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Is there any way to use .452-.454 lead in a 45-70?
redice
Member Posts: 1,550 ✭✭✭✭✭
Have a ton of lead from my 45 colt and 45 acp and just ordered a .45-70 and was just wondering if it would be possible to utilize any of it, have everything from fmj to hard cast 300gr lead.
I plan to buy a .45-70 mold to cast some heavy 300+gr bullets, but just wondering if I want to shoot lighter stuff if I am going to have to buy some more molds/or bullets?
Also when you cast your own bullets is it mandatory to resize them? What if I just buy a .458 mold why would they need to be sized?
I plan to buy a .45-70 mold to cast some heavy 300+gr bullets, but just wondering if I want to shoot lighter stuff if I am going to have to buy some more molds/or bullets?
Also when you cast your own bullets is it mandatory to resize them? What if I just buy a .458 mold why would they need to be sized?
Comments
You could use many of the cast bullets you have in the 45-70, especially the heavier ones. The problem is going to be (1) holding them in the case and (2) when you shoot them they will rattle down the bore like a rock in a pipe, leading badly and giving horrid accuracy.
Using the proper sized bullet, one that is .001 over bore diameter, is the standard for cast projectiles.
Sizing accomplishes a few things, all are important for rifle accuracy. It makes the bullet perfectly round, sizing off the inevitable high spots. It applies lube to the groves of the bullet. Also, unless you have a very stable supply of lead each batch will vary a bit in alloy, those different alloys will drop a bullet of a different diameter. It is not much difference but is measurable. Sizing fixes that.
I would also suggest you purchase a Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, it has a wealth of information to assist you in casting.
This site is the Mecca of bullet (boolit) casting.
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/
Good luck!
Welcome to casting!
You could use many of the cast bullets you have in the 45-70, especially the heavier ones. The problem is going to be (1) holding them in the case and (2) when you shoot them they will rattle down the bore like a rock in a pipe, leading badly and giving horrid accuracy.
Using the proper sized bullet, one that is .001 over bore diameter, is the standard for cast projectiles.
Sizing accomplishes a few things, all are important for rifle accuracy. It makes the bullet perfectly round, sizing off the inevitable high spots. It applies lube to the groves of the bullet. Also, unless you have a very stable supply of lead each batch will vary a bit in alloy, those different alloys will drop a bullet of a different diameter. It is not much difference but is measurable. Sizing fixes that.
I would also suggest you purchase a Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, it has a wealth of information to assist you in casting.
This site is the Mecca of bullet (boolit) casting.
http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/
Good luck!
Great reply thanks. And it also brought up another question, is it possible to up size bullets? Say taking the .452-.454's and making them .458?
I was thinking there couldn't be, but I don't know so figured I may as well ask. Better to look stupid than to not learn
Lee has aluminum bullet molds that are tumble lubed, not requiring sizing you may find acceptable. Personally, I don't like lube on bullet bases and noses, your mileage may vary.
Keep us posted on your new toy.
Up sizing (bumping) can be done with dead soft lead alloys in specialized (expensive) dies; but the harder, more preferable alloys would shatter or deform inconsistently.
Lee has aluminum bullet molds that are tumble lubed, not requiring sizing you may find acceptable. Personally, I don't like lube on bullet bases and noses, your mileage may vary.
Keep us posted on your new toy.
Just seems that your buying a mold for 50+ then if you also need a lubri sizer at 150+ its starting to look like less and less of savings.
I plan to pan lube btw, looks super easy. Now these guys who are pan lubing are they resizing? Since it seems that would be pointless considering the sizer lubes at the same time.
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/BS2003.pdf
And I looked again on midway, cus I didn't see these on there when I was looking before apparently there under the dies section and not the sizer section. And there only 15 bucks for a set.
That's more reasonable.
I won't even try to get into the hows and whys of paper patching here but it's a time tested method, works well if you put your homework into it... google it and you should find a wealth of info.
Or just order the .458 mold.
Redice, Lee has molds for about 25 bucks and a easy sizer that goes on the reloading press. I am not sure how you lube the bullets with the Lee sizer but a visit to their web site should help.
They have a liquid lube that comes with the dies, which you can ether lube the whole bullets or I watched a youtube video where a guy just lubed the die because he wanted to pan lube his bullets after sizing. Or you can do both, liquid lube re size then pan lube.
"jonk
Yes, there is a way. Paper patching. A .452 double wrapped should finish up at about .460". If this chambers you are good to go, otherwise resize the finished product in a .458" push through die.
I won't even try to get into the hows and whys of paper patching here but it's a time tested method, works well if you put your homework into it... google it and you should find a wealth of info."
I was thinking that would probably be possible, have read a very small bit about paper patching, but figured it would almost be to much hassle, may be easier just to melt down some of the lead I have and re cast it in the .459 mold.
Oh ya I decided on a 500gr .459 2 cavity mold from lee, and im going to get the .457 sizing die kit "they don't make a .458 kit" Lots of guys in the reviews on midway say they don't even size the .459's that it drops but figure it would prob be more accurate if there all exactly the same diameter, and seems kinda scary to shoot an over sized bullet..
Was going to get a 525 grain single cavity but it didn't come with handles and the handles were like 30 bucks on top of the 50 for the mold, lee mold is only 20 bucks.