The LBT M or Marlin bullet, which was designed specificaly for 45-70 Marlins, has a meplat .150 smaller than body diameter, or .300 if cut or 45 caliber. (It is also available in any other caliber.) Nose length of this bullet is optimum for Marlins and ballistic coefficient is probably as high or higher than any other flatnosed bullet suited to these leverguns.
However, the 45-70 case has far too much powder room for smokeless powders, so a long nose/maximum powder space isn't an important factor. Blunter bullets seated deeper in the case will function as smoothly as our M bullet. Many prefer our LFN, which is my favorite, and the WFN is popular. The M bullet has a crimp groove, while I don't cut crimps in the LFN or WFN but reccomend that the customer crimp where the bullet functions and performs best, using the Lee Factory crimp die. Use only a light crimp with this die, and crush it into the bullet body whereever needed. The crimp is only to prevent bullets being jambed deeper into the case while pounding through the magazine. Don't crimp at all for single shots, or if only one or two ctgs are loaded in the mag at a time.
Any of these profiles are available in any weight suitable for the 45-70, and any diameter. Most 45-70 rifles shoot best with .460 diameter.
