Anybody using the Lee 457-340F on deer?

[BobT]

I am running this boolit at 1150 fps average from my 14" Contender with pretty good accuracy, from my alloy it weighs an average of 346 grains .

I'm thinking of trying it out on the local whitetails this year. I have never killed a head of game with a cast boolit out of a center fire and really want to start!

Bob

[Wolfer]

I don't have a 45-70 so I can't answer directly. I have however shot several deer with a 45 colt.
The 452-255RF resembles your nose profile and I push them to about 950 fps. These have always passed through for me. Blood trails are a little skimpy but are not usually very long. 30 to 50 yards is common.

I can't see any way that your combination would not work as well or better than mine.

As always shot placement is key. Penetration with these boolits/ velocity is a non issue.

[richhodg66]

I've been working with that bullet in a Handi Rifle using 30 grains of 5744. Haven't chronographed it, but should be around 1400 FPS. I can consistently group about 2 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards (iron sighted rifle). The vast majority of my shots at deer and way under 100 yards, so I should be good. May not hunt with it this year, too many things I want to try already in the que, but I'll get around to it.

Beenw orking with a 300 grain Saeco which is about the same, maybe a little better. Just cast some of the Lee 500 grainers today, we'll see how they do, but that one is way overkill for deer. If it's more accurate, I'll use it.

[nockhunter]

I've been working with that bullet in a Handi Rifle using 30 grains of 5744. Haven't chronographed it, but should be around 1400 FPS. I can consistently group about 2 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards (iron sighted rifle). The vast majority of my shots at deer and way under 100 yards, so I should be good. May not hunt with it this year, too many things I want to try already in the que, but I'll get around to it.

Beenw orking with a 300 grain Saeco which is about the same, maybe a little better. Just cast some of the Lee 500 grainers today, we'll see how they do, but that one is way overkill for deer. If it's more accurate, I'll use it.

"Overkill is underrated"

Mike

[richhodg66]

"Overkill is underrated"

Mike

Maybe, but I've a feeling that 500 grain bullet will be painful to shoot and a .45 hole all the way through won't matter if it was a 350 grain .45 or a 500 grain .45.

[BobT]

Thanks for the replies, I feel a little more confident now.

[chutesnreloads]

Found that boolit to be too skinny for my Handi barrel.....however with beagling and a powder coating and they're shooting into 2" or a tad better at 100 yards with 5744 and 4198 loads.Can't wait for a hog to get in its way.

[GooseGestapo]

I've used it from a Marlin M1895 GuideGun. I've run it around 1,300fps. Sized .359" w/SPG lube and 24.0gr of #2400.
Unsuprisingly, complete penetration, deer die quickly, short wide blood trails.
however, I prefer the RCBS 300gr FNGC. I can run it as fast as I care to usually with 30.0gr #2400 for ~1,650 fps. Shoots flatter for slightly greater ranges.

[white eagle]

Maybe, but I've a feeling that 500 grain bullet will be painful to shoot and a .45 hole all the way through won't matter if it was a 350 grain .45 or a 500 grain .45.

Know what you mean bout the 500 grainers
they do pack a punch though

[JimP.]

slip a recoil pad over the butt, helps with the 500 gr bullets....JimP.

[HiVelocity]

Folks, remember, the American buffalo almost became extinct due to a 400 grain bullet at 1300 fps...........Lol!

I find that 15-16 grains of Unique (or Salute' (Russian Unique)) is relatively mild, accurate, and very efficient.

HV

[pls1911]

I have several 45-70s, and for better or worse, one happens to be a TC 16" pistol.
Even with a muzzle break and shooting glove, my entire shooting session will rarely go beyond 6 rounds.
Oh, it's one hole accurate at 50 yards, and fun to shoot, but with anything more than skimpy trap door loads, it's too friggin brutal to be practical.
As to your inquiry, the 340 grain bullet will kill what you hit, but don't expect bullet recovery.

[BobT]

I have several 45-70s, and for better or worse, one happens to be a TC 16" pistol.
Even with a muzzle break and shooting glove, my entire shooting session will rarely go beyond 6 rounds.
Oh, it's one hole accurate at 50 yards, and fun to shoot, but with anything more than skimpy trap door loads, it's too friggin brutal to be practical.
As to your inquiry, the 340 grain bullet will kill what you hit, but don't expect bullet recovery.

I'm shooting 14.5 grains of Trail Boss, getting decent accuracy and have no sign of leading so far. I haven't slugged the barrel yet but the mold is dropping boolits at about .456.

[dubber123]

I'm shooting 14.5 grains of Trail Boss, getting decent accuracy and have no sign of leading so far. I haven't slugged the barrel yet but the mold is dropping boolits at about .456.

If they are indeed .456", I would wager you will see much better accuracy if you get them to .458" or so. I have never encountered a 45-70 that had that tight of a bore. Good luck.

