...now what mold...(45-70)?

[j23]

Ruger No. 1, 45-70... I need a multi purpose mold. I tend to like having one bullet for each gun, to simplify things a bit... I need something that I can load down to about 1,000 fps and still get some accuracy for plinking, small game, ect... it will definatly need to be effective on deer and hogs out to 100-150 yards... and of course, one of these years, I may end up chasing big bear, elk or even lion (now Im dreaming...) so Id like to have something with some... spunk.

I was leaning towards the lyman 462560 'thors hammer.' Yes, its heavy, so it will do well with deer, even at mild, non-retnal-detachment loads, yet can be loaded up, up, up for lions, elephant, and TRex. How do you think it would do as a plinker.. i.e. ~1000 fps for some mild recoil loads... a gentle shove?

I will be using 3031, I now have 8lbs. of it, thanks to the responders of my last post.

[DLCTEX]

Check out Ranch Dog molds at the bottom of the page.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

A general purpose all-around bullet for the 45-70 would probaby be something in the 405 grain class. I have been using Lyman 457124 which is a round nose that casts around .458-.459 and weighs around 395 grains using WW, but different alloys change things. It has multiple lube rings on the bullet body so it can provide adequate lube for any velocity from 1000fps up to around 1700 fps. Other versions by other mold makers that have a flat nose or meplat can work just as well. I too have settled on 3031 although there are several other powders that work well. I have stayed in the 1200-1300 fps range with 3 rifles; a Win 86, a Win 85 hi-wall, and a Rem rolling Block and get decent gouping out of all of them. I've ventured as high as 53 grains (a load recommended in an old NRA article). It shot well, but kicked like a blue mule....certainly delivering enough whomp @1700+ for successfully hunting anything in the western hemisphere. Going to weights of 500 grains or more is another matter, especially as the velocity climbs upward from 1300 fps. Those loads kick like the devil and one may either not mind that or even enjoy the experience, but its definitely in the T-Rex league. Good luck. LLS

[1Shirt]

My #1 likes either the roundnose plain base 385 lyman or the 404 Ohas flat nose over anywhere from 22 to 26 gr. of 2400. Both shoot equally well, are easy to cast and will do the job on the range or on deer.
1Shirt!

[largom]

Five 45-70's and they all like RCBS 45-405-FN which weighs w15 with my alloy. This bullet will kill anything in North America when cast with the appropriate alloy. I load to 1750 fps and the recoil is bearable, anything above that and it hurts to much for serious practice.
Larry

[softpoint]

I have a number of molds in 45 cal. but if I had to pick, I'd have to have the 340 gr. Lee for light stuff, and either the 500gr.Rcbs, or 400 gr. Rcbs, depending on how large the animals I intended to hunt were. The 340 Lee is inexpensive, shoots well with light loads in all my rifles, doesn't use a gascheck, and is easier on the amount of alloy.

[John Boy]

+1 ... Lyman 457124 - 385gr gov't bullet. Accurate out to 500m and plenty of killing powder

[High Desert Hunter]

I'll let you know after I get a chance to test out bullets from my group buy mould, it is a 405gr FNPB mould. Until now I have used 2 RCBS moulds exclusively, one the 325 Universal which drops at 345gr from wheel weights, the other is the 405 RNFPGC that drops at 425gr from wheel weights. My Marlin 1895GS has never had a jacketed bullet down the bore, has never leaded, even when pushing the 345gr PB bullet over 1800fps, so I am hoping this new mould will give me the all around bullet I am looking for, I dislike gas checks, mostly because of the cost.

Dave

[missionary5155]

Check out Ranch Dog molds at the bottom of the page.

Good morning Ranch dog is shutting down.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
In my 45 lever guns I like for a general purpose something around 350 grains. It is big enough to SMASH anything I woññ encounter in the mid-west yet still works reasonable at 11oo fps I can roll bunnies with it or pop a grounghog. I tend to carry a Cal. 38 rifle more often but I do haul a 45 Winny (jap) about with me.
Mike in Peru

[JDL]

I really like the RCBS 45-300FN which drops 330 grains from my WW alloy. It'll work from mild plinking loads to anything I care to hunt, including elk.
JDL