Is 49gn of H4895 too much for 405gn CB in 45/70

[joel0407]

I have loaded up 5 test loads of 49 grains of Hodgdon H4895 behind Lee Hollow Base 405 Grain cast bolit with no Gas Check

Lead is 50/50 WW/PB with 2% tin.

Lubed with Felix Lube.

I think these will be between 1500 - 1600 fps in my Marlin XLR.

I consulted a couple of load manuals before loading so I knew I would not be pushing pressure but I am concerned that I might be pushing the boolit a bit to fast for cast.

Worried about leading my barrel!!!

What do you more experienced CB loader think?

[softpoint]

Leading can be removed, most cast bullet shooters "lead up" at some time or the other. If that load is supposed to run up to 1600 fps. ,it is probably too fast for a plain base bullet, depending on what it is cast out of. And especially a hollow base design which is made to work at lower pressure and velocity. I don't have that mold, but if I did, I'd start out at about 1000fs. and work up .5gr. at a time until accuracy started to fall off.:lovebooli

[1874Sharps]

Softpoint makes some good points. Certainly the rifle will handle the pressure, but 1600 fps is getting up there for a non-gas checked boolit. Depending on factors such as boolit alloy and lube performance, you might be able to achieve that stellar velocity. Then again, you might have to go a little lighter or change out boolits, lube, etc. By paper patching you certainly could get that velocity and much more.

[joel0407]

Leading can be removed, most cast bullet shooters "lead up" at some time or the other. If that load is supposed to run up to 1600 fps. ,it is probably too fast for a plain base bullet, depending on what it is cast out of. And especially a hollow base design which is made to work at lower pressure and velocity. I don't have that mold, but if I did, I'd start out at about 1000fs. and work up .5gr. at a time until accuracy started to fall off.:lovebooli

Sounds like a plan, thanks mate.

From Hodgdon online reloading data, it looks like I can go down to 40 grains of H4895 for about 1300 fps. I might have to load 5 cases at this to see how that goes.

[joel0407]

I'll be getting on a couple of upcomming group buys soon for some GC'd boolits. These group buys take time though.

[largom]

The RCBS 45-405FN mold is gas checked and shoots great in every 45-70 I have shot in in. I have never tried the lighter boolits.

Larry

[joel0407]

Hodggon lists H4198 down to 27 Grains. Will I need filler with a load this light?

[joel0407]

The RCBS 45-405FN mold is gas checked and shoots great in every 45-70 I have shot in in. I have never tried the lighter boolits.

Larry

Thanks Larry. I'm not sure if I should get the RCBS or wait for the RD 420 group buy thats finishing in January.

[softpoint]

Ihave both the RD460/425, and the RCBS405gc. among several others. But Ihave been thinking about that hollowbase mold for sometime. The mold is supposed to cast a little larger than Lee's other offerings, and the "skirts are supposed to expand a bit to seal off the bore better at low pressure. Make a great low cost bullet that could certainly take most game, and be an accurate practice load too.
405 grains at between 1000 and 1200 fps. will kill a lot of stuff. A 300 grain .44 magum bullet at 1200 fps. is considered by some to be sufficient for anything, including big bears. and you have over 100 grs. more bullet. Won't shoot as flat or as far as the big loads, but useful nontheless

[joel0407]

Apart from using trail boss. I dont seem to find many loads listed light enough.

Do you all use fillers?

[Freightman]

The 405 HB boolit cast at .462 in mine and I use it in a 1867 RB and have never had to size and never had any leading with any load, now I have to size it for my Shiloh as it has a very tight bore size it to .458 and I can push it in the Shiloh but never have any lead in the barrel.The barrel on both of the rifles are super smooth that might make a difference.

[richbug]

I'd be worried about blowing the skirt.

[dubber123]

Apart from using trail boss. I dont seem to find many loads listed light enough.

Do you all use fillers?

You will likely find a load in the speed range you want using H4198, no filler required.

[softpoint]

Too much pressure reportedly will blow the skirt, This particular bullet is a good performer, but at lower velocities only. Pushing too hard will most likely have poor accuracy and leading.

[joel0407]

Yep, lead at 49 grains. I didn't take my crony along as I had slep in (worked 9pm - 7am) and only had a couple of hours to get to the range and shoot.

So loading at 43 grains should give me about 1400 - 1450 fps (hopefully).

Back to the range tomorrow morning to see how that goes.

[MikeG70]

According to Mike at Hodgdon, 49 gr is one the max load.

[JJC]

I'm using 48.8 gr of H4895 with the RCBS 405 and NOE 425, 1735 fps. Great accuracy. 45.5 gr was the lowest I went was still over 1700 fps. Switched to a .458 expander from .457 and lost 30 some fps. I would think you still might be a bit fast with the plain base as others suggested.

[161]

Are the hollow base boolits harder to cast?? My plinker load is 15 gr Unique in a 1895 GG. What would benefit most at those FPS, HB or PB??

[Char-Gar]

I see no sense in a HB bullet or a plain base bullet at that pressure and speed. I don't think it will cause any damage, but their are far, far better designs for that purpose. I don't think you will be happy with the results.

The RCBS 405 FN GC was designed for the Marlin leverguns and has been a sterling performer.