45-70 dia?

[tcrocker]

I am going to start reloading cast bullet in my Marlin GS . The cst bulets are .460 in dia do I need to size them down to .457 or could I use them the way they are? I have heard of people using over sized cast bullets before but I don't know so I'll ask.

[35remington]

Leave them as is. Diameter .460 is just about ideal. .457 will turn out to be too small, especially for Marlin levers.

[jhalcott]

NEVER use a cast bullet that is smaller than the bore diameter. Accuracy suffers and you will get leading.

[beagle]

I size mine to .460" for the Marlin .45/70 and I get good accuracy. You may have to have buckshot open a die for you to .460" as last time I checked, .460s weren't standard./beagle

[EDK]

If you don't have moulds yet, take a look at the RANCH DOGS...link at the bottom of the page. He specifically designs for MARLINS! Pick a weight you like. Michael has done excellent work with all his designs.

My only complaint is that the soon-to-arrive TLC 359 190 will only be a two cavity mould. I'm using a six cavity for the TLC 432 265 and loving the speed of production, as well as the accuracy of the design. I don't recall if the 45/70 designs are available in six cavity.

[missionary5155]

Greetings Tcrocker ! The chamber is that MOST important area. Take the time to slug the chamber area. Your boolit MUST fill the chamber or you are going to have gas blowby and lead will get plated to the barrel. So take the time... remove the bolt.. lightly oil one of your boolits and gently tap it into the chamber with a wood dowel and a light mallet (leather or plastic work well) Tap it in about half the boolit length. Now tap it back out with a cleaning rod and measure the diameter... KEEP this slug for future treference. Now you KNOW the chamber diameter... a cast boolit .0015-.002 oversize is what I would use in a large caliber like .45.

[tcrocker]

Thanks guys for the info. I thought I would need to get a sizing die but guess not. All I need now is gas checks and lube.