Round ball in 45-70

bobv

bobv

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Has anyone here ever tried loading .457 ( 147gr) lead balls in a 45-70??? I asked the same question on the Cast Boolit Forum and got some intresting answers. Different loads for one two and three balls loaded with Unique and BP. I'm going to pick up a Lee .457 RB mould soon, might this a try:)
Anyone tried this....let me know
thanks
Bob
 
bobv said:
Has anyone here ever tried loading .457 ( 147gr) lead balls in a 45-70??? I asked the same question on the Cast Boolit Forum and got some intresting answers. Different loads for one two and three balls loaded with Unique and BP. I'm going to pick up a Lee .457 RB mould soon, might this a try:)
Anyone tried this....let me know
thanks
Bob
Click to expand...

Contact hs4570 on the board, he has done some round ball stuff with the 45-70
 
A .457 ball is too small for a .45-70.
I have plinked with .460 balls and 24gn. of Re-7 and a felt wad to keep the powder at the back on the flash hole and got very good acuracy at 75 yards.
To much powder and the ball will strip on the rifleing and will not spin.
OH! And remember to clean the lead build-up out of your chamber before shooting regular loads.
Just my 2 cents worth. Happy plinking. .45-90:)
 
Round balls work fine in the 45-70, for short range game such as rabbit.
Seat them sprue up, crimp lightly, with a dab of lube on top, use a small quantity of fast powder, such as bullseye, and single load them.
(The fast powder is needed to get decent burning in the big case) Accuracy is far from stellar, but they will take rabbit, and do a nice job. I've used them as a quiet load so as not to disturb things too much while deer hunting.
I've not done that for years though, so I'm afraid the load escapes me.

BE VERY CAREFUL not to double charge the case!
 
Round ball

Lee round ball mold casts at about 147 grains useing wheel weights, water dropped/cooled.

Ruger #3 45/70 ...3 x 9 scope ..Ball seated flush with case neck..slight rollover crimp....bit of bullet lube over ball...or ball teflon taped.

10.0 grains Unique....1235...1248..1274 fps...3 shots / 100 yds...2.00 inch.

2 x round ball at 294 grains weight
14.8 gr. Unique...1472...1489...1498 fps..3 shots/100 yds/ 6 holes in about a 5 inch square. At 50 yards 2 balls are about 1.5 inch apart.

One round ball seated "on" 1.5 gr. Bullseye..466..461..440 fps 3 shots/25 yds/ 1.40 inch....will go through 1 x 4 board ..fairly quiet load.

Will require single loading in lever guns as it's required when loading round ball in my .444 Marlin.......Have got accuracy to 2000 fps with .430 round ball at 100 yds....should be doable in the 45/70 at these speeds too but haven't tested past 1500 as I use a 220 gr. RNose castbullet for hi-speed plinkers..
 
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We had some guys at our club older lads that knew these 45/70s 90s 100s ect... like the back of there hands, They were shooting 3 balls out at a time on paper at 50 yards, was a slow load but i would not want to get hit by one ! I have only tried round balls a few times in my 45/70 and I did not load it i just shot it,
There is a guy by the name of Kodiak on the forum listen below that can help you ! just click on the URL and PM him! thats what he lives for is BP loads and casts
 
bob
I run a .490 round ball through a .458 sizing die and use 10.5 grns unique. I get about 2'' groups with them and they are cheap with no recoil. The load was originally made to kill grouse and rabbits but now it's become a fun plinker. Good Luck.
 
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