Looking for some "light plinking" (read inexpensive) loads for the 470 NE.

Do lead bullets foul the barrel? Is this a problem?

Its pretty hard to find a plinking load for a double unless you just get lucky...Double rifles are a completely new world to most shooters, you find one load that its regulated for by experimentations and when you find it, thats the only load that works for the most part..Not saying it can't bee done but it would be the exception rather than the rule unless you don't mind Kentucky windage...

Wayne Doudna (Custom Cast Bullets) casts at least two different bullets for the 470. We have been able (after much work) to get a workable load reasonably regulated for casual shooting in a 470 and a 577 double and wouldn't hesitate to hog or nalgai hunt with it to 75 yds. The powder was AA 5477, Searcy uses it in lead 577 loads, too. Atkinson is right though, there is no certainty your rifle will regulate well enough to please you. Fortunately, cast bullets are so cheap you don't lose anything trying. No, they do not foul!

P.S. If you don't reload or know someone who does, Searcy will probably sell plinker 470 ammo but it will be pure happenstance if it shoots well.

[ 11-29-2003, 01:35: Message edited by: tiggertate ]

Thanks Ray and tiggergate, I load all of my own, and was looking for a starting point, bullets and powder.

If you have a load I can use to get started, would appreciate!

I looked up a Guns & Ammo article (Ross Seyfried) for some loading data.

All loads use standard large rifle primers and H4198 powder

300 grain Barnes Jacketed Soft point- 70.0 grains 2250 fps

400 grain NEI cast bullets- 55 grains, 1790 fps
400 grain NEI cast bullets- 60 grains, 1941 fps
440 LBT cast bullets- 55 grains, 1730 fps
500 grain solid or soft- 55 grains, 1665 fps
570 Ballard P.P.- 50 grains, 1500 fps

All of the above loads require Dacron fiber filler (pillow stuffing) over the powder. Use 8 grains of Dacron (a loose ball about the size of a lime). This amount should fill the case with springy resistance, without packing.

I have tried these loads in my 470 with good results. Also, you can get jacketed bullets in lighther weights cheap now that the same bore size is used for the 480 Ruger pistol cartridge.

The LBT are .475 diameter, Woodleigh's .474. Is this an issue?

I use a 500 grain GCFP cast projectile made from a Ballisti-Csat mold in a Searcy 470 NE double rifle. It is sized to 0.476" and the first three groves are filled with lube.

It holds pretty good regulation from 40 to 44 grains of XMR-5744. Butch suggested 45 grains. Regulation in my gun is perfect at 40 with the right and left barrel impacts just touching each other at 100 yards. It delivers 1500 fps and 2500 lb-ft of energy.

Took the first white tail with it on Monday ... one shot kill. Deer jumped about 10 feet in the air. landed on its feet and ran until the adrenalin gave out ... about 30 yards. Entry and exit were about 1/2" with everything in between pretty much destroyed.

Deer don't require cannon loads ... and these are fun to shoot. Didn't notice the recoil at all, and the noise isn't even bad.

Good luck with yours!