Newbie question about .457 bullets.

[BIG45-70]

I'm looking at getting a Lyman 405gr .457 mold. I've been buying my cast bullets and my rifle prefers a .460 diameter bullet. I would like to stick with this size, so do I re size my bullets somehow to .460 or do I need a do I need a mold that drops a .460?

[mooman76]

If you want 460 you need a mould for 460. There are things you can do to help it drop 460. You could get lucky and get one that drops a little large. The easiest to do is begal the mould. Thats adding aluminum tape between the blocks so they don't quite close all the way. A more permanent way is to lament the mould. There are stickys here explaining the process or you can do a search. I might add that it is easier to lament a Lee mould because they are aluminum.

[HangFireW8]

I'm looking at getting a Lyman 405gr .457 mold. I've been buying my cast bullets and my rifle prefers a .460 diameter bullet. I would like to stick with this size, so do I re size my bullets somehow to .460 or do I need a do I need a mold that drops a .460?

Do you have a Marlin Micro-Groove 45/70? Large boolits will surely work well, but I've had good luck running around .458 by using fairly high pressure loads, and an alloy soft enough to "bump up" and fill the gap.

-HF

[BIG45-70]

Do you have a Marlin Micro-Groove 45/70? Large boolits will surely work well, but I've had good luck running around .458 by using fairly high pressure loads, and an alloy soft enough to "bump up" and fill the gap.

-HF

Yup sure do, its my favorite rifle by far.

[gon2shoot]

I have one rifle that likes 459, the other insist on 461 nothing less is acceptable. They're kinda like women, size matters.

[44man]

I'm looking at getting a Lyman 405gr .457 mold. I've been buying my cast bullets and my rifle prefers a .460 diameter bullet. I would like to stick with this size, so do I re size my bullets somehow to .460 or do I need a do I need a mold that drops a .460?
Have you measured a cast boolit yet? You might be lucky.
Use a good mike, not calipers.
Lyman is famous for sharpening cherries but if they used a new one for your mold, it might be the right size.

[BIG45-70]

Damn I hate playing the odds, its doesn't seem to work out in my favor often! I have been looking online for a mold that drops a .460 but haven't had much luck. I'm looking for something with a large metplat and 400-450 grains anyone have a suggestion?

[44man]

I gave up and make my own molds but check with BABore. He can make you a mold that you want to use as a wall hanger----just too pretty to pour lead into! [smilie=w:

[lathesmith]

Lyman is famous for sharpening cherries but if they used a new one for your mold, it might be the right size.

44man, that's kinda funny, I hadn't thought of it that way, but it would explain alot.

There are several mold makers in the Vendor Sponsor section here on-site that can fix you up with a .460+ mold, without the guesswork. If you need it, you need it, your rifle knows what it likes, there's no need to fight it.

lathesmith

[Tazman1602]

Damn I hate playing the odds, its doesn't seem to work out in my favor often! I have been looking online for a mold that drops a .460 but haven't had much luck. I'm looking for something with a large metplat and 400-450 grains anyone have a suggestion?

BABore on the forum can make you one and I gaurentee you will love it. He delivers in 2-3 weeks too. I've got a .462 mold for 45-70 he made for me and it is awesome. Here's a link:

http://brp.castpics.net/

Art

[BABore]

Damn I hate playing the odds, its doesn't seem to work out in my favor often! I have been looking online for a mold that drops a .460 but haven't had much luck. I'm looking for something with a large metplat and 400-450 grains anyone have a suggestion?

BIG45-70,

I have several designs in the weight range you specify. The 462-420 GC & PB were both designed for the Marlin 45-70 and work well. Most everything drops at 0.462+ as I have found that most Marlin chambers will swallow a boolit that big. Anywhere from 0.460 to 0.462 diameter will work well. The idea of using a boolit sized 0.462 is to fill the throat area to eliminate canting of the boolit base as it's launched. Your bbl will size down the boolit to it liking and is not an issue as long as you work the load up.

[looseprojectile]

Git yoursef a Ranch Dog 460 mould and never look back. I have both the small and the large one and one of them is the only boolits I use in the .45 caliber rifles.
The were designed for the Marlin.

Life is good