Cast Round Nose Bullets OK in Lever Action?

[brassell31]

I've been casting round nose bullets for my single shot .45-70 for years, and are the only kind of moulds I own. Recently, I picked up a Marlin 1895 lever gun chambered in .450 Marlin, which is basically a rimless .45-70. Are round nose bullets safe to use in a tubular magazine, or do I need to break down and buy a flat nosed mould?

[rintinglen]

I have loaded a great many with no problems in my Marlin CB, however, I don't go hunting Brontosaurs, so my loads are generally mild, not wild. I use the Lyman 457-124 and the 457-406, though I have to admit the RCBS 45-325U, which is a RF design gets more use. I have seen a Marlin that had a round go off in the magazine, but I do not know what ammo occasioned the blow up. It was at a gunsmithy, now sadly closed, and the owner had brought it in for repair. So I know it is possible for a round to go off in the magazine. Where it me, I'd have no qualms loading 45-70 standard velocity equivalent, round nose loads, but I think I'd be at the "Start" end of the load books. I'd get a RF or FN mold for heavy stuff. Why take a chance when a 2 cavity Lee 457-340 is like 25 bucks, shipped?

[btroj]

Round nose is fine. Look at all the 30-30 factory ammo loaded with RN bullets.

[plainsman456]

They as well as flat point work the same.

It's the lever actions butter.

They feed slick as well.

[TXGunNut]

:coffeecom

[GabbyM]

Round nose is fine. Look at all the 30-30 factory ammo loaded with RN bullets.

Ditto:

[msp2640]

I think you should be fine, as alot of the original loads used in the Marlin 95 and Win 1886 in 45-70, were of round nose style, although they weren't loaded up to Ruger type, power levels either. I was very fortunate to score a nice Marlin 444 last year and later stumbled upon 2 older Lyman 44 cal RN moulds, which once it warms up, they will be put to good use in the 444, again at moderate loads on the range. Bill in MA

[w30wcf]

SInce the .45-70 is a straight walled cartridge as compared to the .30-30 bottle neck, the primer will be more in line with the bullet nose behind it. Thus, I would be very wary of using RN bulleted .45-70 cartridges in a tubular magazine except with very mild loads.

Back in the 70's there were mag tube explosions reported in .44 Mag tube magazines from the use of RN bullets, although in those cases they were FMJ.

w30wcf

[geargnasher]

SInce the .45-70 is a straight walled cartridge as compared to the .30-30 bottle neck, the primer will be more in line with the bullet nose behind it. Thus, I would be very wary of using RN bulleted .45-70 cartridges in a tubular magazine except with very mild loads.

Back in the 70's there were mag tube explosions reported in .44 Mag tube magazines from the use of RN bullets, although in those cases they were FMJ.

w30wcf

Basically what I was going to point out. Comparing a RN in a .30-30 magazine to a 45/70 is apples/oranges. Of course a 45/70 rn is likely to have a much larger radus than a .30-30, too. A sharp edge on a FP can be as bad as a pointy boolit if the cartridge tilts in the magazine so that the edge of the meplat is against the primer ahead of it, it just depends on how they sit and stack in the magazine. What will be safe or not is a judgement call, but no doubt magazine explosions can and do happen so every loading set-up should be scrutinized.

Gear

[Westwindmike]

If you are hunting, just load one in the chamber and one in the tube and use the best boolit for your rifle.

[Artful]

http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/241/241599.jpg
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/330/330519.jpg
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/792/792015.jpg
http://www.ammoland.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/30-30-Winchester-Ammunition.jpg
http://oldguns.net/pix/18054.jpg
http://picturearchive.gunauction.com/5093202347/9900942/img121.jpg_thumbnail1.jpg
http://www.realguns.com/images/factoryammo4570mar.jpg
http://cdn.firearmstalk.com/forums/attachments/f37/19320d1284834351-box-old-45-70-ammunition-p1020202.jpg
http://www.oldammo.com/FA4570a.jpg
Round nose bullets have been used for ages in tubular magazines.
There are differences in round nose bullets though.
I would NOT use bullets that are NOT blunt on the end.
Some RN bullets are not very blunt.
Westwindmike has it right if they are not blunt load one in chamber and one in the magazine. Better safe than sorry.

[MtGun44]

If your molds are intended for single shots, they may be designed with a crimp
groove which makes a LOA too long for the levergun. This should be the
only serious issue.

Bill

[Artful]

http://oldguns.net/pix/18054.jpg
http://www.oldammo.com/FA4570a.jpg
Someone asked about the 45-70 cartridges with the crimp on the
lower portion of the cases. It came from the transition from rimfire
to balloon headed centerfire - it held the primer against the base of
the cartridge.
http://www.fototime.com/9A9F8425D3B554A/standard.jpg
http://www.frfrogspad.com/miscellf.htm
http://www.frfrogspad.com/cases.gif

[MT Chambers]

My experience with leverguns is that soft cast bullets sometimes have feeding problems, if the bullet strikes something or is forced against something, that can dig into the soft lead and bind things up. I first noticed this when using a 200 gr Lyman Rn. in a .357 Marlin rifle.

[btroj]

What bullet designs were available when the first leveraction, tube fed 45-70 came out?