Lee 459-500-r3

[161]

Just cast my first LEE 500gr. for my Pedersoli Billy Dixon 45-70. Thats a BIG boolit. 50/50 WW/Lead weigh 486gr. and drop .459-.460 depending on the side you measure.
161

[DragoonDrake]

My sharps loves that bullet.

[161]

I assume I can tumble lube them and get along alright? Only going to shoot 12 gr. of Unique.

[DragoonDrake]

OH. I don't tumble lube anymore, but I don't see why not. Never used Unique in my 45-70's, I use trailboss, H4895 and varget.

[Kraschenbirn]

... Never used Unique in my 45-70's, I use trailboss, H4895 and varget.

What's your H4895 load? My Pedersoli RB seems to prefer heavier boolits and I've got a good supply of H4895 on hand. I have the mould and have even cast a "test run" of 50-60 boolits, just haven't done anything with them yet.

Bill

[DragoonDrake]

I am not at home, but IIRC 38grs, with the bullet seated out to the second lube groove.

[DragoonDrake]

And when I get home I will post my notes, but if you decide to load before that; please check a loading manual. For what my memory is worth, it is not worth damaging your firearm and hurting yourself.

[161]

I know I can tumble lube non-tl boolits just didn't know if the lube would ride the full 32 inches of the barrel.

[DragoonDrake]

Oh I would assume that the lube would last. I would try double dippng/tumbling just in case

[DragoonDrake]

Kraschenbirn, it is 40grs not 38. sorry

[Kraschenbirn]

Thanks, after looking as some published load data, I'm probably going to start around 36 gr. and work up from there. I've been working with AA2015 and found that my loads are clocking around 150-175 fps faster than the published Accurate Data predicts. Have backed my loads down below Accurate's "recommended starting" and still running right at 1430 fps with a 440 gr RNFP. Oddly enough, though, measured velocities using AA2015 with a 405 gr. RNFP in my H&R Trapdoor Carbine were awfully close to Accurate's load chart.

Bill