45-70 and need for Gas Checks??????

[1Shirt]

Have gas check molds and plain base molds for 45-70, but seldom drive cast at much over 1250-1500fps in the old girl in my #1. Accordingly, I seldom shoot the GC's because I don't need them. On comparisons of gc and pb, at under 1600 or so I get no leading sized at .459, and accuracy is equal with either type. Soooo----I will spend my money on smaller gc's, or make my own for the smaller ones. Think I have about 800 of them left, and they will probably last me forever. Now if I were going to try cast 45-70 on big dangerous game, I would be going with a very heavy GC blt, and probably do the two part bit that Bruce posts.
Just my thoughts!
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[waco]

ya,
i have an RCBS 405-fn gc mold
also a lyman 385rn, and lee 405 hb
even the thumper rcbs 405 at my hottest is only 1800fps
99% of my shooting the 45-70 has no need for gc
so.... i guess the 1900+ out in the shop will last many decades!:grin:

[Slow Elk 45/70]

I shoot a lot of 45/70's , very few would need a gas check, I do use them sometimes, but not because I think they are really necessary.....a 405gr boolit going 1900 fps hurts my old bones to much...my hunting loads run about 17-1750 fps and kill everything I shoot very well.

Having your boolit sized correctly for your bbl. is more important than having a GC most of the time. IMHO...