Mold For Marlin .45-70

[KReider477]

Hey, I am just getting into casting and have some questions on finding a good mold for my new .45-70 Marlin. Its chamber is sitting at .459 inches and I'm having trouble locating an affordable mold. In a perfect world I would get one with a gas check in the neighborhood of 350 grains and also one is 500 with or without a gas check. I am sure this has been asked at least a hundred times on this forum so I thank you in advance for reading it again

-Karl

[Bohica793]

Noe 460-405

[KReider477]

Thank you for the fast reply.

[DocSavage]

I have a friend who has a Marlin in 45/70 and it won't feed 500 gr bullets. 405 gr are as big a bullet that will feed in his Marlin.

[Uncle Jimbo]

Sent Pm.

[1980Harley]

I also have a 45/70 barrel on my Contender with a .4585 chamber. What I have been doing is lamenting the Lee mold I have to get at least a .460 dia. bullet, preferably a .461 and then resize to .460. I've been taking it slowly to make sure the cavities remain as close to each other as possible. I'm using 96-2-2 for my bullets, so I may need to try adding a little more tin and antimony in the next batch I cast to see if that helps the diameter any at all. Eventually, I'll probably go with the mold that Bohica793 mentioned: the NOE 460-405.

[hockeynick39]

This is the mold I use for my Winchester 1886. Boolits drop +/- 400 gr with straight COWW, .461 caliber and get sized and PB checked to .460.

Accurate 46-400M:
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/46-400M-D1_zpslvezmfiu.png

http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/Winchester%201886%20084_zpsquzo493c.jpg

Final load work target fired at 50 yds with iron sights:
http://i1027.photobucket.com/albums/y338/hockeynick39/Winchester%201886%2050%20yd%20Target%20III%20001_z psxa8wwngu.jpg

[Lead Fred]

176030

The Ranch Dog was designed for the Marlin 1895
Now sold by NOE

[Nrut]

For a .460" - 350gr GC bullet in a Marlin this is the bullet you want..

176041
It was designed by Ranch Dog for the Marlin..

NOE does not list this mold (tumble lubed) or the conventional lube groove version in stock..
And it may be awhile before they do..

So your only other option for this mold is the Accurate Molds version:

176043176044


Or if you want to design your own you could go to Mt. Molds website..

As far as a 500gr. bullet goes ask Tom at Accurate Molds which one of his designs has the proper nose length and dia. to feed from a Marlin..

The above molds are going to cost you between $80.00 and $100.00+ depending on the number of cavities you order.

Lee makes a cheap 340gr. plain base that may or may not be out of round and or undersized by my experience with their molds..

[Wayne Smith]

Lyman 457122 Gould HP - my standard answer. I load it for my best friend's Marlin and my Encore. Well worth the investment.

[17nut]

I use 2 bullets:
The good old Lee 405-459-HB.
And the NOE collar button, easy on the pot and great plinking fun.

176140

[pjames32]

I use the NOE 350gr for my Marlin
PJ

[Rattlesnake Charlie]

NOE .460 350 gr as Nrut listed. It works in my Marlin 1895 Cowboy and my Shiloh Sharps. The .460-425 by NOE is good also, but with a light rifle like the Marlin ... recoil is a bit stiff. Ranch Dog designed both for Marlin rifles.

[Intel6]

I use 3 bullets for my Marlin 45-70:

NOE Collar button
NOE 350 gr.
NOE 405 gr.

These three moulds cover all my needs for my 45-70.

Neal in AZ

[SniderBoomer]

Second vote on the NOE 460-405-RF

In my JM-built 1895, I size to 460 and lube with Ben's Red, I use a Lee Collet-Style crimp. I use those big wide-bored RCBS Cowboy Dies to seat such fatter-sized boolits with ease.

Using loads with AA5744 or H4198, frequently prints 1-MOA at 100 yards. Plain-base and gas-checked, loaded mild or hairy, it's a winner. Cycles great.

Never fired it at further range.

For 25-yards plinking or indoor ranges, the little 'collar button' mold, the NOE 460-186-CB mold, is perfect. Accurate, easy on Lead and powder.

[Duckiller]

Have a Marlin 45/70 cowboy (26" barrel). Lee plain base 405 gr and 330gr work great over Trail Boss powder.

