Dodd or other casters of 4570 (lee molds)

[cpj]

Howdy all. Dodd I know that you are casting the lee 500 grain bullet. (I assume anyway) Do you size your bullets or load them as cast? I am asking because I am making out my Midway list and would like to know what has worked for you guys. They have a Lee sizer, (I use one for my .357 bullets, and it works like a champ) that sizes the bullets at .457.  I dont know what the barrel diameter is yet, (havent got the rifle yet) so I was wondering if the .457 sizer will work. Unfortunatley, that is the only sizer that I see for the 4570. Do you guys have better luck with the 500 or the 405 grain Lee molded bullets? I think that I will probably go with the 500 grainer, for one, its a 500 grain bullet, and 500 grain bullets are cool. (kinda like launching a volkswagon out of the barrel ) And I dont know  that I would like the hollow base of the 405 grainer. I have a lee minnie ball mold that drops a hollow base bullet, and it can be a little tricky to pour. But if they work better than the 500, so be it.
What say ye?
 

[cpj]

Forgot to add, Im stuck on Lee molds. They are cheap and so far for me they have worked great. So its either the Lee 405, or Lee 500.

[Gun Runner]

cpj, are you gonna be loading the 500 gr in a lever? Ifin so dont think your gonna be able to load thru the side gate. I have a 1895ss and with the 500 gr. its one round at a time. The 405 has no probs loading thru the side gate. I normally shoot a 425 gr gc fn from a RCBS mould.

Gun Runner

[pascalp]

For my 45-70 cast; Lee 459-405-HB (.462), 457-325-F (.460). I ordered a Lee custom .459 resizer, not so expensive.

Other molds, 457-340-F and 457-405-F drop a ~ .4585 bullet.
And even if i don't like that, are used "as cast".
.457 is too small for My handi SB2.

[dodd3]

cpi if you are casting for the buffalo classic  try the .459 or as cast but with my buff it likes them sized to .457 the groups shrink by half escalante has the same results  with the 500r look at my post about fiting a gascheck to the 500r it works real good just follow the way i explain it is done. good luck.
bernie

[RemingtonMagnum]

Dodd3 Where is the post about fitting Gas Checks??

Thanks Don Jackson Remington Magnum/Ultramag

[dodd3]

don just use a lee champher tool and champher the base of the bullet if you no somone that has a mini lathe see if you can use that makes it easer. the reason you champher and not rebate the base is when you tap the gascheck on and then size it through the lee sizer is it realy  clamps the gascheck on heres the pic again .
bernie  

[cpj]

Thanks for the replys!  I didnt know that lee made more than 2 molds for the 4570. I just checked their website and found out I have more options than I thougt. Of course the 4570 handis are out of stock, so I guess I hvae time to decide.

[Escalante]

CPJ.
I cast my .45-70 bullets with nothing but Lee molds. Not saying I won't buy another brand. In the experimenting stages with the 500 grain at present. Have been shooting out to 300 yards at present. I have been very pleased with my results so far. I do not size and shoot as cast. I do have the .457" sizer. I used it once and the results were not satisfactory.
IFIRC I sized the 450 grain and the 500 grain. The 450 grain casts small. The 500 grain casts at .459". My Buffalo Classic slugged at .456.5".
I also shoot A Marlin lever gun with Ballard rifleing. It slugged  About the same as the Buffalo Classic.  
I haven't really shot the Marlin that much. It shoots very accurately with
the Lee 405 grain. That is about all I have fired in it.
BTW Dodd and I both have installed other iron sights on the Buffalo Classic. It sure has made a difference in the groups from 200 yards on out.
Regards. Rich.

[cpj]

Thanks guys! Im going to go with the 405 grain mold. Got a midway list that as soon as I get a  little cash,  I click a couple times and the big brown truck brings my presents. Gotta get dies, brass, case trimmer collet and pilot(forster case trimmer) bullet mold, auto prime shell holder. About 95 bucks worth. But I figure that all of that will pay for itself with the first hundred rounds of ammo that I shoot. Exccept for the Cabelas stuff (I think) everything I have found is about a dollar a shot. BTW, the lee die set now comes with the powder through expander die, rather than the factory crimp die. I guess that is allright since it the ammo is going in a single shot.

[pascalp]

You know your budget.
Lee FCD is the best in the range of use from unflare case to crimp without crimp groove.
You may need a firm crimp even in a single shot. With some powder in strong load or at opposite with light load of fast powder it help to built pressure before letting bullet move.

I'm very found of this die.

[cpj]

So, is it a good idea to crimp with the handis, or not?
What say ye?

[DPRinks]

I make my own size dies, .4595 and .4605, I put gas checks on the 405 pb and the 500 3R.
It is all academic until you get the rifle and find the groove size.
I use LBT soft blue and Lee LA as lube and do well, no leading with pb, hb or gc.
The 405 HB is shooting very well for me , so far, I only have it up to 1350fps, it may well go bad if sent much faster, I am going to find out.
Don