Smokeless Muzzleloader Build

[mwwoodman]

What would work best with a .40 caliber barrel? Saboted bullets or full bore?

Definitely no sabots. I do them with a cut rifled 1-15 twist.

 

[mwwoodman]

This is my method of headspacing bolt muzzleloaders without using a nut system. You can keep the shank at 1.25" diameter. A fixed length module plug is used which has a short carbide bushing in the rear.
We do this on Paramount conversions and Rem 700/Defiance Outcast and clones. There is a concealed shim ring which we make in a handful of size increments, seen in red. Nominal ring thickness is 1mm (.039) so it gives quite a bit of room in and out. We make .003, .004, .005, .031 and .039 rings which give plenty of flexibility to set head space and time fluting with zero gunsmithing or custom machining required.

 

[Robert23430]

This is my method of headspacing bolt muzzleloaders without using a nut system. You can keep the shank at 1.25" diameter. A fixed length module plug is used which has a short carbide bushing in the rear.
We do this on Paramount conversions and Rem 700/Defiance Outcast and clones. There is a concealed shim ring which we make in a handful of size increments, seen in red. Nominal ring thickness is 1mm (.039) so it gives quite a bit of room in and out. We make .003, .004, .005, .031 and .039 rings which give plenty of flexibility to set head space and time fluting with zero gunsmithing or custom machining required.

Would that work with my small shank savage 7mm-08 donor?

 

[mwwoodman]

Would that work with my small shank savage 7mm-08 donor?

What is the barrel thread on that? What is the receiver diameter?

 

[michiganmuzzy]

This is my method of headspacing bolt muzzleloaders without using a nut system. You can keep the shank at 1.25" diameter. A fixed length module plug is used which has a short carbide bushing in the rear.
We do this on Paramount conversions and Rem 700/Defiance Outcast and clones. There is a concealed shim ring which we make in a handful of size increments, seen in red. Nominal ring thickness is 1mm (.039) so it gives quite a bit of room in and out. We make .003, .004, .005, .031 and .039 rings which give plenty of flexibility to set head space and time fluting with zero gunsmithing or custom machining required.

Are you making/selling prefit barrels? I have a Howa 1500 in need of a .40 sml barrel.

 

[GM54-120]

What is the barrel thread on that? What is the receiver diameter?

Small shank is 1.055" x 20tpi

 

[Robert23430]

Definitely no sabots. I do them with a cut rifled 1-15 twist.

Thanks

What is the barrel thread on that? What is the receiver diameter?

I’m traveling now. I’ll check the receiver diameter when I get back home next week.

My Savage Axis II XP has the small shank. Strictly from what I have read online the small shank threads are 1-1/16" x 20 TPI. https://patriotvalleyarms.com/barrel-nut-for-savage-remage-barrels/

 

[mwwoodman]

Are you making/selling prefit barrels? I have a Howa 1500 in need of a .40 sml barrel.

Only prefit for ones listed, Paramount and Rem 700/clones.

 

[bronko220002]

If you can hunt with a .40 cal, that is my first choice. Some of the nicest shooting rifles I've built are 40 cals. The action is not necessarily where safety factor comes in, it is the barrel shank and breech plug.
To shoot under 300 yards from a treestand, a bolt gun is probably way over kill. If you were going to build a bolt gun, a Defiance Outcast is the way to go. You could get a new Brux barreled action for about $2000. Stocks and triggers are everywhere and you can always upgrade these down the road easily.

Yup.
The 40's have done to the 45's, what the 45's did to the 50's.
In competition, the 40's are ruling now.
All the custom bullet builders are making 40cal bullets.
I'd suggest a FAST twist also if the OP goes 40cal.

Gentlemen that may be true but you have to look at the regs. My home state of PA does not allow use of a muzzleloader under .44 caliber. So in my mind why would you not get a .45 and you could still use .40 cal bullets in a sabot or shoot bullet to bore. And the .45 has many more bullet options.

 

[ENCORE50A]

Gentlemen that may be true but you have to look at the regs. My home state of PA does not allow use of a muzzleloader under .44 caliber. So in my mind why would you not get a .45 and you could still use .40 cal bullets in a sabot or shoot bullet to bore. And the .45 has many more bullet options.

Yes that's true for those states that have special restrictions.
However, if you DO NOT live in one of those states and are not limited, the 40's rule.
Every custom bullet builder is making 40cal bullets.
I assure you, if I were to build another rifle, it would be a FAST twist 40cal.

 

[Robert23430]

Yes that's true for those states that have special restrictions.
However, if you DO NOT live in one of those states and are not limited, the 40's rule.
Every custom bullet builder is making 40cal bullets.
I assure you, if I were to build another rifle, it would be a FAST twist 40cal.

Yes and as I stated earlier Virginia allows you to use a 40 caliber or larger muzzleloader rifle with projectiles 35 caliber or up. Anyone that needs to know for there state should check directly on there states game department website. Several sources for all states have not been kept up to date.

 

[bronko220002]

You guys are right. Although the .40 doesn't have the variety of projectiles it certainly has enough good ones to give you a great hunting and target rifle.
As for me, although the 40 intrigues me, I wouldn't want to invest that much green to shoot targets.
A lot of these muzzleloader hunting laws IMO are being made by those ignorant of a muzzleloaders capability and also by input from traditional muzzleloader shooters. Its really a shame that in my case I cannot even use a muzzleloader less than .44 cal even during regular season. I know a smokeless .40 would blow the doors off a cartridge like a 30-30.

 

[45-70]

I'd buy from Arrowhead and be done with it.

The 40's shooting smokeless can take some work getting it right but, when you do......... WOW.
The top shooters in the country are switching over and using 40's. We shoot at Camp Atterbury at 1,000yds and CAN NOT use smokeless propellants. Everyone used BH but, those 40's are putting the hurt on we with 45's.

Good luck.

they haven't beat me , yet maybe this spring or Fall

 

[ENCORE50A]

they haven't beat me , yet maybe this spring or Fall

LOL................... They whopped up on us 45's last fall. Took honors at Friendship last fall too.
I'm to damn old to build another rifle. Besides, I have a fortune wrapped up in 45cal bullets.