45/ 70. 1886 winchester

[ddykstra]

Bought a new 1886 winchester .any suggestions for a good all around bullet mold?

[Sgt H]

By new I guess a current manufacture by Miroku, same company who made the 1886 Browning. My 1886 Browning rifle is very accurate with the Lyman 457193 about 410 grains and the 457122 HP about 340 grains. Shoots both of these boolits into about 2" @100 yards. Just zeroed the 1886 yesterday for deer season and put 5 of the 457122 HP's into 2"@100 loaded over 30 grains of AA5744. The 457193 does the same loaded over 28gr AA5744 or 24gr of 2400. My 1886 has an MVA globe front and Marbles tang for sights. I size boolits to .458", the barrel slugs .457". I suspect either of these or an equivalent from NOE, Accurate, Buffalo Arms or other maker would perform well.

[gc45]

Good post Sgt H, could not have said it better. Both of my early Browning 86 rifles, and my original Win 86's like and shoot 5744 very well with 400gr bullets as cast from an original early Win mold of .458 diameter.

[openbook]

Whatever bullet you settle on for your all-rounder, I can't recommend enough MP Mold's 4-cavity 45-70 collar button mold. Over a small charge of Titegroup these make an accurate, satisfying practice load.

Shooting your 45-70 for under 10gr of powder, and a smaller amount of lead, too, just means more fun.

[barkerwc4362]

Unless you are going to shoot the really big stuff I would recommend the Lyman Gould bullet, 457122. I cast mine out of 1-30 and then paper patch. Loaded over a stout charge of 4895 (Elmer Keith load) it is going just under 1700fps and is very accurate in my Browning 1886 rifle. I have an original Lyman tang sight on mine. A friend of mine made a plug for my mold so it can also cast a 350gr solid bullet that shoots identically to the HP version. The solid is my choice for hogs.Bill

[Gobeyond]

Whatever bullet you settle on for your all-rounder, I can't recommend enough MP Mold's 4-cavity 45-70 collar button mold. Over a small charge of Titegroup these make an accurate, satisfying practice load.

Shooting your 45-70 for under 10gr of powder, and a smaller amount of lead, too, just means more fun.

I’m impressed by that mold and bullet too. I bought some of those bullets sized to 452 to shoot in a 45 colt. But I don’t know yet.
I would like to buy the mold now because on sale. Would you recommend for me?

[Bad Ass Wallace]

My 'pet' load for my Pedersoli 1886 is 38.5gn of 3031 and a 420gn Hensley & Gibbs boolit (0.460"), very mild and accurate.

[TD1886]

I have the RCBS 420 grain mould. I lube it, no gas check, then put it in my swage and swage it up to .462 and the base punch makes a hollow base like one of Lyman's bullets. One of the secrets to top accuracy is shooting the fastest bullet that will chamber in a loaded cartridge in those new 1886's. Mine is a Browning also. I shoot it at gallon water jugs at 400 yards. Real fun gun. Mine in the carbine model. The ladder sight elevator won't stay up so I drilled and tapped it for a very fine screw with I made a little thump screw to lock the elevator. I have graduation marked in my book for those 400 yard milk jugs.

[longbow]

Not a Winchester 1886 but a Marlin 1895 in my case. I liked the Lyman 457124 385 gr. bullet. It seemed to shoot better for me than the 405 gr. FP with both smokeless and BP loads.

I had a Siamese Mauser converted to .45-70 as well and shot the Lyman 457124, 457125 (500 gr.) and the 405 gr. FP but I liked the Lyman 457124 in both guns. Kind of a mid weight bullet I guess but it shot flatter and recoiled less than heavier bullets but lots of thump when it got there too.

If I were doing it again I think I would go with a flat point bullet between 350 and 400 grs.

YMMV

Longbow

[BLAHUT]

Bought a new 1886 winchester .any suggestions for a good all around bullet mold?

In my 45/70 guide gun, I shoot a Lee .515grfp over 27grs of 5744 with a mag primer, very accurate, if I do my part, 5 touching at 100 yds.