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4570mike
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Smokeless in a Ballard
Aug 25th, 2022 at 11:38am
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With the limitations on acquiring various powders, I have been looking into available smokeless loads for some of my BPRC rifles.
I have the current Lyman Cast Bullet Manual which has been a great resource.
My question is in regards to modern Ballard (Cody) Rifles.  What should be considered the upper limit for pressures in these newer guns?
The Lyman book lists pressures, but I'm not sure what the Ballard cut-off should be.  Specifically for the 40-65 WCF cartridge.  I typically shoot 300 to 400 gr. slugs if that matters.
Thanks!
  
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Premod70
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Re: Smokeless in a Ballard
Reply #1 - Aug 25th, 2022 at 2:04pm
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Don’t know of a test being run on the strength of a Cody but I ran 21 grains of 5744 behind a 420 grain bullet for several hundred rounds and no worst the wear to the rifle. The same can’t be said about my shoulder, the rifle had a crescent buttplate.
  
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marlinguy
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Ballards may be weaker,
but they sure are neater!

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Re: Smokeless in a Ballard
Reply #2 - Aug 25th, 2022 at 2:11pm
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Although the Cody Ballards were made with modern higher quality materials, I'd not push them very hard, or much harder than original forged receivers. The design is still the same, so likely they would fail the same if overloaded.
I consider loads over around 24,000 psi to be too much, and I keep all mine below 20,000 psi chamber pressure. I use a lot of H4198 or IMR4198, and it's extremely low pressure with my ballistic program showing my loads at or below 12,000 psi.
  

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westerner
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Re: Smokeless in a Ballard
Reply #3 - Aug 25th, 2022 at 2:44pm
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Original or Cody Ballard, strength is the same.  What Marlinguy said.   

Most of the pressure/force goes to the lever screw. Make sure you have a strong lever screw.
  

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Statesrights
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Re: Smokeless in a Ballard
Reply #4 - Aug 25th, 2022 at 5:00pm
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I used 21 grains of 5744 behind a .410 Jones Bullet.
  
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sslocknut
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Re: Smokeless in a Ballard
Reply #5 - Aug 25th, 2022 at 5:54pm
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I have used 23 grains of 4198 with good results in a 40/70 SS Cody Ballard, and a 400 grain .408 bullet.
  
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