45-70 & 450 Bushmaster Cast Molds and Die Set

[TXCOONDOG]

I've got a Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster coming and will be ordering an 1895 Trapper when I can find one at a decent price.

Both of these guns will be used in thick brush for hunting. I need recommendations for boolit casting molds and die set.


Thanks in advance.

[sukivel]

I have the MP 462 Hammer and really like it. For the Bushmaster you’ll have to size it down quite a bit though.


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[Targa]

I dont cast for .450 Bushmaster but my Lee dies work like they are suppose to when reloading for it. As for 45-70, I have a Lee 405 grain mold and Lee 45-70 dies that I am very happy with.

[BLAHUT]

I use a Lee 515gr FP in pure lead for the brush, in 45/70 guide gun, shoots good and is accurate.

[Castaway]

I think you’d be better served with two different moulds. The 1895 can effectively shoot 300 grain bullets in excess of 2000 fps, the 450 Bushmaster using a 395 grain bullet, is close to 1,000 fps and a 300 grainer at around 1,600 fps. A common weight bullet is feasible, but going down 0.006” will not only cause finning at the base when sized down to 0.452”, but you loose a lot of lube potential. For the 45-70, I’d go with a 405 grainer and Lee’s 300 gr RNFP (checked) for the Bushmaster. Coincidentally, with your 1895 and the Bushmaster, you can have virtually the same velocity out of each

[TXCOONDOG]

The 49th Lyman doesn't show anything for the BM. Does anyone have the 50th Edition, if so, would you see if they list any cast bullets for the BM.

I knew that I would more than likely need more than one, two, three, etc. molds. I lost count on how many 38/357 & 10mm molds I have.

Thanks for the feedback thus far.

[Seeker]

I'm rather new to the 45-70 but the Lee 457-340 and RCBS 45-405 FN are shooting great.

[1Hawkeye]

Take a look at the lyman 457122 it's a 330 gr hollow point.

[lar45]

I use Hornady dies for my bushmaster and like them. Mine is a Ruger AR, I haven't had the best luck with cast, hopefully your bolt action will behave better.

[TXCOONDOG]

I use Hornady dies for my bushmaster and like them. Mine is a Ruger AR, I haven't had the best luck with cast, hopefully your bolt action will behave better.

I've been at the 450 Bushmaster Forums reading up on the BM and cast...Not to promising with casts whether it be BA or Auto in the accuracy department. I'm still going to play around with it for hard casts in thick brush (hogs) where long shots will be 50 yards.

Hopefully, it want be too long before I can find an 1895 Trapper.

[mehavey]

Tom Elliss' 45-280D, and bigger brother 45-395A (PC'd), do superbly in the 450 Ruger American

Case-in-Point:

https://i.postimg.cc/pTCk7Zfp/450-BUSHMASTER-Ruger-American-45-28-D-VN110-Stf.jpg

Not too dissimilar results w/ the companion 45-395A, using RL-7 (1,700FPS)

[TXCOONDOG]

Tom Elliss' 45-280D, and bigger brother 45-395A (PC'd), do superbly in the 450 Ruger American

Case-in-Point:

https://i.postimg.cc/pTCk7Zfp/450-BUSHMASTER-Ruger-American-45-28-D-VN110-Stf.jpg

Not too dissimilar results w/ the companion 45-395A, using RL-7 (1,700FPS)

Nice grouping....is the group size repeatable and/or consistent? Arsenal molds or?

Thanks for posting this!

[mehavey]

Accurate Molds (https://accuratemolds.com/)
Bushmaster specific:
45-280D (https://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-280D)
from which I had Tom add a longer shank for added weight
45-395A (https://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-395A)

Both loads/bullets hold to about 1¼+ MOA reliably.

[TXCOONDOG]

Accurate Molds (https://accuratemolds.com/)
Bushmaster specific:
45-280D (https://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-280D)
from which I had Tom add a longer shank for added weight
45-395A (https://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=45-395A)

Both loads/bullets hold to about 1¼+ MOA reliably.

