Lee PrecisionRotoMetals2MidSouth Shooters SupplyInline Fabrication
WidenersRepackboxLoad DataReloading Everything
Titan Reloading
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 22

Thread: Cast diameter 45-70

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
    surfanarchist's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    60

    Cast diameter 45-70

    What is the maximum and optimum dia. folks with experience are using on their cast 45-70? I'm casting for 355gr GC and 405gr no GC for two Browning 1886 rifles, a SRC and a full size rifle, and a Marlin 1895 LTD V. Here's my question. My mold throws a boolit .462 - .463 and I'm wondering what to size these to. Throat slugs are about .458 + - but I've read that a larger dia. will give better accuracy.

    If I size these to .461 am I looking for trouble? Given the measurements I've quoted do folks thing accuracy/performance would be better or worse with 3 1000ths oversize?
    I did look through with the search function but didn't really see anything specific to being 3 1000ths oversize. I know shooting will give me the final answer but I need to order a sizing die so I'd like to order only once.

    Thanks,

    Wayne

  2. #2
    Boolit Bub
    surfanarchist's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    60
    Well I did a better search and in fact there is a ton of stuff on 45-70 diameter. Lots of opinions. I think I will be fine at .461 but of course anyone wanting to make me smarter is welcome.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    NE Ilinois
    Posts
    1,938
    I have a Marlin .45-70. I size bullets to .460" and it is quite accurate. I tried shooting pan lubed, undersized bullets and found they chambered just fine, but offered no better accuracy than sizing to .460". I use the RCBS 2-Cavity Bullet Mold 45-325-FN-U 45 Caliber (458 Diameter) 325 Grain Flat Nose Universal as well as the Lyman 1-Cavity Bullet Mold #457193 45 Caliber (458-459 Diameter) 405 Grain Flat Nose. The lighter bullet is just as accurate out to 250 yards. I have used Unique & Red Dot powder.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master

    Hickok's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    High mountains of WV
    Posts
    3,403
    I size my boolits to .460" for my Marlin 1895 Ballard rifling. BUT, at times they can fit snug in the chamber, and I really have to be careful of the crimp, getting it just right so as not to increase the neck diameter.

    I test every round as to chambering before going to the range or hunting, as some will be too tight.

    I am going to get a .459" sizing die, as the .460" sized boolits are just a smidgen to big, and it is a hassle.

    My Marlin barrel slugs at .457" (.4568" to be exact) so a slightly smaller boolit should chamber easier.
    Maker of Silver Boolits for Werewolf hunting

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    FredBuddy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    NC Ohio
    Posts
    540
    .462 fits snugly in unsized brass and chambers easily in my Marlin 1895 CB.

    Shoots well, too.

    However, I noticed the barrel gets warmer, from the extra friction, I suppose.

    So it's back to .460 and minimal sizing.

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master In Remembrance
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    South Jersey
    Posts
    6,314
    Step 1 - slug the bore of your rifle to determine groove diameter
    Step 2 - Size the bullets 0.001 to 0.003 over groove diameter
    Step 3 - Test the accuracy of each 0.001 - 0.002 - 0.003 to determine which diameter produces the best groups
    Why diameters have to be greater than groove diameter? The bullet bases have to be able to obturate in the grooves while traveling down the bore to prevent leading and provide a gas seal for full velocity = accuracy
    Regards
    John

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    Kraschenbirn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    East Central IL
    Posts
    3,448
    This may not be relevant 'cause I don't shoot a .45-70 levergun but for both my single-shots...a Pedersoli RB and an H&R Trapdoor...I pan-lube and load 'as-cast' which, depending upon which mold, is .461-.462. Neither gun likes anything under .460.

    Bill
    "I'm not often right but I've never been wrong."

    Jimmy Buffett
    "Scarlet Begonias"

  8. #8
    Boolit Master pjames32's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    NW New Mexico
    Posts
    707
    My 1895 slugged 0.4575. I size 0.459 with good accuracy an minimal leading. I'm using an NOE 350gr mold that drops 0.461.
    NRA Benefactor Member

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    480
    Quote Originally Posted by surfanarchist View Post
    What is the maximum and optimum dia. folks with experience are using on their cast 45-70? I'm casting for 355gr GC and 405gr no GC for two Browning 1886 rifles, a SRC and a full size rifle, and a Marlin 1895 LTD V. Here's my question. My mold throws a boolit .462 - .463 and I'm wondering what to size these to. Throat slugs are about .458 + - but I've read that a larger dia. will give better accuracy.

