recomendation on a lee mold for my 45-70

[Soundguy]

I'm thinking of gettin a lee mold to feed my 45-70's.

I'm looking at 300 or 385 grain, with trailboss or imr 4064 as the propellant. Both have loads for those two weight boolits at under 2000fos. I'll B using Lyman #2 alloy, and at that speed, I dont think ill need gas checks.

Guns are a marlin lever gun, and a biakal double rifle. And yes, I'm choosing the powder, speed and projectile weight to make shoulder friendly shooting.

Anyone used a lee die in either of those weights and care to comment?

Thanks.

[Soundguy]

Well, poop.. Upon further research,if I want to use trailboss, and imr 4064, and make loads that are trapdoor friendly ( and obviously fine for the lever gun) Looks like I am up at a 405g

Looks like my options are only a lee 90374

Anyone use one?

[Scharfschuetze]

The 405 grain boolits have always given me the best accuracy in my collection of 45/70 rifles. The Lee 405 grain sized to .460" is a favorite in my original Trapdoors and the Lyman 457193 has proven to be a good design in my Marlin and H&R rifles with modern bore design and diameter.

The 45/70 is pretty easy to get shooting well. I like either Bullseye or Tightgroup for duplicating the issue Cavalry load of 1873 (1,100fps). 4759 or 4198 are used to duplicate the infantry load of 1873 (1,300fps).

For hotter loads, I like IMR 3031.

[Soundguy]

I'm seeing lots of love for 405gr, that's very promising!

[Michael J. Spangler]

All I have shot is the 405 so I don't have comparison but I can tell you I love it from 12 grains of unique up to tooth rattling loads.


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[Oklahoma Rebel]

I esu a 425gr noe round nose flat point (rnfp) with 32.2gr of imr 4198, and it kicks like a 30-30 with factory ammo, my load is about 1400fps so a 405 at anywhere from 1100-1300fps would be easy peasy

[Soundguy]

Nice.

[Blackwater]

I believe the 340 gr. FP will also fit in the Marlin. Be careful not to load overlength rounds. They can tie up a levergun. The double will take anything of any length. Both should take any load recommended for leverguns, pressure wise. Most find a point where the recoil gets to be a bit much for them before they top out on pressures.

If you're using Tail Boss for cowboy shooting, you may want very light loads. You can load anything from round balls (don't know how they'd feed in the levergun) to any of the lighter FP bullets (mostly 300-350 gr.) with moderate charges so recoil doesn't cost you estra time coming down out of recoil, and the milder loads won't mess up the gong targets, too. Actually, it'd be harder to find a BAD load for the .45/70 than it will be to find a good, acceptable one. I've shot H-4198, 3031, H-322 and I can't remember what all else in my .45/70's, and have never fired a bad or inaccurate load among all of them. Maybe I was lucky? Not sure, but it's a caliber that many report finding accuracy in quite easily. The big thing in it is casting really good bullets, with good, sharp bases and no voids internally. I and others have had trouble casting good bullets of 500+ gr. using any alloy with WW in it. I tried 50/50 WW/Soft, and every bullet I cast had a void near the base. Swithing to plain lead/tin alloy, I got perfect and very accurate bullets. That's for the heavies. Never had a problem with the Lee 340 gr. having voids in the base, though, even with straight WW's. YMMV. Main thing is to experiment using your powder, loads and techniques.

I wish all calibers were as easy to find good loads for as the good ol' .45/70!

[Soundguy]

I have plenty of straight lead, straight tin, as well as Lyman #2 and linotype.

[Texas by God]

My favorite for a friends Marlin Cowboy 45-70 and my P14 .450 Marlin is the Lee 340FP. In both guns it outshot the Lyman 405 gr. using Unique and IMR 4198. A few more bullets to the pound as well. Best, Thomas.

[Texas by God]

I agree with Blackwater on the 45-70. I have never shot an inaccurate rifle or carbine in that chambering. Inherently Accurate? Damn straight. Best, Thomas.

[Soundguy]

I think ill stick to 405. I can use it in my 458 winmag/ .458 Lott, the lever gun and the double rifle. I can get lots of milage.

As a bonus, that 405 over 18-21grns of trailboss will make that 458 winmag/lott shootable ;)

[243winxb]

This bullet , loaded with IMR 4198 in a Marlin cut the same hole at 50 yds. Seen it at the club this week. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/796585/oregon-trail-laser-cast-bullets-45-70-government-459-diameter-405-grain-lead-flat-nose-box-of-250 Lee MOLD DC 457-405-F about the same?

[omgb]

I use the Lee 405 hollow base in my 45-70 carbine with excellent results. It will work with either light or medium loads. My go to powder is 5744. However, I tend to shoot BP more than anything but not in a lever gun....too messy. I have many other 45 cal bullets but that lee is the best in the 45-70 trapdoor

[big bore 99]

I have a couple 45-70's here and both the Lee 405 hp and hb. and 500 gr gas checked. I mostly shoot the 340 here. They all give excellent accuracy with light loads of Unique and IMR4198 and h4198. I especially like to size some down and paper patch them.
Works for me.

[Soundguy]

This bullet , loaded with IMR 4198 in a Marlin cut the same hole at 50 yds. Seen it at the club this week. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/796585/oregon-trail-laser-cast-bullets-45-70-government-459-diameter-405-grain-lead-flat-nose-box-of-250 Lee MOLD DC 457-405-F about the same?

At least close, round profile ogive, and flat point.