Good deal. Thank you

[TXCOONDOG]

mehavey,

Hodgdon is very specific to trim brass to 1.690" but Hornady states 1.690" -1.700" and SAMMI is 1.700".
I got my RA 450 BM yesterday and haven't received my brass or molds yet. Without having the brass and sizing them to see how much they vary; I'm going to trim them too the same length for consistency.

Do I need to cast my chamber (check for freebore too) and trim .002-.003 shorter or does it not matter as long as they are the same length?

[mehavey]

Same length/anywhere from 1.690 - 1.700(-) is fine .... but no more !
(FWIW: New Starline brass is very uniform at 1.694/5)

I "suggest" a Lee 45 BM FCD at 1/2-turn from 1st contact for best cast tension.
Any case length uniformity +/- 0.001 is fine. don't sweat it at that point.

[TXCOONDOG]

Same length/anywhere from 1.690 - 1.700(-) is fine .... but no more !
(FWIW: New Starline brass is very uniform at 1.694/5)

I "suggest" a Lee 45 BM FCD at 1/2-turn from 1st contact for best cast tension.
Any case length uniformity +/- 0.001 is fine. don't sweat it at that point.

Great. Thanks. I bought the Lee 4 die set to use with the LEE 4-hole turret press. I'll weigh each charge with a beam scale.

Can't locate any R-7 or Fed SR locally so I'm going to try H110, Lil gun and AA 9 first with WSR primers.

PS: I was kicking around the idea of ordering a four cavity mold with both (weights) designs (two cavities for each).

[Loudenboomer]

The Ranch Dog 350gr. is a good Boolit design in the 45-70.

[lar45]

CFE-BLK , or 1680 work great with my 325s.
Lil-gun works great for the lighter jacketed bullets.

[TXCOONDOG]

I cast my boolits using Lyman 2 and will powder coat them. I want to try with and without gas checks because the more components I can eliminate the better. I've never shot a PC'd boolit over 1300 fps using COWW (all pistol-no GC) and wondered how fast can I push them in these rifles (45-70/BM) WO a GC, if fit is good, etc.?

PS: I figured I ask the question here instead of starting a new thread about boolit hardness and velocities.

[mehavey]

Straight barrels (no gas ports), you can push even pure lead/bare-base (PC'd) (https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?409893-Pure-Lead-amp-PC) out to 1,800-1,900fps
Gas ported, not so much -- unprotected trailing edge doesn't like that port all that much.
(No fouling in the gas tube/not the problem. Just trailing edge vulnerability -- especially if double stepped-edge/shelf like a bare gas-check base)

[TXCOONDOG]

Straight barrels (no gas ports), you can push even pure lead/bare-base (PC'd) (https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?409893-Pure-Lead-amp-PC) out to 1,800-1,900fps
Gas ported, not so much -- unprotected trailing edge doesn't like that port all that much.
(No fouling in the gas tube/not the problem. Just trailing edge vulnerability -- especially if double stepped-edge/shelf like a bare gas-check base)

Good info and gives me a baseline. I'm more about accuracy than velocities so I'm going to start around the 1500fps range and work my way up.

I appreciate the help.

[TXCOONDOG]

I'm waiting on my accurate mold and still haven't found R7 powder. Do you think H4198 will work with the 280gr bullet?

[mehavey]

RL-7 appears to have come back/available (https://www.brownells.com/reloading/components/powder/reloder-7-powder/)... but expensive :-(
Can you find any Vihtavuori N-110?

[TXCOONDOG]

I can find the powders online...it's trying to find them locally to try before buying enough to make up the hazmat fees.

[jmorris]

I went with the 458 Socom because it uses the same .458 bullets my 45-70 does. My 450 BM’s use .452 diameter.

[TXCOONDOG]

I went with the 458 Socom because it uses the same .458 bullets my 45-70 does. My 450 BM’s use .452 diameter.

You got a smile from me for the statement of went with 458 but indicated you have a 450 BM. I chose the 450 BM because it was in a bolt gun on the shelf at a good price until I can find a decent price on a 45-70 SS with a threaded barrel.