[W.R.Buchanan]

RCBS makes .45-300FNGC, .45-405FNGC, and .45-500 FNGC and they all have exactly the same nose shape and only differ in the length of the driving bands. IE the larger boolits have more driving bands. The .45-405 is plenty big for anything.

These boolits are designed specifically for Leverguns like the 1895 Marlin and 1886 Winchesters.

I shoot lots of .45-300's which end up at @325 gr. The moulds are about $75-80 and work well and are easy to get good boolits from regular WW material with no additives.

I just made 300 last Monday.

Randy

[KReider477]

Thank you all I see a lot of agreement and many options. Sadly before I even got to fire my Marlin it is off to the factory to get checked out. As I got it home and went to check the action before putting it in the safe the safety fell out of the gun.

Marlin was good on it and is paying to have it shipped back to them and is "going to try and expedite" the repair.

[KReider477]

The NOE 46-405 is ordered. Thanks all again,

[Texas by God]

Welcome KReider. I have had great results with the Lee 340gr fp. As cast of ww and tumble lubed. Loaded over Unique it is very accurate in a Marlin CB 1895 and a custom P-14 .450 Marlin. Best, Thomas.

[KReider477]

Thanks. I am now in the process of setting up my casting area (cleaning out my workshop). I have managed to secure at a cost of Zero dollars my lee smelter (10 pound) some lead (about 15 pounds) and unquantifiable knowledge from friends in the area and from this site. After this my long weekend at work I will set off in search of pewter and hopefully begin casting by Wednesday.

[Drm50]

I have 5, 45/70 molds. I have shoot 99% cast in them. Most of these guns were old originals.
The only new gun I kept is a Marlin 1895, JM 1970. I have found the Lyman/ Ideal Gould HP
to be extremely accurate in all these rifles. I am eastern deer hunter so I have no need for the
heavier bullets, or extreme velocity. I shot the best 100yd/ 5shot group I ever shot, with Ruger
#1 scoped, with the Gould hp, under 1". The heavy bullets are accurate also, I just don't need
that much bullet, or recoil. If you are going after large game, the heavier bullets would do a
better job. In my experience I have had no issues with the heavy bullets, but the bullets I have
tried 300g and less, in cast, have not given me accuracy. The Gould Hp is lightest that works
for me.

[Sagebrush7]

I have all the Lee 45 caliber rifle molds but the pointed 500 gr. Also have a Lee 350 grain HP .459 diameter that has been discontinued. Alot of powders work great in the 45/70 H332,H335, IMR 4198,IMR 3031. The Lee 500 grain FN will chamber in my Marlin 1895 . I have a few Lee 500 gr PP loaded up for T-Rex. Looking out my office window occasionally to see if he comes crashing out of the woods! I am ready!

[KReider477]

This is not my first time reloading for 45-70's. I used to own two previously but had to sell them during a rough time. now that things are better I'm rebuilding my collection and wanted to finally try casting. As I stated I ordered my self a NOE mold for the 45-70. if that goes well I'm going to order the cheaper Lee molds for .357/.38, 9mm, .45 acp, and 12ga rifled slugs. Who knows maybe one day I will even get back to .50 cal muzzle loaders.

Once again I have to thank every one on here for the great knowledge they share.

Karl

[KReider477]

177019
The first batch from my new mold 405 grain round nose. I did have to throw some back to the pot but I think I did ok for my first time.

It does look to me like I let my mold get to hot. Any criticism is welcomed.

[JesterGrin_1]

177019
The first batch from my new mold 405 grain round nose. I did have to throw some back to the pot but I think I did ok for my first time.

It does look to me like I let my mold get to hot. Any criticism is welcomed.

Congrats on the casting session. But sorry no feedback as I can not see them well. But I am sure that You will be able to get acceptable Boolits. Sometimes it just takes time. :)

But I will chime in that if you are going to Hunt with your 45-70 then I will have to reiterate as a couple of others have said and that it will be darn hard to beat the Ranch Dog design of the 460-350 RNFP/GC. Also if you go to RanchDogOutdoors.com you will find very good load information for many powders in the Marlin. :)

[Lloyd Smale]

yup and there proabably the most consistently accurate bullets over all the 4570s ive owned and shot. Especially the 405
RCBS makes .45-300FNGC, .45-405FNGC, and .45-500 FNGC and they all have exactly the same nose shape and only differ in the length of the driving bands. IE the larger boolits have more driving bands. The .45-405 is plenty big for anything.

