BC bore dimensions and cast bullets

[Stuart C.]

Hi,
Quick questions please.  Has anyone slugged the bore of their BC?  What did you get for measurements?  Also, is anyone shooting .457-.459 fairly soft (20-1) boolits and how are they performing? 

I guess I'm wondering what weight bullet has been found to perform best.  I was going to load some black powder loads with bullets from 405 gr on up to 500 but wonder if sticking to smokeless and lighter bullets is really the way to go with these rifles (and be more comfortable in the recoil department as well ). Any thoughts on this. 

Thanks!!

[tacklebury]

As most find, the .45-70 barrels are typically (not always) short throated.  A 405 gr. is about as big as you can make work depending on the ogive.  There are some bigger bore rider bullets that can fit in them, but there is a reamer available from here that you can hand ream the throats some.  Extending the throat 1/8" typically will allow use of the 500 gr. postell bullets at least.  I personally like a 350 gr. as I'm not shooting past 300 yards with it and you get less recoil.    I load 350 gr. .459 dia. RNFP bullets over a full load of FFFg black powder.  I have done some with an over powder card that seem a little more accurate and some get good results with grease cookies, wool wads etc.  Cannot beat loading some to see what your gun likes though.  Here's a link to Junior Doughty's article on his experience.  Might give you a start point as it's what I used to get going. 
 
http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/1871.htm

[craigster]

check out this thread:


http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=224265.0

[quickdtoo]

check out this thread:

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=224265.0

That discussion is on the 38-55 Target which he erroneously calls a BC.  The BC is a 45-70.

Tim

[quickdtoo]

Stuart,

Here's the best advice from gcrank1 that I can recommend for cast bullet size, and FWIW, I have no problems chambering .460" cast bullets in any of my six H&R 45-70 barrels. 

Tim

Dont get too hung up about slugging the bore, you need to fit the cast bullet to the throat, which is likely bigger dia. than the barrel groove dia. You can get an idea of what that dia. needed is by seeing what dia. fits into the fully fire-formed case mouth (but make sure there is no remnant of the roll crimp still up there).

[craigster]

check out this thread:

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php?topic=224265.0

That discussion is on the 38-55 Target which he erroneously calls a BC.  The BC is a 45-70.

Tim

That's what I get when I overtax my speed reading skills. And speaking of speed, I was issued a citation for using it excessively on my way to the range this AM. Some guys have all the luck.

[gcrank1]

Stu, the lovely thing about the 45-70 is the wealth of history, experience, loads and components from all these years to get them shooting. IME it is not a difficult caliber, and most any decent load will do well. Early success is often found in using the larger dia. bullets (my UH is shooting .459 350gr. and 405 gr. just fine, and limited trials with 500s indicate it is fine too but more bullet than I probably need). Several of us use the inexpensive Lee moulds in 350 and 405 as cast and pan lubed (or finger smeared lube). I dont resize cases, just decap, recap, powder charge and seat the bullet, good to go everytime.
Smokeless gets you going with the least trouble, lots of powder choices from 10.0 - 12.0 of Unique on through (for me) 85-100% load of TrailBoss ( ) and a bunch of powders in between. Big fast loads of smokeless WILL be more painful than a full charge of Black Powder. It is easy to make an H&R feel like an elephant gun and your shoulder like sausage with nerves. Be aware that there are 3 different loading levels for the 45-70; keep to the 'trapdoor' loads to begin and inch into the 'Marlin Lever Gun' low end if you feel the need for more after some experience. Most wont get to 'Ruger Only', for good reason.
BTW, even at 350gr. each a pound of lead will go fast. I use mostly recycled wheel-weights and a 'dash' of tin (improves the cast), probably about 8-9 BHN (fairly soft), but if you mix in pure lead to 25-50% you will get softer and stretch your soft lead supply. Mine shoot w/o the 'extra-soft' alloy.