Recomandations 45-70

[jethunter]

Ordered a .459" case expander and die body as well; should really help to lessen the paper patches that get torn when seating. The RCBS case expander mic'ed at .456" in my set and my PP'ed bullets are .460". "The Paper Jacket" by Paul Mathews is also in stock at TotW for US$21. It's $40+ on Amazon and out of stock almost everywhere else. I borrowed a copy from one of my dads friends and gave it a read a couple years ago and have been meaning to buy my own.

NOE makes some precision expanders that fit on the LEE expander die. The Lee expander die is about $20, and then each NOE expander costs about $5 for each size you want. They work really well.

 

[Papaclaude]

I have and use a Lee mould that casts a 405 gr. hollow-point slug. For now, I cast with WW and use them for reduced load paper shooting, but I may paper patch and try pure lead for critters. For now, though, I use the Hornady FTX in 325, or is it 350 gr. Used one of them on a 200 lb. Russian Boar and I was IMPRESSSED!

 

[fingers284]

I wouldn't worry to much about using the WW bullets on game. I have used hard bullets as well as pure lead and see no difference in the end results from either one. Every deer I've shot with a 45-70 was with cast bullets and every one was a complete thru and thru from side to side (not one recovered slug was possible)...velocities from 1100 to 1300...ranges from 80 to 245 yrds. The furthest any of them traveled after being hit was 4 jumps.

 

[jethunter]

Wheel weights work fine in big game bullets.

 

[wbaad]

Son of a gun. I knew they were available from the Lee custom shop but I didn't realize TotW stocked them. Also avoids the pesky "foreign order" fee Lee changes when ordering direct; was US$15 or so last I checked.
There was some books I was looking to order from TotW anyway so looks like I'll be placing an order. Thanks for the heads up.

They have awesome prices and fast shipping.
I ordered a 405hb lee mould and the 459 sizing die with a couple small things and shipping was only $15. It was 5 days from order to delivery! Impressed

 

[amosfella]

Son of a gun. I knew they were available from the Lee custom shop but I didn't realize TotW stocked them. Also avoids the pesky "foreign order" fee Lee changes when ordering direct; was US$15 or so last I checked.
There was some books I was looking to order from TotW anyway so looks like I'll be placing an order. Thanks for the heads up.

wholesale in lethbridge carries them as par for the course too... A friend of mine told me to case a few thou oversized, then use a push through die to make them perfectly round. Reduces lead build up in the bore...

 

[amosfella]

Ordered a .459" case expander and die body as well; should really help to lessen the paper patches that get torn when seating. The RCBS case expander mic'ed at .456" in my set and my PP'ed bullets are .460". "The Paper Jacket" by Paul Mathews is also in stock at TotW for US$21. It's $40+ on Amazon and out of stock almost everywhere else. I borrowed a copy from one of my dads friends and gave it a read a couple years ago and have been meaning to buy my own.

Don't size your cases... Use a universal decaping die. Chamfer the mouth of the case. The bullet should slide into the case by hand but it will be snug. Use the sizing die with the decapping rod removed to tighten the case on the bullet slightly... I use sprite to soften the paper to make wrapping easier. The paper doesn't stretch nearly as much as with water...

I size my bullets down to .452 with a push through die, and paper patch them with hilroy tracing onionskin. They come out .458. I use a 60% vasoline, 40% beeswax mix for lube.