[Cornbread]

I use this bullet in a 45-70 I have built on a Mauser 98 action. Mine drops at .458 exactly and that bolt action is the only 45-70 I have that likes this bullet and it likes it a lot. I shoot it at 1,500 - 1,700fps depending on what load I am working with and what alloy. I use it as a saddle rifle for deer, elk, and bear hunting with this bullet.

[richhodg66]

Surprised at how many have Lee molds casting undersize. I have the 340 also a 500. Never got Lee molds to work well until recently, both these cast well. Don't recall miking one, but a run through a .458 sizer sizes them down noticeably.

[GooseGestapo]

Lee's usually cast pretty close to advertised diameters, IMO.
UNLESS, you have a LOT of carbon black on them, to get them to fill out.

Fixing an under sized mold is easy. A layer of aluminum duct tape will open one .002" or so.
Ive also opened some .001" or so lapping with polishing compound.

[oscarflytyer]

Have that mold but not cast/used it in my Marlin 45-70. Used the 405 HB last year @~ 1350 fps/muzzle and flipped a deer at about 85-90 yds.

I would fully expect the same basic results end results with the Lee 457-340F inside 100 yds. Go for it. Taking a head of game with a bullet and load you cast is a great experience. I am now on the way for doing the same with the 30-30 and 35 Rem, and a 38-55 when I get it bored.

[Motor]

I've used it from a Marlin M1895 GuideGun. I've run it around 1,300fps. Sized .359" w/SPG lube and 24.0gr of #2400.
Unsuprisingly, complete penetration, deer die quickly, short wide blood trails.
however, I prefer the RCBS 300gr FNGC. I can run it as fast as I care to usually with 30.0gr #2400 for ~1,650 fps. Shoots flatter for slightly greater ranges.

Can you tell me where you got your 2400 data for 45-70? I'm not finding any in the normal manuals like the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook.

Motor

[Motor]

Does anybody know why Lee dosn't offer a .458" size die? And most of their 45-70 moulds are .457"

Are they that out of touch or what? I don't get it. :confused:

Motor

[Rufus Krile]

Most of my Lee dies throw .459" with 16/1 or 25/1. When the cherry is new, it opens up the mold up a little. They are 'nominal' .457" but when they get down to that size Lee will go to a new cherry. A .457" sizing die plus a little work with abrasive cloth will get you to .459" pretty quick. Or... Lee will do it for you for a nominal fee.

[Motor]

Thanks. I'm guessing the size die is also inexpensive enough that buying the .457" and polishing out if needed is also the way to go. For as simple a tool a push through size die is I would think they would offer more options.

Or is their "special order" push through dies reasonably priced?

Motor

[FergusonTO35]

I'm hoping to use the 457-340 and my 1895 on deer soon. Gotta get the 309-150RF straightened out in my 336 first though.

[DW475]

I've been using the Lee 457-340 out of my Marlin Cowboy for 11 years now and it's great on deer.

[tinhorn97062]

Motor,

TrackOfTheWolf.com has custom sizing dies from Lee. I bought a .460 for about $20

[GooseGestapo]

Motor,
Got .45/70 #2400 data from old Lyman 3rd edition "Cast Bullet "Handbook". Page #234, loads for 1886 Winchester and 1895 Marlin. Also, Lee#2, pages 688-690

[Motard]

Opened the lee sizing die as per instrutions from other forumers, and some personal add. Took a a short wooden dowel barely smaller than the diamater of the die and one inch longher to fit in a hand drill mandrel. Cut the a slot throght the lenght without slicing it all. Used some whet sand-paper very small to lapp inside just a 001 less than final aim (.456 to me). Then ended making the inside mirror's shining with a whet piece of cloth (cotton) inserted in the slot, covered with polishing paste, and fixed in the hand drill. Ten minutes whorking.
Ps: whole job was done with the dies threaded on my LCC press and I reverted it (upside down) so that both extremities where equal lapped. If I remember well I started lapping with some cutting oil lubricator on the sandpaper.

[softpoint]

On of my favorite 45/70 loads out of 2 Marlins has been the 340 Lee. Mine casts a bit small for the Marlin, too. I cast them about 9.5 to 10 bhn. and paper patch with two wraps of tracing paper. Then size to .460. I load with 47 grains of RL 7 If I recall right, it gives me about 1900 fps. And they expand...

[Lostknife]

My 1895 Marlin(Remington) likes 0.460" bullets. I use a 460 die in my Saeco lube sizer but for my 200 grain squib bullets to speed up the process with large quantities of these fun bullets I bought a lee liquid lube sizer kit off eBay cheap but it was only 457, so just curious I started checking everything ( dies) to see if anything was 460 and sure enough an extra bonanza 45 ACP carbide sizer was exactly 460..... So a half inch tapered reamer got rid of the internal threads , an intro to my lathe turned the knurled section down to accept the lee "tray" and it didn't cost me any more money, recycled dies lol !
Worked for me !
Lost

[220]

Ive used it to take fallow deer here in Aus pushed along by BP for around 1200fps, they don't go far if you hit them in the front half.