Looking for a Good 45/70 Mold

The title says it. Looking for suggestions for a mold on a .458" slugged bore, its a 1895GBL. Anyone have a good experience with a 400- 405gr mold?

I use the Lee 457-405-F with a couple coats of PC

Don't know where your are or what you will use it for. My best friends son has the same rifle. He distrusts cast boolits, until he saw how his Dad was shooting his rifle with my Lyman 457122 Gould HP's. Suddenly he appreciates cast boolits, at least in one gun!

I've had good luck with Lee's 340gr cast bullet that I "dress" with a 1/8th" drill bit to promote expansion (no reports on its effect on game, but it shoots small groups on "paper" as cast or hollow pointed).

457483 Lyman gas check, wonderful bullet

Thanks for the replies- 3G

I have Lee, RCBS, Accurate, LBT, Ranch Dog, and Lyman molds for 45-70, several of each in several weights. Each and every one shoots wonderfully. Big bullets usually shoot well. My opinion, it's hard to go wrong.

I have used both the RCBS 405gr and the 300gr fn in my 458 wm both shot well at 45/70 velocity, my friend uses both these as well in his lever 45/70 and finds them excellent. My choice is the 300gr as it shoots such small groups and will kill anything that walks in this country. Regards Stephen

My 45/70 mold is a Ranch Dog 350 gr. RNFP and when sized to .460 shoots one inch 3 shot groups at 100 yards. I load it up to 1850-1900 fps in my Marlin 1895 LTD-V lever action. Have taken several buffalo with that bullet for one shot kills. I prefer the 350 Gr. over the 405 gr. as it gives lighter recoil at my hunting velocity, also flatter shooting and will still kill anything in North America.
What ever you get, try sizing it to .460 dia. as most Marlins seems to like that dia. Several friends have marlin guide guns and they found the best accuracy at a .460 dia.

Accurate 460400L with enough Varget to rattle your fillings will give me 1-1.5” 5 shot groups at 100 when sized .460” and lived with LBT Blue or Carnauba Red.

I use the lyman 457193, casts a little over 300grns with my lead.
Use it in a JM marked marlin 1895 cb. I crimp just below the top edge of the lube groove. Feeds great and the rifle seems to like it!
Flat shooting and accurate for what it is.

I have had really good luck in my 1895 Marlin with the Accurate 46-460-V
http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_deta...=46-405V-D.png

Attachment 230600

Nice looking boolit Waco. Looks like my 400 but a little longer.

Thanks for the replies, I'm takin notes, good stuff!

I started with 400 for 1895 but soon found heavy-for-caliber more interesting. Shot a 480 grainer for 15 years. Now I also shoot a 325,coated I push it 2000 fps.

400 feels like an unnecessary compromise to me. But it's just me. The Lee 405 mold I had to lap up to 460, worked ok.

Here are 480 Applegate and 325 RCBS. 4595 size both for 1895 SBL.

Attachment 230842