LFN for 45-70

[GSaltzman]

Veral, I saw your post about using the LFN for leverguns. I currently use the 400M for my Marlin 1895. That mould was made from a chamber cast. I have found it to be accurate when pushed from 1800 fps and up. Although it is felt on the back end. Can you make a LFN at 420 gr? If that bullet can be pushed to equal speeds as the 400M and used at 150 yards or less it should really out perform the M. Am I correct in this thinking? If the meplat is larger it should be an absolute sledgehammer!!

[swampthing]

My 2 cents if you'd like. Aliant 2400 and/or Unique in those cases with big bullets, alliants web sight can help you out, look under "cowboy" and "standard" loads. 1600 fps will take a good amount of "shove" out of your common loads and still give you flat enough shooting to 150 yds. These LBT's w/LBT lube generally run at lower pressures than most other lead bullets so take that into consideration when loading up.
  I use IMR trailboss in my .444marlin under WFN's @1235fps. It is barely heard with muffs on, and, recoil is half that of a factory 170g 30-30win. 

[GSaltzman]

Swampthing, Always open for opinions and ideas. My question was could a LFN be made at the same weight as my 400M and if yes could it be driven to equal speeds. I'm not looking for a lower recoiling load. Although that would make an easy going load for sure. It just seems with that larger meplat it would be a devistating slug on deer size and larger game. Thank you for your reply.

[swampthing]

I think Veral will make you pretty much any weight you want. Yes it can be driven to simmilar speeds with proper load development.
 It will be more destructive for sure, but the kill speed will be slower.
 The .300" meplat @1650fps has a DV of 123, just about the max for optimum hemmorhage, ie. kill speed. Go over that and kill speed goes down! A .300" meplat @1800 has a DV of 135, way too much for what your trying to do.
 If you slow your current bullet to 1600fps, you, more often will "see" game drop, not run away "then" drop.
I think H332 and H335 will get you there.
 
   

[swampthing]

Varget and Reloader-7 are also good powders.

[hdj2520]

I have the 400M as well.  At 1600 fps It'll kill a deer,hog,moose or a 68 buick. 
Seriously though, I've had better results with bigger cast bullets at the original black power velosities for whatever reason.
AA 5700 and especially IMR 3031 have worked well in my Marlin and Sharps with this bullet cast with #2 alloy and 1/20.
I do agree with you though, that a meplat like you described would be a sledgehammer.

[Veral]

Mr. Saltzmans original question.
I can and will make any bullet I offer in any weight asked for, but will warn the customer if I think it's too short to give good accuracy.  With the LFN, weights down to 320 grains will shoot well, but 350 gr and up is better.  Always order the maximum diameter that will chamber freely in your particular rifle, to obtain optimum accuracy.  The goal is to prevent the bullet from tipping while still in the chamber, as the barrel cannot straighten it up, but will smash it through with whatever lean it starts out with..  (Apparently things are happening pretty fast!!)

The lever guns will feed my WFN just fine if it's seated deep enough, which will be a bit deeper in the case than the LFN, and, with either bullet crimped whereever it feeds well, using a Lee Factory crimp die.

Swampthings advise is pretty much a quote of what I teach, so far as keeping velocities appropriate for the meplat size.