45-70 Grouse Gun

[mehavey]

On a wild hare, I picked up a mold for Lyman's "Collar Button" bullet that has
about a hundred-year history for gallery loads.

After a little reading I decided on the fastest powder I could use (RedDot) to
quickly bump up the relatively light projectile and still not lose too much
velocity to friction traveling down 18½" barrel in my Guide Gun.


I ran it this morning in 15-20mph gusting winds at what I view as practical
ranges of both 25 and 50 yards. I left the scope zero alone at my normal
heavy 405 LFN load setting.

LOAD DATA:
45-70 as-Cast:0.460"/sized:0.459"/DGL BP lube h=104 1/16" foam disk*gas checkNOT@powder
Lyman #457130 Button(30:1)147gr /RedDot/6.0gr/Starline/FedLR/OAL=2.318"
QL18.5" predicts 4,478psi/890fps(friction-ON) Crimp(½-turn)MidFrwdBand
* picnic plate





Barrel was spotless afterward.
Good enough for any small game at small game ranges (w/o pre-cooking it on impact)


.

[dlbarr]

Nice. Thought about picking up one of those. I have a swage die for a .45 HBWC that a friend just completed for me. It was built after a design that someone else built and the accuracy of those little bullets is just great. Minute of squirrel head.

Will have to post some pics of the die, bullets & targets.

[mehavey]

UPDATE:

After a little reading and testing both primers & powder position sensitivity (which is Baaaaaddd -- from 300fps to 1,100fps / unburned powder all over the place), I decided to follow an older protocol to move the thin (near weightless) foam disk off the bullet base and down to a position 1/5" (.200") above the powder.

For that amount of powder, this creates a very reliable sloping powder position/surface akin to that in a 45ACP case. The rifle primer immediately blows it out of the way even before ignition really gets going and it's off to the races.

50 Yard results today:
Marlin `95GuideGun



Velocity was a very consistent 1,086fps ± 08 for all 5 rounds.
Barrel was spotless/very little powder residual even before cleaning.

[Gibbs44]

It certainly looks like you're on to something there.

[fredj338]

Very cool. Certainly better than a round ball load for sim purposes.

[DrCaveman]

I like it. Great for camp meat. Only problem with my setup is that my 45-70 is a single shot, iron sights... Guess i better get a hit first shot, grouse are pretty nimble

Thanks for sharing

[MT Chambers]

For grouse I would load shot loads in my 45/70.

[44man]

Still an awful big hole!

[mehavey]

`Ya only aim at the head, don'cha know.....

[44man]

`Ya only aim at the head, don'cha know.....

Yeah, had to shoot roosters that Carol hated. Mean cusses so I took the .22 Ruger pistol to shoot them in the head. A bird does not hold it's head still and it is great sport. They get smart right quick when shot at. I now shake as much as the birds head too!

[Catshooter]

Interesting post mehavey. Is that one of Lyman's new 457130?

Welcome to the forum.


Cat

[mehavey]

Yup, new mold. (if by new you mean the button mold Lyman is now re-issuing/-
cranking out rather than a garage/barn find of 50 years ago).

Casts well (no classic tendency to 'fin' out under contact-pressure casting as the
mold gets hotter w/faster cast -- at least with the 30:1 mix at 750F)

[Intel6]

NOE is making an updated version of this in more than a two cavity. He is doing a "LAST CALL" on it to get in on the group buy.

http://noebulletmolds.com/smf/index....pic,615.0.html

[Frank V]

Nice groups, what's the point of impact difference from your heavy 405gr load? Are you holding center on your targets?
Thanks.

[mehavey]

Nice groups, what's the point of impact difference from your heavy 405gr load? Are you holding center on your targets?
Thanks.

Three different 45-70 rifles:
I held centered with the scope on the`95 Marlin; and 6' o'clock with both the Lonestar rolling block and Pedersoli Sharps (both MVA aperture tang sights).

The Marlin and the L/S Rolling block required no sight change. Dead-on the same impact point at 25/50 yds as with the Marlins' heavy smokeless 405's.
(See http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...=1#post1839094)
...and [ditto] same 25/50-POI for the Lonestar using a 530-540gr 30:1 Paul Jones/Lyman Postell ahead of 65gr Swiss 1½.

The Sharps was a different story. I had to come down 14 points/MOA on the tang to center up. Go figure [?]

[Cooperwin]

Very similiar to my experiment. I had loaded these before I saw this thread and they were shot on 3/28. Coincidence? Ruger No1 .45-70, Lyman 457195 HB 223grs, 7 grs RedDot. I tried 6 rounds at 25yds, sitting it made a group about 1 1/8". It was cast from 3 parts Pb/ 1 part linotype. Had to use a ladle, bottom pour gave too many rejects. Sized 0.460 with SPG lube. I think I will load up the remainder of about 50 that I cast and go shoot some more. Dave

[Frank V]

Three different 45-70 rifles:
I held centered with the scope on the`95 Marlin; and 6' o'clock with both the Lonestar rolling block and Pedersoli Sharps (both MVA aperture tang sights).

The Marlin and the L/S Rolling block required no sight change. Dead-on the same impact point at 25/50 yds as with the Marlins' heavy smokeless 405's.
(See http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...=1#post1839094)
...and [ditto] same 25/50-POI for the Lonestar using a 530-540gr 30:1 Paul Jones/Lyman Postell ahead of 65gr Swiss 1½.

The Sharps was a different story. I had to come down 14 points/MOA on the tang to center up. Go figure [?]

That ought to work.
Oh those Sharps are nice rifles.
Thanks.