CAST BULLET FOR RUGER #1?

[adirondacker]

just purchased a #1 ruger 45/70 looking to work up a cast bullet load to hunt deer.any load data,bullet mould or production bullet info would be appreciated.thanks,shawn

[Dusty Miller]

With a 45/70 it don't take much bullet to put down thin skinned critters.

[Chargar]

Get a copy of the book "40 Years With The 45-70" by Paul Matthews. There is enough info on cast bullets in the 45-70 in general and Ruger SSs in particular to keep you busy for quite a while. It will be some of the best money you ever spent.

[Lloyd Smale]

if your looking to buy a mold for it try the rcbs 405 gas check mold it shoots great in all my .45s

[Cat Whisperer]

just purchased a #1 ruger 45/70 looking to work up a cast bullet load to hunt deer.any load data,bullet mould or production bullet info would be appreciated.thanks,shawn

The #1 in 45-70 has a short throat,  the #1 in .458WM has a beautiful long slow-tapered throat.  You need someone to comment on which bullets fit the throat well - to obturate right from the beginning.  

Aside from that, myn 458WM shoots everything I put in it.  My preferences  are 400 and 500 gr. and I'm a little leary of going as low as 300.  In 45-70 (Handi rifle and Trapdoor Springfield) I much perfer using  350 or 400 gr - that would be for good accuracy and not too terribly tough on the shoulder.  Anything you launch at a deer with the 45-70 will tend to flatten it.

[adirondacker]

this 45/70 fills the niche between my 444 and my 50 alaskan.i shoot 300 grn bullet from the 444 marlin and 525 grn from the alaskan.i think that 405 grn flat nose with gas check is going to be my bullet of choice,hope this gun likes them.just got my brass ,waiting on dies and bullet mold.thanks,shawn

[gcf]

A Cast Performance 405 flat nose gas check bullet over 47.0 of IMR3031, in Starline brass, w/ Fed Match LR primers seems to shoot real well in my #1 45-70. Under 3/4", in fact....

Haven't had much luck w/ the 350 Speer FNSP though.

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2131969283&idx=3

[LAH]

The light bullet on the left is a Saeco and is plenty large for deer. The one on the left is mentioned by Lloyd and is what I've found to be the best all round for the 45-70.

[Blackhawk44]

Like me?  Too lazy to cast that many 45-70's?  Cheat!  Find a good supplier of the 405gr Magma bevel base pre-cast bullets.  95% of the pre-casters use Magma equipment.  Now take them one at a time and seat them on a face up Hornady crimp on gas check.  Tap on the nose gently with a rubber faced hammer to seat firmly.  Turn them to verify they are square then run them through your sizer (at least enough to crimp the gas check).  If you don't have the equipment, order just the sizer from Lee for about $12 bucks.  Seat these over 48gr of Varget (slightly warm for Trapdoors) for an honest 1600fps and surprising groups.  I don't spend hours at the casting pot and shoot my old '86 like it was 22.

[Nobade]

Before trying a bunch of different bullets in that #1, allow me to suggest pushing a slug down the barrel to see if the barrel band is making a constriction in the bore. If it is, you will likely never achieve stellar accuracy with any cast bullet unless you lap out that point just enough to make the whole bore consistant. If not, they'll usually work well with the 300 or 405 grain RCBS bullets. Cast 'em fairly soft (like maybe air cooled wheel weights), use good lube and you'll likely be happy.