doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Breech Seating

I don't want to take way from the good Neidner Stuff so just have a few questions to those that have breech seated. I just started shooting a highwall with a Stevens-Pope barrel (later than Harry) and was wondering If I need a different mould? The Pope style bullet does not engrave on the 1st 3 bands but does engrave the last 3 and slides in rather easily.
What do you fellows that have breech seated look for in a proper fitting bullet? Should I get a mould that has all bands engraving?

Bob,

A bullet needs gyroscopic stability to gain it's best accuracy. In single shot rifles bullets are generally seated back from engaging the lands by .001 to lessen bullet jump and maintain consistent accuracy and to breech seat it must engage and hold, then full bore length rifling engagement. Many rifle barrels are 'choked' tighter at the muzzle.

Are you shooting paper patched or lubed and sized bullets or as cast...?...For larger diameter bullets with your current mould use linotype as cast.

Cast bullets are usually cast and sized .001 or .002 larger than groove diameter of the bore, no more or the lead will create fins on the back of the bullet. For jacketed bullets .001 should be the max bore oversize.

If your bullets are not engaging the rifling as it leaves the chamber throat, then you need to increase the bullet diameter so it does engage the lands and grooves for accuracy.

As you describe the scenario above, it is the perfect formula for bullet key holing and poor accuracy.

I would definitely change moulds after slugging the bore with various diameter bullets.

Best of Luck with it,

Bob,

Please read this and this afternoon when I'm back at the house I will address your bullet which on the face of things sounds perfect. Many of my best shooting bullets only engrave the last band.

This is kind of an embarrassing story. A few years ago at Vegas Terry Buffum and I were helping a man who just bought a Steven-Pope rifle and had never shot one before. He asked if there were any articles on the subject. I said no that there was lot of info but not in one place. Terry said there was and I said great what was the article.....He quoted this one that I wrote.

I just read this and see a couple of mistakes I would correct if written today. Robert was fiction, 373 is my rifle.

Hello Folks

I have always been curious as the level of accuracy achieved with these breech seating rifles - what is a realistic expectation with some experience and care ??

Thanks

Foster

I have several two diameter bullets that I use in my .32-40 Hi-Wall the best being a Barnett that cast around 196 grains from 1-30 lead. I also have a similar mold for my .32 Miller Short. Accuracy wise anything nearing 2" for 10 ten shot groups (200 yds) gets me pretty excited as I'm not the best at doping the wind. My only claim for fame is a 1" 5 shot group (shot during a match) with iron sights. I've seen quite a number of 250's shot on the standard Schuetzen target....but not from me!!! MP's target (shown on the other thread) is top shelf!!!!!!!

Bob, Any questions after reading the above?

The only way to tell how your bullet is going to work is to shoot it. Might tell us a little more about the mould, weight , length, make shot as cast or?

Real performance long run couple of examples

Iron Sight CPA 38/55 offhand stocked rifle shot from a muzzle rest elbows on the bench rifle in my shoulder, will put 10 in 4 inches at 200 yards using Fixed ammo. Breech seated different bullet same weight and components, bit more powder, it will put them in about 3 inches. Rifles stock and sights hold it back to the point not much gain breech seating.

Pure bench rest single shot rifles stocked to ride a machine rest with high power scopes do better. ASSRA target fired at 200 Yards center 25 ring is 1 1/2 inches. Every year perhaps a couple dozen 250's are recorded in formal competition. 10 shots in 1 1/2 inches, all using breech seated bullets. I can't recall any bench rest matches won with Fixed ammo

For offhand matches or matches using Iron sights Breech seating is not worth the effort required. Better to use Fixed ammo and spend the extra time waiting out conditions. If shooting bench rest you have to breech seat to be competitive

Boats

Boats, why do you suppose that an off the shelf bolt rifle, with just a little load development of fixed ammo will routinely beat a breech seated bullet?

And, no, I'm not buying the 2-piece stock argument.

For me, it must, day in day out shoot 1-MOA from 100-200 yards. On a clam day and I'm doing my part they should shoot 1/2-MOA. If they don't they find a new home. I am not a competitor and seldom if ever shoot in matches. I shoot for fun and it's still fun.