Just purchased a brand new Winchester 1886 in 45/70. I was wondering what is the typical bore size in these based on your experience... Planning to order sizing/lubing dies for .458 and .459, would that be enough...? I have some cerrosafe so I'll get the bore measurement, just doing some homework. Thanks...
Casting for my first 45/70 Rifle
- Thread starter aakoksal
- Start date
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
I have never slugged the bore in my Japchester 86', it is chambered 45-90 but your barrel should be made to same specs.
I cast all my slugs at .458 and powder coat up to .459-.460 and run dry though a .459 sizer and the rifle shoots them adequately for my expectations of cast bullet accuracy, 2" or less.
I cast all my slugs at .458 and powder coat up to .459-.460 and run dry though a .459 sizer and the rifle shoots them adequately for my expectations of cast bullet accuracy, 2" or less.
I cast & load for five 45-70's and one 45-90 Four of these are Pedersoli's, one Ruger and one Browning. I've slugged a few bores and the Pedersoli's are pretty consistent at .4575" to .458" Like Fingers284, I powder coat everything I shoot and size the .45's to 459" Alloy is 1/20 Tin to lead.
hatman1793
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Hey Fingers284! You stole my thunder! Ha ha ha! I was going to say the same thing. My only addition is powder-coating your castings means you can use a softer BHN alloy. 9~10~11 is okay…..
Honestly I don’t bother sizing anymore and this is for loading my Shiloh sharps and miroku 1886.
Standing the bullets up in a pan, pouring in the lube and tossing the whole mess in the fridge, followed by pushing the bullets out of the wax block with my thumb is the quickest way to go from casting to target.
I only use my lubesizer now for gas checks in hot 357 loads.
Edited to add: The sizer money, in my opinion is better spent on Paul Mathew’s book “40 years with the 45-70”. He covers loading and casting for his 1886 very well.
Standing the bullets up in a pan, pouring in the lube and tossing the whole mess in the fridge, followed by pushing the bullets out of the wax block with my thumb is the quickest way to go from casting to target.
I only use my lubesizer now for gas checks in hot 357 loads.
Edited to add: The sizer money, in my opinion is better spent on Paul Mathew’s book “40 years with the 45-70”. He covers loading and casting for his 1886 very well.
Last edited:
Ya your right that a good bore measurement is the first step. For myself If I am using the lube sizer it is more for bullet lubing than sizing as the mold I use is the right size. I have gone to pan lubing more. The great thing about the 45/70 is that it has such a long experience in use and there a lot of info and books out there. When I got into BPCR a little I found a knowledge base that kinda flys under the radar of the mainstream shooting community. I expect you are not loading black powder but books like the SPG Black Powder Cartridge Reloading Primer are pretty good for 45/70 data. The type of lube used is another big topic for many.
