Wanted: Your favorite .45-70 mould

[Adam in WI]

Folks, I'm looking for suggestions on a great all around bullet mould for a .45-70 lever gun. Let's call it a deer rifle first, but really it's mostly for big bore fun and watching water filled targets explode. A gas check design may be necessary, I'd like to be able to drive them hard and the only alloy I have is wheel weight. I was thinking something around 350 grain but I'd like suggestions. If you have a couple bullets I could buy or even a mould you no longer use, feel free to pm me.

 

[FNSafari]

Old Lyman 482 grain gas check mould. At about 1150 fps its a bit of a handful but effective short range.

 

[SSL]

Folks, I'm looking for suggestions on a great all around bullet mould for a .45-70 lever gun. Let's call it a deer rifle first, but really it's mostly for big bore fun and watching water filled targets explode. A gas check design may be necessary, I'd like to be able to drive them hard and the only alloy I have is wheel weight. I was thinking something around 350 grain but I'd like suggestions. If you have a couple bullets I could buy or even a mould you no longer use, feel free to pm me.

The type of firearm makes a difference too. Most lever-guns don't cycle bullets with longish noses from magazine to chamber. Too sharp of a turn for the length. I found that out with a 500-grain mould and a Marlin '95. I ended up using 350-grain flat-points from an RCBS mould. If you need gas checks, try here. Good prices and quick delivery. https://www.sagesoutdoors.com/gas-checks/

 

[nakneker]

Folks, I'm looking for suggestions on a great all around bullet mould for a .45-70 lever gun. Let's call it a deer rifle first, but really it's mostly for big bore fun and watching water filled targets explode. A gas check design may be necessary, I'd like to be able to drive them hard and the only alloy I have is wheel weight. I was thinking something around 350 grain but I'd like suggestions. If you have a couple bullets I could buy or even a mould you no longer use, feel free to pm me.

I’m interested in the replies too.

 

[Adam in WI]

I ended up using 350-grain flat-points from an RCBS mould.

That's what my first thought was for bullet weight. I'm not sure if anyone has tried or can recommend round nose, flat nose, hollow point. Also, this is an 1886 so length isn't as restrictive as it might be in the Marlin when it comes to heavies.

 

[SSL]

That's what my first thought was for bullet weight. I'm not sure if anyone has tried or can recommend round nose, flat nose, hollow point. Also, this is an 1886 so length isn't as restrictive as it might be in the Marlin when it comes to heavies.

Round-nose may not be a great choice due to the possibility of primer ignition from recoil in tubular magazines. A flat-nose with a generous 'flat' is less liable to slam into the primer of the round in front of it. Flat-nose are better game-getters unless very deep penetration is needed on really big game. That's where the heavier bullets shine - up to maybe 405 or so. Holllowpoints and wheel weight lead probably won't make much difference. Would probably need to hit heavy bone to ensure expansion. Not sure it would be worth the hassle of casting them.
Years ago there was a good article in Handloader Magazine if I recall correctly that outlined a lengthy study that determined that the ideal .45-70 weight fell between 330 and 380 grains. I don't swear to the validity of such a 'study', but the 350-grain flat-nosed (cast or jacketed) always worked well for me.

 

[JohnW...ski]

I use the RCBS 45-405-FN in my 45-70 revolver.

 

[dantiff2]

Bot Verification

 

[451whitworth]

I use the RCBS 45-405-FN in my 45-70 revolver.

This is a good design if it drops large enough for your rifle barrel. My favorite 45-70 lever gun mold is my LBT 400M gas checked. The "M" stands for Marlin nose profile. I shoot my bullets at .461". Accurate Molds should have multiple designs for your purposes and you get to pick your diameter.

 

[JohnW...ski]

This is a good design if it drops large enough for your rifle barrel. My favorite 45-70 lever gun mold is my LBT 400M gas checked. The "M" stands for Marlin nose profile. I shoot my bullets at .461". Accurate Molds should have multiple designs for your purposes and you get to pick your diameter.

I shoot all my 45-70's at .459, I have tried .460 and get noticeably less accuracy.

 

[451whitworth]

I shoot all my 45-70's at .459, I have tried .460 and get noticeably less accuracy.

I find in Marlin's Micro-groove barrels the bigger size works better. In my Browning 1886 either .459" or .460" works equally well.

 

[JohnW...ski]

Micro-grooves, a whole different world.

 

[Webster]

Folks, I'm looking for suggestions on a great all around bullet mould for a .45-70 lever gun. Let's call it a deer rifle first, but really it's mostly for big bore fun and watching water filled targets explode. A gas check design may be necessary, I'd like to be able to drive them hard and the only alloy I have is wheel weight. I was thinking something around 350 grain but I'd like suggestions. If you have a couple bullets I could buy or even a mould you no longer use, feel free to pm me.

Be careful. I heard that some recent wheel weights are made from zinc.

 

[rockhound78]

Think I might have a 350 rnfp mould made by "Ranch Dog". It would be a 6 cav. gas check design. Will try and find it in the morning. Think I also have a 420gr Rnfp gc mould from a Lee group buy, I can also check on.

 

[Adam in WI]

Think I might have a 350 rnfp mould made by "Ranch Dog". It would be a 6 cav. gas check design. Will try and find it in the morning. Think I also have a 420gr Rnfp gc mould from a Lee group buy, I can also check on.

Do you know if it's conventional or tumble lube? I was seriously looking at the ranch dog 350 from NOE in the conventional groove two cavity.

 

[rockhound78]

The Ranch dog would be a Tumble lube (although I have lubed TL bullets in my lubesizer), and the 420 would be conventional

Edit--I modified the RD and removed the GC. I do have a 330, 335 and 430 mould. conventional lube grooves

 

[PhilC]

When doing load development for my brother's 1895 SBL, the heaviest boolit that would cycle was the 425gr Piledriver Jr, a WFN style designed specfically to feed in the 1895 Marlin. It was cast from a custom LBT mould by Beartooth Bullets in Sand Point, ID but they have since closed shop.

LBT is also gone after a devastating fire that destroyed all his equipment, can read about it on his website.

I have the RCBS 45-405-FN and cast a couple hundred to load for my brother. He's bringing the rifle next month and I'm hoping they will feed and shoot well. Time will tell.

 

[Chappy]

One of my absolute favorites is 11 grs of W-231 with any generic 405 gr cast bullet. Light on the shoulder and ears and plenty effective for plinking.

 

[Ray123]

I use RCBS 425 gr cast mold GC run them 2100 fps in Ruger #1 or 1700 fps in levergun...but mostly unique in the levergun and low velocity fun.

 

[PhilC]

To my knowledge, which may be incomplete, the 1895 Marlins in 45-70 are Ballard rifling not Microgroove. My brother has 4 Marlins and only the mid-70s 336 in 30-30 has Micrgroove rifling. The 1894s in 44RM & 444 and his 45-70 all have Ballard rifling.