Casting ratio

[Roy Cobb]

I Am about to cast my first bullets for my sharps 45/70 to shoot long range 530 to 540 grain will be lead tin mix only thinking about 30 to 1 what ratio do you use

[Mike Brooks]

I've been using 20-1

[Don McDowell]

I'm with Mike 20-1 is my choice.

[country gent]

I have been using 20-1 with good results and my paper patched ullets are pretty much a pure lead swaged bullet. Let yoyr bullets air cool. I save old pistol ammo Trays 40 cal on up. Makes great means of storing and protecting those soft cast bullets.

[montana_charlie]

You would probably get about the same results with both alloys.

CM

[TedH]

My Sharps will shoot noticeably tighter groups with bullets harder than 30-1. I have best results with straight clip on wheelweights, air cooled.

[Dan Cash]

TedH,
How closely do your cases match your chamber for length? Also, are you shooting BP; I presume you are?

[TedH]

I really couldn't say Dan, I've never made a chamber cast, and I've only been shooting this rifle a couple months. Yes, I am shooting BP, Graf's 2F. I'm also new to loading BPCR. Everything I know so far has come from advice from Don McDowell, and he ain't steered me wrong yet.;-)

[EDG]

Use 25 - 1 one to be different

[Boz330]

20-1 as well. I tried 16-1 but couldn't tell any difference. With cost of tin I'm thinking about trying 30-1.

Bob

[montana_charlie]

Mike Venturino told this anecdote several years ago ...

He and Steve Garbe were shooting partners, and would cast their bullets from the same batch of alloy.
When they ran low, Mike ordered more, but inadvertantly asked for 30-1 instead of 20-1.
(this happened so long ago I may have those alloy numbers reversed)

Later that year they were at a match and Steve was shooting while Mike spotted.
Another shooter asked Steve what alloy he used and he said '20-1'.
A bit later, Mike informed Steve they were actually using 30-1.

Point is ... if Steve Garbe couldn't notice a difference, I bet you won't, either.


(I don't know either gentleman personally, and have never even seen them. But, they are well-known in BPCR circles.)

CM

[Lead pot]

There is a difference in 1/16, 1/18,1/20/,1/30 lead/tin alloy for shooting long range especially with a GG that has a lot of mass in front of the front driving band like a Postell or the longer nosed money bullets. 1/20 in the .45-70 will work pretty good but there is still a lot of setback of the nose and dry lead will come in contact with the bore and it will change the aerodynamics of that bullet but it will still shoot quite accurately as long as the setback of the nose is straight, but in a .45-70 that is not an issue from what I have been able to find out.
I personally cast all of my bullets using 20# lead and a one pound roll of 95/5 no lead solder. 95% tin 5% antimony in that 1# roll and those bullets will look like a 1/16 lead/tin alloy when shot with very little of the nose getting set back in front of the front driving band.
The solder is usually less in cost then buying tin if you watch the sales.
But regardless 1/20 L/T is a good choice.