Lead melter
02-13-2008, 08:24 AM
My very first mold was a Lee 340 grain .457" plain base. I had come upon a deal of $15 for 150 unfired Winchester 45-70 brass formed for use in a 40-65. I needed a fireforming load and hence, the Lee came into my possession and has sat in the factory box since then.
My method was to seat a Remington 405 grainer nose first into the case to expand the neck, pull the bullet with an inertial puller, then seat the Lee boolit over 10 grains Unique. Got kind of an hourglass figure, but they formed perfectly.
My question is twofold:
What is a decent 1200-1500 fps load for this boolit, hopefully using Unique powder?
Has anyone toyed with the idea of using this boolit, sized accordingly, as a basis for a heavy 45 Colt load? I know it will size to .454" or .452" as I do this sizing step using the Lee 405 grainer, cast in soft lead, for use in my .45 front-stuffer?
If you have some data for the Colt load, that may be my next project. Seems like the nose profile would be just fine for my Win '94 Legacy.
My method was to seat a Remington 405 grainer nose first into the case to expand the neck, pull the bullet with an inertial puller, then seat the Lee boolit over 10 grains Unique. Got kind of an hourglass figure, but they formed perfectly.
My question is twofold:
What is a decent 1200-1500 fps load for this boolit, hopefully using Unique powder?
Has anyone toyed with the idea of using this boolit, sized accordingly, as a basis for a heavy 45 Colt load? I know it will size to .454" or .452" as I do this sizing step using the Lee 405 grainer, cast in soft lead, for use in my .45 front-stuffer?
If you have some data for the Colt load, that may be my next project. Seems like the nose profile would be just fine for my Win '94 Legacy.