Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 500 gr. Flat noses in my 1895

Well I bought some dies second hand and also some cast bullets he had. 30 or them were 300 grain flat noses and 90 were 500 grain flat noses. I figured I would load up some of the 500 grain bullets just for fun with a medium load using 26.0 grains of IMR 4227, mag primers and PMC cases. Well oddly enough at some 1300 fps they kicked more than a 300 grain Winchester HP factory load! The sad part is they don't stabilize, the first four I shot I thought I was flinching but the next 6 showed me that at 25 yards they were all keyholeing. The 300 grain bullets when seated to the cannelure and crimped the bearing surface won't let me close the lever. Drat! On the other hand it is a tackdriver with the Winchester 300 gr. HP's and some 405 Remington flat noses I fired using the same powder charge as the 500 grainers. Nice and mild load that one is! So far I am very happy with the rifle and will order a peep for it soon.