45-70 bullets

phishroy

phishroy

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Anyone know a place that has some good prices on 458 cal bullets. I would like to buy some for reloading my marlin in 45-70 and im not to happy on paying $40 for 50 bullets.
Any one know any cheep sources in Canada other than the bullet barn?
 
I find that Bullet barn cast lead bullets work great in my marlin 45-70. Even out to 200 yards. I do like them more than jacketted. I use cast also in my 38-55 and 25-20.
 
Ben Hunchak at MT Chambers Supply, a member here, has selection of cast bullets suitable for the 45-70. His bullets are great and he will custom cast for the hardness you require. He is in Saskatchewan so there is the almighty shipping fees! He also supplies me with gas checked cast for my LE so think he has gas checked cast for the 45-70 as well. Dave
 
I would also recomend the Bullet Barn products work great in several of my rifles.
Iam almost out of bulk 405 Remingtons from WSS but have 500 of the 450 hard cast from Bullet Barn on hand, anyone have a load with IMR 4198 for the 450 cast will use in my Marlins
 
bunny said:
I would also recomend the Bullet Barn products work great in several of my rifles.
Iam almost out of bulk 405 Remingtons from WSS but have 500 of the 450 hard cast from Bullet Barn on hand, anyone have a load with IMR 4198 for the 450 cast will use in my Marlins
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I shoot 420 grain gas checked bullets with 40 grains of IMR 4198,the chronograph reads 1710 fps. That's enough for anything......
 
303carbine quote "I shoot 420 grain gas checked bullets with 40 grains of IMR 4198,the chronograph reads 1710 fps. That's enough for anything......
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Thanks for the chrono info. Some of my early trials with the 22 inch Marlin was with IMR 4198.
I am quite sure I am using the same 420 grain bullets you are. I tried 42 grains of 4198 and I have a notation in the note book saying, "Fairly heavy, bit uncomfortable!"
Now I see I was justified in saying that.
I tried IMR 4198 down to 34 grains, (not accurate), and my notes say 40 grains was quite accurate, but a bit heavy for comfortable shooting off the bench. However, that was when the rifle still had the original hard rubber pad. I now have a Limbsaver on it.
I have tried six different types of powder in many, varried loads. By far the most consistantly accurate has been 45 grains of IMR 4895. Either the plain base, or gc, all go into the same group.
Maybe you could chrono that one. I'm guessing a bit under 1500.
I have a 1 to 5 power Redfield scope on it and my best light load five shot group was with 14.4 grains of Unique, and the 420 plain base. The five shots measured 1.4 inches, but 4 of them went into .9.
Just by random, I chose 14.4 grains, because it was a 1.6 cc scoop full! Probably lots of room for playing around with Unique for a very accurate light load.
 
I found in my 458 American and a buddy's 45-70 Armi Jager 'Remington' rolling block, that powders: 4198 & 4227, IMR both, resulted in borderline excessive recoil.
This was using upwards of above 35 grains of powder in each, and using copper jacketed bullets of 350-405 in weight.

Both of us preferred IMR 3031 in many of our handloads.
 
I never tried reloading or shooting with lead bullets, sounds like a whole new ball game. Gas checked Vs bevel base, which ones to get for my marlin guide gun?
Where can I find loads for lead bullets?
Any manuals or websites with load information?
My worst fear with lead bullets is the lead fouling in the barrel since in my mind lead is that much softer than copper and I imagine it smudging on the rifling.
 
phishroy said:
I never tried reloading or shooting with lead bullets, sounds like a whole new ball game. Gas checked Vs bevel base, which ones to get for my marlin guide gun?
Where can I find loads for lead bullets?
Any manuals or websites with load information?
My worst fear with lead bullets is the lead fouling in the barrel since in my mind lead is that much softer than copper and I imagine it smudging on the rifling.
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First off, "lead" bullets are actually an alloy of lead, and are, to varrying degrees, harder than lead is. Don't worry about leading your barrel. In your shiny Guide Gun barrel, leading is an absolute nothing.
The cast bullets are the way to go with a 45-70; good accuracy and a much better price on them, as well as a great variety of heavy bullets, that work so well.
The gas check is used on cast bullets that are driven faster. I have used hundreds, at least, of plain, flat based cast bullets in the 44 magnum Marlin rifle. Leading the barrel was not a problem at full power loading, which would be in the 1700s of fps. However, at that speed, gas check bullets were a bit more accurate. Plain base bullets can only stand so much of a charge, before the pressure eats away some lead, and upsets the accuracy.
The accurate load I quoted for my 45-70 Marlin, which is probably about 1500 fps, is equal, whether plain base or gas check. Bevel base is only one pattern of a plain based cast bullet. Most of them are just flat.
With cast bullets you must have a sizing die that bevels the mouth a bit, so the cast bullet will seat, without shaving off some lead. If you do this, the key is to bevel the case very little, in the interest of making the brass last. I open the mouth just enough that I can feel it, when I slide my fingers over the case.
All of the 45-70 loads given on this thread, by various people, are away below the pressure limits for the Marlin. There is probably a bit less pressure with cast bullets, as compared to jacketed, for any given load. Therefore, any load you see in these ranges, that is for a jacketed bullet, can also be used with a cast bullet.
 
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phishroy said:
Anyone know a place that has some good prices on 458 cal bullets. I would like to buy some for reloading my marlin in 45-70 and im not to happy on paying $40 for 50 bullets.
Any one know any cheep sources in Canada other than the bullet barn?
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Elwood Epps carries "Cannon's" cast bullets. I have a box of 25 500gr for $14. ++.
 
sbtennex said:
Yup - #204280. See they've gone up a fair bit in the last few months - now around $38/100, still pretty cheap for a big bore jacketed bullet. Can really make them sing with a healthy load of H335 or H4198.
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Thanks guy. Just after I asked the question, I went on a seek & destroy mission in my reloading room and came across a WSS 2005-2006 catalog. I see the;- Rem. 300gr JHP, WSS item # 107510 were listed @ $25.99.- Rem. 405gr SJHP, WSS item # 204280 were listed @ $22.99Oh, the items they listed in green colour at that time indicated new for that year.*
 
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