These boolits are designed specifically for Leverguns like the 1895 Marlin and 1886 Winchesters.

I shoot lots of .45-300's which end up at @325 gr. The moulds are about $75-80 and work well and are easy to get good boolits from regular WW material with no additives.

I just made 300 last Monday.

Randy

[Wally]

I have had good luck with this RCBS mold and 15.0 grains of Unique or 13.0 of Red Dot (w/no filler) in my Marlin .45-70

.45-325 FN 340 Grain

http://www.buffaloarms.com/ThumbnailHandler.ashx?MediaID=43672&size=150&MediaURL=

[Maven]

I have had good luck with this RCBS mold and 15.0 grains of Unique or 13.0 of Red Dot (w/no filler) in my Marlin .45-70

.45-325 FN 340 Grain

http://www.buffaloarms.com/ThumbnailHandler.ashx?MediaID=43672&size=150&MediaURL=



My experience is the same as Wally's (same CB, same rifle)!

[Wally]

I mentioned using the RCBS .45-325 FN 340 Grain cast bullet. I trued heavier bullets, some w/ GC's...the 325 was just as accurate for me out to 200 yards. I set up a steel can suspended on a cable at 150~250 yards and proceeded to try to hit it. Once I had the range sighted in, I had no problem hitting it regularly. No sense to use heavier bullets for that type of shooting. I size / lube the bullets .460".....

[Cheshire Dave]

Plus 1 on the Gould/Lyman 330 grain. I cast mine about 10 BHN and use a light load of 3031. I use them for short range Blacktail deer and so far have had good luck. I also like the RCBS 300 grain and the RCBS 400 shoot well water quenched and driven hard with 50 grains of 3031. I just don't need that much power for our little Blacktails.

[longbow]

My old Marlin liked the Lyman 457124 @ 385 grs. It fed and shot well. I like it better than the Lee 405 gr. FP.

If I was doing it again I would go with mid weight boolits in the Marlin for most applications. I think a collar button, 300 gr. and 350 to 375 gr. boolit would cover anything I want to do with a Marlin.

I have a chance to buy back my 1970's vintage Marlin from the friend who bought it from me in the late 1970's but since I am currently unemployed that is not likely to happen unless he keeps it for a while longer.

I did like that gun... which by the way was sold to help finance my way through college and just never got replaced. I didn't sell it because I didn't like it, not by a long shot (no pun intended). Great cartridge and great gun.

Longbow

[Goober]

Noe 460-405

I also use this one.. works great. Shoot with my Henry 45-70

[Rebel Dave]

I just received (today) a new Accurate Mold # 46-350H. Will be casting with it soon.

Rebel Dave

[white eagle]

I have molds from Accurate,NOE,Lee,Hoch and Mountain
my favorite is this one http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=46-420C-D.png,
from Accurate is just plain knock the life out of what it hits
just bang flop
I know you didn't want a gc but I shoot two different rifles
chambered in 45/70 a Ruger #1 and a Marlin GG that is why I have it on

[Eddie Southgate]

I like the Lee 457-340-F catalog # 90373 in my Marlin Cowboy w/ 26" barrel . It's a inexpensive mold so buy it and try it when you can afford another mold .

Eddie

[Eddie Southgate]

My old Marlin liked the Lyman 457124 @ 385 grs. It fed and shot well. I like it better than the Lee 405 gr. FP.

If I was doing it again I would go with mid weight boolits in the Marlin for most applications. I think a collar button, 300 gr. and 350 to 375 gr. boolit would cover anything I want to do with a Marlin.

I have a chance to buy back my 1970's vintage Marlin from the friend who bought it from me in the late 1970's but since I am currently unemployed that is not likely to happen unless he keeps it for a while longer.

I did like that gun... which by the way was sold to help finance my way through college and just never got replaced. I didn't sell it because I didn't like it, not by a long shot (no pun intended). Great cartridge and great gun.

Longbow

Longbow,

If you want a Marlin to shoot cast with buy one of the newer Cowboy versions with the cut rifling instead of the Micro Groove used in the 70's 45-70 rifles .

Eddie