From a few days before the current situation, I think I found the load

for that particular rifle.  This was at 200 yards using a .40-65

Not a fluke, that's the third group with this load that was this tight or very close to it.  Which for me and iron sights...

This is the Lyman Snover 400-grain bullet, cast of 20-1, over a .060" fiber wad(Walter's Wads, I recommend them), 58.0 grains of Olde Eynesford 1.5f black powder, ignited by a Federal Large Rifle Magnum Match primer, all held together by a Starline case(formed from .45-70) of 2.10" length.  Overall length 2.97".  I found that the max length with this bullet is 2.975 by my caliper, at which point the bullet is engaging the rifling, a PITA to chamber, and does not shoot nearly as well as this.  


I also may have the long-range load for the .45-70.  Also 200

A couple of things before the specifics.  First, I was getting tired and hungry at this point; the tired because between two specific health matters I've lost some endurance.
Second, I've had this two-group crap happen before, and every time it's been my fault.  In this case it was six rounds total, both the sub-groups are just a bit over 2", if you measure them together the horizontal spread is a bit over 4".

Specifics are the Lyman 535-grain Postell bullet, 20-1*, the same .060" thick wad, 65.0 grains of Goex 2f, Federal Large Rifle Magnum primer, Winchester cases of 2.1".  OAL on this load 2.987" (near as I could keep it).

Couple of things I've found out:
The Olde Eynesford black powder seems to prefer match primers.

With all cases I only resize about the first 3/4" of the case to give enough tension to hold the bullet.  With Starline cases I expand deep enough for the length of bullet that fits inside the case; Winchester cases have thinner walls, and I don't expand them, only bell the case mouth.  Seems to work best that way. 

Now I need to try the .45-70 load with the OE 1.5f and see how that works.  And try the .45-70 with a standard match primer; doesn't shoot as well in the .40-65, but with black powder that means nothing as to what another rifle will like.

It just hit me that Dad will never get to try these rifles out.  I'm done.



*I've been using 20-1 for all the bullets used with black powder