..Hey guys. Been reading... and reading... and reading... I'm not positive, but mebbe gettin an idea where to start to establish a baseline and practice. I don't shoot much at the range anymore. Just enough to work up a useful load for hunting then it's off to the club for some tramping, light plinking and hogs. Don't usually go back unless somethin gets sideways. Not a high volume kinda guy.
..Wanna try big-n-slow-ish this season so I got a 2001 Marlin 1895CB (Oct)26" in 45-70. Prolly didn't really need all that barrel but it's what showed up at the shop and it handled nice so here we go. I've shot competitively(BR, group) and reloaded for ~20 years, but never cast my own. Can't say I'll get into it much more than just makin my own for grins. It's been fun huntin' material down and piddlin with meltin stuff out in the shop thus far. But the formulas and nit-pickery gimme a headache, tho'. Mebbe later I can participate in that asylum.
..Intended current use is for southeastern deer and hog, mostly. Shots are <125 yards, well under usually unless in a cutover which I don't hunt too much. So trajectory isn't much of an issue and if it becomes one it's easy enough to dope that out. I'd like to keep it mild (trapdoor-ish), Was thinkin mebbe 14-1600ish, tops(?), so I can KISS with the PB boolits. Tried a coupla my wrinkly first Pb boolits with the dinky Unique loads. Whot a hoot! I just don't care for all the blast and recoil from full tilt loads anymore. Not gonna get cramped over BR type accuracy, reasonable minute-of-piglet will get me by, for now.
Slugged the barrel and best I can tell it measures to .457 groove.
I've got the Lee 457-405-F and 457-340-F moulds. Both plain base.
Cheap enough for tryin' it and I can buy "big boy" moulds if this is worth keepin going.
I've only cast Pb so far just to see how it went. A dab of Sn made it nicer. Drops right at .457 air cooled.
Not sure what ta do if that needs to be bigger. Wacked one on the nose with a hammer to make sure it was big enough for slugging.
But that doesn't seem like it'd be "condusive to accuracy".
Materials on hand. (not too much of any)
Lead, WW and some pewter, all in nuggets.
Powders on hand: Unique, H4198, H322, H335, 2400, Varget. + more, but those I think I've seen mentioned. Got a pile of H335.
Starline brass and an assortment of LRP's.
Dies are Lee w/FCD.
I know y'all hear this all the time and apologies. Had no idea how much voo-doo casting could entail.
Something real simple but effective to get my feet wet with what I have would be great if possible.
If somebody could rub my nose inna good starting point that'd be appreciated. d:^)