Ok I,m a LeverHead that needs advice on Favorite 45-70 molds

[reddoggm]

Guys I thank you for the input / advice
goodsteel you ever test those new bullets ?

[MBTcustom]

Well, I ended up going to a private range that didn't have a bench, so all shots were taken offhand.
All things considered, I think both boolits are a big step up from what I had in the Lyman.
At 50 yards, I believe no golfball would be safe.
Then I started popping at a 12" target set out at 300 yards. Took me a few shots to figure out the hold over, but I was scaring the heck out of it. At that range, I had to set the entire front post on top of the rear blade like a chess pawn and put the ball on top of the target.
I really want to get a Williams peep on this and try it again, as I believe I could do much better. As it was, I was pretty much just "using the Force".
My buddy is an exceptional shot and drilled a 1" group offhand with the 46-405K.

Not very conclusive, but we were just plinking.
I'll post better results when I get it on a bench.

[reddoggm]

goodsteel sounds like doting the I sight lineup I have a set of XS sights (the Big dot) on a 1911 that lines up like that Hey buddy keep me informed I,m chompin at the bit to buy a mold but want ta hear more about what your working with there
I,ll end up buying a couple before it,s said and done (never done) but want to try to buy wisely if thats possible
Thanks again
The DOGG!!!

[Wayne Smith]

I was wondering if anyone besides Lyman makes a mold like the Lyman 457122 Gould HP in a 4 or 5 cavity

I don't think I have seen anyone else offering this. I have not followed all the group buys, however.

[reddoggm]

I don't think I have seen anyone else offering this. I have not followed all the group buys, however.

I was thinking this might be a nice mold in a 3 or more cavity version HP 1 or 2 and blank the others Everything I read about this mold says it,s a bada$$ hunting boolit
Thanks Wayne The DOGG!!!

[Wayne Smith]

This mold is still a current Lyman mold. While I agree it might be nice in a 3 or 4 cavity I am happy with my single. Monday AM I cast 70 of them, and this mold demands pressure casting with my ladle, met with a guy who is going to saw a tree into lumber in my back yard, and then went to work for the afternoon. That's 70 of them cast, sized and lubed and ready to load. This to replace some I have sent to two of our members to try. This is a deep, narrow HP pin, it might work in a multiple mold and it may not. My advice is to get what you can while you can. If a multiple becomes available you can always upgrade and sell what you have. Even if one becomes available I'll stay with what I have. This is with three of us shooting it, and my best friend casting his own with my mold, and me sending others some to try before buying.

[reddoggm]

You know your right Wayne 70 is alot of bullets for the 45-70 and if you spend a few quality casting days at it cast /sized and lubed thats alot of shooting I saw one of the gould molds on amizon for 71.00 I,ll have to take a good hard look at buying it
Thanks again Wayne

[Explorer1]

Ranch Dog 425, have had great success with it in several Guide Guns.

http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/bin/...let/sketch.jpg

[Bigslug]

Had some good experiences today. The RCBS 405 GC continues to amaze: Had a bunch loaded up with a charge that turned out not to be the preferred amount for a Baikal double, so shot them through a rolling block (globe sights) at 100 yards to confirm its zero. Factoring in the human-error issues, it's probably a one-hole gun; for ten rounds, four were touching, three nearly so, and the other three opened things up to about a four-inch total.

Also had the first trial of the NOE 405PB today. Have not wrung it out for accuracy yet, but the way in which it transfers energy off it's .33" nose is simply unbelievable. We were blowing up Florida Premium OJ jugs at 25Y. C4 might have done a more thorough job. . .maybe. The water was displaced so forcefully that the 1/4" deep layer of loose sand/rocks/clay pigeon bits on top of the underlying hardpack was blown totally clear for about a foot from the jugs in all directions. Makes a VERY neat and visible hole in paper too.

[TXGunNut]

Just my 2cents based on my experiences with my 1895 guide gun:
The nose needs to be short enough to feed and function properly. I bought the Lyman 457193 and I had trouble with accuracy. Not surprising because the nose on that boolit is about .430 long past the first driving band, which forced me to jump the boolit about .050 to the rifling. Also, the Lyman cast at 458 right on the money, and I really needed a .459-.460 diameter boolit if I expect any manner of accuracy.
What I have found is that the ideal length for the nose of the boolit in an 1895 GG is .350. If the meplat of the boolit is that length from the first driving band, then you will have no problems feeding, and the driving band can be pushed right into the rifling no problemo.
Anyway, I'm no expert or anything, but take it for what it's worth. -Goodsteel

I'm no expert either but my GG and Tim's must be twin sisters, mine doesn't much care for the 457193 or 457122 but it loves the Ranch Dog 460-350. Michael designed it for the Marlin so it should be no surprise. It's a GC decign so it's just the ticket if you decide to go fast. I'm thinking I'd like the NOE 405 if it's a PB for a fun plinker.

