Pure lead in a 45-70?

[mikeh3]

Can I shoot pure lead in my 45-70 if I keep the speed down to around 1100 - 1200 fps?
I will be casting a 405 bullet.
Thanks
Mike

[ANeat]

My biggest concern would be if the bullet was big enough (diameter) Most molds are made to drop the "correct" size with a harder alloy.

Going with pure lead would drop a bullet somewhat smaller diameter.


If the fit was good I wouldnt hesitate to try it.

[tcrocker]

I use a NEI .458-440-GC #346. Iuse wheel weights and lube with Johnson's past wax. With no Problem. They come out .460 and weigh 464gr. I use a gas check and have them going about 1600 fps. They smack real good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bob Krack]

Can I shoot pure lead in my 45-70 if I keep the speed down to around 1100 - 1200 fps?
I will be casting a 405 bullet.
Mike,
If your diameter is large enough (groove diameter + .002 or so) and you have a good lube - that's another subject by itself - I would think that 1200 MIGHT be OK as an upper limit. I would probably try to stay at or below 1000 fps were it me. 'course if it leads, clean it and slow down or increase hardness.

Your mileage may vary. This advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

Bob

[Jim]

Bob's answer can't be spoken better.

[Leftoverdj]

A very unscientific answer is that Lee 457-405-HP lapped out to cast .460 with WW shoots well enough for woods hunting when cast of X ray sheeting, lubed with LLA, and loaded over 13 grains of Unique. Someone else is going to have to work out the numbers.

[MtGun44]

Well, pure lead worked pretty well for the Army in the 1873 era. . . . . .

Ask the Indians how well it worked.


Bill

[cajun shooter]

Mikeh3, A lot of 45-70 shooters shoot the gun with 30-1 alloy which is lead and the right amount of tin to reach the BNH of 8.5-9. There is nothing else. So if you have some lead; add tin and cast away!!

[pdawg_shooter]

Can I shoot pure lead in my 45-70 if I keep the speed down to around 1100 - 1200 fps?
I will be casting a 405 bullet.
Thanks
Mike

Sure you can. You can go up to around 2200fps, IF you paper patch them.

[mikeh3]

Thanks for all the replies.
I'll give it a try.
I have a lot of pure lead and want to find a use for it.
Thanks,
Mike

[Larry Gibson]

Well, pure lead worked pretty well for the Army in the 1873 era. . . . . .

Ask the Indians how well it worked.


Bill

The military M1873 45-70 bullets were a lead/tin alloy, generally in the 30/1 to 20/1 range. As a matter of fact Frankford Arsenal, after considerable testing, settled on a 16/1 lead/tin alloy for the 500 gr bullet.

Larry Gibson

[44man]

Tin does not add enough hardness to worry about but it sure does make casting easier with pure lead.
Pure with a little tin for a perfect boolit works just fine in a rifle and kills animals better too.
Just expand the brass so as not to size the boolit when seating. If you need a little case tension for a lever gun, start with a larger boolit so it is still over bore size after seating.
I have no idea why .457" molds are still made when it is hard to find a bore that small.

[montana_charlie]

I have no idea why .457" molds are still made when it is hard to find a bore that small.
Are you referring to the Lee moulds?
My understanding is that a Lee mould identified as "457132" means the bullet (cast in their standard alloy) can be sized down to .457" without enough deformation to be considered as 'damage'.

Most other mould makers state that bullets will drop at 2 to 3 thousandths over the stated diameter when cast from the alloy which that maker uses as his 'standard'.

CM

[44man]

Are you referring to the Lee moulds?
My understanding is that a Lee mould identified as "457132" means the bullet (cast in their standard alloy) can be sized down to .457" without enough deformation to be considered as 'damage'.

Most other mould makers state that bullets will drop at 2 to 3 thousandths over the stated diameter when cast from the alloy which that maker uses as his 'standard'.

CM
I have had to send many Lee molds back for being too small even with my hard alloy. Lyman and RCBS molds all have been too small, .457" and smaller. I have never been lucky getting a Lyman cut with a new cherry. I can't count the molds I have lapped out.
Only custom molds and Rapine molds have come through at the right sizes for me.
Lyman uses number 2 alloy as a baseline but even an alloy with more antimony will not grow large enough after aging. I hate to buy molds!