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Statesrights
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Loads for .40-63 Ballard?
Jul 26th, 2019 at 4:28pm
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Only have the one from COTW. Any others?
  
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Reverend Al
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Re: Loads for .40-63 Ballard?
Reply #1 - Jul 27th, 2019 at 2:05pm
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Smokeless, BP, or a bit of both?  For my Marlin Ballard Pacific in .40-90 3" I duplex load 5 to 7 grains of SR4759 then fill to the base of the bullet with black powder.  (Not trying to enhance velocities or performance, I'm just trying to keep the cases and bore a bit cleaner than using black powder only.)  Still generates lots of smoke to help pacify the purists ...

Wink
  

I may have passed my "Best Before" date, but I haven't quite reached my "Expiry" date yet ...
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blackpowder
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Re: Loads for .40-63 Ballard?
Reply #2 - Jul 28th, 2019 at 1:50pm
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in my high wall 40-70 ballard, i shoot 67 gr. of goex 2f, .030 veg. wad, .125 lube cookie, another .030 veg wad, and .395 swagged 370 gr. bullet with 2 .003 wraps of onion paper. the loads shoot well for me. fps is 1280.
  
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Statesrights
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Re: Loads for .40-63 Ballard?
Reply #3 - Jul 28th, 2019 at 7:43pm
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Thank you.  This one is going to take some experimentation. Maybe a lot. It’s got a fine bore, but Trail Boss wasn’t impressive. Got some BP loads ready for the next trial. Plenty of time between now and deer season.
  
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blackpowder
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Re: Loads for .40-63 Ballard?
Reply #4 - Jul 28th, 2019 at 9:07pm
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mine will shoot .403 GG, 370 gr. and 330 gr. bullet from BACO, but it is a hassle. i have to load the round and put it back into the sizing die to get the diameter small enough to chamber. the gun really appears to be chambered for PP bullets and that is fine, i don't mind loading them. hunting with PP can be a problem is that is what you may be considering, but i have come up with a solution for that.
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: Loads for .40-63 Ballard?
Reply #5 - Jul 28th, 2019 at 10:41pm
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All of my Ballards in .40-63/70 take a .410" to 412" cast bullet. I use .405 Hornady brass and smokeless powder. I've had great results with lighter bullets and mostly use my RCBS CSA 300 gr. cast at 30:1 which drops at 315 grains.
I use 2400 powder and 18 grs. with the 315 gr. bullet.

Tried some faster powder like Unique and it did pretty well, but not as good as 2400. Tried slower powders, and too much deviation for good accuracy.
  

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SgtDog0311
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Re: Loads for .40-63 Ballard?
Reply #6 - Aug 1st, 2019 at 1:43pm
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Statesrights, if you want to wade through it might have a look at this thread:  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Been a while since I sat down with this rifle but I shot it at the Quigley my first year there.   

The load I settled on was 22.6gr of 4198.   After reading Sherman Bell’s testing articles I decided this was the burn-rate I preferred.   It’s kinder to your old rifle than others, including Black Powder.   

I do seat a Walters Wad at the base of the bullet and transport ammo nose-down for that reason.   My groove diameter allows a tight fit of the wad so that is just a precaution.   Were I shooting 5744 I would eliminate the wad all together just to be on the safe side.

22.6gr IMR 4198
360gr bullet (edge of stability but remains stable out to 805yds)
.405 brass (neck-turned to allow .001 over groove size bullet).
WLR primers
Velocity 1362fps (10-shot average that particular day). ES=39
Accuracy notes at 100 yds: 8 shots @ 7/8”, 2 (in same hole, high and right of core group) for 1 1/4” overall.
However, the only picture I had was a five shot group with another load and slightly different velocity.
« Last Edit: Aug 2nd, 2019 at 1:04am by SgtDog0311 »  

Best Regards,
John
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