Reloading for a double rifle

[pedrettid]

Looking for some advise on loading for a double rifle. I purchased a Chapuis Elan in 450/400 and have been working on some load for it. I have a soft load with North Fork SS bullets Shooting really nice they are the green highlighted group in the photo. The next load I would like to get shooting closer to the soft is with the North Fork CPS bullets. They are the yellow highlighted group and stay separated between the left and right barrel. I have both loads shooting very close to the same FPS the CPS are slightly faster currently. Not sure if I should play with bullet seating depth next the CPS is a little longer due to its construction and I am running about 3 less grains of powder to get them close to the same FPS. Shots are at 50 yards off bench.

So the question is what is the best way to bring solids in a little I feel like I am close.

Thanks in advance

 

[deewayne2003]

I do not have a 450/400 but in playing with different loads for my .470ne I would suggest slowly increasing the charge weight for the CPS load to make the bullets converge.

 

[gcbailey]

I'm no expert with reloading doubles, though have had success loading my own. I would play with the powder charges. I loaded 6 with IMR, starting at the lower end of the recommended amount, then loaded 6 more in minute increments. When I got to the range, I fired 4 of each, letting the barrel cool between each set. When I got the closest acceptable group, I let the barrel cool again, then fired the final two rounds for confirmation. Not very scientific and some may think that's crazy, but it worked for me and I had great success with my 450/400 in Africa. As it turns out, my loads chronographed right around 2050, which I believe is what the original Jeffery rounds ran and what Hornady recommends (whose book I was using for reloading). I was using a Jeffery 450/400.

 

[MacJenkins]

How fast are the CPS?

 

[ftrovato]

FPS in my limited experience with a few doubles has been the most significant factor (assuming bullet weights are the same).

When I matched the velocity that the gun was regulated too, my barrels started to group regardless of bullet used.

It helped me to find the velocity the rifle was regulated to by first shooting the same bullet in both barrels and increase/decrease velocity until they converge at 50 yards.

Then regardless of the bullet shot in each barrel if I matched that velocity they regulated...

Last maybe the solids ur loading need a different velocity. Speed them up?
The target makes it appear they need a velocity change.

But I'm a rookie with doubles only having done this a few times....good luck

 

[Rare Breed]

Looking for some advise on loading for a double rifle. I purchased a Chapuis Elan in 450/400 and have been working on some load for it. I have a soft load with North Fork SS bullets Shooting really nice they are the green highlighted group in the photo. The next load I would like to get shooting closer to the soft is with the North Fork CPS bullets. They are the yellow highlighted group and stay separated between the left and right barrel. I have both loads shooting very close to the same FPS the CPS are slightly faster currently. Not sure if I should play with bullet seating depth next the CPS is a little longer due to its construction and I am running about 3 less grains of powder to get them close to the same FPS. Shots are at 50 yards off bench.

So the question is what is the best way to bring solids in a little I feel like I am close.

Thanks in advance
View attachment 689001

when bullets are apart as long as you have checked they are not crossing you increase the velocity. If they are crossing you decrease velocity. Do you understand when I say crossing

 

[forshoes]

I don't currently reload for a double, but I'm reading Graeme Wright's book and he and a lot of good information. Suggest you check with Buffalo Arms for a reasonably priced copy.

 

[pedrettid]

How fast are the CPS?

The Solids average is 2080fps with 82.1 gr of N165 and the Soft load is averaging 2065fps with 85.2 gr of N165

 

[pedrettid]

when bullets are apart as long as you have checked they are not crossing you increase the velocity. If they are crossing you decrease velocity. Do you understand when I say crossing

Yea think so keep the left barrel left and right to the right.

 

[pedrettid]

I will load a few going up in powder charge and try them out tomorrow.

 

[Rare Breed]

Yea think so keep the left barrel left and right to the right.

you bet. using my 470 as the example my gun was crossing at 86 grains of RL15.5. At 84 grains no more crossing and 0.6 inch regulation

 

[JD Noblin]

I have limited experience reloading for a double rifle. I shoot a Heym 89B 500 Nitro Express and have loaded softs and solids from Swift and Barnes. I obviously cannot speak for other brands of rifles (or for that matter even another Heym rifle) but I have discovered a general trend for my rifle only: the faster the bullet is pushed the tighter the groups become and the closer the solids shoot to the softs. This general trend for my rifle, of course, arises within the bounds of proper reloading procedures and manual recommendations.

 

[pedrettid]

Got a chance to shoot a chance to shoot a few more definitely moving in the right direction. I is just odd to me that the velocity doesn't seem to matter I would guess with the next batch I am going to test the North Fork CPS solids will be going 120-150fps faster than what the softs end up working at.

 

[Red Leg]

At what distance are you shooting? Both these loads and the composite group are minute of buffalo inside seventy.

 

[Rare Breed]

My thoughts exactly. If this group is at 50 yards off sticks what are you worried about

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Increase your powder charge. That will tighten the groups. But if you up it too much, then your barrels will begin to crossfire.

Bear un mind, that these are field grade double rifles. Not match grade target rifles. For a 50 yard grouping, this is perfectly acceptable.

 

[Luvthunt]

Increase your powder charge. That will tighten the groups. But if you up it too much, then your barrels will begin to crossfire.

Bear un mind, that these are field grade double rifles. Not match grade target rifles. For a 50 yard grouping, this is perfectly acceptable.

+1

 

[AZDAVE]

Your first load is very good I wouldn't mess with it. The second need a bit more speed to get the bullets to converge. FPS is a basic gauge however every rifle is a bit different.

One of the factors in your loads is the different amount of bearing surface the bullet has, combine that with the dwell time of the bullet in barrels.

Almost all of my doubles the solid regulates faster than the soft both hitting a similar POI.


Your second target is good. I might play with powder up of down a grain and see if you get any improvement but as that target shows softs and solids together. I would hunt with it all day long and twice on sunday's.

 

[ftrovato]

Got a chance to shoot a chance to shoot a few more definitely moving in the right direction. I is just odd to me that the velocity doesn't seem to matter I would guess with the next batch I am going to test the North Fork CPS solids will be going 120-150fps faster than what the softs end up working at.
View attachment 690132

You're good to go hunting! I'd use your time at the range to practice from different positions rather than trying to better this grouping...

 

[pedrettid]

I should have added that the green is all the left barrel and the red is the right barrel at 50 yards.