have a lot of cast info. Sure I can get info there as well.

As for 4895 vs Unique and 2400 - I think I have plenty of all 3. So I have options. Also nice to know it is similar to the 444 Marlin. That helps (didn't think about that/knew 45-70 was much bigger, so go less).

And, as mentioned, yeah this one should make a great mild recoil popper for the corn crunchers! My intent. Plus, I like the SWC bullet vs RN for deer. I always shoot dead center shoulder, so it really doesn't matter for me. But if one of the kids or a friend shoots it with the RN and goes behind the shoulder, they end up dead, but they run - and in my woods that sucks! Had a friend shoot my 45-70 RN behind the shoulder. Thought he missed til we found a trickle of blood. I knew then that we had a dead deer, it was just how far we would have to try to track. I prefer bang/flop! Getting too old to drag them up out of the hollers solo!
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Finally found data. In Phil Sharpe's "Complete Guide to Handloading" 2nd Ed (1941)! Interestingly, data is same for both 225 gr (mine is ~232) and 300 gr cast. These are exactly what I was looking and hoping for with the 232 bullet. Perfect cast woods deer load.

225 gr cast
20 gr of 2400 1514 fps
16 gr of Unique 1595 fps

300 gr cast
20 gr of 2400 1410 fps
16 gr of Unique 1460 fps
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I was just reading Elmer Keith in the 405 last night. His loads are much heavier than you're looking for.
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Bret4207 said:
I was just reading Elmer Keith in the 405 last night. His loads are much heavier than you're looking for.
Click to expand...

Oh no doubt! I am looking for Southern woods cast whitetail/paper/fun loads. IF I end up taking the 405 to Africa, whole 'nother story!
 
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