Hello all, I recently picked up a Springfield model 1873 at a gun show. I used to reload .243, .30-06, and 8x57 mauser with my dad from when I was a young kid to just a few years ago (I'm 24 now) but fell out of it when I went to trade school and then into my career. I'm getting back into it as he recently passed away and I want to get more into the cast bullet side of the hobby and do what he did. He loaded a lot of different calibers but took special interest in the .444 and .45-70. His .45-70 is a Marlin Cowboy. He was also on this forum (Pb4me).
Now, having said that, I'm a little rusty and would like to ask for some advice from y'all as he put a great deal of stock in what this forum had to say.
First off, I have yet to slug the bore as I've only had the rifle less than a week. However, when I do, and if the bore is in good shape, I found a load in the One book, One Caliber book that I think would be a good contender for it's modern maiden voyage. It's 19 grains of SR-4759 pushing a 322 grain H.P. Lyman cast boolit (No. 457122). My pops had about a hundred already lubed and sized to .458.
I was wondering if I should use any gas checks. I don't believe they're necessary in this case with such a low pressure load but still, I'd rather ask than be sorry.
Also, the book suggest I use a dacron "wad" over the powder. Now I've done a little research in this dacron business and I see a lot of people that say absolutely not and a lot that say otherwise. I've heard some bad stories about people using wads in their rifles with loads such as these and they end up ringing the barrel. Others have no problem. It seems to me as long as a person were to use a slim enough piece and insert it so that when the boolit is seated it just contacts the charge, you should be fine. More like a "fiberfill" instead of a "wad."
I'm very excited to get reacquainted with this hobby and look forward to learning more about the world of cast boolits.