Anyone ever use cast bullets in a No.1 45-70 ?
Thinking about trying some "Laser Cast" hard cast plane base,
350 grain at about 1600FPS.

Wondering about loads and leading.

Thanks,

Rabbitdog

I didn't use the laser cast bullet, but I did cast the Lyman 457122 out of a fairly soft alloy at 346 gr. I sized them to .459 and got 1650 over 37.0 gr. IMR 4198. Shot tight groups and didn't lead. Never got a chance to hunt with it, but I'm sure it would have done well.

I think I'd suggest the Beartooth, or the Cast Performance, for a hunting bullet. They will have accurate diameters and perform well. The Oregon Trails I have tried also were pretty good.

If you go with a gas checked bullet you can go faster than 1600 fps, FWIW.

I am one who will use nothing but cast in the 45/70. I use either the old Gould hollowpoint at 340gr or a 405gr I cast. 1600 is plenty for anything I have come across in NW Missouri.

I shot cast some in a Marlin Guide Gun. The bullets were home cast from an RCBS 405 grain GC mould. Sized, checked, and lubed they actually weighted 425 grains cast from wheel weights. Accuracy was around 1.5 inches for 3 shots at 100 yards using 47 grains (from memory) of IMR 3031. I have no idea what the velocity was, I was after accuracy and that was the peak so I shot it. That gun was pretty sensitive to load changes ... changes in both point of impact and group sizes were noticeable with only a half grain up or down.

If I do it again I'll be looking for a bullet in the 340-350 grain range, 425 didn't add anything useful but recoil. If a 340 sized .451 for a Casull will kill 'em at 1400, a 350 sized .459 for a .45-70 will also kill 'em at 1400 .. or 1600. That's just how [bleep] works.

I always wanted a #1 in .45-70 but never owned one. I had a #3 for a while. OUCH. 400s at 2175 from a 6 pound rifle. OUCH.

I've got some of those loaded over some Trail Boss for practice. Haven't fired any yet.

If you contact Oregon Trail on the website, they'll send you some Trapdoor and Marlin-level data; not a lot, but something to start you off. I'm thinking of the 350s at 1500-1600 for deer, probably over H4895, because I have a fair amount, but a number of powders will get you there.

Hell, ANY 400 gr + bullet at 1400 fps will smoke a dinosaur out of his sneakers at 200 yards easily. 30:1 alloy works fine and it DOES expand and it DOES penetrate.

Snoop around here in the Bullet Casting section and over on Cast Boolits website and start pouring your own.
BTW, #1's in .45-70 are really awesome hammers! Mine clusters holes real close together with both jacketed and cast.

Just wish I could catch a deer out while I'm toting it.....

Good opportunity to wander into the world of paper patch. Montana Precision Swaging sells a 510 grain bullet of soft alloy explicitly intended for paper patch that will put the splat on most anything. 1800 fps from a 1895 CB Marlin, MOA or better. It don't hurt on the back end and is very much worth the effort.

What alloy are you using for the Gould? That one always seemed to be about perfect to me. Any design that's hung around that long must be a good 'un.

Most of the bullets I have shot through my Ruger No1 45-70 have been cast bullets. I am at work now so I don't have my data for the exact powder charges. I use 300gr cast bullets with a felt wad at the base. And I use hard cast 400gr bullets with a gas check. All loads are around 1500 fps. No problems with leading and accuracy is OK but not great. Got a fixed 2.5 power leuopold scope on the ruger. The rifling looks a bit shallow on the Ruger compared to my Browning 1886 SRC. Maybe thats why the 86 does a little better with cast bullets.

Digital:

A 510 grain slug at 1800fps from a Guide Gun? You sir are a man's man. I loaded up some 405's to 1,750fps and would like to have someone go out and shoot up the balance. Next go around, I'm backing mine down to about 1,250 fps. No need whatsoever to hotrod a 45-70.

I have a mold for some 545 grain slugs, but think I'll restrict their use to a 15+ lb Sharps.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Gave me a lot to think about.

Anyone ever make "Light loads" with Blue Dot or Green Dot
powder. I hear that about 12 grains of ether with 300-400 grain lead makes about 800-1,000 FPS.????

Thanks again

Rabbitdog

Nope, no need at all to turbocharge it, but that's what it can do. They shot well at 1,600 as well. Didn't hurt even more. RX7 is a useful bit of chemistry to have laying around.

Digital:
Yes. A friend and I have both been quite favorably impressed with the accuracy of our Guide Guns. Clover leafs at 100 yards seem to be a reasonable expectation. I'm shooting cup and cores and my buddy is doing cast. My only complaint is I've not aimed at any game to date.

The one I toyed with was a pure Friday Nite Ho for paper patched lead. Vintage of '99, maybe '00 as I recall.

I fired a few of those 350gr LCs over 16gr of Trail Boss yesterday. Recoil was very soft. I managed to put them pretty close at 50yards, but the open sights were giving me fits.

A trip to the NECG website is in order, I think.

The Ruger black pad guns will have Ruger-made, hammer forged barrels, and they'll possibly be smoother than the earlier barrels - that depends on the individual gun, of course. If the OP has a late gun I bet it will shoot well with good bullets.

I shoot a 400 RCBS which drops around 420 grains. It uses a gas check and can be pushed harder than I do. I’ve found 43 grains of IMR 4198 will push the bullet to 1700 and change and it shoots well. It also doesn’t pound the shoulder like full throttle loads for the #1 can. More fun can be had with the easy casting Lyman 292 grain bullet if you want light recoil.

After trying out some different eyeglasses to try and clean up my sight picture, I gave up and mounted a FX-II 2.5x20 Ultralight today. Now we'll see what this puppy can do.

It's always reassurring, when you mount a scope and find that the bore and scope line up pretty well before you touch the adjustments.

I had a #3 in 45-70 that was a beast to shoot.
I wish I had installed a half round half octagon barrel about 28 inches long.
Instead I sold it.

Had one once myself. Even with the rear sight hanging out in the breeze, it shot way to one side. Crooked barrel or receiver threads. Went down the road.

My Number 1 was purchased used, but like new, on GB for $800, and it was nearby allowing me to pick it up in person. The rings were lost somewhere, but I got Leupolds, which I like very much. They are a bit narrower than the Rugers, which helps just a bit with scope placement. Very nice gun, probably a keeper. The little 2.5x had no noticeable effect on balance or weight. Just about perfect.

Ive gotta get me a number one in 45/70 to go with my 375. Any of ya'll wanna part with one? I had a guide gun and bought all the reloading equipt for it including 500 laser cast 405gr, then sold the rifle. I just never was a fan of that ported barrel. Bought a handi rifle in 45/70 and a 45/70 barrel for my contender and have sold both. I think the number one will fit the bill

Gunbroker usually has a few. It's my general impression that the .45/70s are often priced a bit below the general run. There's one on there now with a Williams receiver sight mounted, if that's the direction you were headed and don't mind an extra hole or two. I used to want one of the stainless ones, but was very happy to get the one I have now.

I need to find someone with one that's tired of it and want to try a whitworth 375 on for size and just do a swap. lol My wish list far exceeds my play money at the moment

You might have to come up with a little boot on that trade, but those Whitworths are pretty well regarded. You should place an ad here.

I figured on that i hadnt seen a 45/70 no 1 end for less than 900 in awhile on GB

Plenty of time in hand, not tired of mine yet. (My first #1 BTW.)

Dang, Dude! PM me your address so I can send you an oily rag.

here is my 375. Would love to find it a 45/70 and 243 partner