457-405 Lee mold

[hedgehorn]

I am thinking about getting one of these molds for my marlin 45/70. I wondered if anyone here had tried it with a marlin. Mine is a xlr. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

[MtGun44]

I get excellent accy with the RCBS 405 GC and either Speer or Rem 405 FLGC
bullets. I get patterns (maybe 12") with the Lee in my rifle.

I'll sell you my Lee 405 DC mold cheap, it could easily work in your gun much better
than it does in mine.

Bill

[looseprojectile]

My Lee 405 gr. pb has not been accurate in any 45 caliber rifle I have tried it in.
Look around and try to get a 350 grain Goulds hollow point mould. Borrow one if you can. They seem to shoot in anything.
Lee 405 moulds cast too small.
I may try to lap mine out.
Cheap is not good in this instance.

[hedgehorn]

Good information. Do either of the heavier or lighter weight Lee bullet molds work well? I noticed that they have a 450 grain and a 340 as well

[weasel 21]

I havent done this but my marlin 45/70 has the microgroove rifling ;anyone know what those barrels mike out at?

[grouch]

I can't speak to thhe Lee 405gr ln a marlin, but I returned my last one unused because that odd curved sprue plate isn't flat over the mold cavity, hence the bullet base can't be flat either. That was the old single cavity mold. If that hasn't been fixed, it's unlikely that mold will shoot well in anything.

[Scrounger]

The Lee 405gr Hollow Base mold worked well in a Marlin i had some years ago. The hollow base flares out to fit the bore correctly and makes up for the bullet being a little under-sized.

[Leftoverdj]

The solid base is a nominal .457 and may well cast that small. That's undersized for Marlins. The hollow base is 459-405-HB, generally casts .460 or .461 and shoots as well as anyone could ask for in Marlins. Ragged holes at 50 yards are the norm with 28 grains of 5744 or 31 grains of IMR 4198.

[StrawHat]

Look around and try to get a 350 grain Goulds hollow point mould. Borrow one if you can.

The Lyman company still lists this one, 457122.

It is my favorite 45 caliber hunting bullet.

[Maven]

hedgehorn, The Lee 405-PB that I have casts ~0.462" (wheelwts. + 1% Sn), but I size it to .459". It is wonderfully accurate in my Marlin #336 with smokeless, BP, or Pyrodex loads (different lube for the latter two).

[tall grass]

Sure wish they would make the Lee FB in a .460 instead of .457 for the marlin. I have 4 and have lapped some out and that helped alot. My 1895ss chamber slugged at .4595 so I need at least a .460 to do the job. I have given up on the Lee 457-340fn and 457-405 fn for now anyway. I think the reason the Lee HB works well is that it casts bigger to start with and the base bumping up has to help also.

Jim