    If I size these to .461 am I looking for trouble? Given the measurements I've quoted do folks thing accuracy/performance would be better or worse with 3 1000ths oversize?
    I did look through with the search function but didn't really see anything specific to being 3 1000ths oversize. I know shooting will give me the final answer but I need to order a sizing die so I'd like to order only once.

    Thanks,

    Wayne
    If you size to .460 or more you may well have problems with reliable chambering. 1 thou to 1.5 thou over is plenty. I have used 0.5 thou over with no problems with checked bullets.
    If you take a fired case and measure the inside mouth diameter, that will be the largest bullet you can load and fit into the chamber if the crimp is applied correctly. That would still give you 1 thou chamber clearance. My brownings chamber and bore specs seem to be spot on, and I use .4585 bullets for the .457 bore. I tried .459 bullets, and got slightly better accuracy, but to the point of splitting hairs. It might have been me, pure luck, or the fact I tried pure lino, and maybe .459 did actually shoot better, that I do not know. I have run loads to the point where recoil has become obtrusive, and have never seen a speck of leading in the barrel using clip on wheelweights and bens red lube and gas checks.
    The plain based .405's are commercial cast bullets at just over .458. These go to around 1450fps?, just below the point of leading using 34.5 grains of IMR4198 with excellent accuracy.

  10. #10
    Boolit Bub
    surfanarchist's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    60
    Thanks all for the information and your experiences. After reading a lot, measuring, making dummy rounds, etc., for me the answer is.459. .460 will not chamber reliably. .458 on a gas check works well but Im going to .459 for plain base cast. Now i need to make and shoot them.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master murf205's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Dead center of Alabama
    Posts
    2,366
    Yep, works for me too. My Marlin CB slugs .4575 and it loves .459 boolits (405gr Accurate Molds) either GC'd or PB boolits, powder coated or lubed with Carrnuba Red lube.
    IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us!

  12. #12
    Boolit Bub
    surfanarchist's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    60
    Quote Originally Posted by murf205 View Post
    Yep, works for me too. My Marlin CB slugs .4575 and it loves .459 boolits (405gr Accurate Molds) either GC'd or PB boolits, powder coated or lubed with Carrnuba Red lube.
    I 'm using a brand new Accurate 260-405M PB and 460-355N GC combo mold. I've never bought a custom mold before and I'm just flummoxed at the higher quality of the Accurate mold.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master murf205's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Dead center of Alabama
    Posts
    2,366
    Accurate was my first custom mold as well. Tom really makes a work of art. I bought a 4 cavity mold with 2 405A and 2 with 405D, one GC and one PB like you did and my rifle loves either one. I have driven the GC'd boolit to 2k fps with no lead and good accuracy, but it was a brute to shoot. I've since loaded it down to 1400fps and it is MUCH more fun. At the slower speed it will still shoot through a T-Rex!
    IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us!

  14. #14
    Moderator Emeritus


    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Land of 10,000 Lakes
    Posts
    15,832
    I have a Ruger #3 in 45-70, I assume groove dia is around .457 to .458
    I size and Lube a NOE 460-405-RF with a .459 die.
    that fits in the chamber nicely.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  15. #15
    Boolit Master murf205's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Dead center of Alabama
    Posts
    2,366
    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    I have a Ruger #3 in 45-70, I assume groove dia is around .457 to .458
    I size and Lube a NOE 460-405-RF with a .459 die.
    that fits in the chamber nicely.
    JonB, that Ruger #3 really lets you know it when you torch off a 405gr boolit in that little gun, doesn't it. I have a friend with one and I've seen his shoulder turn colors after 20 or so rounds, but he likes 'em pretty warm! That steel butt plate is really special.
    IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us!

