molds for 1895 cowboy

[duke76]

I have a friend with a 1895 cowboy in 45-70 and he wants me to cast him some bullets but doesn't want to spend a pile of money, my question is what do you guys think of the Lee 405 grain hollow base mold and the Lee 500 grain pointed bullet. I know you wouldn't want to put it in your magazine tube as the bullet is not a flat point but he would load these individual anyways. Are these good bullets for the 1895 or should I look for something else maybe with a gas check? and why does Lee only offer these 2 bulles for the 45-70 Govt. but offer some other .458 diameter 45 bullets Would those bullets also work? What have you guys used and had good luck with? Thenks, Todd

[leftiye]

If it's .458 caliber, and IF ya can get it in there it should shoot (especially if it's sized a thou or two over groove diameter). The lee boolits you mentioned should be just fine, a lot of guys like that hollow base. Being plain based,and not wanting to wear out or bust that fine old firearm, and also for competition you might want to use milder loads.

As I said, you COULD use almost any boolit (within reason) that strikes yer fancy. CAS shooters try for light boolits and mild recoil as it is a rapid fire competition. You might want to look at some 300 grainers.

[Ricochet]

If you watch the Lee Surplus Items page, they often have single cavity moulds for a 459-325-F boolit. Much like the 459-340-F, with a narrower base band. I've got one of those, and it shoots well in my '95. A single cavity nonhollowpoint mould casts a lot faster than a hollowpoint Gould!

[Dale53]

In my modern Marlin 1895 45/70 I have had excellent results (1.5" five shot groups at 100 yards) with the Lee 340 gr plain base bullet over a mild load of 4198 and lubed with NRA/Alox 50/50.

Recoil is mild and accuracy is just fine.

Dale53

[arkypete]

Not to discourage a caster but wouldn't it less aggrevation just to buy 500 bullets?
Jim