Favorite bullet for 45/70?

[DonMountain]

I've used the RCBS 300gr FN GC for many years in my 1980 straight grip 1895 Marlin. Excellent accuracy, I prefer the flatter trajectory and less recoil. I use 4227, 4198 or 5744(Buffalo Rifle) for pleasant shooting at 14 -1600 fps and kills deer just fine. I do use Barnes 300gr Originals (pure copper jacket,pure lead) with Accurate 2015 at 2200 fps on elk,moose. Unpleasant to shoot but very effective, all one shot stops, normally full pass-thru. NOE has a 460-315 that looks similar.

I too use the 300 grain gas checked flat nosed RCBS in a Browning 1885 with good, long range use for deer hunting. I also have the 500 grain version of this RCBS mold that I used to use with black powder with good accuracy but hitting something at longer ranges, plus the harder kick makes me leave those loaded rounds on the shelf and take the 300 grainers.

[c1skout]

I like the Lyman Gould express boolit. I figure if it was good enuff for Teddy Roosevelt...…..

[Ramjet-SS]

I am a huge fan of the 460 grain WFN over just under med level loads. unique is an excellent powder for this.tjat boolit will run end to end through and elk. Great accurate not too bad on the shooter.

[GregLaROCHE]

I have all of the Lee molds except one. They are economical enough to buy different ones to see what you like. Later you can invest in more expensive ones, when you know what you want.

[Bouteselle]

I use RCBS 45-405 for hunting, for its accuracy in my 1886 Browning.
I also have a 457122 Gould mold, I bought it new, but it drops awful bullets, I only keep one out of ten...
In need to try HP bullets, I've just ordered a MP mold, 460 420 Keith style. I would have preferred the 380 grains, but it's not available for the moment.
I'll keep you aware...

[smithnframe]

I've shot thousands of the Lee 405 grain cast in my Marlin 1895 and my BFR , in my Sharps rifles the lightest bullet I've used is a 420 grain FP up to a 550 grain Creedmoor.

[StrawHat]

Before I found I had little use for a 45-70. I liked the Lyman 457122, Gould bullet. Mine would drop at 325 grains and when launched with black powder they opened nicely.

Kevin

[Dapaki]

I shoot an H&R Buffalo Classic and the steel crescent shaped butt plate just kills my shoulder so I like to shoot "The Load" with 13gr of Red Dot to keep the recoil down. I dont see any real difference at 50 yards with the LEE 340, 405 or 500gr boolits in the way of accuracy, they all shoot very well and with PC, they leave the bore clean, shoot faster (I do crimp them) and group better.

I am a big fan of the 45-70, it eats all sorts of powders, Unique, 2400, 4227, 4198, 3031, BP, Pyrodex, Red Dot, the list just goes on and on! I do prefer 2400 as it has given me the best groups with all three boolits using the Lyman 47th Reloading Handbook with the starting loads being the most accurate.

I mentioned powder coating earlier, this has for me changed the entire experience of shooting the 45-70, no need for lube, no need to scrub the bore after shooting as long as I just size to .001 above bore diameter +.002 leaves lead in the bore about 2" in. I had the bore scoped and dont see any burrs or rough metal so I have to watch the sizing closely.

I will also be testing duplex loads next week with the surplus powder WC867 and hope to hit 1200fps with the 500gr boolit but I am still amassing a list of suitable 'kickers' to establish acceptable burn rates that dont create two pressure spikes (glad we have smart people here to warn me of potential pit-falls) when getting the 867 to light off.

[RugerFan]

With my Marlin Guide Gun I get the best accuracy with the RCBS 45-300-FN (5744) and a close second is the RCBS 45-405-FN (Varget).

[longcruise]

I've used a bunch in a Navy Arms (Uberti) 85 Win hi wall. They all shot well but the best have been Lee 405 RNFP, Lee 450 RNFP & the top for accuracy the Lee 500 gr RN GC. There are a bunch more that I have used but they really don't do anything that those three don't do. Velocities are kept at 1550 and under which seems to be adequate.

BP has given the best accuracy but 5744 does well and it is used most of the time.

Powder coating has been a game changer.

[hockeynick39]

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...=46-400M-D.png

[skeettx]

Lyman 457483 is the bestestestest

[Win94ae]

I love the 500gr SP bullet, but I also like the 340gr FN bullet I just started casting; at 2160fps, it should work great on deer.

[plowboysghost]

I'm quite fond of the NOE 460-429 RF plain based bullet(sized to .460 and over 38-gr of IMR4198)) in my 1895 CBA....though 430-gr is a hair beyond the original question parameters.

[Elmer Fudd]

I define my 45/70 loads for my JM guide gun by power level. I use the 350 Ranch Dog from Lee mould both subsonic (gun is threaded) and supersonic, and both trapdoor-ish and full-house IMR3031 levels. LBT Blue or Felix work to keep the bore unfouled, even at over 2000fps. Those tumble lube bullets hold a lot of lube. I also have the RD 425, but haven't really found a need for it.
I have and cherish a 460 460 LFN mould from Veral. That thing drops bullets so nice it's hard not to cast with it. I use Hornady length brass and a trapdoor load from the book. It will shoot through anything natural, or break it, even at 1500-1600fps. 14 1-gallon milk jugs of water won't stop it.
A guy can't just have one mould. If you try, look at an LBT mould with not the largest meplat.
I have found to shoot enough bullet to keep the velocity down to match my alloy/lube, but enough to get the result I am after. The 350 RD meplat is good full speed or subsonic.
As Robert Heinline wrote, specialization is for insects.

[warboar_21]

I have three molds. The 405 hollow base Lee, the 450gr Lee, and the 405gr RCBS. Out of the three I think the RCBS does well enough. They all shoot well out of my rifle though.

[Walks]

Lyman #457193 and #457122. Both cast of 20-1 over 3031. Used to have the RCBS #45-405-FP?. It shot great, miss it.
That Gould bullet will open up and cut a 2x4 in half side to side with one shot.
The other 2 bullets never quite did a clean break. Maybe the extra velocity with the lighter bullet. I like to think it is the big HP.

Recoil ? Why they make thick rubber recoil pads. If the sight of it offends you, then cover it up with a leather boot and lace it
tight.

[Edward]

I’m looking for recommendations for a 45/70 bullets. I want to get a mould in the 300-400 gr range. What does everyone’s use?

My favorite is the NOE 460 -350gr - FN sized to 459 that mold is a 2 cavity 1 PB and one gas checked usually around 14-15 BHN . Plain /checked /or powder coated they are accurate in my Marlin 1895 or the Handi rifle and deer hit with it leave blood trails Ray Charles could follow ,usually 3 footers !

[Edward]

I’m looking for recommendations for a 45/70 bullets. I want to get a mould in the 300-400 gr range. What does everyone’s use?

My favorite is the NOE 460 -350gr - FN sized to 459 that mold is a 2 cavity 1 PB and one gas checked usually around 14-15 BHN . Plain /checked /or powder coated they are accurate in my Marlin 1895 or the Handi rifle and deer hit with it leave blood trails Ray Charles could follow ,usually 3 footers ! I might add 23-25.5 grains of 2400 under 1/2 grain of dacron gets it out at a chrono -ed 1500FPS accurate to 200yds using the bottom post of my duplex Leupold

[beltfed]

Favorite for many years of hunting exclusively with my M1886 Win 45-70/
457483 modified to HP or to 1/4" flat nose/ 1740 fps load of 3031.
Started with my first buck in 1969:
ARNFirst Buck1969Win864570onSeitz Homestead.pdf