45-70 BC accuracy with light cast bullets?

[SCHUETZENBOOMER]

Are any of you getting stellar accuracy with your Buffalo Classic (1in 20 twist) with lighter cast bullets? I am working up loads with the Lyman 457122 (330-350gr). Just curious.

[kitchawan kid]

I thought the BC. was 1 in 18 ?

[quickdtoo]

It's 1:20", see the FAQs.

SCHUETZENBOOMER, have you slugged the bore yet? Cast sized .459" have always shot well in mine, some will do better with .460". 

Tim

[SCHUETZENBOOMER]

Have .4572 at the breech and .4580 at the muzzle.

Rate of twist 1:20 1/2" if you want to get technical. I designed a very accurate rate of twist gage back in the day. One of my best troubleshooting/gunsmithing tools when helping to suggest bullets for specific rifles. I have seen plenty of factory barrels in odd twists that were never cataloged. 

I know that I should be using cast bullets in the 400gr+ range for this twist but have always had a fondness for the .330 Gould Express load after reading(and dreaming) about it as a kid.

I am interested if others are having success with the lighter cast bullets in this rifle.

[Mike in Virginia]

Just my opinion (which ain't worth a thing to anybody 'cept me), but I've always felt that the 45-70 is a a big bore for heavy bullets, sort of like longbows and wooden arrows go together.

[silver surfer]

2 years ago I picked up a couple hundred Lasercast 350's.  They shot 2" groups at 100 yards pretty consistantly, but they scattered like rats once the crossed the 1800 fps threshold .  They measure .459 90% of the time and have a Brinnel hardness of 22, again shot really well.  I did notice a darned good amount of "leading" when I stoked them up also.

Hope this helps.

[peternap]

I tried the 350 Ranch Dog bullets I cast (.460) for my Guide Gun. They shot pretty badly. The 405 grain Lees at .459 are like a laser. Go figure ...and every rifle is different. What works in my Handi might not in yours.

[blacksan]

I actually am starting out with 325 gr cast cause I have a bunch of them and still experimenting with powder, charges, etc and it looks promising. I normally shot 405 gr cast in my 1895G and will order/try that in the BC soon enough. 

[coues2506]

The 405's seem right to me, great accuracy, remaining energy, and good sectional density, a very important attribute.

[Graycg]

300 grain cast bullets over 13 grains of unique is a wonderful place to start.  25 grains of 2400 is also a good starting load. I do not or use fillers or wads with those loads, they are accurate and always go boom.  I also have a 210 grain lyman 45-70 mould that makes nice bullets that  are about half again as heavy as a round ball     and they shoot well over unique also.  45-70s shooting 300 grain bullets is very similar to the old 45-90 load that used only 300 grainers.

best of luck,
 regards,
 Graycg