RepackboxLoad DataTitan ReloadingReloading Everything
Lee PrecisionWidenersMidSouth Shooters SupplyRotoMetals2
Inline Fabrication
Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Let's talk 45-70 moulds.

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Finger Lakes Region of NY
    Posts
    1,254

    Let's talk 45-70 moulds.

    Okay, so I've got MP Mold's 405 grain mould which is a real beauty, but I am looking for a 2nd mould that will cast something a little lighter. I am looking at a couple of moulds from Accurate and am hoping someone familiar with the 45-70 will weigh in on a good choice. The following two are under consideration:

    http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...=46-345A-D.png

    http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...=46-345B-D.png

    Thanks in advance for your replies.

    Don
    NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
    NRA Life Member

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Greater Portland OR.
    Posts
    1,741
    When I got my Marlin 1895 in cowboy version I got two Lee molds. 405 gr and 330Gr. Both work great. Have no reason to buy more expensive molds.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Finger Lakes Region of NY
    Posts
    1,254
    Thanks Duckiller, but I've gotten spoiled with brass moulds.

    Don
    NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
    NRA Life Member

  4. #4
    Boolit Master RKJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    1,119
    USSR, without having hunted with my 1895 i like the 345-A, as it seems just a tad wider at top and I prefer the style. I'd imagine either one will shoot very well. I understand your preference for brass molds, I've got three of them from Mihec and love em. But, that LEE 340 shoots good out of my gun too though.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    SW Virginia
    Posts
    179
    Either mold should serve you well. For most any reasonable use (except long range match shooting) in a 45/70 bullets in the 300-420 grain range are the sweet spot IMHO. A 405 grain will shoot through any moose that ever lived! 300 grains is more than enough for deer. The lyman 330 gr Gould hollow point is deadly on deer. I once shot a nice 8 pt whitetail on the point of the near shoulder and recovered the bullet under the skin of the ham on the off side. It is the only Gould I have recovered. The rest have always exited regardless of the path taken. They have always expanded for me at about 1400 fs MV. Your 345 grain should be about perfect, unless you desire expansion, then I would recommend the Gould. I like Brass molds too!

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Finger Lakes Region of NY
    Posts
    1,254
    Thanks NorthMoccasin. Definitely not worried about expansion or penetration. Have shot several deer with my .45 Colt revolver and have yet to recover a bullet. The MP Mold 405gr mould I have will cast hollowpoints if I want to go that route.

    Don
    NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
    NRA Life Member

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    SW Virginia
    Posts
    179
    A great plinking casual shooting load is a 300 gr cast over 15.0 gr Unique. VERY accurate and pleasant to shoot.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Posts
    3,702
    Quote Originally Posted by USSR View Post
    Thanks Duckiller, but I've gotten spoiled with brass moulds.

    Don
    some of us have gotten spoiled with aluminium molds (particularly the twenty dollar tag on LEE molds)
    Not a case of one or the other being better - but they work differently for sure (my molds are about half each with a couple of cast iron ones as well)

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Finger Lakes Region of NY
    Posts
    1,254
    Quote Originally Posted by NorthMoccasin View Post
    A great plinking casual shooting load is a 300 gr cast over 15.0 gr Unique. VERY accurate and pleasant to shoot.
    Yeah, I've heard that. And that is a load I intend to try.

    Don
    NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
    NRA Life Member

  10. #10
    Boolit Master redhawk0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    North East, USA
    Posts
    1,419
    I have 3 molds for the 45-70...two LEE and one Lyman. the Lyman is a 330gr Gould HP...works great...the LEEs are a 405 and 340...All three shoot great. I use the LEE 340gr for deer in NH.

    redhawk

    The only stupid question...is the unasked one.
    Not all who wander....are lost.
    "Common Sense" is like a flower. It doesn't grow in everyone's garden.

    If more government is the answer, then it was a really stupid question. - Ronald Reagan

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master


    missionary5155's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Last trip to Arequipa... till April.
    Posts
    7,133
    Good morning
    There are not too many critters left in our U.S. of A. that need more "thwapping" than what a properly placed 350 grainer cast of 50/50 from any lever rifle at 1500 fps (or more if so you desire) an get done.
    "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
    Male Guanaco out in dry lakebed at 10,800 feet south of Arequipa.

  12. #12
    Vendor Sponsor

    Chill Wills's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Was-Colorado, Wyoming now
    Posts
    3,149
    Quote Originally Posted by missionary5155 View Post
    Good morning
    There are not too many critters left in our U.S. of A. that need more "thwapping" than what a properly placed 350 grainer cast of 50/50 from any lever rifle at 1500 fps (or more if so you desire) an get done.
    This is very true.



    456192 / 457192 This is the standard bullet for .45-75 and .45-70 Winchester. (PB, 350 - TP is 191)

    I am something of a 45 cal rifle bullet accumulater. I came across one a few years ago but it is in only Okay shape.

    Lots of good choices in the Gould bullet to Lyman 457 193 Marlin 420 flat nose group. Almost any could be made to work well assuming round (ish) and large enough to fill the chamber and throat.
    Chill Wills

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    385
    In case you’re not aware a lot of current production 45/70 rifles have little to no throat. The difference in the two mould designs you referred to is in how they will fit the throat. The front band of version B is shorter and slimmer.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master Drm50's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    SE Ohio
    Posts
    2,361
    My light bullet is the 322gr Gould Express HP, a Lyman mold. Shoots well in everything from original Trapdoors to Ruger #1 and Marlin 1895.

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Sioux Falls, SD
    Posts
    299
    Have you looked at the "collar buttons"? maybe a little light for what you're looking for, but it's something different.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Finger Lakes Region of NY
    Posts
    1,254
    FWIW, I pulled the trigger on the "B" mould. Now for the 3 week wait.

    Don
    NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
    NRA Life Member

  17. #17
    Vendor Sponsor

    Chill Wills's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Was-Colorado, Wyoming now
    Posts
    3,149
    Quote Originally Posted by USSR View Post
    FWIW, I pulled the trigger on the "B" mould. Now for the 3 week wait.

    Don
    The B mold looks to be more universal, how many cavities and what rifle?
    I am sure you will have fun with a 350gr.
    Chill Wills

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Finger Lakes Region of NY
    Posts
    1,254
    The mould is a 2 cavity brass mould. Most of my moulds are brass, so I really like them. The rifle is a Winchester Model 1886 made by Uberti. I just recently added a Lyman receiver sight to it.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Model 1886 45-70.png 
Views:	25 
Size:	642.1 KB 
ID:	259071

    Don
    NRA Certified Metallic Cartridge Reloading Instructor
    NRA Life Member

  19. #19
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    TN
    Posts
    1,895
    That's a gorgeous rifle.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Moorhead, MN
    Posts
    688
    A word of advice from a County Sheriff I used to know that hunted the Missouri River bottoms with his 45-70 for many years.
    No matter how big the rack, don't ever shoot a mule deer that's facing you in the center of the chest. The cast bullet will exit the far end of the deer, bursting every organ between the sternum and the pelvis along the way. Field dressing is NOT pleasant. The meat is not salvageable. Antler stew is thin.

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