1873 Buffalo Classic 45-70

[SkyKid]

Hey y'all
My buff classic has a throat of .456 or so
But after that my boolit just goes thru the rest of the barrel with an easy push
Should I patch to .456 and see what happens for accuracy
Brandy new at this thanks for any and all advice
even if y'all burn me

[Nobade]

If using smokeless, size bullets to .001" over bore diameter and patch to just over groove diameter. If using black powder, patch to bore diameter. Since you're on the smokeless room I assume that's what you have planned?

[Gtek]

To really know what you have one must take several measurements to reach a good conclusion. Slug the front with about two or so to a depth of an inch or two in and then back out, same with chamber end. Cerrosafe throat (correct measurement timing) or a pound slug done, with all these then one really knows. A throating reamer or a judicious fire lapping are options. I have two, one NIB and the other a couple hundred but only fired jacketed. I tried a few in the mid-Marlin range two decades ago laid over bench, with that steel buttplate and a good memory I am pretty/real sure being a little older and wiser we will not revisit that one!!!!

[SkyKid]

Thanks Guys
Nobade I will be using smokeless for now
Gtek When I first got this rifle around 2008 I did the same
Got the part number from Nicholst55 for the shotgun stock made a big difference

[Nobade]

Using smokeless, a good way to get started patching for 45-70 is to use some 300 grain bullets made for the 45 colt. They're the right size already to patch and you don't need a custom mold right away.

[SkyKid]

I have 2 molds that I bought back in 2008
A lyman 500 grain round nose and a Lee 457-500 3R
I'll check and see if I have a mold for 45 colt
Thanks again

[Nobade]

The 45 caliber rifle molds are too big. You need something that is just over bore diameter so you can patch it to groove diameter. .452" bullets that end up around .460" after patching.

[SkyKid]

I have a .452 Lee push thru sizer
Will that work
I also have some 10 pound onionskin paper
Thanks for helping me get started

[Nobade]

That will work. Cast them as soft as you can for best effect. Enjoy the new adventure! There's a learning curve there but once you get it things work great and the 45-70 is the best place to start the journey as it is very forgiving.

[SkyKid]

Awesome
I have 26 pounds of lead and about 300 pounds of coww to use
I cast some of the lyman with the pure lead last night
They came out weighing 520 grains
I have some bar solder can I add some to the lead

[SkyKid]

So I have shot around 10 rounds thru my rifle
I'm using 13 grains of unique
Tonight I dry patched 2 boolits
Seems better than wet patching
This is a lot of fun and I'm not busting my shoulder up
Next I will loads around 10 rounds and shoot them off a rest at 50 yards so I can adjust my sights
Thanks Nobade for helping me get started

[SkyKid]

So I had a chance to shoot a couple of rounds today
Both shots hit high and key-holed
I checked the crown with a q-tip and no fuzziness were sticking to the crown
This is what happened to first time I shot this rifle many years ago
Back then I didn't know about paper patching and I was hoping this would help
Any Ideas where to start to solve this problem

[Nobade]

I've never had good results using light charges and PP bullets like that with a lot of air space. The theory is the gas can get past the bullet before it seals the bore and it gets torn up. If you want a light low recoil load, you might try picking a powder that is safe with a full case, like 3031 or 4895, and use 1/2 case of that and 1/2 case of cream 'o' wheat or shotshell buffer. That will protect the bullet as it is getting started, and boost pressure enough so that powder will burn relatively cleanly. Of course you can adjust the ratios to get the power level you want and best accuracy. I also have used what I call "reactive filler" where instead of COW I'll use some super slow ball powder like WC872 on top of the main charge to take up space. That will add some energy to the shot and function as filler at the same time.

[SkyKid]

I will give that a try
This morning before I saw your post
I wrapped a boolit with some lens cleaning paper then onion paper
It measured .460
It didn't key hole
I'm going to try your way as soon as I can get some cream of wheat
Also going to get a larger sizer maybe a .453 - .454 if I can so my wrapped boolits will come out closer to .460
I had thought of beagling the mold but that would only work if I was greasing them
Thanks for the info
Frenchie

[Nobade]

Good work! You'll get there.

[SkyKid]

Well I had some ok results today
I loaded 5 rounds with 14 grains of Unique under a Lee 457-500 3R that casted at 491 grains and sized at .452
Wrapped with onion paper came out about .460 +-
And no key holes
Range is about 80 yards and with my eyes this was the best I could do until I can get my bench setup for a more stable platform
This is the target
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