Might talk with Accurate Powders people. I think may have some AA5744 loads that would be workable. Problem is the 1876 isn't ideal for heavier loads, needed for long range shooting. But they may have something helpful.

 

I shoot and hunt with a 1876 original rifle and load 27 grs of imr-4198 and a 350gr cast bullet with no filler and it shoots into 1-1-1/2" groups at 50 yards from a rest. the darn rifle is very heavy(10lbs) and the old timers must have been very tough to carry it all day. I have killed deer with it. eastbank.

 

Eastbank, I am very impressed by the different guns that you have said that you hunt with. I have noticed this in some of your other posts. I agree that these old heavy guns would be a chore to haul around-unless a horse was doing most of the work.

 

Clyde & eastbank ---- Thanks for you comments. Yes I realize the Mod. 1876 action is not designed to take heavy loads and I sure don't intend to over stress it. I have a long range Vernier rear site on the tang that should allow me to LOOB bullets in high arcs to a distant target. I'll get a pound of imr 4198 as you suggest and see how it works in my piece. I'll try some aa2544 as well before the shoot date in July. Thanks again.

 

Well, check the loading guide from manufacturer or loading manuals BEFORE you just go buy 5744. They may have some better choices.

 

Please be aware that in my experience IMR4198 in small loads is very prone to misfire and absorbing moisture from the air while you are actually reloading it - ~30gr loads in a .45-70 Govt.

Of my first fifty reloads, only seven actually went bang - the rest went phut, or nothing. The powder, if indeed it all went off at all, left a lot of crud in the barrel, and when it failed to go off, the primer had put the bullet about six inches up the barrel, the remainder being filled with a soggy green mixture of part-burnt and unburnt powder.

I'm currently using 33gr and a wad under a 405gr bullet that leaves no space. All go bang.

tac

 

I stick with TrailBoss in mine and agree that you might not get the power you need from it. But then the 45/60 would do better with Holy Black loads to get full power as opposed to smokeless. I consider cartridge and rifle a good 200 yard combo but no more.

 

I have never had any slow-no fire in using the load I shoot with imr4198., I do use a heavy crimp. eastbank.

 

Any smokless powder will only partially burn, or not at all at pressures to low for that powder.

 

I can't find my Cartridges of the World, but if you search on line (Google or what ever) you will find a whole page of 45/60 smokless loads

 

If you are planning to shoot this in the Quigley match, I think you will be disappointed. That ctg was never meant to be a long range shooter.

 

Coulee, the Lyman 49th edition has a chapter by Brian Pierce about these very guns. Page 96-103. I'm thinking AA5744 is a good choice. If you don't have this book. PM me and I'll photo the load table and E-mail it to you.

 

the 1876 rifles are one of the least made Winchester lever actions ,I think around 63-64 thousand made. mine was made in 1883(serial # range359xx) and has a special order 30" octagon barrel with a very nice bore. eastbank.

 

musketshooter ---- The eastern Montana match I'm attending this July is held in northeastern Mt. a few miles from the Canadian border. It is a two day match. On the first day of the match only lever action repeating rifles are used and I believe the longest range target is 350 yds. On the second day single shot rifles (Sharps, Rolling Blocks, Trapdoors etc.) are used and the longest range target is 820 yds. with a target at 1025 yds. for extra points if desired. I've attended the Quigley shoot several times and have really enjoyed it. The Quigley is getting very popular and more than 650 to 700 folks are attending it these days. There is getting to be looooong waiting periods before a man/woman gets to shoot at the next station. There are fewer than 100 shooters who attend this match with waiting periods more to my liking. Thanks for your comments.

 

Thagomizer ---- I believe I have the Lyman 49er somewhere in my pile of manuals . I'll dig through my stack and if I can't find it I'll let you know. Thanks

 

Good luck at the shoot. Could you post the point of contact for the shoot? It may be fun to participate. I used to live at Opheim.

 

musketshooter ---- An email point of contact for the shoot would be "jmhovet@nemont.net". I'm very familiar with the little town of Opheim. It is one of my favorite places to stop for a meal while on my way to my hide away place east of Scobey, Mt. I have property near the little ghost town of Whitetail, Mt. where I travel to spend quality time in the back country. I attended high school in Plentywood and we played Opheim in basketball years ago. My family had a wheat farm northwest of Outlook in those days. After graduating from high school I worked on a crew that built a telephone line from Scobey to Opheim several years ago along that long stretch of highway. The crew would eat lunch at a little bar & café on main street in Opheim when we were near the town. Maybe we'll meet at the shoot in July.