45-70 Mold for Beginner Lead Chunker?

[350Gr]

Well I slugged my barrel with some soft lead and it was .458 od at the rifling. That was what the manufacture said it should be, so are you guys saying the lead should still be .459 or .460 and force itself to .458 during firing?

Thanks
350Gr

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Yep, go with the .460.

Just the Ol'Coot's opinion.

But the cast boolit sized to that dia. will have zero issues fiting the .458 barrel.

However, 9,3X62AL says it pretty well, and has plenty of experience with the 45/70 up to an including shooting the "Mastadon Slayer."

Now, dat do be one beeeeeg boolit! It's effectiveness on Mastondons is verified by the fact they are now few and far between.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[rfd]

what gun? that's important as their are at least 3 different levels of 45-70 loads - trap door, lever, ruger.

[Whiterabbit]

What's the mastodon slayer? I've shot the Led Zeppelin which is a 600 (actually 555 to 630+ grain, depending how they cut the mold) grain bullet. I'm hoping to get some NEI 750's from one of our own (cant ask for a better community). How does the mastodon slayer rank with the Led Zeppelin and the NEI big bertha (I think its #351?)

[taco650]

What would I need in the way of a Mold and Lube/Sizer to start making my own Boolits for my 45-70? An another question comes to mind as to the size, I see Lee offering a .457 and a .459 mold, how do I know the dia. I need?

I did attempt a search, so forgive me if this is one of those recurring questions from a newbie, but obviously I don't do well on searches.

Thanks

350Gr

To be on the safe side, I'd go for the larger (.459) as the .457 is probably more for 45Colt pistol.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

The Mastadon Slayer is what 9.3X62AL calls the big boys he has a mold for. Just put one on the digital scales and it came up at 534gr. lubed with Gas Check.

CDOC

[350Gr]

what gun? that's important as their are at least 3 different levels of 45-70 loads - trap door, lever, ruger.

Its a modern 1895GS.

[Swede44mag]

I have a SS Marlin Lever Evolution 45-70 I size my RCBS 300gr RNFP boolits to .460 with my Star boolit Sizer.
I went with .460 to keep from making the grease grooves any shallower the less sized the better as long as they are round.
I had one of the guys on the forum make the die for me.
They shoot great out of the Marlin it is suppose to have the Ballard rifling not the microgroove that other Marlin rifles have.

[Walter Laich]

to be different I'm using the Lyman 457191 mold that casts a 292 gr RNFP. I am using this for cowboy action and over a light loading of powder get a very gentle cartridge (shoulder surgery x2) ended my days of big bore, heavy recoil shooting.

[350Gr]

Thanks again for all the input. I am as CB calls it a boolit mold and I recon for good reason, this lead stuff is totally new to me. I slugged my barrel, ordered some lead tools and am awaiting there arrival...but these days that takes plenty of patients!

[WHITETAIL]

350gr. Welcome to the forum!
When I started shooting the 45-70.
I was shooting a Marlin SS and got good
results with the Gould 330gr. boolit.
Used Star-line brass.
CCI-200-Lr. primers.
IMR-4198-37grs.
OAL=2.542
You would not be sorry for any reason.

[350Gr]

Yup, I'll let you all know when I do my first...still waiting patiently.

[joepb]

I also like the lyman 330gr gould......Joe

[Clinebo]

An excellent book to read is Beartooth Bullets Technical Guide by Marshall Stanton. And there are many more out there. I hope you enjoy reading. I had to make a bigger bookcase just for all my hunting/shooting/reloading/casting books.

https://beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm