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henpeckedmuch
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need help with 40-60 Maynard
Apr 16th, 2013 at 9:11pm
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My #16 Maynard has a 18 twist, .410 bore, the bore is absolutely perfect. But the chamber measures .425 and after shooting the cartridge it becomes to fat/big to easily go into the primer punch/resizer die. and the case mouth is way to large for any bullet that would work in that size bore.
I only shoot fixed ammo.
Two questions arise to mind, 
#1 what weight bullet to use with this twist? 
#2 What to do about the chamber size?
  
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Deadeye Bly
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #1 - Apr 16th, 2013 at 9:45pm
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With the 18" twist I would expect that the bullet would have to be a maximum of about 350 grains. The length has more to do with it than the weight.

If it is an original gun I think you mean the chamber is .452" diameter. At .425 and a .410 bullet the maximum brass thickness that would allow you to chamber a round is .012"

You might try the Hornady 405 brass. It is a little thicker than Krag brass. This would bring the neck diameter up to around .435-.436" You could neck size in a 40/65 die or get one of the Lyman .40 neck dies. You'll be working the brass excessively and it will have a short life. You could get cases from Rocky Mountain or solder a short piece of brass tubing to the cases at the mouth end and turn it for the proper fit. The soldering temperature is less than the annealing temperature of the brass. You would need some tools to do this work. After fireforming the cases should work OK for blackpowder loads.

Maybe some other folks will have other ideas.
  
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oneatatime
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #2 - Apr 17th, 2013 at 12:42am
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I have a Whitney Phoenix with an 18 twist barrel in 40-60 Maynard on the Krag case. The Saeco bullet number 640 at 370 grains does very well out to 500 meters.
  
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Bnelson
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #3 - Apr 17th, 2013 at 8:25am
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Are you sure of the bore size?  Layman's book lists the 40-60 1873 model as using a 423 bullet and the 1882 model as using a 417 bullet.  I have one of each and they follow this sizing.   
Bruce
  
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Deadeye Bly
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #4 - Apr 17th, 2013 at 9:26am
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Bruce, I did not know you were on here. you and I have conversed a few times on Maynard topics.

Bruce is right. An 1882 Maynard should have a groove diameter of .416-.417". Bullets this size will work your brass less and make it last longer. Let us know how things work out.
  
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Green_Frog
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #5 - Apr 17th, 2013 at 8:25pm
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Bruce & John, 

You will recall that sometimes one encounters a Model 1873 with a Model 1882 barrel or vice versa, or even a barrel that is actually right for the Model with an unexpected bore diameter (like my 1873 barrel in 40-40)  With Maynard, expect the unexpected!

Froggie
  
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henpeckedmuch
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #6 - Apr 17th, 2013 at 11:49pm
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All I know is that I put a soft lead ball of.433 into the muzzle and pushed it down about 8 inches, when removed I measured it at the widest diameter and it came out .410. 
Then I measured the chamber at the chamber mouth of the barrel the inside diameter was .425.  The cases opened up so large after firing that a .407 bullet rattled around inside the case. 
Where does one find bullets of .417 dia.?
I've heard that the bore can be relined without relining the chamber. But, can the chamber be relined without doing the bore? 
.
  
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Deadeye Bly
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #7 - Apr 18th, 2013 at 9:45am
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Your numbers don't make much sense. If the chamber is .425" and the bullet is .407" that leaves .009" max. for the brass thickness per side which is actually thin for most brass. Measure the fired case at the neck diameter. Measure the inside diameter of the fired case with a caliper to see what size it is. An original 40/60 Maynard chamber should measure about .450"-.452" at the neck. You should slug the bore from the breech end. Many of those barrels were choked some at the muzzle. 

Yes, a chamber can be sleeved without sleeving the entire barrel. If you've got a nice original barrel with a mint bore as you say it would be a shame to mess with it. Work with the brass & bullets to solve the problem. .417" bullets would be a custom mold or there are some folks who can open up the grooves on an existing mold to get the .417 size.
  
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Schuetzendave
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #8 - Apr 18th, 2013 at 7:16pm
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I have a CPA Stevens 44 1/2 chambered in .40-60 Maynard that was rifled to shoot .410" bullets with a 1:18 twist.

The maximum length bullet that can be used in a 1:18 twist is 1.400 inches.

In my .40-60 Maynard I am using a .410 diameter 425 grain Paul Jones Creedmore bullet that is 1.375" in length.

To reload I only bell the mouth and slide in the bullet down onto the wad over the black powder.  I then use the FL sizer die with the primer rod removed to flatten the mouth bell so the case can be easily chambered.
« Last Edit: Apr 19th, 2013 at 1:32am by Schuetzendave »  
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Schuetzendave
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #9 - Apr 19th, 2013 at 1:23am
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I forgot to mention: I use .40-70 Sharps STR reloading dies to reload my .40-60 Maynard cases.

See pg. 50 "SPG Lubricants BP Cartridge Reloading Primer" by Mike Venturino & Steve Garbe regarding the reloading of the .40-60 Maynard.

You can also use the .40-50 Sharps Straight dies as well to reload the .40-60 Maynard cases.
« Last Edit: Apr 19th, 2013 at 1:37am by Schuetzendave »  
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henpeckedmuch
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #10 - Apr 19th, 2013 at 6:54pm
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I would like to thank all of you that have replied to this thread your answers have so far been very helpful.I re-measured the everything again, and here are the results. 
Inside case diameter measured 1/2 inch down the fired case .425-.426, this appears to taper slightly as it progresses toward the open end to .420 this may be because I shot them with too small of a bullet the first firing. 
Outside case diameter measured mid-case .452 tapering too .448 toward the neck end.
Chamber length 2.50.
Bullet dia. measured from the breach end then pushed up 8 inches towards the muzzle .410 
I've searched the muzzle area which is uniform in color and wear with a magnifying glass and found no signs of relining having been done. 
Do these measurements conform to standard? Have I measured everything the right way?
  
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Schuetzendave
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #11 - Apr 19th, 2013 at 10:37pm
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My loaded .40-65 Maynard with a 0.410" diameter bullets is  0.431" (outside) at the mouth and 0.452" (outside) at the web (against rim) in a case with a maximum length of the case of 2.200" (without bullet).

If your chamber length is 2.500" then you must be measuring down the chamber lead as well.
  
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henpeckedmuch
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Re: need help with 40-60 Maynard
Reply #12 - Apr 20th, 2013 at 11:24am
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I wrote the chamber length wrong, I'm sorry.
The chamber length is 2.150 Measured using the depth gauge of my caliper rested on the ledge easily seen in the chamber, and sliding the caliper down to touch the outside face of the chamber. Shell length minus the rim ,which remains outside  the chamber on a Maynard, is 2.105   
The shell fits into the chamber leaving a very small gape I would guess less than 1/32 '' between shell mouth and chamber end. Total shell length is 2.18 slightly under the 2.2 specifications noted in "Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions".
  
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