  16. #16
    Moderator

    W.R.Buchanan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Ojai CA
    Posts
    9,872
    My RCBS 45-300FNGC mould drops at 461-2 with WW's and I size to .460. This is a gas check boolit so there is no leading. My load for this is 33 gr of 5744 for about 1550-1600 FPS. It is stout but manageable, and I can shoot 40 in one sitting in my Marlin 1895CB. I started at 25 gr and worked up until I got an acceptable trajectory out to 200 Meters. I stopped at 33 gr when that happened. This load is also suitable for Hunting anything in N/A should that need ever arise.


    I also installed a Gra-Coil Recoil Reducer in the buttstock so the gun weighs 8 lbs instead of the rather light 7 lbs it started out as. This gun really needs to weigh 9 lbs to be really comfortable to shoot but it is what it is and it would be hard to add more weight to it. The Gra-Coil weighs 1 lb and it's filled with Mercury. The gun balances right, now, but another pound in the buttstock would make it butt heavy. It also has a 1" thick Pachmayer Recoil Pad.

    As soon as all my stock of those is gone, future boolits will be powder coated.

    This eliminates leading completely.

    My .44's only need one patch ran thru after shooting to remove the powder fouling from the last shot.

    PC'ing is definitely the easiest way to eliminate Leading from your life, and the side benefit is if you have a mould that is dropping small you can bump it up .002-.004 just by applying the PC.

    I might add that I load these with my Buchanan Precision Machine Hand Press and they are a Piece o Cake.

    Video on this coming soon.

    Randy
    "It's not how well you do what you know how to do,,,It's how well you do what you DON'T know how to do!"
    www.buchananprecisionmachine.com

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Posts
    175
    i load for 4 .45-70, mine and a friends. noe 397-.460 pb , powder coat and size to .460. fun and accurate. just watch how far out you crimp them. the ones i carry hunting i drop into a h&r handi chamber just in case. irishtoo

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    778
    Quote Originally Posted by Kraschenbirn View Post
    This may not be relevant 'cause I don't shoot a .45-70 levergun but for both my single-shots...a Pedersoli RB and an H&R Trapdoor...I pan-lube and load 'as-cast' which, depending upon which mold, is .461-.462. Neither gun likes anything under .460.

    Bill
    what mold are u using for ur Pedersoli? i have a Pedersoli Sharps im working with.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master pmer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    East Central Minn.
    Posts
    1,680
    Quote Originally Posted by surfanarchist View Post
    Thanks all for the information and your experiences. After reading a lot, measuring, making dummy rounds, etc., for me the answer is.459. .460 will not chamber reliably. .458 on a gas check works well but Im going to .459 for plain base cast. Now i need to make and shoot them.
    I've been having this sort of chambering trouble with a rifle too. My bore is .4595. .458 jacketed bullets will chamber but .461 cast boolits won't chamber. IF I size a boolit to fit this chamber it will be too small for the bore and the barrel will lead like crazy. I opted to do a little neck turning and that opens up more options for sizing to the bore.


    I just got a 46-305s from Accurate Molds. It's a smooth sided boolit that casts right to my requested diameter of .458 and I have these powder coated to .461 and been starting to shoot them at .460 and unsized. I only tried a couple loads and am getting 2-3'' groups plus flyers. Hopefully it will tighten up.
    Last edited by pmer; 12-14-2018 at 10:29 AM.
    Oh great, another thread that makes me spend money.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master

    Kraschenbirn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    East Central IL
    Posts
    3,448
    Quote Originally Posted by barnabus View Post
    what mold are u using for ur Pedersoli? i have a Pedersoli Sharps im working with.
    I've several .45 molds but the two that work best for me are the Lyman 457124 (404 gr. from 25/1) or an old Ohaus 936405 that drops right at 450 gr. from same alloy. Boolits from both, 'as-cast', measure .461 (+/- .0005?) and are seated to barely contact rifling.

    Since posting original comment, I've acquired another .45-70; this one an Taylor (Uberti) Highwall and it seems, also, to prefer that old Ohaus boolit but, alas, the mold has been out of production for quite a number of years.

    Bill
    "I'm not often right but I've never been wrong."

    Jimmy Buffett
    "Scarlet Begonias"

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check