45-70 Plinker from Old Army Mold

[wiljen]

Cast my first plinkers using a beagled Lee .456 mold designed for the Ruger old army. They Dropped at .459 so the beagling worked as advertised. Now to try em out at the range. 220gr HPs for the 45-70 anyone?

[Hackleback]

These look very similer to the samples Drinks sent me for the 45-70 plinker GB. BTW, I am still working on the plinker project, just at a snails pace.

[wiljen]

I just picked up the mold cheap and thought it would be worth trying. I think that may be the only HP still in the lee mold catalog at this point, if not, it is one of a very small list. I'm still keeping an eye on that plinker if and when too.

[Larry Gibson]

Wiljen

I shot a lot of those Ruger bullets in my H&R TDs and Siamese Mauser before I got the Rapine 460-250 mould. The front bands on my bullets ran .459 and the rear .456 so I slightly reamed the rear band so they now drop at .459. Try working up from 5 to 7 gr of Bullseye in 1/2 gr increments. No wad or filler is necessary. Velocity will run from 800 fps or so upwards of 1000 fps depending on your rifle. I tried slower powders such as Unique and found velocities were to high for efficient burning of the powder and accuracy was poor. My H&Rs really shot well with 6.5 gr Bullseye. Mine wasn't a HP so I went to the FP Rapine bullet for hunting. The Ruger bullet is a good one for the 45-70 when the rear band is opened or beagled.

Larry Gibson

[wiljen]

Thanks Larry. I've got a pound or two of bullseye around here somewhere but hadnt really thought about using it. I'll have to give that a shot.