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405gr cast performance 45-70

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30 May 2021, 14:38
Hyak55171
405gr cast performance 45-70
Anyone have data with this bullet and reloader 7?
30 May 2021, 17:11
crshelton
Have you asked Grizzly Cartridge?


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30 May 2021, 23:49
Hyak55171
I have not
31 May 2021, 03:15
JFE
Not cast performance but here are my results using Reloader 7 behind my home cast 415 gr cast pills. These are loaded to 2.53” OAL. The velocities are from my 22” barrelled Marlin.

44 gr. 1803 1788 1764
45 gr. 1856 1833 1823
46 gr. 1875 1849 1879
47 gr. 1909 1908 1939
48 gr. 1956 1971 1986

What was notable was that accuracy was pretty much the same across the velocity range, but of course recoil increased with the higher charges. Typically at 50 mtrs (about the limit for open sights for me these days) the bullet holes were touching. I settled on a charge of 45 gr as a good balance between recoil and velocity.

According Brian Pearce in a Handloader article of Aug-Sep 2007, 44 gr of Reloader 7 behind a 415gr RCBS cast pill (OAL 2.52”) does not exceed 28,000 CUP. This is a good article to try to source as it has a lot of pressure tested load data.

Another good reference is the article on cast bullets in the 45/70 published in Real Guns. They refer to 44 gr of Reloader 7 behind a 405 gr Cast Performance bullet achieving 1791fps and a group size of 0.7” at 100 yards.
31 May 2021, 03:44
Hyak55171
quote:
Originally posted by JFE:
Not cast performance but here are my results using Reloader 7 behind my home cast 415 gr cast pills. These are loaded to 2.53” OAL. The velocities are from my 22” barrelled Marlin.

44 gr. 1803 1788 1764
45 gr. 1856 1833 1823
46 gr. 1875 1849 1879
47 gr. 1909 1908 1939
48 gr. 1956 1971 1986

What was notable was that accuracy was pretty much the same across the velocity range, but of course recoil increased with the higher charges. Typically at 50 mtrs (about the limit for open sights for me these days) the bullet holes were touching. I settled on a charge of 45 gr as a good balance between recoil and velocity.

According Brian Pearce in a Handloader article of Aug-Sep 2007, 44 gr of Reloader 7 behind a 415gr RCBS cast pill (OAL 2.52”) does not exceed 28,000 CUP. This is a good article to try to source as it has a lot of pressure tested load data.

Another good reference is the article on cast bullets in the 45/70 published in Real Guns. They refer to 44 gr of Reloader 7 behind a 405 gr Cast Performance bullet achieving 1791fps and a group size of 0.7” at 100 yards.


Thanks! I'll give that a look. Trying to decide on a bullet and whatnot for Alaska
03 June 2021, 16:34
Paul Reed
From my records,

Started at 37.0 grains
Maximum at 42.0 grains which was the most accurate in my Siamese with 24" barrel. Moderately heavy crimp.
I chronographed the load to 1650 fps with 3 shot groups around 1.5" at 100 yards.

Good luck


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18 June 2021, 05:39
loud-n-boomer
I discovered an RCBS mold for the 405-grain bullet in my stash of molds and plan to try it in my 1970s-vintage Marlin 1895. What lead alloy are you using and have you tried straight wheel weights?


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19 June 2021, 04:55
JFE
I have one of those RCBS moulds and it drops a bullet around 0.459” in diameter using Lyman no.2 alloy.

Depending on the groove diameter of your rifle, the bullet may be large enough to work without leading, but you will need to check. I have a 70’s Marlin and it’s barrel slugs 0.4585”. The RCBS bullet is only fractionally larger in diameter.

Those bullets in that rifle were very accurate when booted along with 47gr of IMR 3031 (compressed load). I made sure when they were sized that I used a larger sizing die so it lubed only.
19 June 2021, 18:33
Fury01
Good wheel weights alloy is fine in this application. 2 thousandths over groove and speed appropriate lube. Powder coat works great too.


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27 June 2021, 02:24
AnotherAZWriter
How about BL-(C)2 and 405 grain lead bullets from Montana Bullets? I am at my place in CO and left my H322 in Phoenix. I can't find a listed load for this combo; perhaps BL-C(2) is too slow?


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30 June 2021, 06:47
Fury01
I don’t know. Blc2 works great in high pressure loads but I would wonder about consistency in low pressure.


"The liberty enjoyed by the people of these states of worshiping Almighty God agreeably to their conscience, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights."
~George Washington - 1789