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I'm casting bullets for a .45-70 carbine (repro). The bore is .458. Do I size to slightly over that diameter .459, or .458?
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.459If you want change you have to put in your 2 cents, you can't just sit on the sidelines and whine. -
I drop mine as cast then pan lube, if I load with smokeless i size to .458 if BP I load as cast after lube.US Navy Retired, NRA Lifetime member. Member CRPA
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They need to be at least .459. A lot of Marlins like them at .460.NRA Life Member
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USMC '71 - '78
"I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
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My 45-70 bore is .4575 and I cast and shoot mine at .460
Lord, make me fast and accurate, let my aim be true and my hand faster than those who seek to destroy me, grant me victory over my foes and those that wish to do harm to me and mine, let not my last thought be - 'If I only had my gun'- and Lord if today is truly the day you call me home, let me die in a pile of warm brass,
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In a nutshell,size to chamber for accuracy..461 in all my 45-70.Comment
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No hollow base either a 405 gr that duplicates the original Trapdoor bullet or a 535 grain for my Sharps. Those are pure lead. If smokeless the 405 grain only then linotype.US Navy Retired, NRA Lifetime member. Member CRPA
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I'm using the Lee mold based on Wolf's book, which makes the 405 grain hollow base bullet. He recommends 40-1 for the carbine bullet. The bullets drop from the mold at .459 to .460.
The rifle I plan to shoot these from is a Uberti Trapdoor carbine. I have not slugged the bore, but factory specs indicate the grooves should be .458.Comment
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I'm using Lyman moulds they drop at .459/.460 also I shoot them as cast in my Trapdoor or Sharps. Lee has a sizer but its .457 a guy over at cast bollets opens them up to .459 otherwise a cast bullet just drops into the cast very loose.
I use Buck Emmert's Lube Formula (for black powder) Its my go to lube I use a cheap postal scale from Wally World.
1750 grains Beeswax
1368 grains Crisco Shortening (White)
328 grains Crisco or Wesson Vegatable Oil
This recipe makes 1/2 pound lubricant. If you tray lube as I do, you'll probably
want to double the recipe.
I also now substitute Anhydrous lanolin for the vegetable oil.Last edited by Tom-ADC; 01-26-2015, 8:48 AM.US Navy Retired, NRA Lifetime member. Member CRPA
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Depends on your specific gun's chamber and bore. Basically, you want the largest and fattest that will still easily physically chamber. Once you start getting a little bit of resistance in chambering, that's when you back down the sizing just an eensy-weensy bit, until you get easy chambering again. That's your optimal size.
This can vary by gun. A couple of examples: for one .357M I've seen, that diameter is 0.3595", but for another, 0.3580" is the max. For one .45ACP, it's 0.453", but another really prefers 0.451". This is due to whatever manufacturing tolerances that particular factory used/uses."San Francisco Liberal With A Gun"
F***ing with people's heads, one gun show at a time. Hallelujah!
http://www.sanfranciscoliberalwithagun.com (reloading info w/ videos)
http://www.liberalsguncorner.com (podcast)
http://www.youtube.com/sfliberal (YouTube channel)
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To be a true Liberal, you must be 100% pro-Second Amendment. Anything less is inconsistent with liberalism.Comment
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slug your bore first, then add .003" for cast. Easy to do, no guessing.https://www.youtube.com/user/mannyCA
Shooting ▪Handloading▪Repair▪Maintenance▪Self-Reliance Gun Culture.
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