I got myself a Marlin guide gun a bit ago. I have some factory ammo and some recipes for mouse fart loads, but I also have a box of hard cast gas checked 390 grain bullets that I want to make lever action pressure loads for. Thing is I seem to only find lever loads with jacketed bullets. Does anyone know a source (manual, or reloading component site) for a load like this? I have read you should not mix cast bullets into jacketed loads; is that true for a hard cast gas checked bullet?
Source for lever load for 45-70 with hard cast bullets
- Thread starter COREY
- Start date
ginsingjones
Regular
- Location
- castlegar B.C.
Get the lyman cast bullet handbook. Even my lyman 49th reloading handbook has recipes for 400 gr cast. Generally you can use jacketed data with cast bullets of the same weight. Cast generate less pressure.
Find similar weight and profile jacketed bullet data and start at 10% below start data.
You may experience ledding or enough recoil before you get far in your testing.
Slug your bore and make sure your cast bullet is at least .001" over groove diameter.
Problem being some commercial cast bullets are too hard and use a very hard wax lube. Leading can occur before you even reach top end trapdoor levels if your bullet fit is too small
Find similar weight and profile jacketed bullet data and start at 10% below start data.
You may experience ledding or enough recoil before you get far in your testing.
Slug your bore and make sure your cast bullet is at least .001" over groove diameter.
Problem being some commercial cast bullets are too hard and use a very hard wax lube. Leading can occur before you even reach top end trapdoor levels if your bullet fit is too small
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If can't find a specific cast bullet data, I've always used equivalent or close weight jacketed bullet data, start 10-15% lower and gradually increase load by keeping an eye on pressure indications. Never caused me any trouble. I agree with others that sizing is important and should be verified...
Use Lyman Cast bullet manual loads for the 405 bullets.
There is specifics load data for the Win and Marlin. Load for cast bullets are not the same as jacketed. Use manuals - you will have more success since part of the work of what’s work have been done for you, and the benefit, you will know your reload are within safe boundary.
There is specifics load data for the Win and Marlin. Load for cast bullets are not the same as jacketed. Use manuals - you will have more success since part of the work of what’s work have been done for you, and the benefit, you will know your reload are within safe boundary.
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ginsingjones
Regular
- Location
- castlegar B.C.
Any fabric store should have polly fill or batting. It's the same stuff you use for pillow stuffing. Remember you do not want to compress the dacron on top of the powder. You also do not want to leave a gap between the dacron and the projectile. Extreme caution must be taken if you use fillers. Go to castbulletsgunloads.com and read about it. There is a ton of info on all your questions on that site
ginsingjones
Regular
- Location
- castlegar B.C.
I dont use any fillers in the 45-70
Buy a pound of h4198 and start at upper trap door levels.
I personally use 36gr or 4198 under a 396 gr cast bullet for about 1525 fps and upper loads 40 gr 4198 for about 1750 fps through my guide gun. Either of those loads is enough to kill whatever needs killing
Buy a pound of h4198 and start at upper trap door levels.
I personally use 36gr or 4198 under a 396 gr cast bullet for about 1525 fps and upper loads 40 gr 4198 for about 1750 fps through my guide gun. Either of those loads is enough to kill whatever needs killing
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Sorry to tell you that you just fell head first into the biggest reloading rabbit hole that ever was....45-70 was the first look in the hole & cast slugs will be the headlong fall that has about as many side-holes as you can imagine....but it is the most satisfying experience you can have in the end....every bit of it is worth it.