[reddoggm]

Just bought the NOE 405 PB and looking forward to having at it can,t wait I think I,ll look into the Ranch dog 460-350 to go fast
Thanks fellas keep it coming

[Bigslug]

Just bought the NOE 405 PB and looking forward to having at it can,t wait I think I,ll look into the Ranch dog 460-350 to go fast
Thanks fellas keep it coming

There's a few ways you can look at that, but consider that "fast" is a relative term. I've seen the RCBS 405GC ramped up to "kills on both ends" levels in the Marlins. The accuracy is still there, and the trajectory is flatter,but at that point, you are pounding yourself for no real increase in killing power and the flight path is still a far cry from the basic bolt action offerings that will abuse you a lot less. Nothing wrong with a 350 grain pill, but you'll never make the .45-70 into a .220 Swift. Better - I think - to seek other rifles for your long range hunting plans.

The .45-70 can be a real long range humdinger, but not terribly so with the bullet choices appropriate to a lever action repeater. The more aerodynamic "ICBM" bullets are tailored more for the single-shot options and are usually "lobbed" rather than "rocketed". I would personally tend to regard the Marlin platform as a sub-200 yard system, load your 405 NOE to about 1400-1500 fps, and sleep warm in the knowledge that it should flatten darn near anything that walks.

[reddoggm]

I follow what your saying I damn sure don,t want to dislocate my shoulder at the expense of a longer flight I think at the 200 yard range and sledge hammering what I,m hitting and not my shoulder I would be achieving the maximum of the Marlins capability

[TXGunNut]

Yes, fast is a relative thing. In my GG @ about 1700 the eyepiece is adjusting my eyeglasses so I don't go any faster. The gun and boolit is able, I'm just not willing.

[MBTcustom]

Ok, I got to really rag out both of the boolits I mentioned earlier in this thread.
I went to the range with about 175 of them, evenly divided between the two designs.
Boom Boom Boom Boom!
Shuck Shuck Shuck Shuck
Boom Boom Boom Boom!
Shuck Shuck Shuck Shuck
It went on and on and on and on! Bwahahahahaha!
The poor guy on the bench next to me was trying to do some precision work with a Cooper .22, and I believe I made it awful hard for him to stay on target. I was running that levergun like a $2 rented mule and working over rocks and wood chunks on the backstop like a boss! Everything I shot at was having a really bad day. I do believe I could wipe out a 6 pack of pepsi cans with as many shots at 100 yards. It is soooooooo nice to have a load that your gun loves and a pile of ammo you can't get through very quickly. We were sweeping up 45-70 brass like 22LR. They were everywhere.

I still can't decide which I like better. Both are amazingly accurate in this gun.
All the boolits but 50 were lubed with 45-45-10 and loaded over 26 grains of 2400 powder.
I feel I liked the recoil profile of the 46-455-R just a little better than the 46-405-K, but that boolit eats a GC every time (So what?) All things considered, I would hunt with either of them in a heartbeat, and have no doubt whatsoever that my shot is going where I am aiming. Both had a very similar impact point, both were very accurate, and both were more fun than anybody should have with their clothes on.

I confess, I was so elated that all my shots were hitting what I was aiming at, I went a little bit hog wild. I had intended to shoot some of them from the bench like a gentleman, but I started shooting and went all "Attila the Hun" with it!
I gotta load em up and do that again! Wow what a good time!
I'm not soon going to forget that little outing I assure you!

[reddoggm]

Tim great to hear this I do believe I,m gonna have to buy at least one more mold Let me ask ya what kind of alloy were you putting in them ? and also what kind of weight they were dropping at I surely do appriciate the update when ya get the time fill me in on the above specifics and I do believe I,m gonna order one more and see if MY 1895 likes the same diet
Thanks Tim

[rr2241tx]

Chiming in late but I just tried an Ideal 457194 that drops at 416 gr in 30:1 and .459 diameter. With 29.5 gr IMR SR-4759 it was a paper killer running them through my Miroku/Winchester 1886. It has a big round nose and a reduced first driving band ahead of the crimp groove. All I had left is one that has knocked around the office for a couple of months, so cheesy cell phone photo transgression is admitted.

[FishingFool]

Accurate 46-405v plain base for me.

[reddoggm]

I was looking at those molds FishingFool I still need to get ahold of goodsteel as per your PM Tim Try Friday around 7

[MBTcustom]

I just stuck GC's on the ones I'm sending you Dog. Pm me an address sometime and I'll kick 'em in the mail.