Maynard Ammo - Watcha using?

[Michael Bodner]

STILL working on a teammate's Maynard. Had Bobby Hoyt reline, etc to get a good barrel.


What do YOU use for ammo regarding 2F or 3F, number of grains, filler, HARDNESS of the lead?

ONLY interested if you use REDUCED capacity cases (that's what we have).

Just struggling like heck to get anything to group.


And PLEASE, no comments like "We, just try different loads and see what works best". I'll infect you with Bubonic Plague......

Thanks!!!

-Boots

[Lou Lou Lou]

515-385 Moose bullet. 20grs FFFg Goex, reduced cap brass cases

[RaiderANV]

26 grains of 3F Goex behind the Lyman 515139 bullet sizes to .516. I dip them in 50/50 beeswax/Crisco and load with my press and Maynard die. I use to push the rounds into the case with my thumb and some were tough. I had a flyer here and there and figured out a few of the rounds didnt go in square to the case. I picked them out one day and fired ten and had a 12? group. The sweet looking ones 1.5? group. After switching to loading the cases in my press they all went exactly where the gun was aimed at the time it went off. 🙄

[J. C. Hall]

Use 25g 3f under bullet form Mike Ozniak (sp?) 519002 4 cavity brass mold. Soft lead. Bullet is very similar to Lyman 515139. Use lubrisizer (.518) with beeswax based lube and load with press. It shoots better than I can. I have used the same configuration for years in either a model 1 or 2 Maynard. If the bullet goes in the back, it will be the right size when it comes out the front as long as it is at least the same size as the bore going in!

[John Bly]

23 grains of 1 1/2 Swiss with a modified Lyman 515141 bullet sized .518" that weighs 370 grains. Lube with SPG. Before that I shot 24 grains of 3 F Swiss. I decided to try the 1 1/2 because I use a lot of it and was looking to simplify my stockpiles of stuff.

[Michael Bodner]

John,

What Brinnell hardness lead?

I've been trying one thing after another and can't seem to narrow it down OR get the same performance two strings in a row...

Since you are a bona fide expert on Maynard's, could you suggest anything mechanical to examine? Or in cartridge making steps?

Just feels like I keep hitting my head against a wall..

Thanks

Mike

[Michael Bodner]

Also. How are you guys making your cartridges? Loading tool, just hand-seating bullet? Any filler? Doing anything to compress the load?

Thanks again!

[Lou Lou Lou]

Usually don?t need filler with reduced capacity cases. Fill it to the rebated edge

[John Bly]

I'm shooting dead soft lead in mine. Many people shoot soft lead with good results. I finger seat the bullets but if any are too tight then I use a 50/70 seater die. If the bullets are too tight it is generally because of a peened edge from tumbling when cleaning. My bullets are seated to engrave the rifling when I close the action.

Check for any kind of loosness, the stock, the front pivot joint should slide forward and back but there should not be any vertical movement. Make sure your bullets are .001"-.002" larger than the groove diameter. Hoyt often gets the groove diameter to .517" or .518".

Make sure your technique is consistent. Maynards are the most unforgiving things if you do the slightest thing wrong. Pull back into your shoulder with the trigger hand and only use the hand on the barrel for aiming.

Is it an original Maynard or a repro?

[Michael Bodner]

Thanks John!!

I appreciate your insight and your taking time to answer.

I 'believe' the stock is a little bit loose. I guess I'll have to bed it?? to make up any gaps between the stock and tang/action. Is that the correct way or is there some other sort of filler material that can withstand the shock/impact?

I gave the gun back to the owner/teammate. I've literally spent 16 months and cast over a thousand (different) types of rounds for it, trying loads, lubes, etc. Like I said, we even relined the barrel, but still nothin'...

BUT your comment about how finicky the Maynard can be with regards to hold and pressure against the shoulder seems to be somewhat consistent with some of our observations... We've been shooting off the bench and have both noticed how difficult it is to get a consistant cheek weld and shoulder mount... Got to figure out a better way to hold at the bench to be consistent.

I'll also have to slug with pure lead bullet. Using Lyman 515 and sizine 515... Hopefully, not too small! No signs of tumbling, just inconsitent pattering.

THANKS AGAIN for you insight.

-Mike

PS: Its a repro.
Harpers Ferry Arms Co.