Anyone using the lee 405 grain Non Gas check boolit?

[vmathias]

Wondering what velocities people are running with this design?

[Steve E]

Was using it (straight wheel weight) in my Sharps replica at about 1400 fps (quite accurate) but have since started using a 500 gr boolit with fantastic results.

Steve E..........

[btroj]

I have used a 420 plain base at 1650. It leaded a tiny amount but easily gave 20 accurate rounds with no problem. Good enough for hunting.

I also had good fit, a smooth bore, and no tight spots in bore.

[High Desert Hunter]

I shoot a 412gr PB at 1675-1750 with no leading, I size to .459 for both my Ruger #1 and my Marlin Guide Gun.

[Sensai]

I use the Lee 405 in my '95CB 26" at just under 1700 with no problems.

[Green Lizzard]

ive gone to 1600 with a soft alloy and a walters wad on the boolit base

[warboar_21]

I have only shot the Lee 405-hollow base over a light charge of Unique so it can't really be doing more than 1200-1300fps. The day I tested them I couldn't set up my chrony due to wind. I saw no leading at all. I plan on running it across the chrony to see what it produces velocity wise and I also plan on trying it over a stiffer charge of another powder to see where my limits are for this bullet.

[pdawg_shooter]

I am getting a hair over 1800 with great accuracy. But then I size .451 and paper patch back up. Use it in a 45-70 and a 458mag.

[RobsTV]

Lee 405 HB in original 1884 Springfield TD with a full case of slightly compressed Goex 2f shoots these SOWW+tin boolits all day at 1400fps. Very accurate and zero leading.

[oldfart1956]

Without regard to velocity...how much abuse are you willing to take? That durn Larry Gibson had me load up some 2400 in a Trapdoor....I think it was 17/18/19/20 gr. loads...memory is still quite blurred. I stopped at 18gr. which left me with blurred vision, headaches and crying like a little girl at the bench. I'm pullin' the rest....I ain't neva eva shootin' them again. (thanks Larry...:) ) I'm 6ft. 3 in. and 250lbs. and the trapdoor must weigh 12lbs. with the leather&lead buttstock boot. An it still hurt! I'm now going to a 300 grain boolit. Plan on doing the "pull-the-trigger" mod to the 405gr. mold as soon as time permits. Most mere mortals couldn't take a poundin' like that. Audie....the Oldfart...

[161]

Go do a little reading in the Smokeless Paper Patching section. That's the bullet I started patching it's not hard at all.

[44man]

There will be pain before velocity! :kidding:
I have a 12# Browning, made my own rest like one of those lead sleds and beat my shoulder still.

[btroj]

Without regard to velocity...how much abuse are you willing to take? That durn Larry Gibson had me load up some 2400 in a Trapdoor....I think it was 17/18/19/20 gr. loads...memory is still quite blurred. I stopped at 18gr. which left me with blurred vision, headaches and crying like a little girl at the bench. I'm pullin' the rest....I ain't neva eva shootin' them again. (thanks Larry...:) ) I'm 6ft. 3 in. and 250lbs. and the trapdoor must weigh 12lbs. with the leather&lead buttstock boot. An it still hurt! I'm now going to a 300 grain boolit. Plan on doing the "pull-the-trigger" mod to the 405gr. mold as soon as time permits. Most mere mortals couldn't take a poundin' like that. Audie....the Oldfart...
I shoot a 420 gr bullet with 24 gr of 2400 all day long in my 7 pound or so Marlin. I often shoot 50 in an outing with no problems.

Want to make a 45-70 more shoot able? Get away from the bench. Stand up. If you must shoot from a bench then sit up straight as possible. Leaning into a hard kicker means you can't roll with the recoil.

[40-82]

For several years I used an RCBS 405. With wheel weights this bullet weighed 420 grains. Its a gas check design, but I used it without gas checks. My load was 40 grains of 3031, an accurate load that didn't lead, and pushed the bullet to about 1400 fps. When I moved up to 42 grains of 3031, I still experienced no leading, but my groups began to open. Whether this was due to less accuracy in the load or my sensitivity to recoil, I don't know. I killed maybe twenty deer with the 40 grains of 3031 load. I gave up on the 420 grain bullet for deer hunting after working with the RCBS of the same design that weighed 325 grains. With 50 grains of Varget the 325 grain bullet gave me about 1800 fps, but I had to go to gas checks. Recoil with the lighter bullet was much less. I would judge penetraton adeqate with the lighter bullet. A few years ago I slipped up on a group of does late in the season about 75 yards out, and saw that two had lined themselves up perfectly. At the shot both of them dropped stone dead. I never recovered the bullet. Although I guessed the 325 grain bullet had plenty of penetration, that experience gave me graphic proof.

If I have a chance to wander around in grizzly or brown bear country, I will still probably go back to the bigger bullet.

[vmathias]

Without regard to velocity...how much abuse are you willing to take? That durn Larry Gibson had me load up some 2400 in a Trapdoor....I think it was 17/18/19/20 gr. loads...memory is still quite blurred. I stopped at 18gr. which left me with blurred vision, headaches and crying like a little girl at the bench. I'm pullin' the rest....I ain't neva eva shootin' them again. (thanks Larry...:) ) I'm 6ft. 3 in. and 250lbs. and the trapdoor must weigh 12lbs. with the leather&lead buttstock boot. An it still hurt! I'm now going to a 300 grain boolit. Plan on doing the "pull-the-trigger" mod to the 405gr. mold as soon as time permits. Most mere mortals couldn't take a poundin' like that. Audie....the Oldfart...

This will not be a (plinking) rifle. I plan on shooting it here and there and the way I see it is this, when a deer or bear walks out I wont be worrying about the recoil. :-)

[EMC45]

I use it. Killed 3 deer with it. 15gr. Unique sized at .459. Works great.

[cataway]

i use and like that boolit, sorry i cant yet say what the speed is , i did shoot over the chronograph but the thing did not want to work . i shoot a encore hand cannon using black horn powder. it pretty much keeps a 2'' group at 100yd

[Taylor]

I use it it in my H&R Buffalo Classic,no complaints here.

[MikeS]

I have the Lee 405HB mould, so far I've only ever shot it with about 60gr FFG powder in my 11lb rolling block rifle, and it shot great in it. I also have an Enfield chambered in 45-70 that I want to try that load in, I've been meaning to go to the range and shoot it, but little things like heart attacks, and kidney failure have been keeping me from getting to the range. I guess I better get to the range quick, before something else comes up to keep me from getting there!