Commercial cast bullet for 45-70, Flat point

[BKS]

I am looking for a commercial bullet for my 45-70 handi rifle. I want one with the flattest front section. I plan to deer hunt with it.

[labradigger1]

Holes kill things. A 45 Caliber is a sizable hole, even more so with soft lead. I wouldn't be too concerned about the meplate at all, especially when using on deer.

[Nueces]

Take a look at the Oregon Trail Laser-Cast bullets: http://oregontrailbullet.com/shop/

I've found the 405 grains (sized a generous 0.459") to be very accurate in several 45-70 rifles. Some Cabela's carry this line, but you may not do better than ordering online.

[BKS]

Thanks guys. Im new to cast boolits.

[Scharfschuetze]

Take a look at the Oregon Trail Laser-Cast bullets: http://oregontrailbullet.com/shop/

That's a good suggestion for a commercially cast boolit. I've used it with good results in the H&R replica trapdoors as well as the Marlin 1895 rifle. I wish it was a bit softer, but I have the Lyman and Lee moulds to cast soft 405 grain boolits if needed.

While your rifles may shoot differently, I've always found most any 405 grain boolit to shoot the best in my 45/70 rifles and carbines.

[Blackwater]

Labradigger has it right, but a friend of mine once commented about the .45/70, "You can load it with jacketed, cast, ashtrays or feather pillows, and it'll STILL kill whatever ya' point it at!" That may be a mild overstatement, but there's an awful lot of truth in there.

The suggestion of the Oregon Trails is good, based on a buddy's use of them. I'd suggest getting the largest diameter they offer, which IIRC, will maybe be .459. They shot really well in both a #1 Ruger and his Marlin 1895 levergun. He killed a few deer with them, and none went more than just a few yards after being hit. He places his bullets very well, so that's pretty much standard for him, though.

No caliber is "magic," but the .45/70 comes as close as anything I've ever seen. Good bullets at black powder or faster velocities just seem to do a uniformly good job. You've STILL got to place the bullet right, though, but that goes for even a .50 BMG, so that's no slight to the old warhorse .45/70 at all. They're cheap enough that you can work up a lot more loads for the same amount of money you'd spend on jacketed, too, so you get more experience for the same outlay. NOBODY saves money casting. We just shoot more with what we have to work with, which is why cast shooters tend to be above par shooters. Good situation to be in!

[Bird]

I have shot a lot of Bear Creek bullets, 405grn, over 34 grains of IMR4198. Never hunted, but it would be hard to imagine that load could not put a deer down, or a much larger animal for that matter. I think the velocity was around 1400fps.
No leading, accurate and reasonably priced. If i was not casting my own, I would carry on using the above bullets.

[BKS]

I found some Hunting Shack Munitions bullets for the 45-70. They are 405gr, .459 diameter and have a brinell of 15. They only have one lube grove in them though.

[AllanD]

I've recently cast some RCBS 45-405 out of pure lead.

I expect them to act no different from explosive cannon shells in their effects on deer
from my 45/70... even with the somewhat smaller than ideal meplat... SOFT guaran-DAMN-tees
that they will expand to.750" or larger....

[Littleton Shot Maker]

Leatherhead Bullets , Boise Idaho - will soon have that mold and I think they will offer hard and soft cast ( 1 in 20) they do P.C. bullets in case that is an issue...

[wrench man]

I load the Oregon Trail 350grn FNRP for my 45-70's, even at the "Cowboy" levels with Trail Boss I have no doubt that the would penetrate a deer from stem to stern!

[foxtrapper]

Cast performance 460 gr wfngc . Dropped two black bears right there!

[Tailhunter]

Cast performance 460 gr wfngc . Dropped two black bears right there!
This right here. Except I like the 300 gr. for deer.

http://www.grizzlycartridge.com/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=CP458300A

[oscarflytyer]

I have a Marlin 1895. Old rebuilt shoulders. As said above, 45-70 can go low and slow and slobber knock a deer. I cast the Lee 405 HB out of COWW + 2% tin, about 12 BHN, .460 size pan lubed. In front of 38.5 grns of IMR 3031, velocity about 1350-1375 fps. Flipped a yearling at 85 yds last year. And VERY shoulder/shooter friendly. I wish I had some cast/lubed and I would gladly send you some... But only have a handful on-hand right now. If still interested down the road, let me know as I plan to cast some more.

[elk hunter]

I've shot 500 of the Oregon Trail 350 grain flat points out of my 500-450 double. Very accurate, no leading even at 2000 FPS and the one deer I shot with them was DRT and you could eat right up to the bullet hole. They're hard but, with that flat point they don't have to expand. The only advantage of the 350 over something heavier is just a bit more velocity for a slightly flatter trajectory but, they won't penetrate as deep. If your range is 100 yards or less any accurate 45 caliber cast bullet of whatever weight, properly placed, will kill deer cleanly.

[Tatume]

I tried shooting deer with soft 45-70 bullets and the Marines where I usually hunt accused me of hunting with hand grenades. Hard bullets will kill like lightning, and won't destroy all the meat. Laser Cast bullets are good. Good hunting.

[dkf]

The 480gr Thunderhead has a very large metplat. Going to have a hard time finding an animal to stop it in north america. http://www.pennbullets.com/4570/4570-caliber.html

[Littleton Shot Maker]

Update: Leatherhead Bullets will have 405 and 350 bevel base 45-70 Magma molds and will fill you needs IF not too far to ship or go by and pick them up...

[waco]

Beartoothbullets.com
check out the "pile driver"
This one is a copy of the 405gr plain base. Sized .460" and lubed with 2500.
Tom at Accurate made me a three cavity mold.

[waco]

It has a meplat of .37"
http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=46-405V-D.png

[waco]

BTW. This feeds flawlessly through my 1895 Marlin.