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Reloading for an 1890 vintage 1885 (Read 1906 times)

gewehrfreund Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 435 Location: Cortland Joined: Jan 24^th, 2005	Reloading for an 1890 vintage 1885 Jan 25^th, 2012 at 8:46am	Print Post
	I saw a 32-40 highwall recently that was supposedly made in 1890. Since this is pre-smokeless powder, what does common knowledge say about using light smokeless powder loads in this era highwall? I really wouldn't want to get into the BP thing, though I know that would be the simplest solution. Thanks.


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.22-5-40 Oldtimer Offline Posts: 797 Joined: Feb 13^th, 2010	Re: Reloading for an 1890 vintage 1885 Reply #1 - Jan 25^th, 2012 at 7:54pm	Print Post
	Hello, gewehrfreund. Winchesters highwall is one of the stronger actions. I use IMR4227 in a 1902 .38-55 highwall. The biggest danger is double-charging. The other roadblock if you plan on using fixed ammunition is the tight chamber to groove dia. relationship. This is from the black-powder design of using a slightly undersized soft lead bullet to obturate from the black powder charge..in order to be able to fire multiple shots without fouling problems. With smokeless, bullets are usually groove to .002" over. neck reaming might be necessary. Best of luck!


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Green_Frog Frequent Elocutionist Offline "It ain't easy being green" ASSRA Life #281 Posts: 4034 Location: Lynchburg, VA Joined: Apr 18^th, 2004	Re: Reloading for an 1890 vintage 1885 Reply #2 - Jan 25^th, 2012 at 8:56pm	Print Post
	gewehrfreund wrote on Jan 25^th, 2012 at 8:46am: I saw a 32-40 highwall recently that was supposedly made in 1890. Since this is pre-smokeless powder, what does common knowledge say about using light smokeless powder loads in this era highwall? I really wouldn't want to get into the BP thing, though I know that would be the simplest solution. Thanks. I have an original plain sporter high-wall in the same caliber (#3 Octagon barrel) and have shot it a bunch with fixed rounds composed of 165 grain bullets (like the old 319247) cast 25:1 pure lead and tin in front of 13.6 gr of IMR 4759 in Winchester cases (original or reformed from .38-55) and (usually) Winchester large rifle primers. This was a load published in the old Roberts & Waters book as being mild and easy on the rifle as well as accurate. I like it. Froggie


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gewehrfreund Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 435 Location: Cortland Joined: Jan 24^th, 2005	Re: Reloading for an 1890 vintage 1885 Reply #3 - Jan 26^th, 2012 at 8:05am	Print Post
	Thanks for the suggestions. I don't own this rifle (yet), but am in the market for some sort of highwall (or other single shot) in 32-40, and it doesn't get any neater than an old 1885. My only 32-40 at the moment is a TCR87 with a 32-40 barrel. I have shot this with everything from cast squib loads to stiff jacketed loads using cases made from 375 Win. brass. LC


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Green_Frog Frequent Elocutionist Offline "It ain't easy being green" ASSRA Life #281 Posts: 4034 Location: Lynchburg, VA Joined: Apr 18^th, 2004	Re: Reloading for an 1890 vintage 1885 Reply #4 - Jan 27^th, 2012 at 9:29pm	Print Post
	If you are going to go original, the high-wall is hard to beat because of the number of them produced and the options that were/are available for them. Another choice (quit laughing, ledball!) is the 44 1/2 Stevens, which has the advantage of an active rebuilder in the form of CPA Corp. This is good, because they probably will need a lot of help to be competitive. Ballards are high on the cool factor, but they are less strong and even the reprops have gotten frightfully costy. Yeah, grab that high-wall while you can, if you want my opinion! Froggie


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