45-70 round ball vs collar button

[pull the trigger]

Is the collar button worth the extra $$? Id like to conserve lead some and if the collar button was any good I could see maybe huntin with it. Mostly looking for a plinking boolit tho. I have yet to try either. Id like some feed back from someone who has ran both before I buy a mold. Im shooting a 1974 Marlin 1895 with a 16 1/4" barrel. Thanks

[rond]

I don't think that a round ball would be that accurate as there is not much area to engage the rifleing.

[pull the trigger]

Agreed, but how good are the collar buttons? Thanks

[GRUMPA]

Is the collar button worth the extra $$? Id like to conserve lead some and if the collar button was any good I could see maybe huntin with it. Mostly looking for a plinking boolit tho. I have yet to try either. Id like some feed back from someone who has ran both before I buy a mold. Im shooting a 1974 Marlin 1895 with a 16 1/4" barrel. Thanks

I only used the collar button boolit, like mentioned already the round ball just doesn't have the contact points for accuracy.

Here's a thought..... Go and ask for the boolits in the boolit exchange area located in the S&S section. Kinda like a try before you buy kinda thing, that way you'll know for sure before spending anything.

But if you ask for the collar button boolits be specific. There is actually 2 different collar button moulds, 1 NOE and a Lyman collar button, so be specific.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

GRUMPA,
there is actually more than two, LOL.
besides the variations of old Lyman molds, and now the New Lyman production.
I believe that NOE has two different weights.
and then there is the old Lee Group Buy molds, which is what I had (I sold the mold, but only after I cast a large lot of them in pure Pb).

[Wayne Smith]

And Walt Meander made mine, to add to the confusion.

[alamogunr]

GRUMPA,
there is actually more than two, LOL.
besides the variations of old Lyman molds, and now the New Lyman production.
I believe that NOE has two different weights.
and then there is the old Lee Group Buy molds, which is what I had (I sold the mold, but only after I cast a large lot of them in pure Pb).

How did the Lee GB mold perform? I have the mold but have never used it. Would like to just for kicks.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

How did the Lee GB mold perform? I have the mold but have never used it. Would like to just for kicks.

for 45-70? I got no idea?

I bought it for a Ruger Old Army...poor performer...but I found it worked better putting it in the cylinder upside-down (flat side out)...but even then, it performed worse than round ball.

I've never owned a 45-70, but I had that feeling that someday I would, so I cast a bunch in soft lead, for possible future shooting with BP in a future owned 45-70...just in case. Then I sold the mold.

I have since, bought a Ruger #3 in 45-70...I have yet to shoot it or load for it. But, I have bought a 405 mold and cast some for it, I even seated some for dummy rounds to find a COAL. ...to be continued...

[Digital Dan]

There is no reason to not use round balls and if properly loaded they will do fine for plinking or small game.

[alamogunr]

for 45-70? I got no idea?

I bought it for a Ruger Old Army...poor performer...but I found it worked better putting it in the cylinder upside-down (flat side out)...but even then, it performed worse than round ball.

I've never owned a 45-70, but I had that feeling that someday I would, so I cast a bunch in soft lead, for possible future shooting with BP in a future owned 45-70...just in case. Then I sold the mold.

I have since, bought a Ruger #3 in 45-70...I have yet to shoot it or load for it. But, I have bought a 405 mold and cast some for it, I even seated some for dummy rounds to find a COAL. ...to be continued...

I never thought of using it in the Old Army. I have one but now I don't have to bother to try the collar button in it.

[Beagle333]

Miha made mine in a Group Buy here.

[mehavey]

Read the whole string here:
https://thefiringline.com/forums//sh...d.php?t=560894
45-70 Grouse Gun -- the short Collar-Button answer is "yes"
... with a picnic plate trick

[17nut]

I shoot a NOE CB in my 45-70 Marlin 1895 26"
Cast 97/3 and unsized it's a tackdriver with 12 grains of TrailBoss (1340fps'ish), and a hoot to shoot

[ewlyon]

Haven't tried a round ball, but my new Lyman collar button is a sweet shooter in my Marlin guide gun. Based on the responses so far it sounds like you would not regret either.

[Leadmelter]

If you want to try some, Western Bullet Co. makes both and are reasonable priced.
Western Bullet CO makes both style. Check them out. A cheap way to try them out.

[KenH]

How do you lube the round ball when loading in 45-70? Just tumble some LLL on the ball? Load the ball right at the end of brass, about half in just enough to hold ball in brass?

[big bore 99]

I've shot both from my H&R Buffalo Classic. Found the round ball to be better with super light loads of Unique is tin can accurate at about 25 yds. Sounds like a cap gun and blows right thru both sides of the can.

[pull the trigger]

Haven't tried a round ball, but my new Lyman collar button is a sweet shooter in my Marlin guide gun. Based on the responses so far it sounds like you would not regret either.

I have been eyeballing a new lyman on Amazon but cant tell if its pointy or round. What number is yours and is it flat? Thanks

[ewlyon]

It is the #457130 that they have on Midway. I don't have one in front of me right now but I think the tip is relatively rounded. The mold did not disappoint but an aluminum version would be nice because the small cavities do not let the mold heat up quickly.

[pull the trigger]

Read the whole string here:
https://thefiringline.com/forums//sh...d.php?t=560894
45-70 Grouse Gun -- the short Collar-Button answer is "yes"
... with a picnic plate trick

Thanks!!!