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Thread: Cast success with Ruger No.1 45-70 experience???

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    Lefty SRH's Avatar
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    Updated thread: Cast success with Ruger No.1 45-70 experience???

    Id like to hear the good and bad experiences you guys have had with Ruger No.1s in 45-70 with cast boolits. What boolits and powders worked for you? And of coarse accuracy.
    A friend has made me a pretty good offer on a rifle, dies, brass, and ammo. I dont have many details other than the barrel is only 20” long.
    I hope to lay eyes on it soon.
    Thanks
    Last edited by Lefty SRH; 01-12-2019 at 04:39 AM.
    "In GOD We Trust"

  2. #2
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    if the land bore is .450 and the groove bore is .458, AA5744 is one of the premier white devil powders for this cartridge. as to the bullet itself, depends on it's intended purpose and typical shooting distances, for which the bullet weight will depend on the rifling twist rate (1:18 for the heavier 500+). a classic bullet is the lyman postal, 535 grains, plain base. when i was doing greasers in a rolling block i'd load that "gato feo" dip lubed 1:30 alloy .459" bullet along with 24 grains of the 5744 and accuracy was a bench rest 2moa at 200yds.

  3. #3
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    Buy it. Then play with it until you find what it likes. I wish I had one......
    Tom
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    Did I ever mention that I hate to trim brass?

  4. #4
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    I had one of the stainless Ruger #1's in .45-70. I had the throat lengthened though, so not quite the same as a completely factory rifle. I tried a number of different cast bullets. The best was a hard cast 450gr flat nosed bullet with 32gr of H-4198 and a magnum primer. The bullet was seated just off of the rifling. It shot quite well, certainly as well as any jacketed bullet I put through the rifle.

    Chris.

  5. #5
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    I have had good luck with the Lyman 330 HP Gould bullets out of my Guide gun and NO1. Shoot around 1400. Bullets are PC

  6. #6
    Boolit Master marlinman93's Avatar
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    I used nothing but cast plain base bullets in my Ruger #1 Lyman centennial in .45-70. A much longer barrel, but I'm sure they're likely the same rifling. I used both 360 gr. and 405 gr. bullets, as I'm not a fan of those big heavy slugs some guys like. Mine shot extremely accurate with both bullet weights, and by swapping the rear scope base for a taller one I was able to shoot the scoped Lyman out to 500 yds. with good results.
    I think you'll enjoy the Ruger, but the 20" barrel will result in more felt recoil, so stick with lighter bullets and charges.

  7. #7
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    Lefty SRH's Avatar
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    I like what Im hearing
    "In GOD We Trust"

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy pressonregardless's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lefty SRH View Post
    I like what Im hearing
    Better grab it before someone else does........
    The insulated state in which nature has placed the American continent should so far avail it that no spark of war kindled in the other quarters of the globe should be wafted across the wide oceans which separate us from them." -- Thomas Jefferson

  9. #9
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    My #1A has always shot lead. I cast my own Lyman 300 gr and use a Dacron filler over 4198 powder. With its Peep sight I get 6" groups at 100yds. What I find amazing the groups are smaller at 100 yds than at 50 yds. It does this consistently

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Contenderman View Post
    My #1A has always shot lead. I cast my own Lyman 300 gr and use a Dacron filler over 4198 powder. With its Peep sight I get 6" groups at 100yds. What I find amazing the groups are smaller at 100 yds than at 50 yds. It does this consistently
    What sort of peep sight do you have on your #1A? Thats the route I think I may go.
    "In GOD We Trust"

  11. #11
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    I've got a couple of the Ruger #1 in .45-70 and I have yet to find a cast bullet the guns don't like. Everything I've casted from 300 to 500 gr shoot great. I've even tested a variety of powders including 3031, 4198, RL7....and have had excellent results. The 45-70 is a great cartridge with plenty of lead choices so I would recommend jumping on #1!!

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    I know this is going to sound like a newby question but, this rifle is a package deal. It comes with a set of Hornady dies. Ive never lubed (for the resizing die) any of my straight wall cartridge cases, Ive lubed only bottle neck rifle case. The 45-70 being so long, do you need to lube the case before resizing?
    "In GOD We Trust"

  13. #13
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    your hornady rifle dies are not pistol carbide, so yes, lube before working the brass. i lube the inside of the case mouth as well, particularly since i straight wall expand new brass to simulate fire forming. i like imperial wax. don't forget to clean off the lube before loading.

    the .45-70 is such a great cartridge that can pretty much do it all. i load 14 grains of trail boss under a cast and dip lubed lee 340 grain 1:30 .459" bullet, for when the kids come over for some shootin' fun. then 81 gains of swiss 1-1/2f under a BACO 528 grain patched slick for when the adults wanna have some long range fun. it's all good. Click image for larger version. 

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  14. #14
    Boolit Master marlinman93's Avatar
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    I've always lubed all rifle calibers, regardless of straight taper, or bottleneck. Pistol calibers with carbide can get away without it. My preferred lube is Hornady aerosol spray lube. It's so easy to use that it's all I've used since it came out decades ago.

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master Tatume's Avatar
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    As noted above, sizing 45-70 cases requires lubrication. When you get the rifle (you are getting the rifle, aren't you?), try H4895 or IMR 4895. I find them to work very well in the 45-70.

  16. #16
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    Agree with the last poster. My 4 digit serial no., # 1 shoots cloverleafs with 4895 and a 500 gr cast at 100 yds using a 2 3/4x scope.

    Great rifle/scope/cartridge combo!

    RB

  17. #17
    Boolit Master Drm50's Avatar
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    I shoot mostly 322gr HPs out of old Ideal Gould Express mould. Cast of straight WWs with about
    10% tin added. I found mine shot best with IMR-3031 or 4198. Shoot same in #3 and 95 Marlin
    rifle. So far #1 is tops, Mar 95 second & #3 last on 100yd groups. I'm only running at 1350fps.
    My 300gr JHP loads for #1 are hot, near max of 3031.

  18. #18
    Boolit Bub
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lefty SRH View Post
    What sort of peep sight do you have on your #1A? Thats the route I think I may go.
    I put a Skinner Peep on my 1A Really like the set up small and not sticking out anywhere

  19. #19
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    Unique is a fantastic powder in my #1 with 325 grain WFN GC for a light to medium loads. Then Reloader7 for the heavier loads. I find the 325-355 grain bullets to be great for the 45-70 at both ends of the spectrum. My #1 is very accurate with those bullets. Man they hit like the hammer of THOR.

  20. #20
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    At the time I started this thread asking about the ins and outs of the rifle and cartridge I had to pass on buying the No.1. I had a prairie dog trip coming up and just couldnt swing both.
    Months later, after Christmas, I contacted my friend and asked about the No.1. He said he still had it. I now have the No.1 in 45-70 and Im getting ready to start playing with it. Its a 22” barrel, which isnt much different from the 20” I thought it was originally, but Ill take the extra length.
    I plan to load for it this crummy weather weekend. The Skinner sight is on its way also.
    I think is going to be a fun rifle! I wonder if the local wild hogs will approve of this rifle??
    Last edited by Lefty SRH; 01-13-2019 at 11:01 AM.
    "In GOD We Trust"

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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