Hello, new member from north central WV. Let me start with a quick bio. I'm a retired forester. After graduation I work PSU as staff forester on the research forest. I then spent 34 years as forest manager on the WVU research forest. Retired in 2015. I loved the work, I just couldn't take the job anymore.  I joined the local gun club in 1988 and in 1990 I gave up lumberjack sports and have been shooting ever sense. Started shooting in metallic silhouette, pistol and rifle. Then started shooting high power, both service and match rifle, as well as long range. I have shoot the HP National Matches many times. While shooting HP I also started shooting smallbore. Now, at 72 I just shoot F-class open, FTR and FTRT. I'm a instructor in pistol and rifle and a Level II coach in precision air rifle and smallbore. OK, that's enough. I'm getting ready to build a rifle on a Wickliffe action I purchased about 25 years ago and has been sitting in the safe sense. I'm thinking 40-65 using 45-70 brass.

PS: if a moderator reads this, is there a way I/or you can correct my fat finger key stroke to correct my screen name to Bob D.

Bob

Bob, what do you plan to do with this new rifle build?

Keep on hav'n fun!
MikeT

Thanks Joe I'll give that a try.   Bob

Hi Steve, I'm pretty sure you do. We've spent enough time on the line together at Perry and local clubs. I've been watching this site off and on for some time. If your email hasn't I'll send you photo of the project as it goes. What rifle and caliber are you shooting? I'm sure I'll be contacting you with questions.

Bob

Bob: Wellcome, thanks for owning up making the error in your profile as I did the same. Hopefully we both got it corrected. Jack

I sorta like it, but would be better with another boob. Boob D boob. 

Welcome to the forum.

Yeah, I'm thinking of keeping the user name. Not my first mistake, wont be my last. Besides if you start out setting the bar low it makes life easier.

I will most likely be using smokeless powder and cast my own bullets. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to build it myself or farm it out. I', quite familiar with the operation of lathes and mills as I build my own match rifles. Some of that decision is based on the fact that I have so many project started and this one has been around so long. Kind of just want to get it done and have fun with one.

I have the notice turned on to get replies to my post, but done seem to be getting them.   

Bob

40-65 will be good cartridge.  For versatility if you decide to do something other than 100 yard plinking, use a 14 twist barrel.   

The wickliffe is a somewhat large and clunky action, but a good one.  If you bought one of the kits and the receiver is unhardened, I'd definitely harden it as well as the hammer, trigger and similar parts.   

I'd weld on a top tang so you can put on a tang sight, before you start finishing the action and stocking it.  I'd also remove the totally unnecessary and ugly safety, and weld up the holes for it.  The hammer is adequate as a safety.   

If your action hasn't been surface ground, make up a mandrel that goes in the threaded barrel hole, and use that to index and grind both sides of the action parallel and flat and square to the barrel.  The castings are all over the place, and that will help the final looks a bit.

good suggestion Dave. I cleaned up the action years ago, but I know a lot more now and might go back and do it again. At that time the individual that sold them had a plan to send them to someone to have the heat treated. I sent mine back. When it came back a buddy tested it with his Rockwell tester. we also tested one of my 700 actions. They both tested the some. I like the tang idea. I was going to mount the sight to the stock.

Guy I appropriate the comments of my Wickliffe, but I have decided to sell it.  All I'm going to do is play around with some cast bullets.  I have two Ruger #1s that have seen the sunlight in decades, a Stevens 44 1/2 in 32-20 and a Steven Crackshot, both of which I'm trying to finish. I'm not going away, I just don't need to make another safe queen. 

Bob

Welcome to the site Bob. I am also an Alberta Retired Registered Professional Forester who retired in 2014 after 37 years. If you are interested in black powder the .40-65 is an excellent cartridge and I found it to be more suitable than the .45-70 after I developed bone spurs from arthritis. For black powder you are best to have a 30 inch barrel to combust all of the powder and some have 32 or 34 inch barrels (result in slight increase in velocity) to shoot BP. Downside of the longer barrels is the ability to have hard fouling buildup on the end of the barrel. Most .40-65 barrels have a 16:1 twist using 410 grain bullets but some people prefer a 14:1 twist barrel to use heavier bullets. You can buy .40-65 cases from Starline and there is no need to shrink .45-70 cases. Remember when building a rifle there are specific rules for BPCR Silhouette that restrict which iron sights and scopes you are able to use; what type of stocks are appropriate - so check these out before you proceed with your build.

Common actions are the 1874 Sharps, CPA 44 1/2 Stevens, 1885 Winchester HighWall since they have set triggers enabling you to release shots more quickly to catch wind changes or as the sights move across a Chicken which have to be shot offhand. Standard triggers require much more effort on the follow through on a shot. Also heavy triggers can pull you off your POI from trigger pull after ignition.

However if you intend to just shoot smokeless will the rifle be for hunting, sport shooting, or some other shooting discipline? If we understand the purpose of the rifle we can provide a bit more guidance.