45-70 Mould Needed

[Snapping Twig]

Like it says, I'm looking for a mould. I understand .458 is the right call and the Lee moulds say .457, so they appear to be out.

I'm looking for a 300 ~ 350grain and a 400 ~ 450 grain gas checked RNFP design.

Big metplats work.

Ranch Dog would have been perfect, but I just got my first 45-70 and it's too late to get one of those fine moulds.

I'm looking for advice on plain base or gas check for the heavier bullet. I believe the lighter one needs it since I'll be moving them fast, but the big boolit might be possible with a plain base - maybe.

I'm going to feed them into a Marlin.

Thanks

I'm also open to buying used, so let me know if you have something.

[LAH]

Best all round bullet I've found for the Govt. is the RCBS 45-400-FN. The mould I have is by NEI with Walt claiming the bullet same as the RCBS. It's uses a gas check & comes in at 420 grains ready to shoot. Try it, you'll like it.............Creeker

[Frank46]

Please slug your barrel to get the bore dimensions and then get your mold. Just trying to save you some $$ and frustration. I have 5 45 caliber rifle molds and only one will cast @.459 dia. Unfortunately my ruger #1 in 45/70 slugs out at .459. See where I'm going?. There have been a few group buys, Lee comes to mind where the
diameter of the boolit was spec'ed at about .460 or fatter. Check with some of our sponsors who do rifle molds and check the diameters. These folks wouldn't be making and selling them if lyman, rcbs and others made them to where they should be. Hope this helps and please take this in the spirit in which it was posted. Frank

[BABore]

I have several stock designs that were made for the Marlin. The 460-325 (hammer) and the 462-420 PB or GC would fit your needs. Both drop boolits around 0.462 with WW's.

For the Marlin 450 and 45-70, I wouldn't even consider a boolit diameter of less than 0.460. Most all the ones I've slugged run 0.4582 to 0.4587 in the grooves. Most all of them will handle a 0.462 boolit in the chamber which is what I base my sized diameter on.

[hk33ka1]

I have 3 Lees 45s. The 340gr .457, the 405gr HB, 459, and the 500gr Pointed 459. The 340 gr .457 usually casts at .459 with wheel weight alloy, the other two 460-461 with the same. I usually size to .459 with LLA and a Lee Custom Sizer die. These have worked really well in my Pedersoli rolling blocks with IMR 4198. I have had no leading. I have yet to slug my rifles, or try shooting the larger unsized boolits.