First Timer!

[Toad]

I hunt deer with a H&R 45-70 and wanted to know some good loads to use. Are cast boolits good for this? I would also like to start to cast my own,I already cast for my muzzleloaders. Any help would be great.

[EMC45]

I use a 405gr. Lee RNFP Bullet over 14.5gr. Unique. I shoot it out of a Handi Rifle with Irons. I killed 2 deer with it last year. Complete pass through and no bullet recover. I plan to hunt this year again with it. PM me your address and I'll send you some.

[Toad]

Thanks,I have never PM'd yet, I'm not good with computers. Do you cast your own? I've heard that you need a hardness tester , Is that true? In the lee book they talk about a hollow base 405gr, would this be a mold to get also?

[EMC45]

I cast the solid base 405. And yes I have a SAECO hardness tester and my slugs come out to Lyman #2 which is just right for my use. If you push these too slow they will lead a little. I guess they aren't obturating all the way. Run them a little quicker and no lead at all. What kind of powders do you have?

[stubshaft]

I use 27.0 2400 behind a 405 RCBS GC boolit. Nowhere near a max load but accurate and the hogs don't know what hit them. No recovered bullets as these go "coast to coast". I answer to your question cast boolits are GREAT to hunt with!

[EMC45]

Proofs in the pudding!http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm243/Evansguns/102_1913.jpghttp://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm243/Evansguns/102_1808.jpghttp://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm243/Evansguns/102_1890.jpg

[EMC45]

The target was shot off the bench hastily. The center grouping was after a sight adjustment. 50 yds.

[stubshaft]

Good shooting. Definitely "minute of Deer".

[jhalcott]

I use several different molds in 300, 400+ and a 420 grain NEI pointy bullet in my 45-70;s. I use air cooled wheel weight alloy and think that it's a bit hard for the loads. Being lazy ,I am not going to change alloys though!

[Toad]

That is nice group,as far as powder,I was told to try 3031.I want to do more checking on that. Do the boolets need a gas check,or only certian one's. I saw some 500gr at a show,But I think they were just to Big. Also what are some good reloading manuels for the guy just starting out?

[dk17hmr]

If you are in Mid Michigan I can help you out, I live in Standish.

I use H322 for my 45-70 and 450 Marlin, both handi rifles.
I have a few hunderd 350gr Hammer bullets casted and just ordered a 425gr Ranch Dog mold.
For alloy a 50/50 mix of Pure and Wheel Weights water dropped make a good hunting bullet.

[Toad]

I live up near the bridge, what do you mean by water drop, Do you take them from the mold, and drop them into water?Sorry if it's a dumb question. I thought it would be better to cool them slowly. Does this also work on my muzzleloading boolits?

[dk17hmr]

Water dropping, or quenching is basically dropping the bullets into a bucket of water right from the mold to get them a bit harder. Muzzleloader bullets need to be soft so its not really a good idea to quench ML bullets. Its not really needed for a 50/50 mix either but I quench most of my bullets so I can play with them right after I cast them.

If you ever get down this way I would be happy to give you some bullets to try and pointers on casting.... Im no expert but I can hold my own :)

[Toad]

Thanks, I'll take all the help I can get,There is more to this than I thought.What about gas checks,some of the molds I see say they need one, some don't. Does this have to do with the hardness of the boolit, I went to the Birch run show earlier this year and bought some 350gr hard cast from a guy, He didn't say anything about a gas check. lso, the base of the bollit is flat.

[dk17hmr]

Gas checks are more or less for high velocity stuff. I use gaschecks for my 450 and 45-70 because I shoot 1700FPS or better in both of those. If you plan on stayin around 1400fps or so you dont really need a gascheck as long as the bullet fits your barrel well.

I suggest you go up to the Cast Boolits section of the main forum and start a pot of coffee, you can read for days in that section.