Home Forums Hunting & Shooting BPCR The 40-65 spoke with authority.

I have a friend that says bullets cast using 25:1 and a 410655 mold come in at 410 grains, and that is all he uses with his 40-70 straight sharps. He has taken three elk with it, one that was at 350 yards and he got full penetration.

Congrats!

We're trying to sleep here?

I hunted my tail off in South West Arkansas over the last day in a half, hunting was brutally thick, the sawbriars didn't disappoint.

I was fortunate enough to level the sights of my new Shiloh 40-65 on three deer, three shots, then three rode home with me.

Deer #1, Doe, 88 yards, clean broadside double shoulder shot, DRT, complete penetration.

Deer #2, Doe, 30 yards, extremely hard quartering away shot, raked and penetrated ribcage on left side, bullet exited right front center shoulder, 30 yard death run, complete penetration.

Deer #3, 5pt buck, 105 yards, full front on chest with a slight leftward front cant, bullet entered left center chest and exited right ham, DRT, complete penetration.

I had a damn blast and was blessed to have this hunt.

Bullet was a 416 gr Lyman flat nosed greaser at 1285 fps with KIK 3F Holy Black.

With over 4 feet of penetration on this buck, I'd gladly point this rifle at a Bison with complete confidence.

You suck.

I just got back from a weekend deer hunt on a friend's ranch in west Texas. Both my host and Gunner wanted me to shoot my 40-70 Sharps as I had never taken an animal with a 40 caliber rifle. I was able to get a shot at a decent 10 point buck at 131 yards, and the 40-70 put a 385 grain round nosed paper patched bullet through and through the buck on a high shoulder shot. 69 grains of KIK 2f pushed the bullet to 1285 fps, and I was frankly surprised at how loud the sound of the bullet hitting the deer was. The deer went down RIGHT NOW, and if I had reservations about using the 40-70 or the 40-65 on game prior to this, I will tell you that the forty caliber rifles with the right bullet will definitely get the job done.

I just got back from a weekend deer hunt on a friend's ranch in west Texas. Both my host and Gunner wanted me to shoot my 40-70 Sharps as I had never taken an animal with a 40 caliber rifle. I was able to get a shot at a decent 10 point buck at 131 yards, and the 40-70 put a 385 grain round nosed paper patched bullet through and through the buck on a high shoulder shot. 69 grains of KIK 2f pushed the bullet to 1285 fps, and I was frankly surprised at how loud the sound of the bullet hitting the deer was. The deer went down RIGHT NOW, and if I had reservations about using the 40-70 or the 40-65 on game prior to this, I will tell you that the forty caliber rifles with the right bullet will definitely get the job done.

Don't ever doubt the lethal of nature of big chunks of lead at pedestrian velocities. Ask the buffalo. Ask the chief looking down on Billy Dixon. Ask the survivors of the Northern War of Aggression.

First time this was so glaringly apparent to me involved a hog that moved about 12" after the shot....vertically. Second was an armadillo that disappeared in a cloud of chunks and spray. I believe.....

Toldja!

Huh what was that noise? did I hear a shot??
Hey Gunner I asked for blood and I see you did well!! Very good.

gosh darn, I just now remembered that a local 100 yard range is open at night. I might actually get something loaded & tested for this weekend - besides a boring 7mm-08.

Don't cut the .40-65 short for Bison. I know a feller that had a Bison hunting ranch and he had a cow fence jumper. He took his .40-65 and dropped her with one shot on the spot.

I just got back from a weekend deer hunt on a friend's ranch in west Texas. Both my host and Gunner wanted me to shoot my 40-70 Sharps as I had never taken an animal with a 40 caliber rifle. I was able to get a shot at a decent 10 point buck at 131 yards, and the 40-70 put a 385 grain round nosed paper patched bullet through and through the buck on a high shoulder shot. 69 grains of KIK 2f pushed the bullet to 1285 fps, and I was frankly surprised at how loud the sound of the bullet hitting the deer was. The deer went down RIGHT NOW, and if I had reservations about using the 40-70 or the 40-65 on game prior to this, I will tell you that the forty caliber rifles with the right bullet will definitely get the job done.

Kurt, I had a half dozen rounds loaded with the 403169 in my cartridge belt, but didn't use them. They are not as accurate as the 385 grain paper patched load in my rifle, so I went with the the most accurate load.

Gunner, I'm having the buck mounted, and I AM proud of him, but a pretty mount he ain't gonna be. He had been fighting, and had two tines broken off his left side and one off his right side. Kinda ugly, but he is proof positive that a 40 caliber Sharps and paper patched bullets do hit with authority. I think that 40-65 of yours proved to be every bit the equal of this 40-70 and doesn't give up anything to it.

This whole 40 caliber weekend got me to thinking. I have a Pedersoli Sharps in 40-65 that has been ignored for well over ten years. It was my wife's old silhouette rifle. I dusted it off and rounded up a few paper patch rounds and a dozen or so 400 grain greasers and went to the range. And the thing simply shot lights out. 100 yards, 150 yard ram, 200 meter gong, and my 410 yard swinger were ALL tagged with dead center first shot hits. I swear I don't have another rifle that will do any better, and most won't do as well without some drama involved. The wife was watching the hits through a pair of 10x42 binoculars, and when she said the hit at 410 was a pinwheel I realized that I have been neglecting an over the top hunting rifle for years. Bottom line is, I am going to use this 40-65 a LOT more in the future. This thing is so pleasant and so much fun to shoot, and the accuracy is so good that I would be foolish not to use it. It's almost like having a brand new rifle.

If I ever get around to ordering an 1877, think I may just go for a .38-55 or a .40-65. Seems like the lighter rifle compliments the lesser cartridges.

I picked mine up today!
A good two years of waiting and wanting just came to an end. Now it looks like I have another belt to make!

Just saw this thread gunner. Good deal!

And a longer scabbard, congrats HTRN, that rifle will be a blast to shoot, work up loads for and hunt with.

Cast you some Lyman snover bullets from 20-1 seat those over a .030 fiber wad, and 60 gr. of Olde Eynsford 2f. Prime the cases with rp 9 1/2 primers.

Don't have any '77 experience Tex, but, were I on the lookout for another 40-65, it would be for none other than an excellent 1886...................can you spell SWEET?

Yeah, always have liked the 1886's/M71's But nice ones have always been more than I wanted to spend. How hard to disassemble are the 1886 actions - as far as making sure they are free of BP residue?

LOL - that scabbard was just to keep it off the floor. It actually fits a scoped rifle and my buddy wants me to sell it for him.

I am actively looking for components, dies and molds to do just that! Any suggestions for loads would be welcome, as well as any leads for stuff that can be had at reasonable prices!

Get the Smith sight. If you are going to hunt, you will be making a serious mistake if you overlook the 403169. Your 18 twist will really make it come alive. The Saeco 740 and the 640 both fall far short of either of the Lyman flatnosed bullets for hunting. I have and have shot each of these different bullets, and you will be TIME and money ahead to get the two Lyman molds and forget the rest if you plan to hunt.

, a 500 gr Jerry Dean flat nosed greaser at 1236 fps powered by 3F KIK black powder wont be recovered either.