I ned a mold recomendation for a 45-70

[grubbylabs]

I have a 400 grain mold from Tom at Accurate molds, and it makes a nice bullet. But I have this idea that I need to try a lighter bullet. If you were going to have a clone of another mold made that was under 400 grains what mold would it be and why?

I want something that would be good for big four legged critters that have sharp teeth and claws.

I am thinking that something around the 350 grain mark would be great.

[northmn]

For 4 legged critters with claws the 400 grain is probably mostly popular. I do not know what rifle you have, but a 45-70 can be laoded to very impressive performance levels with a 400 grain bullet.

DP

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Hollow point those slugs.
Get a chunk of hardwood, brass, steel... Has to have a diameter fat enough to get drilled .460 and still have metal enough around the hole to not collaps. Drill a 1/4 inch pilot hole all the way through top to bottom. From one end drill a .460 hole ( or large enough fore the boolit) almost the depth of the bullet. Leave about 1/8 inch of the boolit base exposed. Insert boolit nose first. Insert 1/4 inch drill and drill down 1/2 inch. Weigh boolit. You can always make the hole deeper or shallower to fit your needs. You can go a larger hollow point hole. Simple down pressure of the tool on the boolit should hold the boolit from spinning. That is why you do not drill the .460 hole deeper than the boolit.
If boolit wants to spin in "tool" while drilling hole Drill a 1/8 inch hole in the side and slide a 1/8 inch bolt into the hole. Simple finger pressure on the exposed bolt head pushing the end onto the side of the boolit should be enough unless you are trying to drill the hollow point hole with a dull bit and alot of down pressure.
My solution to make too heavy boolit lighter, more effective on thin skin game using existing molds.
Mike in Peru

[btroj]

I would stay with what you have.

[barkerwc4362]

If you want a bullet around 350gr I would go for the Lyman "Gould" mold, 457122 I believe. In hollow point form in a 1-30 alloy it weighs about 330gr. If you have a plug made to replace the hollow point pin the resulting bullet weighs about 350gr. I have had very good results with mine in a Browning 1886 Rifle and an early Marlin 1895.

Bill

[joepb]

I 2nd the 330 gould from Lyman. For more information check out the book "Forty Years with the 45-70" by Paul Matthews, it is a good read.
He sold me on the gould bullet...Joe

[grubbylabs]

I have a Marlin 1895 with the 22" barrel. I am not looking to get rid of the 400 grain bullet but rather add to it. I don't need 400 grains for elk and deer, or for hunting any thing else on this continent. But I find my self in Bear country occasionally is why I initially went with the 400 grain bullet. But I would also like to try a 350 grain bullet. I usually have Tom make my molds because he does such a great job. I am just looking to see if another mold maker like Lyman or RCBS makes a nice flat nose that would be worth cloning.

[northmn]

The Gould bullet is a great deer round and I ahve shot deer with it, but Matthews mentioned its shortcomings for penetration as have others. As the use on something big and mean was mentioned I would just stay with the 400 grain bullet. The old Lyman 193 mold at 420 actual grains was a real standby for the 45-70. The Gould mold without the HP could be cloned and would give you the weight you want. I made a smaller less radical HP for mine and the weight went up to 345.

DP

[joepb]

If you build a flat pin and mold 350 grain bullets to hunt the big stuff with, where penetration is important. Then use the hollow point for deer and the smaller critters.................Joe

[jtaylor1960]

The Saeco 017 shoots very well in my Marlin 1895.

[Larry Gibson]

There is a lot to be said for a lighter than 400 gr bullet in the 45-70. You will save on alloy and powder, they have a lot less recoil and are pure fun to shoot.....a lot of!! I shoot a lot of Rapine (unfortunately no longer in business) 460250s out of my 45-70s. I shoot so many I have 2 double cavilty moulds I use at the same time and cast a lot of bullets quickly. I also load them into 45-70 cases on a Dillon 550B progressive machine. Mine come out at 270 gr +/- depending on alloy. I load them normally over 8 gr Bullseye for 1050 +/- fps out of my 45-70 rifles with excellent accuracy to a very long way out there.......Nothing but a pleasure to shoot. They are also deadly on game and in some deer hunting situations I wouldn't hesitate to use that load. They can be pushed to 1200 - 1350 fps if one wants to push them.

A good alternate are the numerous older Lyman moulds from 210 - 300 gr if you can find one. The currently available RCBS 45-300-FN (PB'd one) is also an excellent choice.

Perhaps someone wants to honcho a GB for a bullet similar to one of these if there are enough buyers interested?

Larry Gibson

[TXGunNut]

Big fan of the Ranch Dog mould, still trying to make the Gould boolit work in my rifle. Been threatening to Beagle the Gould mould as I know it has a great reputation.

[grubbylabs]

So what happened to Ranch Dog, why did he quite offering molds?

[btroj]

He quit offering moulds because he wanted to have a life. Keeping up on having a business takes lots of time, time he wanted to spend with family and shooting.

[JesterGrin_1]

Yep Ranch Dogs 350Gr Boolit is a great one. But if you look there are Group Buys here on the forum for his designs.

[grubbylabs]

He quit offering moulds because he wanted to have a life. Keeping up on having a business takes lots of time, time he wanted to spend with family and shooting.

I am currently working for a friend and helping him get a salvage yard up and going so I understand the time issue. I suppose the current shortage is a little more tolerable for me since I just don't have time to shoot.

[1Shirt]

If I had my druthers, I would also go with the old Gould HP for a lighter weight. It is time tested and proven, however see absolutly nothing wrong with what you have at the 400 weight.
1Shirt!