Source for cast 45-70 bullets

C

canoetrpr

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Just trying my hand at black powder and am not sure if it's worth getting into casting my own at this point. Anyone know of a decent source for cast bullets that isn't too expensive. I've found one spot called the Bullet Barn. Guess I never looked at cast bullet prices but 450 gr work out to 50 c each.

Any other sources?
 
These are excellent resources. Thank you! I was told I should be shooting 500g or so with my 45-70 Shiloh Sharps but I will have to try the 405gr for the convenience of not having to set myself up with casting gear. I expect only to shoot 200-250 rounds a year with this rifle. Let's see if I enjoy it.
 
One thing to remember, most commercial (Bullet Barn, Cactus Plains, etc.)cast bullets are lubed with lube that works with smokeless powder. The wax-based lube will have to be removed and replaced with a non-petroleum lube of some kind, commercial or home made.
 
fingers284 said:
One thing to remember, most commercial (Bullet Barn, Cactus Plains, etc.)cast bullets are lubed with lube that works with smokeless powder. The wax-based lube will have to be removed and replaced with a non-petroleum lube of some kind, commercial or home made.
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Oh darn. This Black Powder thing is looking like more and more work!
 
You could go the paper patch route. For a .458" bore you use bullets that are .448" to .452" and paper patch them up to .459"-.460". You can try using 300gr .452" bullets meant for a .45 Colt to try it out and see if it's for you. Black powder cartridge shooting really is a labour of love since smokeless is just so much easier and less messy.

You load black powder in the case, put a thin fibre wad over the powder, melt and pour in a small measured quantity of black powder lube (a fired small handgun case usually works as a dipper/measure), and are good to go. Whether the bullet under the paper patch has black powder lube, smokeless lube, or no lube at all doesn't matter.

This video has a pretty good introduction to it. Different cartridge (40-50 instead of 45-70) but exact same principal:
 
LUTNIT said:
You could go the paper patch route. For a .458" bore you use bullets that are .448" to .452" and paper patch them up to .459"-.460". You can try using 300gr .452" bullets meant for a .45 Colt to try it out and see if it's for you. Black powder cartridge shooting really is a labour of love since smokeless is just so much easier and less messy.

You load black powder in the case, put a thin fibre wad over the powder, melt and pour in a small measured quantity of black powder lube (a fired small handgun case usually works as a dipper/measure), and are good to go. Whether the bullet under the paper patch has black powder lube, smokeless lube, or no lube at all doesn't matter.

This video has a pretty good introduction to it. Different cartridge
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Great info!
 
canoetrpr said:
Oh darn. This Black Powder thing is looking like more and more work!
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It's not "work"... it's a hobby... that requires more attention to detail/trial & error than any other shooting discipline other than maybe "precision long range" but very satisfying when it all comes together for you.

One more piece of advise I think is worthwhile ...Read lots, there is literally 100's of hrs worth of material to read that was authored by people that have been down the "learning trail" you are headed...use their experiences to save yourself a few bucks and a lot of time. Black powder Cartridge rifle forum and cast boolit forums are good places to start. If you don't mind spending a few bucks, a very good series of books on this subject have been put out by an author named Paul Matthews, older books but can be found at gun shows from time to time.
 
Thanks for posting that video. It was very helpful.

Reloading is effort but yes I do find it rewarding as it takes my mind of day to day things. I'm heading into this BP thing full bore! Ordered a bunch of stuff from Sinclair and the Harvey depriming tool to deprime on the range. Was going to order some more stuff from Buffalo Arms but the shipping they are quoting me is exorbitant! Going to try to see if they will do USPS instead of the rip off Fedex.

Before long I expect I will head down in the direction of casting as well.
 
canoetrpr said:
Thanks for posting that video. It was very helpful.

Reloading is effort but yes I do find it rewarding as it takes my mind of day to day things. I'm heading into this BP thing full bore! Ordered a bunch of stuff from Sinclair and the Harvey depriming tool to deprime on the range. Was going to order some more stuff from Buffalo Arms but the shipping they are quoting me is exorbitant! Going to try to see if they will do USPS instead of the rip off Fedex.

Before long I expect I will head down in the direction of casting as well.
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Buffalo Arms will ship USPS if you specify. Great place to shop.
 
fingers284 said:
One thing to remember, most commercial (Bullet Barn, Cactus Plains, etc.)cast bullets are lubed with lube that works with smokeless powder. The wax-based lube will have to be removed and replaced with a non-petroleum lube of some kind, commercial or home made.
Click to expand...

Truth. Problem with BP lubes is they don't travel well. It's easy to make BP lubed bullets, but when you ship BP lubed bullets the results aren't always great. The physical attributes of BP lube tend make it much less stable than smokeless lube. It falls out of the grooves, or melts. I stopped selling BP lubed bullets because of that.

Several makers will sell sized unlubed bullets so that you can apply BP lube yourself.

If someone knows of a BP lube that would stand up to shipping and handling I sure would like to know about it. I've tried several commercial BP lubes and didn't have much luck shipping them.
 
fingers284 said:
One thing to remember, most commercial (Bullet Barn, Cactus Plains, etc.)cast bullets are lubed with lube that works with smokeless powder. The wax-based lube will have to be removed and replaced with a non-petroleum lube of some kind, commercial or home made.
Click to expand...

I should clarify this statement...the wax "smokless powder lube will still do it's intended job with B/P loads, that being "reducing leading problems". What it won't do is "soften"the B/P residue & fowling that B/P lube does for you. If you clean your gun every 2 or 3 (max) rnds of smokeless/wax lube, you will still get adequate accuracy but after any more than that the fowling will hamper chambering/extraction as well as accuracy. As well you will notice the fowling being very dry & hard, making it difficult to remove easily.
 
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