Heavy 45 Colt swc for 45-70 PP load

[bearcove]

I have two 45 molds that it seems I might be able to use for my 45-70 Encore barrel. One is the Lee 300 gr. swc gc, the other is a LBT 325 WFN plain base. It would seem from some of the other threads that this could be a good combo. These bullets from a 454 casull are very good for anything on this side of our planet. So instead of buying more molds for the 45-70 I think this might be a way around setting up for another size bullet ie. 458.

This combo at moderate velocity would fine for the woods hunting I like for deer up to moose. Anybody out there tried it.

I know its not the proper bullet or proper rifle for this method, but I don't have the money for all the proper stuff. My 4 little kids fixed that!

Any ideas or experiences would be appreciated.

[Wicky]

Bearcove,
I think your biggest problem will be that pistol boolits are normally .452. I suggest casting a boolit and measuring it to see what size it drops from the mould. The 45/70 is nominally .458 so there is a .006" difference. I cast about .460 and size to .459 for my own 45/70 and size to .453 for my 45 Colt.
But hey if they drop close to size you could bump size them to make them a little fatter. 300 grains should be a nice boolit. I admit I only use 500 PB's in mine.
Good luck, hope you have a win.

[bearcove]

What I was thinking about was paper patching them to make up the difference. They are not large enough to shoot in a 458 bore. But with a 451 dia two wraps of .002 thickness paper puts me in the right ballpark. A few sheets of paper is a lot cheaper than more molds and sizers.

[bearcove]

Another path is to use one of the many 8mm molds for my 338-06.

[Wicky]

Ah, that may make a difference. I have never paper patched, seen it done, but never dabbled.
One of the many experts on this forum should be able to help with that. Still give it a try, there is nothing to lose.
I may have to give this a try now!
Good luck

[Wicky]

Would help if I took notice of what part of the forum I was in - 'specially when it says paper patching!!

[bearcove]

After a while it all starts to look the same!

[Buckshot]

.............bearcove, I did that many years ago just for the shear heckuvit. However the heaviest 45 Pistol slug I had at the time was a GC'd 255gr Lyman SWC. Since it was a pistol boolit AND a SWC at that, the patch was pretty narrow and kind of a pill to wrap. In this instance, the non-existant throat in the 45-70 comes in handy

I used Red Dot and Unique and the patched slugs did quite well out to 50 yards. Definately not real long range propositions. I was using a MAS35 converted to 45-70. Recoil was nil. You're talking about 45 cal pistol boolits of 300 & 325 gr's. You do know that there are 45 cal rifle boolits available of the same weight, right? Or is it you're simply wanting to paper patch them?

..............Buckshot

[pdawg_shooter]

I cast a Lymon 451114 that drops from my mould .451, give it 2 wraps of 16lb green bar computer paper and lube it BAC. Shoots great!

[Woodtroll]

Bearcove,

I do that exact thing with great success.

I have an LBT WLN that casts out at 0.454" and 320 gr. in WW. I cast some bullets in 30:1 (they turn out about 0.453" and 340 gr., if I remember right), size them down to 0.451" in a Lee push-through die, patch them, lube them with Rooster Jacket, and load them over 50.0 grains of IMR-3031. A heavier load than I need, probably, but it absolutely WHOMPS a whitetail, and shoots well out of my Marlin 1895 (this one has a micro-groove barrel). That's all I've used on deer for almost 20 years now. The paper just disintegrates as it leaves the barrel; no "reading patches" here!

I think you'll be happy if you try this route. Good luck!

Regan

[bearcove]

Thanks for the info! Never done paper patching, but this sounds good.

[bearcove]

Hi, buckshot the main reason was that I have 5 molds for 45 cal pistol. The other problem is I also molds pistols, and rifles in 22, 6.5mm, 7mm, 30cal, 338, 357, 9mm, 358, 375, 41, 44, 45pistol and rifle, and thinking about a 475. Oh also 50 and 54cal blackpowder. I'm trying real hard not to have one in every calibre. Part of me hopes I fail.

I just saw an article on the 327 federal. Now if they put that in a ruger single six or old blackhawk size frame I'll probably have to get one. See my problem?

Also I've always wanted a 36cal blackpowder rifle, a 17 k-hornet might be fun and how about....

[Buckshot]

Hi, buckshot the main reason was that I have 5 molds for 45 cal pistol. The other problem is I also molds pistols, and rifles in 22, 6.5mm, 7mm, 30cal, 338, 357, 9mm, 358, 375, 41, 44, 45pistol and rifle, and thinking about a 475. Oh also 50 and 54cal blackpowder. I'm trying real hard not to have one in every calibre. Part of me hopes I fail.

I just saw an article on the 327 federal. Now if they put that in a ruger single six or old blackhawk size frame I'll probably have to get one. See my problem?

Also I've always wanted a 36cal blackpowder rifle, a 17 k-hornet might be fun and how about....

................Oh I understand ALL that . After you've been here awile you'll realize that your problem is NOT your problem all by yourself. Probably 80% of the members here are pathetic gunaholics. And like you most are not lacking in aquisition enthusiasm, lack of willpower, justification challanged, and the "Gotta Haves", but money.

..................Buckshot