Looking for improvement of Lyman #457193 45-70-405 boolit

[Walstr]

Greetings; My max chamber dim. is 2.595". With 2.100" WW brass, my hardcast boolits must crimp at the front 'driving band' of this design, resulting in a COAL of about 2.580". My casting drops tham @ .461" dia., and 395g-398g with 20:1 WW/Pewter alloy. I'm tumble lubing with White Label XLOX. I don't resize, as my chamber & barrel are on the large end of the SAAMI specs.

1-I'm using only brass that is 2.090"+ to assure my crimp adj. falls on that front band.
2-I would prefer that narrow band be "wider" to permit reliable crimping [Lee FCD] at a COAL I desire, and with brass that varies as stated above.

I'm learning that a large meplat is also desirable for hunting. This is my first 45-70 mold, but looking forward to refining my loads, especially since this front band is sooo narrow. Any info of old or 'custom' style molds is appreciated, for my continued learning. Thanks all.

Wally

[flashhole]

Wally, I'm not qualified to comment to your post as I an relatively new to casting myself. I'm looking into buying a mold to cast for my Guide Gun. I see your mold # is 457193 and the mold is advertised to provide .457 diameter bullets. Your comment is the molded bullets drop at .461" diameter. Is that typical of the Lee molds to drop larger diameter bullets than is specified? My gun barrel slugged at .4595" and I'm curious if the 457193 mold will work for me? Yours was the closest subject matter post I could find. I hope you don't mind me asking questions.

[aspangler]

Wally, I'm not qualified to comment to your post as I an relatively new to casting myself. I'm looking into buying a mold to cast for my Guide Gun. I see your mold # is 457193 and the mold is advertised to provide .457 diameter bullets. Your comment is the molded bullets drop at .461" diameter. Is that typical of the Lee molds to drop larger diameter bullets than is specified? My gun barrel slugged at .4595" and I'm curious if the 457193 mold will work for me? Yours was the closest subject matter post I could find. I hope you don't mind me asking questions.
Flashhole. The mold he referenced was a Lyman not a Lee. The Lee was a FCD ( factory crimp die). I use the Lee 457-405FN and it drops at .4585. Works really good in my Green mountain barrel.

[beagle]

I've found the 457643 to be excellent in my Marlin lever. Far better than the 45719X Lyman series./beagle


Lyman makes the 457643 for lever action rifles, and it has grouped better in my rifles (SS and LA) than the 457193.

[flashhole]

I've found the 457643 to be excellent in my Marlin lever. Far better than the 45719X Lyman series./beagle

Mine is a Marlin too. The Guide Gun. One of the early models with the ported barrel. I love it.

[g5m]

Thanks for the info. Is there any reason why the 457643 would not be good in microgroove barrels? I can't see any but certainly would like opinions.