45-70 cast bullets

[orchemo]

Loading some 45-70 with Oregon Trail 350 & 405 cast bullets

Been using RL-7 (Guy's load of 40 gr and some hotter).

Lots of people reference using 25-26 gr of 2400. But I can't find published min and max powder charges for this powder. Anyone have a reference?

 

[grry10]

You didn't say what you're shooting it in, that makes a difference. Alliant does list 2400 in their 45/70 load data. Maybe Quick Load has something.

 

[orchemo]

Marlin lever. Second year production from the mid 1970s.

 

[1Shot]

Accurate 5744 is a MUCH better powder than 2400. If your Marlin rifle has micro groove rifling it will not shoot cast bullets very well.

 

[Biggs358]

Several good powders for 45-70, included those mentioned. I use IMR 4198 both for down-loaded hard cast bullets as well as hotter jacketed bullet loads in my Ruger #1. I will soon be trying AA5744 for heavy cast bullets in a Pedersoli Sharps (Lyman 1878 Creedmoor version of 1877 Sharps). 5744 was recommended by one of the guys at Penn Cast Bullets. Sorry, but I couldn't find any reloading data in my manuals using 2400.

 

[1Shot]

Bigs358 in my Spanish made Sharps 1877 28" barrel I get exceptional accuracy with 27 grs AA5744, Winchester case, Fed. 215 primer and my home cast from straight wheel weights out of Lyman #457193 which drops at 418 grs and I lube with my homemade lube which is a 50/50 mix by volume of bees wax and olive oil which works great with black powder also. I do not size these slugs because they drop a perfect .458 and work great in my .457 groove barrel. This runs 1400 fps average which is the same as 70 grs volume of FFG black powder. At this velocity this slug will shoot from stem to stern of a deer and keep on going at 100 yards

 

[Elkman]

Several online references to a 24 grain load, out of older Lyman Loading handbooks.

From the Marlin Owners website, "That is a hotly debated topic. Some folks have done it for years with no problems. I know of at least one fellow that used cream of wheat as a filler and ringed his barrel. That was enough for me. I have killed numerous wild animals with 25gr. of 2400 and a 405gr. lead slug. My son (12yrs old) will probably hunt this year with a Remington 300gr. JHP and a 25gr. load. That is a great load itself, and appropriate for smaller folks just getting started. We don't have problems with accuracy or dependability. I like this load so I can concentrate on the hunt at hand, and not worry about flinching etc. These loads are actually a little hotter than what the black powder loads started out at and kill very well. The rumor is out that Alliant is producing more 45-70 loads involving 2 or 3 other powders they've previously not listed. To my knowledge, the main source of the above powder loads were in Lyman prior to 1997 or so. None were listed in #48 and #49. Lyman 47 was the last. Hope they find out more in the near future. For myself, I've over 7,000 rounds of this load alone and am not scared of it."

 

[HeathSexton]

405 and 25grs of 2400 with no filler shoots great from my guide gun.


13.5grs hs6 with 300’s and 350’s also shoots excellent.

 

[Joec7651]

I get 1824 fps, and 1 1/4" 100yd groups from this 405gr hardcast sized to .459, 42 grains H-4198, WLR primer, and pan lubed with White Label Carnauba Red. 3 shots from the pictured Marlin 1895, 22" ballard rifled barrel. The gun will handle more.........my teeth can't. I back it down to 1700 for hunting and get the same accuracy.

 

[Guy Miner]

Great looking bullet, group & rifle!

 

[Joec7651]

Great looking bullet, group & rifle!

Thank you sir, much appreciated.

 

[30 whisper]

Did you cast them? if so what mould. Great looking bullet

 

[SJB358]

Great looking bullet, group & rifle!

Agreed, very nice.

 

[Joec7651]

Yes, I cast them. It's an Accurate mold, .460 diameter GC, meplat is .360", 420 grain with wheel weights. I size to .459, Gator gas checks with White Label Carnauba Red lube.

I use a 3 parts linotype and 1 part pure lead with 5 ounces of silver solder per melt. It makes a bullet that comes out dead on at 405 grains, and wont fracture when struck with a 3lb sledge hammer. It comes out at a bhn of 26. I dont get any leading and have shot them through an 8" Locust tree. They have pretty much replaced jacketed bullets for me.

 

[fremont]

I like a 405 cast bullet in my 1895 Guide Gun 18.5" and almost exclusively use Re-7.

 

[JD338]

Thank is a nice looking bullet. It's pretty darn accurate too!

JD338

 

[5shot]

I've used H335 with great success in my Ruger #1. 3 holes cutting each other. Old RCBS Cast manual shows 30-32 grains of 2400 in the Ruger for a 425 cast.