Any loads for a 45-70 405 gr cast bullet

[ArchAngelCD]

Another 4 year old thread brought back from Zombie land...

 

[Alangaq]

Yikes, and its MY fault... sorry, didn’t even notice the OP post date..

 

[navig8r]

I like the 500 lee cast bullet also. Do you use it to hunt? I have used the RCBS 405 GC cast in past hunts of elk and love it. Thinking about changing to the 500 Lee.

Thanks
navig8r

In my original trapdoor Springfields I have used the Lee 457-405F cast bullet with 26 grains of IMR 4198, standard primers, and a 2-grain tuft of dacron fiberfill under the bullet. Velocity is estimated at about 1100FPS, and my standard sight settings work well out to 200 yards. Recoil is negligible in the 11-lb. +/- 1884 Springfield.

In my 1886 Winchester I have gone up to 38 grains of IMR 4198, standard primers, and a 2-grain tuft of fiberfill. Velocity is estimated at about 1600 FPS. Recoil is brisk. This load shot through a bull elk from just behind the ribcage, through the lungs, and breaking the offside shoulder (about 4 feet of penetration) for an instant stop from about 80 yards.

I cast these bullets with a 50/50 mix of wheelweights and linotype metal, lubed with Alox but not sized (.459 lubri-sizer die). Actual weight is 388 grains, actual diameter .4582", with that metal. I have cast a few hundred of pure linotype that would be better for the heaviest charges, finished weight 370 grains, diameter .4585".

The fiberfill under the bullet provides good protection to the bullet base and is fully consumed. Either of the above loads will provide groups under 6" at 100 yards in my vintage rifles.

I have since gone to the 500-grain Lee gas-check mold which also works very well in the .45-90 Winchester and .45 2-3/4" Sharps.

I hope that your Marlin has standard cut rifling. The MicroGroove barrels do not handle cast bullets very well according to most reports.

 

[venomballistics]

You used the ugly M-word -- microgroove rifling. I had a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. Could not hit a 5-gallon bucket at 50 yards with lead bullets, but it shot 2" - 3" groups at 100 yards with jacketed bullets. Both bullets were 240 gr SWC.

If its hour-of-angle (60 times bigger than minute of angle) accuracy with lead bullets you have 2 choices: jacketed only or get a newer lead friendly rifle. My Quigley by Taylors Arms does great with AA 5744. 8# jug is almost gone !!

I made sure to avoid the microgroove in mine.
Then I got into powder coated cast.
It's solved some of the most vexing problems across so many guns I have to wonder if microgroove will be the one to break it's back.

 

[gaijin]

H322 is my "go to" for heavy .45/70 (and .450 Alaskan) loads.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Microgroove can be worked with. Go oversize with cast and it puts 'em on target!

I have a 1894 44 MG. I size to .431 and Bob's yer uncle!

 

[Step N. Mud]

Here's a pic of my 200 yard target from a few years ago, using a Uberti Hiwall 45 70 and 405 gr. cast wheelweight mix and 36 grs. of 3031. I was a bit off center.
Recently I got a Browning 1886 45 70 and going to try it out with the same loads, hopefully tomorrow.

 

[Skyhunter]

I have a Marlin 1895 "Cowboy" rifle and the following loads have worked well in it. My alloy is the Lyman #2 mix.

My "everyday" load for the Marlin is the 300 gr. Saeco bullet (a plain base bullet at +/-310 gr. with my alloy), 15.0 gr. of IMR Trail Boss powder, CCI #200 primer in Remington brass. Velocity = 1,213 fps.

My 405 gr. lead or cast bullet load is either my 420 gr. Cast (Lyman # 457193) or the LaserCast bullet, 28.5 grs. of XMP 5744, CCI 200 primer in Remington brass. Velocity = 1,425 fps. This load will get your attention in the levergun, but recoil really isn't too bad.

 

[David Sinko]

Very interesting... Since my previous post I have sold my Guide Gun and replaced it with a Rossi 92 in .44 Magnum. I still load .45-70 for a friend who insists on heavy bullets and high velocity. We shot his Guide Gun just yesterday and he loves to let other shooters at the range use it so they can experience the recoil. Well, all the brass is starting to show signs of case head separation. He never sorted his brass or kept tabs on how many times they had been fired and now he may as well throw them all away. So yeah, you can hot rod the .45-70 but you pay for it with case life, just like with everything else.

Dave Sinko

 

[fredj338]

Very interesting... Since my previous post I have sold my Guide Gun and replaced it with a Rossi 92 in .44 Magnum. I still load .45-70 for a friend who insists on heavy bullets and high velocity. We shot his Guide Gun just yesterday and he loves to let other shooters at the range use it so they can experience the recoil. Well, all the brass is starting to show signs of case head separation. He never sorted his brass or kept tabs on how many times they had been fired and now he may as well throw them all away. So yeah, you can hot rod the .45-70 but you pay for it with case life, just like with everything else.

Dave Sinko

No real need to, what makes the old 45-70 still a good sub 200yd hunting rig. At 1600fps, not much is walking off with one of these. Really pleasant to shoot out of a GG too.
The OP needs a copy of the Lyman $49 if he shoots lead bullets in anything.

 

[Skeet 028]

45-70 loads

I have had terrible luck with the microgroove rifling I my 45-70s. I had a friend gift me some great boolits in may weights and could find no accurate loads in any of them except for a couple hundred cast with a Lyman 457 122 hollow point mould. They shot great. So I bought one of those and they still shoot good out of my Ballard rifled gun that a got a couple months ago. And happily the other boolits he gave me also work just fine in the newer gun. He gave me 90 lbs or so and I think I am fixed for life. He also gave me another 80 lbs of 38 and 40 cal cast sized lubed boolits that I guess I will have to remelt into other calibers as I don't have a 38-55 or any 40 cal rifle..and will not get one anyway.. I did check the size of the boolits and the 45s measured 458..I did try drilling the base of some of the 405 gr bullets to make a hollow base(approx. 3/8 inch). Worked in the microgroove but too much trouble. BTW I also like the 5744 powder and I have quite a bit as I also use it in my Savage smokeless powder muzzleloader. Another great shooter. I also use 4198 and Reloader 7 will try some H335 as I have 20 lbs or so of it

 

[jeeps]

405 hard cast flat tip and 14.5 gr.of Unique 1400+ fps. Faster than factory Remington 405 corelokt. Kill anything in North America. Unique is not position sensitive and doe's not need fillers. 2" or less 100yds.