Patched .36cal Maxi in a .40cal ?????

[roundball]

Question for the brain trust on this fine September morning:

Speculating for the sake of speculating about the potential of using a "patched" .36cal maxi in a .40cal rifle:

Wonder if a .020" patch would take up enough windage to get any decent accuracy out of it?

Or a .020" + a .010"
Or a pair of .020"'s?

:hmm:

(always looking for fresh reasons to go to the range on Saturdays :grin: )

 

[Lone Carabiner]

I suppose it's worth a try for experience sake but how bout a slug (lead) meant for a .40 S&W? Or is there a .40 Ball-et or something along that line avbailable?

 

[Tinker2]

I have shot some heavily paper patched (cigarette paper)
bullets that were quite a bit under size. It was a lot more
fussing around but worked great and it was all I had at
the time.


Tinker2

 

[Slowpoke]

You'd do better shooting a .360 round ball out of it wrapped in 2 patches. The accuracy would surprise you.

 

[roundball]

You'd do better shooting a .360 round ball out of it wrapped in 2 patches. The accuracy would surprise you.

I've already got Hornady .395's for it as round ball loads...was just curious how a little bit heavier conical might do wrapped in patching

 

[Slowpoke]

hmmm :hmm: hmmm ... I'll predict bad/poor smoothbore accuracy out of them.

How's that barrel grouping on paper w/RB. You done any testing or anything.

 

[roundball]

hmmm :hmm: hmmm ... I'll predict bad/poor smoothbore accuracy out of them.

"....40cal rifle..."

 

[Slowpoke]

Correct, I'll predict bad/poor smoothbore accuracy out of “them” (36cal patched maxi) in your 40 caliber rifle.

What I mean by bad/poor smoothbore accuracy is you’ll pattern some high, low, sideways, and some in the center”¦. Heck I could be wrong”¦. Be sure to come back and tell us how they work.

I'm glad you got that smoothbore barrel ready for this year, colver leaf group at 50 yards is impressive. I'm expective the same caliber of deer out of you this year.

 

[buckknife]

Seems like that space filled with patch material would be of considerble size.The bullet might wiggle its way around enough on the way up the barrel to slip out of the patch and start digging into the rifling.Could possible cause a burn threw from the loose fit of patch material and the patch would have a big hole in em were they passed the bullet on the way out the bore.
Even though you could get enough patches around the bullet to fit tight it is still only patch material that under pressure would give a lot.Could possibly do a number on some of the rifling or even buldge the barrel if the bullet came loose and cockeyed on the way up the bore.Just my 2 cents.

 

[roundball]

Correct, I'll predict bad/poor smoothbore accuracy out of “them” (36cal patched maxi) in your 40 caliber rifle.

What I mean by bad/poor smoothbore accuracy is you’ll pattern some high, low, sideways, and some in the center

Oh...misunderstood the smoothbore part

 

[roundball]

"...even though you could get enough patches around the bullet to fit tight it is still only patch material that under pressure would give a lot. Could possibly do a number on some of the rifling or even buldge the barrel if the bullet came loose and cockeyed on the way up the bore.Just my 2 cents.

:hmm:...you might have something there...maybe it's not such a good idea to experiment with that after all...not really any need to, just got caught up with the notion of it...think I'll pass

 

[CrackStock]

Well don't give up yet!

I was thinking of giving it a try with my .40 and some OOO shot that I was feeding to my .36.

CS

 

[renovato]

I suppose it's worth a try for experience sake but how bout a slug (lead) meant for a .40 S&W? Or is there a .40 Ball-et or something along that line avbailable?

Bullets meant for centerfires are almost always cast from alloy instead of pure lead. I've tried them in the past, knowing better. Leaded the bore like mad and gave terrible accuracy.

 

[marmot]

Don't give up yet, Roundball - this idea is not very different from what Ned Roberts in the "The Caplock Rifle" describes doing on several occasions to "up" the power and range (he said it, not me!) of his small caliber guns by shooting an elongated, patched projectile in a gun normally intended for roundball use. His elongated slugs were smooth sided as opposed to maxi/minie styles with grooves, but the grooves shouldn't detract from the performance, and as long as they are pure lead, the patching wouldn't have to be too tight as the bullet should obturate somewhat, giving you a nice snug fit. Unless the bullet is shorter than bore diameter, turning sideways shouldn't happen.

