I got back out to the range today to reconfirm my last findings,this time at 100 yards.I have hit pay dirt!! The load is 48.4 grs. of IMR 3031 with a WLR primer and a bullet of 425 grs./with gas check, a design that I drew up and had cut for me.At 100 yards it prints consistenly side-by-side
with a spread of 1/2 to 3/4 inch when I do my part out of 15 groups fired today.Considerably better than I expected. If the load crosses it will be farther out than I need to be shooting with a 45-70.
I noted that the range of velocity that it regulates at gets smaller as the bullet weight goes up but everything from 300 to 425 grs. regulates at about the same velocity-around 1770 fps average of the 2 barrels give or take with the left barrel always faster than the right depending on bullet weight.Now it is time to find a shorter front sight as it hits low at all ranges,have'nt cut the sight leaves yet because of that.

Big Mike

I suspect that the 425 gr. bullet is at the high end of what this rifle will regulate because of the small velocity regulation window that was seen with it. What do you folks think on that subject?