405 gr. ?

[crankshaft]

I have reloaded my 1871 RB and shot silhouettes at approx. 300-500 yds.
Now I need to work up a target load for this weekend.
The matchs will be 50 yds, 100 yds and 200 yds.
I have 3 molds, Lee 405, Lee 2 cavity 500 grain and Lyman 457125.
Which would be the best?
I don't know how the 535 gr. would shoot at 50 yds. Or how the 405 would work at 200 yds.
I won't have a lot of range time so I am asking here. .

thanks,

[rfd]

whatever shoots best for yer gun and you will be best ... unless you didn't test them all out at those distances and then hand's down i'd definitely go with the lyman over those lee's. btw, the lyman 457125 is the "standard 45-70 gov't bullet" that drops nominally @ 500 grains, not 535 (that'd be the lyman postell).

[crankshaft]

uhoh.. I have a bunch that are weighing 535 ish...I had better check that mold.

so would it be the best at 25 yds??

[rfd]

uhoh.. I have a bunch that are weighing 535 ish...I had better check that mold.

what alloy ya using?

so would it be the best at 25 yds??

whatever yer gun likes best is the only realistic answer. other than that, it's anyone's guess - all are up to the task at such a really short distance, if yer rifle likes what you've cast.

...............

[crankshaft]

pure lead

[crankshaft]

I think pb...I cast them about 10 years ago........

[rfd]

pure lead

hmm, really. tell us more about yer '71 roller .... .45-70?

[crankshaft]

Bought the rifle for $75.00 Was a .50-70 someone twisted the bulged bbl off with a pipe wrench. Sent the action to a guy in Cal., Don something, who added the 1 1/8 bbl. I think he has passed as it was over 10 yrs ago. It has US Springfield 1872 and the eagle on it. .

[rfd]

so it's now a .45-XX?

[country gent]

My lyman 457125 with 20-1 ussually drops aropund 510 -512 grns. I would work with the 457125 as its a normally good shooting bullet for most work. I would play with powder charges more than bullets Load for around 1000-1100 fps and go from there. Depending on elevation above sea level starting out sub sonic may help alot. I would work with 1f or 1 1/2f powders and a simple wad stack of a .060 cork, rubber fiber, or ldpe wad. And a couple tracing paper wads. Given you have shot shilouette you should have a decent load to work from also.

[crankshaft]

yup....45-70 now.
I will go with the Lyman.

thanks,

[rfd]

i'd cast some fresh new 457125 bullets, and not pure lead - do a tin:lead alloy in 1:30 or 1:20 and lube 'em good. have you slugged the new barrel?

[Klaus]

go with the Lyman 457125 or 132

best choise out of the box for any distance

Klaus