Now ya got me thinkin'... I've got a .515 Smith carbine mold and a .54 rifle.... hmmmmm.... I've sized .535 rbs down into elongated "balls" for the Smith, so why not go the other way?

marmot

 

[roundball]

Don't give up yet, Roundball - this idea is not very different from what Ned Roberts in the "The Caplock Rifle" describes doing on several occasions to "up" the power and range (he said it, not me!) of his small caliber guns by shooting an elongated, patched projectile in a gun normally intended for roundball use. His elongated slugs were smooth sided as opposed to maxi/minie styles with grooves, but the grooves shouldn't detract from the performance, and as long as they are pure lead, the patching wouldn't have to be too tight as the bullet should obturate somewhat, giving you a nice snug fit. Unless the bullet is shorter than bore diameter, turning sideways shouldn't happen.

Now ya got me thinkin'... I've got a .515 Smith carbine mold and a .54 rifle.... hmmmmm.... I've sized .535 rbs down into elongated "balls" for the Smith, so why not go the other way?

marmot

:hmm: ...now you've got me leaning back the other way a litlle...it is odd that a .40cal maxi-hunter type conical hasn't become available by now.

Maybe it's because the .45 is generally considered the minimum for deer and the .36 is thought of as the maximum for small game?...dunno...but there's definitely a gap between the .36 and the .45...

 

[DCF]

Had a .40 cal rifle to try recently - shot well with light charges and patched ball but was really made for shooting bullets. Trouble was no bullets were available.
Having read Ned Roberts book I decided to try a patched .358 lead bullet!! Various patching materials and wadding came up with the following results - blown patches and rubbish accuracy across the board.
Maybe it was "a bridge too far" in the barrel windage department or that I didn't find the correct patching.
Afterwards couldn't help thinking, "I knew that would happen...." But when as that ever stopped a good experiment

 

[roundball]

Had a .40 cal rifle to try recently - shot well with light charges and patched ball but was really made for shooting bullets. Trouble was no bullets were available.
Having read Ned Roberts book I decided to try a patched .358 lead bullet!! Various patching materials and wadding came up with the following results - blown patches and rubbish accuracy across the board.
Maybe it was "a bridge too far" in the barrel windage department or that I didn't find the correct patching.
Afterwards couldn't help thinking, "I knew that would happen...." But when as that ever stopped a good experiment

:hatsoff:

 

[buckknife]

Roundball im not sure but isnt a maxiballs last band a little bigger than the ones toward the center and rear of the bullet.I aint shot any for sometime but i remember the ones i loaded took a good wap to get the end of the bullet in the bore.If that is the case the patch material would be a lot tighter there than at the rear.
I have shot pistol bullets in 45 out of a 50 with patch material and did get them to shoot.Took some pillow ticklen and another patch to keep the patch from having a hole in the center.These were copper jakets so they didnt set up like lead would.shot a goup of 4 inches at 30 yards :haha:
Presision Bullet makes 40 cal bullets for modern muzle loaders that are pure lead.Supose to shoot em with the plastic but they are a 40 cal bullet.
I have a slug of em around here some wares.Maybe you could run a file around them to rough em up on the out side some how for a little lube.some are solid lead and some are plastic tiped things.Drop me a pm with your address if your intrested.I aint gonna use em in any thing but in a 40 cal they just might work.Maybe you could trade me some of them old flints you have in a the jar.Probably be just about right for my small lock. :v

 

[buckknife]

There made by precsion rifle.Heres a link to show only what they look like to see if you could use em.Some look like the ones in the left top cornner but most of them i have left a plinker rounds.They are solid lead,same shape but are almost pointed on the end like these.Now this is only a link so roundball can see what they look like to see if he has any intest in them.Dont do anything more than look at the pitcure of the bullet or you may go blind and pass out :haha: [url] http://www.prbullet.com[/url]/

 

[paulvallandigham]

Buckknife: They don't have grease grooves, which are necessary for them to be shot in a muzzle loader. Otherwise, they would have to be swaged down in size so that a paper patch could be wrapped around them, and the paper lubed. These 40 cal. bullets are made to be used in sabots, and are not intended to be used in traditional muzzleloaders. There are .40 cal. pistol bullets available from csting companies, lubed and sized, but I don't know of any short enough to work in a slow twist ML rifle. Maybe some of the 135 grain bullets might make it, but that would almost defeat the purpose in looking for a conical for a .40 instead of just using a PRB. NO?