Cast bullets for 405 Win

[Cat Whisperer]

I'm in the market for getting a .405 Winchester.  Either to rebarrel or a Ruger #1.

Do any of y'all shoot cast in the .405?  What bullets?  What loads?
What are the results?

[The Shrink]

Tim

Can't tell you yet, don't have the rifle yet, Hornaday says they will be running some brass in Feb, and Veral says he will make me a mold at 300 gr. that will take a .416 gas check.  I hope to be up and running by fall with a Winchester 95 in .405 shooting cast bullets.  

Have you found much loading data?

Wayne

[Cat Whisperer]

Wayne -

Re: loads.  Yes, Phillip B. Sharpe in Complete Guide to Handloading has many loads (1937 - 1952 copy rights though).  

On another board a friend sent some quoted from one of the powder manufacturers - DUH!  Why didn't I look there?  There are probably 5 or 6 manufacturers of powders that publish loads on their web sites.  Some even with cast bullet loads.

300 grain seems to be the 'normal' bullet for the .405 and 1:14 seems to be the 'normal' twist.  Sharpe did have loads for the .400 Wheelen (a .30-06 opened up all the way - almost straight case.  Certainly an option for me as rebarreling is an option and the '06 is an easy case to run through a bolt action and it's certainly commonly found.  Ballistics were very similar, with the .400 Wheelen being built on a stronger action (for higher pressures).

[frank405]

I shoot a 300 grain gas check flat point at 2200 or so feet per second. Testing this bullet against the Hornady flat point and the Woodleigh soft on 600 to 900 pound bison the Hornady was fairly soft and the cast and Woodleigh seemed about equal. All bullets exited on body shots and head shots. The cast worked well on a big whitetail buck and two large mule deer does. Of course I haven't recovered a bullet in an animal and really don't expect to.

[Cat Whisperer]

Thanks, Frank - you've given me a very good perspective by providing the comparison.

[512]

Tim,
i saw some 300gr flat points in action yesterday. was very impressed at their effectiveness on a bison cow and a bull. i have shot this bullet and am impressed with its accuracy as well. they were made by Mount Baldy Bullets in Cody, Wy.       hth ,   Jeff

[Cat Whisperer]

512 -
 Thanks for the post.  I looked at their website - and what pictures they had looked respectible.  Good prices too.